‘He’s nothing but a womaniser, and as for Sarah, I think the girl needs her head testing. I only hope she sees sense before he breaks her heart,’ Lena said, pushing her unfinished dinner to one side. ‘It can’t be easy, having to work next to Roger all day, but try not to let it upset you. I know Sarah is a lovely girl, but she ain’t the one for you. There’ll be a nice girl out there somewhere, and I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.’

‘If you say so, Mum.’

‘I do, George, so try to stop moping about and cheer up.’

George went through to the front room, and Lena cleared up the kitchen. As she wiped the crockery dry, she wondered if she should try again to talk to George about Albert. She was going to dinner with him tomorrow evening, so she’d have to tell her son soon. George had taken his father’s death badly and it had just been the two of them for a lot of years now, and they were close. Lena wasn’t sure how her son would take the intrusion of another man into her life.

With the kitchen tidy, she joined her son in the front room. She sat on the sofa, and drawing in a breath, said, ‘George, I won’t be doing your tea tomorrow. You’ll have to fend for yourself, but there’s a tin of corned beef in the larder and you can have a bit of salad with it.’

‘OK, you off out with Joan and Kath again?’

‘Er … no … I’m going to dinner with Mr Bosco. He’s a very nice man, you know, and a widower,’ Lena said in a rush as she stared at her son to gauge his reaction. His face didn’t show any emotion so she couldn’t tell how he’d taken the news. ‘George, did you hear me?’

‘Yes, I heard you. You’re right, he’s a nice man, but I don’t like the idea of you going out with him. What about my dad, have you forgotten about him?’

‘No, of course I haven’t and never will, but he’s been dead for years now. He’d want me to get on with my life.’

‘Maybe, but he wouldn’t want you seeing other men!’ George said, sounding angry.

‘Don’t be like that. I loved your father very much, and I always will, but he’s gone and I can’t bring him back. It’s not like I’m a shrivelled-up old woman. I’m still fairly young and I’d like some companionship. You ain’t going to be here forever. Once you’ve found a good woman, you’ll be off and I’ll be left here rattling around by myself. Anyway, it’s only dinner, not a bloody marriage proposal.’