Doris felt she must be positively glowing she was so happy. The honeymoon had been a triumph in every way, with the first-class hotels, the meals, the lovemaking, and of course the wonderful views and walks in the Lake District.

John drew the car up to the kerb and switched off the engine. ‘Here we are, my darling,’ he said. ‘Home safe and sound.’ He climbed out of the car and went round to open the door and help her out. ‘Do you want me to carry you over the threshold?’ he asked with a naughty twinkle in his eye.

‘You’d better not,’ she giggled. ‘We don’t want your back going again, and I have plans for you tonight.’

He squeezed her hand. ‘Well, in that case, we’ll forget the threshold and just go straight to bed.’

Doris blushed furiously as he collected their cases from the boot and then hesitated between the two front gates. ‘But which bed do we choose?’ he asked. ‘Mine or yours?’

‘Mine,’ she said. ‘It’s bigger and I made it up with clean sheets before we left.’

He led the way up the short path and she slotted in the key. Pushing the door open they found a pile of mail waiting on the mat. Doris quickly gathered it all up and shuffled through it, then gasped in delight. ‘There’s one from our solicitor and another from the planning department.’

He put down the cases and looked over her shoulder as she opened each letter. The purchase of the bungalow had gone through; her first mortgage payment would be due at the end of September, and planning permission had been given to turn the two properties into one.

‘Oh, John,’ she breathed, turning into his embrace. ‘Our dreams really are about to come true.’

He kissed her softly on the lips. ‘Mine already came true when you agreed to marry me, darling girl,’ he murmured, gently divesting her of her coat, hat and scarf. ‘Let’s celebrate all this good news in the best way we know how.’

It was quite a while later before they could think about anything else but each other, and it was only the need for the bathroom, a cup of tea and something to eat that stirred them from the bed. Having washed and dressed in their night things, they sat in the kitchen over a pot of tea and went through the rest of the post.

‘There are a lot of bills,’ sighed Doris. ‘I hope all the work we’re having done won’t prove too expensive.’

‘You let me worry about those,’ said John firmly. ‘My pension and the salary I get is more than enough to cover everything, and I do have some savings should we need anything extra.’

Doris bit her lip, reluctant to speak of what had been worrying her ever since they’d decided to do the building work and take out the mortgage.

Seeming to sense her unease, John took her hand and lifted it to his lips. ‘You’re not to worry about anything, do you hear me? I know you lost everything because your first husband didn’t take proper care of you, but if anything happens to me, you’ll be absolutely secure – I promise.’