‘Ooh!’ she squealed. ‘You made me nearly jump out of my skin!’ She laughed as his hands were tickling her.

‘You look very beautiful,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘This dress brings out your curves.’

‘And you’re very naughty, she said. ‘You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on the children, not thinking about my curves.’

He was about to kiss her again when they heard voices and stepped back as Sybil appeared, leading two of her church friends into the garden, with dogs. The Wozniak children all headed straight for the dogs, excited.

‘His name’s Major,’ Katie heard one of the ladies saying. ‘He won’t hurt you – he’s very placid.’

‘And this is Wally,’ the other lady said, trying to keep tabs on a frisky Highland Terrier that was already, to the children’s delight, zooming round the garden. ‘I called him after my late husband . . .’ Archie stood watching this behaviour with disdain.

‘I’ll make the tea,’ Katie said, greeting the ladies and going into the house.

She was excited. It was going to be a lovely afternoon. Soon, as the tea was ready, the Arbuckles appeared from next door, Edna and Susan, with her hulking husband Percy and a large toddler named David. Soon afterwards, Agnieska arrived. She was no longer living with them, as she was in the nurses’ home at Dudley Road Hospital and was looking well, and a little more rounded these days. Her pale hair was long and pinned back prettily, and she was holding a bunch of pinks that she had brought for Sybil.

‘Hello!’ She embraced Katie as she let them in. ‘Oh – it is quiet inside here! Where are the children?’

‘In the garden. Sybil’s friends are here – dogs everywhere, so the kids are full of it.’

‘Dogs?’ Agnieska made a face. She had tolerated Archie, but was not an enthusiast.

‘I told the children they had to keep them away from you – it’s their job. But don’t worry, they won’t hurt you.’

‘Your friend is coming?’ Agnieska followed Katie into the kitchen. ‘With baby?’

Katie smiled. Agnieska liked babies as much as she disliked dogs. ‘Em – yes. We’ll get to see her at last.’

‘Her other son is quite old,’ Agnieska remarked.

‘Yes, he’s eleven. It’s a big gap. It seems to be a bit of a miracle. I can’t wait to see them both – Em only had her ten days ago! Oh, and she’s bringing someone else . . . Someone we were at school with.’

‘How nice!’

‘Yes, but I haven’t seen her in years. She’s up visiting, so Em asked if she could come along.’

‘It will make a nice party,’ Agnieska said.

More of Sybil’s friends arrived, and then Piotr with his Italian wife Maria, and their two little daughters, one also a babe-in-arms. He and Marek embraced, slapping each other on the back, and soon the garden was full of chat and laughter, and children roaring, and Wally’s excited yapping as the Wozniak boys chased him around and away from Agnieska.