‘I know you didn’t want a council flat, Lenny, but it’s in a nice block and my mum thinks we would be mad not to take it.’

Lenny sighed heavily. He could see the logic but he just didn’t want to start his married life in a place like this.

Sharon smiled coaxingly. ‘Private accommodation costs the national debt – this is much cheaper, Len, and we can save and eventually buy our own place. Plus it’s near me mum and, after the baby, I’m going to need her help. Especially if I’m going to get a job.’

Lenny shook his head. ‘No wife of mine is going to work!’

Sharon laughed, but there was a steely edge to her voice as she said, ‘Oh, get back in your TARDIS, the Dark Ages are missing you! ’Course I’m going to work. Not immediately, but after a few months. The sooner we get saving, the sooner we can buy our own home.’

Lenny knew she was right but he wasn’t happy about it at all. He walked into the ground-floor flat and looked around sheepishly. He had to admit, it was a lot nicer than he had expected. The council had been in and revamped the whole place as the previous tenant had been lying in his bed dying for a year. The place had been so filthy even the kitchen had had to be replaced. But it looked bright and welcoming in the morning light and Lenny Scott was pleasantly surprised.

‘It’s got a bit of a garden and all, Len – overgrown now but we can soon sort that out.’

Sharon opened the Crittall doors that led outside and saw Lenny frown as a posse of young lads screeched past on their bikes.

‘I won’t swallow a lot of that, I can tell you, Shaz. Fucking noisy little bleeders.’

Sharon laughed. She knew she’d won him round. It was done. She felt that all her Christmases and birthdays had come at once; she loved this little flat and she was thrilled to be near her old home, because deep down, happy as she was, she was also terrified. She was only seventeen and the thought of having her first child was a scary prospect. Not that she would tell this lump beside her that. He seemed more frightened than she did at times. But her mum said that was just men, and that was why women had the kids – a bloke couldn’t cope with any of it, especially not the pain. It was really the pain that was terrifying Sharon; the way her mum talked, it sounded like shitting a rugby ball.

She shuddered and Lenny hugged her to him tightly.

‘This will do us till we get on our feet, I suppose.’

He was resigned to the flat and that was enough for Sharon Conway for now.

Chapter Five