‘Ah, but this wasn’t gossip,’ Sandra revealed. ‘I got it from somebody who should know.’

‘And who was that?’

‘The landlord at the pub where he used to drink. I went there to see if he knew where Dave had gone.’

‘And did he?’

‘No, but I’ll find him. It’s just a matter of time.’

‘Then what?’

‘He’ll be made to face up to his responsibilities. New woman or not, I’m having his kid, and it’s his place to look out for us.’ Shaking her fist in the air, she declared, ‘He can kick this other woman out for starters!’

‘And if he refuses?’

A terrible look came into Sandra’s eyes. ‘I’ll cut out his heart,’ she promised.

And Molly was filled with dread.

Suddenly, her mood changed and Sandra was concerned about Molly. ‘That’s why you sent Alfie away, weren’t it, gal?’ she said. ‘Because yer mam ran off and left you with the kids. You knew yer dad weren’t up to much, so you sent Alfie away, so’s he’d have some sort of a life. You didn’t want him lumbered with your lot – not when he’d just been given the opportunity of a lifetime.’

‘Seems you’ve got it all worked out.’

‘So, am I right?’

Molly nodded. ‘What else could I do?’

‘By! I don’t know if I’d make such a sacrifice. You must really love him.’

‘I do. I always will.’

‘Mam kept it all to herself, did you know that?’

‘I asked her to.’

‘She didn’t even tell Grandaddy.’

‘If she had have done, he might have gone straight off and told Alfie.’

‘I don’t know about that. You know how mad Grandaddy is about boxing an’ all? Even though he thinks the world of you, I’m not sure he’d have told Alfie, knowing he would have insisted on staying here, with you.’

‘Nobody must tell Alfie.’

‘Nobody will.’

‘He’s got a big fight coming up, did you know that?’

Sandra looked at her sheepishly. ‘I’ve been out of it a bit,’ she confessed. ‘Me and me mam have been at loggerheads over this bloke of mine, especially when I came home with a black eye. She went off her bleedin’ rocker! That’s why I daren’t tell her about the bairn. Hey!’ A look of horror came into her eyes. ‘You won’t tell her, will yer?’

‘You know I won’t,’ Molly assured her, ‘but I think you should talk it over with her all the same. Your mam’s a good woman. However angry she might be, she’ll be on your side.’

‘Aye, well, I’m not so sure. That’s why I’m saying nothing, at least not until I’ve got its daddy well and truly where I want him. If I can fetch him home and let me mam see he’s not such a monster, she might come round to our way of thinking. That’s when I’ll tell her she’s about to become a grandma.’

‘This bloke of yours, Sandra…’

‘What about him?’

‘Is he worth all the aggravation? He sounds like a womaniser to me, and violent into the bargain. What makes you think you can change him?’