‘I know you, George Neerly, and it’s more than a bit of sunshine that’s put that twinkle in your eye! I hope she’s a nice girl,’ Lena said, and smiled warmly at her son.

‘She is, and her name is Sarah, but she ain’t interested in me … yet.’

‘Give her time, George. I know it’s difficult for you with women, but once she gets to know you and your shining personality, I’m sure she won’t be able to help but fall head over heels in love with you.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ George said wistfully.

‘I am, son. Trust your old mum,’ Lena said, then scraped back the kitchen chair and smoothed down the front of her dress. ‘I’m off now. I’m going to pop in and see Mrs Harris before I go to work. I’ll see you later … oh, and good luck with your lady friend.’

George waved as his mother left the kitchen to go to her job in the local grocery corner shop. It’d been three years since she’d started working there, and George thought it was the best thing to have happened to her. After the death of his father, she had sunk into a depression, hardly bothering to even get out of bed, but since working at Bosco’s she’d come out of her shell. It seemed his mother loved the local chit-chat and gossip, and would often relay tales to George about her at number seventeen or him from the candle factory.

George heard the front door close, and sat back in his chair. He took Sarah’s silver watch from his pocket and stared at it, knowing there was little chance of him selling it down the market. He didn’t want to disappoint her though, and she looked as if she needed the money.

If his mother knew, she would call him a fool in love, but undeterred he made his way back to his bedroom and from the bottom of his wardrobe he pulled out a carved wooden box. He picked up the bracelet he’d bought from Sarah, and then took two five-pound notes from his small savings, which he stuffed into his trouser pocket. Then he placed the bracelet back in the box and the silver watch alongside it.

She’s worth it, he thought, hoping he’d see her breath-taking smile again.

Sarah awoke to the musty smell of mould, which made her nostrils twitch. She threw her coat off, pushed herself up from the bare concrete floor, and walked across the room to open the curtainless window. Though the sun was shining, it was cold outside, but a blast of freezing fresh air would be better than the awful smell of damp.