‘Well, you take your time deciding what you’re going to do, Ruby,’ said Peggy. ‘You’re home now, so you can be a lady of leisure for a while and really think things over. You don’t want to be rushing into anything while you’re still grieving.’

Ruby smiled. ‘Oh, but I already know what I’m going to do,’ she said. ‘Mike and I talked about it when he realised how much I hated living in Canada, and before he left for the winter, he promised he’d talk to his dad about it.’

Peggy looked at her questioningly. ‘So you were planning to come back, even then?’

Ruby nodded. ‘We thought that if the Anchor were still for sale, we’d take it on.’

‘But you wouldn’t still do that, would you?’ gasped Peggy. ‘Not without Mike?’

Ruby grinned. ‘Rosie ran it on her own for years, and made a huge success of it. So why shouldn’t I follow in her footsteps?’ She squeezed Peggy’s fingers. ‘I need a challenge, Auntie Peg – something to take me mind off all what’s happened and be part of the community here again.’

‘Well, it will be all that and more,’ said Peggy. ‘And Rosie will be delighted to know you’ll be stepping into her shoes.’ She eyed Ruby’s leather high heels. ‘I see you’re already very well equipped in that department,’ she teased.

Ruby giggled and gave her a hug. ‘I’m ever so glad I’m ’ome at last, Auntie Peg,’ she breathed. ‘I’ve missed you something awful.’

Ron had gone out early with the dogs and Rosie was getting ready for the bank holiday rush at lunchtime that Monday morning, her thoughts on Ruby as she dried the last of the glasses and set them on the shelf below the bar. Peggy had telephoned the previous evening and told her of the double tragedy that had befallen Ruby, and had hinted that the girl had an interesting proposition to make to her.

It hadn’t taken Rosie long to guess what that proposition might be, but if Ruby was really serious about taking over the Anchor, then she deserved to know that the pub trade was in the doldrums, with shortages of rationed beer and spirits, the like of which hadn’t been seen since the Depression.

She heard the rap on the window and saw Ruby peering in at her from the pavement. As it was still some time before opening, she signalled to her to come through the side entrance and went to greet her. ‘Hello, love, Peggy told me you were back,’ she murmured, giving her a hug.

‘I expect she also told you why I wanted to see you,’ said Ruby.

‘Only in the vaguest terms,’ said Rosie tactfully. ‘Come into the bar so we can talk privately before I have to open up. Do you want a drink?’ Ruby shook her head and Rosie sat down. ‘So, what’s this proposal, Ruby?’

‘I’d like to buy the Anchor,’ she said without preamble. ‘I’ve worked here, so I know it’s a good, profitable pub with a steady local trade that increases over the holiday periods. What’s your asking price?’