Having got over the initial shock, Molly asked, ‘What does he think?’

‘He doesn’t know, not yet.’

‘And what d’you think he’ll say?’

Sandra grinned sadly. ‘He’ll say I’m a silly cow for letting it happen. Then again, he might try and get out of it by saying it don’t belong to him.’

‘And how will you convince him it does belong to him?’

‘Oh, he knows right enough. If he tries to send me on my way, he’ll soon find out I’m not that easy to be rid of.’ She looked up at Molly with cow eyes. ‘I love him, gal. I’ve never loved anybody like I love him.’

‘I can see that,’ her friend replied softly. ‘When will you tell him… about the baby?’

Untucking her legs, Sandra gave a groan. ‘When I can find him! The bugger’s gone off, and nobody seems to know where.’

Molly laughed. ‘If I know you, you won’t give up till you find him.’

‘You can bet on it, gal.’

The mood grew serious again. ‘You haven’t told your mam, have you?’

‘No, and I’m not going to – yet. Once she meets Dave, she’ll love him, the baby, too. You know what she’s like with kids.’

Molly saw how the other girl’s mood had completely changed. ‘I’m glad you told me,’ she said warmly. ‘It’s a big thing to keep to yourself.’

Leaping out of the chair, Sandra clasped her arms round Molly’s neck. ‘I’m glad I told you, too,’ she admitted. ‘I feel better already.’

Just then a knock came on the door. ‘Who the bleedin’ hell’s that?’

Molly had no idea. ‘You’d best go and see.’

When the knocking grew more insistent, Sandra ran down the passageway, yelling as she went, ‘All right, all right! Keep yer hair on, yer noisy bugger!’

From the parlour, Molly caught snippets of the conversation. ‘Who?… Yes, she is. Wait here.’

A moment later, looking puzzled, Sandra appeared at the parlour door. ‘It’s for you, gal.’ Lowering her voice she offered, ‘I’ll send the bloke away if yer want?’

But Molly didn’t want. Instead, confused and a little afraid, she told Sandra, ‘I’d best go and see.’

With Sandra immediately behind her, she walked up the passage and was startled to see that the man waiting on the step was the same one who’d been riding up and down the street in the fancy car. ‘Are you sure it’s me you want?’ she asked nervously.

‘Are you Molly Tattersall?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I called at the house and a lady sent me here.’

Sandra’s voice crept over Molly’s shoulder. ‘That must ’ave been our mam.’ Prodding Molly in the back, she urged, ‘Go on, gal. Ask him what he’s after.’

Before Molly could say anything, she was handed a long brown envelope. ‘I’m to give you this.’

‘What is it?’

‘It’s not my place to know. I’ve been asked to deliver it, and that’s what I’m doing.’

Hesitantly, Molly took the envelope. When the man turned to leave, she told him, ‘No, wait. It might not be for me after all.’