Ted laughed. ‘I bet Campbell thought the same. Looks like you’re not the only one in for a shock.’

Andy’s eyes grew wide. ‘You’re not seriously thinking of going back there, are you?’

‘Already have, not that I saw anyone. Besides, it’s a free world,’ said Ted, adding, ‘Well, Britain is at any rate.’

Andy eyed him with bemused admiration. ‘You’ve got bigger balls than me!’

Ted looked annoyed. Out of everyone, he didn’t think Andy would have considered him to be a thief. ‘Don’t tell me you believed that pile of old claptrap?’

Andy held his hands up in a placating fashion. ‘You’ve got to admit, it did look a bit suspicious the way you and your old feller took off without bothering to say ta-ra first, and then old Campbell and his daughter doing a moonlight flit only to reappear a few month’s later,’ he shrugged, ‘tongues were bound to wag.’

Ted looked at him, confused. ‘Sorry, Andy, but you’ve lost me. What’s Olivia and Campbell’s disappearance got to do with his stupid fish?’

Andy mirrored Ted’s confusion. ‘Fish?’

Ted excused himself to his fellow diners. He was not about to explain Campbell’s accusation in front of his pals, because whilst he knew there was no truth in it, some folk might believe there was no smoke without fire. He gestured for Andy to join him at an empty table away from everyone else. As they sat down, Ted told Andy about Campbell’s accusation and ultimatum.

Andy stared back agog. ‘That’s not what we heard at all! Far from it.’

Ted eyed him, intrigued. ‘Why, what did you hear?’

Andy looked awkward. ‘You know what the factory’s like for rumours – probably best to ignore it really. So, how are you?’

Ted shook his head. ‘Oh no, you don’t. What did you hear?’

Andy drew a deep breath. ‘There’s probably nothing in it, but one of the girls who worked in the office said she had to go round to see Campbell in his house a few months after you left. She said she caught a glimpse of Olivia and she reckoned Olivia looked …’ he eyed Ted nervously, ‘… big.’

Ted rolled his eyes. ‘So, she put a bit of weight on, hardly the crime of the century!’

Andy shook his head before leaning forward and lowering his voice to just above a whisper. ‘She said Olivia looked like she was going to pop.’ Realising he still wasn’t being clear, he cut to the chase. ‘Pregnant.’

Ted’s eyes were out on stalks. ‘Was she sure Olivia wasn’t just overweight? She was always a bigger girl – she could’ve passed for sixteen when she was thirteen …’ Seeing the look on Andy’s face, his voice trailed off.