Alice looked none too pleased at this announcement and Jerry knew it as he skipped round the table and hugged his wife, who was not a fan of outward displays of affection.

‘Get off,’ she said as she shrugged his arm away.

‘No, I won’t,’ said Jerry, hugging her tighter against his chest, making Nellie giggle. Jerry knew just how to wrap Alice around his little finger. ‘Oh, Alice, go on, it’s not drinking I’m doing, it’s work. You are the best wife in the whole world and if it was anyone but you, I wouldn’t bother. And besides, if I don’t go, who else is going to make sure we get the haul up the steps, eh?’

‘Oh, go on, Jerry, get out of here and out of our way; we know what you’re like! Just don’t come back without good news about the Morry and the carnival,’ said Alice as she pushed him away. ‘Your mam and I have only gone and got ourselves landed with the bunting, as well as decorating the float and the cake stall, so your mam’s reading the riot act in this kitchen tomorrow and getting everyone moving.’

Kathleen wiped her brow with the tea towel. ‘Honestly, I’ve such a funny feeling today, like something is out of sorts. I’ve felt it in my waters since mass and I saw it in Shelagh’s tea leaves when I read them earlier. I didn’t say anything to Shelagh, mind, only that she would be pushing another baby around soon, her and Seamus. God, they have enough already, will they just stop the shenanigans? I said to her, just cross your legs and tell him to sort himself out. Peggy did the same, mind; it didn’t bring her much luck, God love her, but at least it stopped her having another baby.’

‘Mam, you never did!’ The anguished cry of her daughter-in-law filled the room. ‘I never heard you say that.’

Alice, the product of a brutally strict upbringing would never discuss anything remotely private, with anyone. The only Protestant to live on the four streets, she was grateful not to be a Catholic, for confession would have presented Alice with a difficult challenge. Her first response to any priest asking her if she had sinned would have been to ask him what business was it of his?