They all shouted together, ‘RIGHT!’ Smiling to herself, Molly left them to it.

‘I told them for sure this morning that their mammy was not coming home,’ Molly said to Rosie as the two of them went back inside. ‘They were really upset… tears and tantrums, and Georgie took it ’specially bad. Seeing them now, laughing and having fun, I haven’t got the heart to bring them in.’

They glanced at the children through the window. ‘They’re such good kids,’ Molly said softly, her love for them evident.

Rosie agreed. ‘I’d rather have your little ’uns than our Sandra,’ she confided. ‘She’s more trouble than all them put together.’

‘What’s she been up to now?’ It was ages since she’d seen her friend properly. Molly hoped Sandra didn’t blame her for the split with Alfie. As she talked, Molly returned to the parlour and stoked up the fire. If the room was cold when her da came down, there’d be hell to pay.

Rosie followed her through. ‘I’m at my wits’ end,’ she grumbled. ‘It’s all to do with some bloke she’s going with. One minute she’s all lovey dovey about him, and the next he’s telling her he means to end it, and she wants to kill him. One night she came home with a black eye. I swear, love, if it goes on like this, I’ll away and see this fella wherever he is, and lay down the law, so I will!’

Clambering up from the hearth, Molly was horrified. ‘A black eye! This bloke hit Sandra and she still wants to go out with him? By! She must be mad.’

‘That’s exactly what I told her, but will she listen? No, she will not!’

‘D’you want me to have a word?’

‘Sure, I don’t know as it would help. You know what she’s like, but yes, I’d be grateful if you could give it a try.’

‘Is she still in bed?’

Rosie nodded. ‘Out to the world, and it’s not surprising, seeing as she didn’t get home till the early hours. From what I could get out of her, she couldn’t find this bloke so she went on to some pub or other and got herself pie-eyed.’ Rosie was at the end of her tether. ‘How she got home on her own two legs, I will never know. Anyway, I put her to bed, and there she is, sleeping like the innocent.’

Molly could see how upset Rosie was. ‘Dad’ll be up and out by twelve,’ she calculated. ‘If you come and keep an eye on the young ’uns, I’ll pop over and have a word with her.’ Remembering how upset Alfie’s grandaddy was when he heard the news of her and Alfie splitting up, she asked warily, ‘Will Mr Noonan be in?’

‘Don’t worry, lass. Like your da, my da will be off down the pub soon as ever they open.’ She knew why Molly was wary and reassured her. ‘In any case, he’ll not say nothing to you, lass. Course, he was led to believe you left Alfie for another fella – I haven’t told him otherwise. He was upset as you know, but he seems to be over that now, so don’t worry.’