While living at her aunt’s, Queenie did not return home once to visit her parents. Viv did and said it was ever so cramped downstairs. She also said the new family traipsed through their home whenever they needed to use the kitchen or the toilet in the back yard. Queenie was furious about that. Say the man walked in while she was washing or getting dressed? It wasn’t even their home any more by the sounds of it. Queenie dreaded going back there.

It was on a Thursday afternoon that Queenie received the first bit of good news. ‘I visited your mum this morning, Queenie. Things still aren’t great at home with your dad, so I convinced Mum to allow you and Viv to stay with me for the rest of your holidays,’ explained Aunt Edna.

As for the second bit of news Queenie received. It wasn’t just good, it was absolutely mind-blowing.

CHAPTER SIX

I looked at Viv in amazement. ‘A telegram! But it can’t be for us. Who would send us a telegram?’

‘It is for us. I was at Mum’s when the man delivered it. It’s got both our names on the envelope. It’s from Betty and John,’ Viv explained.

For obvious reasons, I wanted to try to forget about my time in Lincolnshire, so I hadn’t written to Betty and John, not once. Viv kept in touch with them though and always signed her letters from herself and me.

‘Aren’t you going to open it then?’ asked Aunt Edna. ‘It must be important if it’s a telegram.’

‘You open it, Queenie,’ urged Viv.

‘No.’ I hated it when Viv read out the letters from the Briggs. It made me feel ill, especially their last letter, that ended with ‘Ivan is here. He sends his regards to you both and wants you to tell Miss Queenie those dart flights she bought him are still bringing him luck’.

‘Give us the bleedin’ thing ’ere, I’ll open it,’ demanded Aunt Edna. She ripped open the envelope. ‘Oh dear. It isn’t good news, girls, I’m afraid. A murder has occurred in Lincolnshire and a policeman will be visiting soon to speak to you both.’

‘What! Why?’ I asked. ‘We don’t know nothing about no murder.’

‘It’s not Betty or John, is it?’ said Viv, her complexion white.

‘No. It’s Ivan who worked for Betty and John. You were both friends with him apparently. I’m so sorry, girls. What a shock for you both. Come give me a hug, then I’ll make you a cup of sweet tea.’

My heart was leaping for joy. I wanted to jump up and down in celebration, but obviously I couldn’t. So I put on a shocked act and pretended to be upset like Viv, while secretly wishing Ivan had died in the most excruciating pain known to man.

Unable to contain my excitement, I ran round to Mrs O’Leary’s house to tell her the news. ‘Good,’ Mary said, grabbing my face in her big hands. ‘Now you can finally move on with your life, Queenie.’