Eric smiled and, bending, kissed her gently on the lips. He had never known a kiss like it. Her lips were soft and yielding and tasted warm and sweet. He just stopped himself from emitting a moan of appreciation. His hands slipped inside her new coat and wrapped around her and Maggie swayed in his arms as their lips met again. Eric pulled away.

‘We had better step indoors,’ he said as he glanced down the entry and, as he lifted the latch, guided her into her own yard.

At the sound of the gate closing, little Paddy opened his eyes which, revolted by what he had seen, had tightly closed the moment Eric bent to kiss Maggie.

‘Oh my giddy aunt,’ said Harry, in shock, ‘was that the milky kissing Mrs Trott?’

‘It was,’ said little Paddy. ‘Do you think we had better tell someone?’

‘I think we better had,’ said Harry. ‘It’s really changed around here and we haven’t even been gone that long.’

*

‘Tommy Doherty, is it really you?’ the assembled crowd shouted almost at once. ‘Are ye back for good? Will you be coming down the steps?’

One question after another hit Tommy like a volley of shots as, laughing, Jerry grabbed him and steered him through the crowd. ‘You couldn’t have picked a better night to come home for a visit,’ said Jerry, as he slapped Tommy on the back.

‘It’s no visit, Jer,’ said Tommy as he grinned up to the man who had been his closest friend since they were both new arrivals in Liverpool. ‘We’re home for good.’ Whilst Tommy bantered with the men and answered the questions, Jerry, being one of the tallest men on the four streets, scanned the pub in search of Captain Conor and located him standing close to the fire. He winked, indicating towards the back room and grabbed Tommy by the arm.

‘Come on, mate, Captain Conor is here, work to do, ’tis a proper welcome home we have for you.’

*

Maura walked in through Peggy’s back door and little Paddy’s face lit up. The worry of his mother missing and the excitement of his friend returning was all too much for him but he knew instinctively that whatever it was that was ailing his mother and making her cry so often, and wherever she was, could be cured by the joy of having her best friend back next door and that she would make it all better.

‘Mam, Mam, guess what we saw!’ said Harry.

‘The nasty woman won’t be moving into your house now will she, Auntie Maura?’ little Paddy asked her as she pulled the back door behind her.

‘No, they will not, Paddy.’ But she knew Tommy would need to get down to the docks the following morning and get taken on to secure their tenancy. ‘Oh, dear, Paddy,’ she said, ‘I think I’ve got back just in time, don’t you?’