Charity appeared and gave Maggie a look. ‘Mrs Maguire, is it? Would you like to come and have a seat at the front of the hall – best view in the house – and I’ll bring you a nice cup of tea? The interval’s nearly over and Ray’s going on next, aren’t you Ray?’

* * *

Ray poked his head around the curtain. ‘They’re ever so quiet out there. They’ve all got faces as long as fiddles,’ he said. He rubbed his face. ‘I’m feeling nervy all of a sudden, Maggie.’

‘You’ll be wonderful!’ she said.

‘As soon as I step on that stage, I’ll be right as rain.’

‘They might be quiet because Pam did a turn, just before we stopped for the interval,’ Maggie said.

‘Bloody hell. What did she sing?’

Maggie winced. ‘A sort of operatic version of “We’re Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line”.’

‘No! And you let her?’

‘You try stopping Pam when she’s set her mind to something. It’s like trying to stop an express train. And the show had to go on. And you weren’t here.’

He reached out and touched her face. ‘I’m here now.’

Maggie stroked his hand. ‘Some people actually found it funny,’ she said. ‘But most were confused.’

They looked into each other’s eyes.

‘I wrote you a letter,’ Maggie said and then, remembering what she’d written – that she’d take good care of his heart, on condition that he’d do the same with hers – she blushed. ‘But anyway, I need to tell you, I’m leaving tomorrow.’

Ray frowned. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I’m going to do my bit.’ Maggie nodded at the stage. ‘It’s time for you to do yours.’

They’d done everything else: Nancy’s tap dancing, Bill’s trombone, Norm’s magic tricks, one of the footmen was a great juggler and Brummie had sung. Who’d have guessed he’d be such a fine baritone? Miss Sharp had recited a couple of poems off by heart, Charity got everyone singing – that was the best part – and then Pam, of course, had put a dampener on proceedings with her bloomin’ operatics.

‘Everyone else has done their act. There’s nothing left now, Ray, except you. We’ve saved the best for last, eh? Oh, and mind your language, nothing saucy. There are kiddies out there,’ Maggie said.

He stepped forward. ‘Wish me luck!’

‘Blimey, what’s happened here then?’ Ray said, as soon as he stepped out onto the stage. ‘You lot look a bit glum. Don’t tell me Pam’s been singing, eh?’

Everyone laughed. Even Pam. She probably thought it was a joke.

‘I’ve got a little story for you,’ Ray said. ‘A fellow was out motoring late one night. He pulled up at a little tiny village inn. It was long past closing time and he knocked on the door.