Sensing her dismay, he lowered his voice. ‘Don’t you see? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, to ditch the street-boxing and go professional.’ He gave a small laugh. ‘I can’t believe it. The scout said I was the best he’d seen in a long time.’

Overwhelmed by the news, she asked, ‘Is it what you really want?’

Joy flooded his eyes. ‘You know it is.’

‘And what about me… us?’

Gently shaking her, he chided, ‘What do you think, eh? That I’d leave you behind? I’ve already told them: you’re part of the deal. If you don’t go, then neither do I.’

His smile was confident now. ‘I want you with me, Molly! I want us to get wed as soon as we can, and start a new life in America.’ There was no holding him back now. ‘An opportunity like this doesn’t come twice. I’m twenty-two years old, with my whole future before me. Honest to God, Moll, it’s now or never.’

‘I don’t know.’ She didn’t share his excitement. ‘It’s a big step, moving away from our families, from everything we know. What if it all goes wrong?’

‘It won’t.’ Desperate to convince her, he made a promise. ‘Look, sweetheart. I’ll tell them we’ll give it a year. If I’m not set to make it big by then, we’ll come home again. I can’t promise more than that, so what do you say?’

‘He’s told you then, has he?’ Stern-faced and anxious, Rosie walked through the door. ‘I can see you’re as shocked as I am.’

She sat down at the table and pointed behind her. ‘I found him on the doorstep.’ Looking out of place in the small doorway, stood a man the size of a mountain, with a broken nose and bristly face, much like the other old ex-boxer types who frequented the gymnasium.

‘Tom Grady sent me to fetch you,’ he granted. ‘He said to tell you it’s important.’

‘I’m on my way.’ Concerned about Molly, Alfie assured the man that he would follow on shortly.

‘I’ll come down to the infirmary afterwards,’ he promised Molly. ‘We’ll walk home together… give us time to talk it all through, eh?’

Kissing her soundly, he reminded her, ‘Think on what I’ve said, though. I want you with me.’ Bolting out of the door, he called cheerio to Rosie. ‘Look after her, Mam.’ These two women, and his grandad, were everything to him.

After he’d gone, the two women sat together, silent for a time, Molly on the sofa, Rosie at the table. The mantel clock ticked loudly, and it seemed an age before Rosie spoke; just one word, filled with awe. ‘America!’ Her soft voice reverberated round the room, then there was silence again.

The clock continued to tick, and still the two women sat, lost in their own thoughts, until once more, Rosie broke the silence. ‘You never know what’s round the corner, do you? Things go on the same as before and one day’s like the next, then suddenly there comes a bolt out of the blue, and things are never the same again.’