‘I miss you, Queenie. We need to talk.’

‘I need to change the beds upstairs. I’ll leave you two to it,’ said Mary.

‘Are you drunk?’ Queenie asked.

‘A bit. I heard about you being out with another bloke. Who was he?’

‘Just a lad I went to school with. He’s a good friend.’

‘Look, I know you’re unhappy living at home and Mum would love you to move in with us. Why don’t ya?’

‘Living in sin! I think not.’

‘No. I don’t mean us sleeping together. You could have my bed and I’ll sleep on the sofa.’

‘No, Albie. You know how people talk. I’m not ruining my good reputation for you or anybody else.’

Albie ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. ‘Marry me then.’

‘What!’

‘I said, let’s get married.’

‘Get down on one knee and ask me properly then.’

Albie did as asked. ‘Queenie Wade, will you marry me?’

Queenie grinned. She’d played the perfect game and won. She couldn’t quite believe it had been that easy. It was time to forget Daniel O’Leary once and for all. ‘Yes, Albie Butler. I will.’

PART THREE

‘From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home’

Anon

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

‘I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.’

Barely five months had passed since Albie’s half-hearted proposal and as he lifted my veil, I felt a mixture of joy and fear. I might’ve got my man, but that night I would be sharing his bed with him at his mother’s house and the thought terrified me.

I looked beautiful, I knew that. My wedding dress was pure satin, with big puffy sleeves and hand-sewn lace. It had belonged to the daughter of one of the wealthy ladies who shopped at Cohen’s. The daughter’s fiancé had unfortunately been killed serving our country in the Middle East, so I’d been offered the dress on the cheap. Mum hadn’t wanted me to wear it, in case it brought me bad luck too, but I wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I’d paid for my lovely dress out of Aunt Edna’s money, knowing full well she would approve.

After the confetti was thrown and the photos taken, I grabbed hold of Mrs O’Leary. My blood running cold. Sheer panic setting in. ‘Will Albie know that I’m not a virgin?’ I whispered. ‘Will he be able to tell?’

‘No. Paddy never knew. Everything’ll be fine. Stop worrying.’

‘I’m so nervous. The thought of sharing a bed with Albie scares me,’ I admitted.

Mary put her hands on my shoulders. ‘Now, you listen to me. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. I’m not going to lie to you, Queenie, I never enjoyed sex. However, I’d be lost without my boys. Albie’s a handsome man, so just lie back and think of those handsome sons you want him to give you.’