‘Don’t be spending no more on the boys, Queen. You’ve spent a fortune on ’em as it is.’

‘That’s only ’cause this is the first year I’ve ever been able to splash out. That new job of yours has been a godsend, Albie. It truly has.’

‘I’m glad you’re happy. I was reading in the paper the other day that televisions are on the rise since the Queen’s Coronation. So I thought, after Christmas, we might get one. Ronny Tobyn rented one recently and says that’s the way forward in case the bloody thing goes wrong.’

Queenie’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh Albie, that would be wonderful. I would have loved to have watched the Queen’s Coronation rather than listened to it.’

‘I’ll sort it then.’ Hearing his wife’s favourite song ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ by Billie Holiday on the radio, Albie grabbed her round the waist with one arm and waltzed her around the front room. He still hadn’t quite got over the shock that Micky and Cilla were a couple, but he’d hidden that well from Queenie. He hadn’t even told her he was no longer singing in the Hoop and Grapes of a Sunday lunchtime. He must think up some excuse to tell her soon, mind. The grapevine was always in full throttle around the East End. ‘I’d better be off now. I’ll be back in time for tea.’

‘Queenie!’

Recognizing the voice immediately, Queenie stopped pushing Brenda’s pram and turned around. ‘Eliza! Oh my God! Are those three beauties all yours?’ Queenie had not seen Eliza since she’d walked out on her job in Cohen’s.

‘Yes. These are my three youngest. Four, I now have, and that’s my lot. I wanted a girl and thankfully my little Simone popped out last,’ Eliza chuckled. ‘How you doing, Queenie? Dad said you pop in the shop from time to time. Is this your youngest? Ooh, she’s gorgeous,’ Eliza gushed, peering inside the pram.

‘Yes. Brenda’s my fourth and last too. I’m doing fine, thanks. But I must apologize for how I spoke to you that day I left the shop, Eliza. I didn’t mean what I said, I swear to you.’

‘Forget it. I’m not one to hold grudges and my dad always loves seeing you. So where are you living? Has Albie brought you your dream house yet?’

‘We’re still renting at present. But Albie has a wonderful job now, so we’re saving up for a mortgage. What about you? And Doreen? Do you still keep in touch with her?’

‘My husband is in the rag trade and doing very well. He owns a wholesaler’s down the Commercial Road and supplies to many shops and market traders. We bought a house in Barnet, not far from where Mummy and Daddy live. As for Doreen, after kissing many frogs, she finally found her prince. He’s a professional footballer, plays for Fulham. He recently whisked Doreen off to Paris and proposed!’

‘Oh how lovely,’ Queenie replied. She didn’t begrudge Doreen happiness, even though they’d fallen out. Now Albie was earning good money, she would soon have a lovely home of her own. ‘Please apologize to Doreen for the way I spoke to her when I left the shop too, Eliza, and congratulate her on her engagement.’