‘What about? Can you remember?’

‘Yes. You.’

‘Did she tell you to marry me?’

‘I can’t really remember what she said. I wish I’d written it down. I think she told me to take a chance on you though. Oh Daniel,’ Queenie put her hand over her mouth. ‘Say your mum was looking down on us when we were, ya know?’

Daniel burst out laughing and put an arm around Queenie’s shoulders. ‘I’m sure Mum wouldn’t want to watch. She would’ve shut her eyes. You’re a funny one, you are, Queenie. And that is why I love you. You’re not like any of the other women I’ve met. You’re unique, just like Mum was.’

Queenie beamed from ear to ear. She felt like that silly schoolgirl who’d had a crush on Daniel all those years ago. Not a grown woman with four kids who was nearing her forties.

‘So where do we go from here? I’m definitely moving back to London. I wanna be close to you. Will you meet up with me? Regularly?’

‘I don’t see why not.’ Queenie wouldn’t shit on her own doorstep, but could meet Daniel in the West End. Vinny liked Daniel, so even if she was spotted out with him, she knew Vinny wouldn’t kick off. Nobody could say anything really, what with Daniel being Mary’s son.

‘I know some lovely restaurants and hotels I can take you to. We can have early lunches, then spend the afternoons in bed,’ Daniel said with a twinkle in his eye.

‘You’ve got it all planned out, haven’t you, Daniel O’Leary? Your mum always said you could charm the birds from the trees. No wonder the women fall for you,’ joked Queenie. She was ever so excited though. The thought of having a passionate affair with Daniel in London filled her with joy. Life was too short to not take chances; especially the way Daniel made her feel. He brought her alive in more ways than one.

‘You know what you were saying earlier about Vinny and Roy opening their club? I’d love to be there. Can I come?’

‘Oh, I dunno about that. The whole family’ll be there, Albie included.’

‘I’ll behave, I swear. Patrick’ll come with me. Everyone knows how close you were to Mum. Nobody’ll blink an eyelid.’

‘I’ll think about it.’

‘I don’t want you to go home tomorrow. Can’t you stay a bit longer?’

‘No. I must go back with Patrick. You got a phone here?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I’ll give you my number. Don’t ring until after ten of an evening. Brenda’s in bed by then and the boys and Albie are usually out.’

The rest of the day passed quickly. Too quickly. Talking to Daniel was so easy, the conversation flowed like running water.

‘Patrick’s back,’ Daniel sighed, peeping through the curtain.

‘Don’t you say anything to him, Daniel. It’s early days and I don’t want anybody to know.’

‘You’ve told me that about fifty times already.’

‘And I’m telling you again.’