‘Damn,’ he hissed. ‘I was hoping to get Sal’s cooperation.’ He looked at his younger sister. ‘He’s still bashing her then?’ At Becky’s nod, he glowered. ‘Men like that should get a taste of their own medicine,’ he growled.

‘Undoubtedly. But as long as Sal keeps coming back, he’ll keep on bashing her. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.’ She decided the conversation was getting a little morbid and changed the subject. ‘Danny’s party went well,’ she said lightly, ‘and it was a good way for you and Sandra to get to know Jake and Annie and Sean and catch up with everyone – although I think Sandra found it a little disconcerting to be surrounded by Sarah and her sister’s mob.’

‘She’s not used to seeing the black fellas,’ he agreed, ‘and was definitely a bit alarmed at the way the women kept pawing at her clothes. But the kids are all so cheeky and mischievous she couldn’t fail to be drawn to them.’ He grinned. ‘Despite her reluctance, I think she actually enjoyed herself.’

‘Mary, Sarah and the other women meant no harm,’ she said. ‘They were just in awe of her hat and shoes.’ She chuckled. ‘I thought at one point they’d run off with that hat, but she took it all in good part.’

He was still smiling as he nodded. ‘It was good to catch up with Ben after all these years. We had quite a few boyhood escapades to reminisce over, and when I look back I realise we must have been a right couple of larrikins.’

‘You were,’ she said drily. ‘Teased the life out of us girls and got into all kinds of scrapes.’

‘He’s a good bloke, and obviously smitten with you,’ he observed with a teasing smile. ‘And I can’t believe how big Danny is now. It can’t be easy for you, but you’ve done a good job there, Becks, and should be proud. He’s a bonzer kid.’

‘He has his moments,’ she murmured. She smiled with pleasure at his praise, but she was very aware of how hard it must have been for Terry and Sandra to be surrounded all afternoon by Danny, George and the other kids; their own poor little boy would have been six by now if the scarlet fever hadn’t taken him.

‘Granny Gwyn told me about him going bush to look for Adam, but he seemed quite all right today.’ He squeezed her fingers again. ‘He’ll come right, Becks. Just as we all will eventually.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ She stubbed out the cigarette in the metal ashtray and gave a vast yawn. ‘I’m for bed. Talking of which, are you and Sandra all right in the back room? It must be a bit of a squash with those two beds pushed together and all those cases you brought.’