‘Well, that’s something we’ve got in common, I suppose,’ Katie said wistfully. ‘I don’t s’pose she thinks much of me, though.’

‘No, probably not,’ Em said. Then grinned. ‘But it’s never too late, is it?’

By the time Katie left that afternoon the two boys had become firm friends.

‘It’s a good thing we got on all right, isn’t it?’ Em said. ‘’Cause these two’re going to make sure we meet up again, whether we like it or not!’

‘You have a good Christmas,’ Katie said as she left. ‘I suppose it’ll be hard – first one without your dad.’

‘Yes – but we’ll be all right. Mom’s coping really well. She’s even gone out and got a job.’ Now she could even feel pleased and proud. Going out to work was much better than sinking into a depression!

Katie helped Michael back into his hat and coat and then put her own on.

‘You do look nice,’ Em said.

Katie smiled. She reached out and kissed Em’s cheek. ‘And so do you. I’m so happy to see you.’

‘Me too,’ Em said, which didn’t seem enough to express just how glad she really was.

‘Bye, Michael mate!’ Robbie called after them along the street. Michael swivelled round and raised his thumb. Em saw that Robbie was doing the same.

‘Oh, Robbie,’ she laughed, and raised her hand as Katie turned and waved. Katie – her friend.

XII

KATIE

Fifty-Seven

December 1948

Ice-cold rain was lashing down the day Marek brought Agnieska to Handsworth.

It was the Saturday before Christmas and the whole household had been in a bit of a tizzy. Marek had been tense and excited, and Katie was nervous about Agnieska’s arrival. What would she be like? And was she still really so delicate? She had an impression in her mind of an invalid who would need constant care. And she was full of tender worry for Marek. Sybil also seemed concerned that Agnieska should have a good welcome and be taken care of, as if greeting an injured bird that needed nurturing back to health.

‘Goodness, what a day!’ Sybil said, looking out of the back window at the bloated clouds.

Marek had gone to Birmingham to meet his sister’s train. Sybil had taken deliveries of food and was cooking up a pot of vegetable soup, with Michael helping to cut up the vegetables.

Sybil threw out some stray thoughts. ‘I do hope the poor girl’s got a mac’ and then, ‘I must get the house ready for Christmas. Mr Jenkins said he’d go along and fetch a tree for me, even though he’s going off to his mother’s.’

‘Oh, is he?’ Katie said, trying to help Michael with the potatoes. ‘Where does she live again?’ Although she had shared a house with Geoff Jenkins all this time, she never felt she got to know him any better. Now that he was courting he was hardly about.

‘Kidderminster way, I believe. That’s it – pass me those. And put the kettle on, will you, there’s a dear.’