‘Kiss me,’ she whispered, raising her face to his. She needed him to kiss her – a long, melting kiss that lifted her soul and filled her with joy.

When the kiss was over, Molly held on to him for what seemed an age. She had a feeling she would want to keep that kiss in her heart for ever and a day.

In that dark, quiet corner, he wanted more, his arms tight about her, and his breathing ragged. ‘Nobody will see us,’ he murmured, and she knew it was true. ‘We’ve done it before, and got away with it.’ That was also true. But not tonight. There were other things on her mind tonight.

She pushed him gently away. ‘Let’s go home, Alfie.’

Yet again, he sensed there was something not quite right with her tonight. ‘Okay, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.’ With one protective arm about her, he led her to the pavement and down the street towards home.

With Molly fearing the minute when she must tell him, and Alfie sensing trouble, there was not a word spoken the whole way.

Rosie was anxious to see them. One look at Molly’s face and the shake of her head, told the older woman she hadn’t yet found the right moment.

‘I’ll be off,’ she said quickly. ‘Leave youse two to yourselves.’ Lifting her coat from the back of the chair where she’d thrown it, she gave a hurried account of her evening. ‘Lottie’s gone out. She got up a few minutes after you left and took herself off to God knows where.’

Molly had expected it. ‘She’ll find her way back,’ she said flatly. ‘She always does, and anyway it’s bitter cold out there tonight.’

‘The childer are sleeping like little angels. Bertha had a nightmare but she’s all right now.’

‘Did Dad come home?’

Rosie shook her head. ‘I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him.’

‘Thanks then, Rosie.’

‘Right! I’ll see you the morrow.’ Widening her eyes, she sent Molly a message. ‘Mind how you go, darlin’.’ It was a warning to impart her news carefully, gently. ‘See ye later, son.’ Then she was gone before he could even open his mouth.

Alfie was bemused. ‘What the devil’s wrong with her?’

‘What d’you mean?’

‘You saw her! She couldn’t get away quick enough.’ No one was behaving normally tonight.

Molly took off her coat and hung it on the nail behind the door. ‘I expect she’s tired.’

But he knew it was more than that. ‘Women!’ he smiled. ‘What would we do without ’em, eh?’ Taking Molly into his arms, he kissed her again, on the neck, down in the hollow of her throat, and on her mouth – every kiss a memory. ‘We’re home now,’ he whispered passionately, and she knew what he meant.

Molly had never needed him more than she did right now. When he laid her tenderly on the floor, she closed her eyes and savoured the moment. His hands were all over her, gently caressing, exciting her senses until she forgot everything else. They were taking a chance, for either Lottie or Frank could have come home suddenly and burst in on them, but Molly wanted Alfie so badly, she threw caution and care to the wind.