Lena looked down at the boy’s efforts and smiled warmly. He’d made several little shapes, though she couldn’t tell what they were. ‘Do you want to come to Joan’s with me?’ she asked, thinking Sarah would be finishing work soon and it would be best to have Tommy out of the way. George seemed set on telling her the truth about Roger, and she feared all hell was about to break loose.

Sarah was surprised when Roger came into the shop late that afternoon, and listened, shocked, to what he had to say. She now locked up and headed for Lena’s to collect Tommy. It was always such a mad dash to get there before George would arrive home, and so far she’d managed to avoid him. This couldn’t go on, though, and despite what Roger had told her she still wanted to talk to George about the reward money.

She turned the corner on to Lena’s street and immediately noticed George’s red van. He was home. Part of her was dreading seeing him, but the other part had missed his friendship. Now, at the prospect of facing him, she couldn’t help feeling a little apprehensive. She drew in a deep breath and braced herself, but before she had a chance to knock on the door, George opened it.

‘Hello, stranger,’ he said, and pulled the door open wider.

‘Hi, George. It’s nice to see you,’ Sarah said as she stepped inside, ‘but I didn’t expect you to be home yet.’

‘It was quiet on the market so I packed up early. Mum’s popped over to Joan’s with Tommy. She said if you don’t want to wait for them, he can stop here the night and I’ll run him over to you first thing in the morning if you like?’