‘Sounds lovely, but I promised Mam I’d go back this evening. I’m worried about her, Alfie. She seems so strange.’

‘What d’you mean, strange?’

‘I’m not sure… kind of distant.’ Molly couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong. ‘She had a slight infection, but that’s all cleared up now, so it can’t be that.’

‘Have you spoken to the doctor?’

‘I’m seeing him when I go back tonight. The nurse says he should tell me when we can bring her home – Sunday, she thinks, but she wouldn’t commit herself.’

Hugging her close, he passed on Rosie’s assurance. ‘Our mam won’t let you down, you know that.’

‘I know.’

Tilting her face towards him, he kissed her on the mouth, holding her close, and wondering when he should break his own news to her. It wouldn’t be well received, he knew that, but she had to be told, and soon.

When Molly glanced up, she thought he seemed uneasy. Tuned into his every mood, she asked, ‘Is everything all right, Alfie?’ She had seen the guilt in his eyes.

He smiled, that dark boyish smile that gave her goosebumps. ‘I’ve a confession to make,’ he said.

‘What kind of confession?’ Nervously, she joked, ‘You’ve not fallen for another woman, have you?’

His voice was soft, endearing. ‘There’s no other woman for me, Molly. Not now. Not ever. You should know that.’

‘But there is something wrong, isn’t there?’

‘Well, not wrong exactly, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.’

Sitting bolt upright, she prepared herself. ‘Try me.’

Alfie took a long, invigorating breath. ‘I’ve been offered a wonderful opportunity, and more money than we’ve ever seen.’

Momentarily speechless, Molly reflected on his words. ‘What do you have to do for this money?’ she asked. Suspicion crept in. She knew you got nothing for nothing in this life.

‘All they want me to do is what I’m good at.’

The pride in his face told her all she needed to know. ‘They want you to fight, don’t they? They want to put you up against some backstreet killer. Tell them no! Please, Alfie, for my sake, tell them no.’ Unlike Alfie, she feared the unscrupulous villains who ran the fight game.

‘It’s not like that,’ he said. ‘Yes, they want me to fight, but not in the back streets. Not any more.’

‘What are you saying, Alfie? Are you giving up the fighting game?’ In a day of upsets, that would be the best news ever.

He dashed her hopes with a shake of his head. ‘Please, my love. Just listen.’

Intrigued but apprehensive, she listened while he outlined the plan.

‘Unbeknown to me, the manager’s had an American scout watching me at every turn. Wherever I’ve fought, he’s been there, taking notes, reporting back to the big-shots in New York.’

‘Why?’ Molly’s fears heightened. ‘What do they want with you?’

Clutching her shoulders, he trembled with excitement, his dark eyes afire. ‘Oh Molly, it’s every fighter’s dream! They want me in America. There’s a house, money, contacts, training and everything. It’s big-time, lass! Big-time!’