Hearing a wolf whistle, Queenie turned around. It was Daniel. He was alone. ‘Looking good, Queenie. Where you off to?’

‘She’s going to the Beehive to give her bloke an ultimatum, aren’t you, darling?’ replied Mary.

Queenie felt embarrassed. She didn’t want Daniel knowing her business.

‘Why. What’s he done?’ Daniel’s green eyes flashed with curiosity.

‘Nothing. We had words last night, that’s all,’ Queenie snapped.

‘I’m out on the ale tonight. I might pop in the Beehive later, check this bloke of yours out. Someone has to make sure he’s good enough for ya.’

‘No. I’ll be fine, honest.’ The last person Queenie wanted turning up there was Daniel.

‘You sticking your oar in ain’t gonna help. You stick to your usual haunts,’ ordered Mary.

Queenie felt butterflies in her stomach. Daniel was giving her his intense gaze that always made her feel funny. She stood up. ‘I’ll be off now, Mary. Aggie’s expecting me to knock for her.’

‘OK, love. Pop over in the morning; let me know how you got on. Good luck.’

As Mary went into the kitchen, Daniel saw Queenie out. He took her hand, ‘Queenie, don’t go there tonight. Come out with me. By the sounds of it, this geezer doesn’t deserve you.’

Queenie shook him off, ‘You have no right to say who I can and can’t be with, Daniel O’Leary. You’re a married man.’ Her eyes welled up as she looked up at him.

‘I’m just looking out for you, Queen, don’t be getting upset now, darling.’ He touched her face.

‘Daniel – want a cuppa?’ Mary hollered from inside. ‘Where are you, boy?’

Queenie stepped away. ‘Let me live my life,’ she hissed.

‘I’m sorry.’

Without a backwards glance, Queenie ran from the only man she’d ever truly love.

Albie was surprised to see Queenie walk in with Terry and Aggie later that evening. He’d had a feeling she wouldn’t turn up tonight. He walked straight over to her and put his hand gently on her back. ‘You OK, Queen? Can I get you a drink?’

‘No, thanks. Terry’s getting them.’

‘I’m glad you came,’ smiled Albie.

Queenie smiled back. ‘Me too. But we need to talk, after you’ve finished work. I have some stuff I need to get off my chest.’

Albie nodded. ‘Fine.’

Queenie sat in her usual seat, then halfway through the evening, did what Mary had urged her to do a while back. She walked up to Albie and asked if she could sing a song.

‘Erm, yeah, of course.’ Albie handed Queenie the mike as she whispered to the pianist her song choice. Queenie then blew everyone away with a fantastic rendition of ‘You Are My Sunshine’.

‘Wow! I didn’t know you could sing like that,’ Albie said, as Queenie handed him the mike back.

‘You never asked me, did ya?’

‘Hello, Queenie. How you doing? You got a brilliant voice,’ gushed Freddie Angel. He’d been a year above Queenie at school and had always had a soft spot for her.