‘Perhaps me and Albie can rent it,’ Queenie replied excitedly. She still looked after Mrs O’Leary and would love to live opposite her again. Mary adored her boys, Vinny especially. ‘Bert’s getting married soon, so he’ll be moving out. Albie won’t be able to single-handedly afford the rent on our house, and I don’t wanna live in that street for a moment longer than I have to. There’s a rat infestation next door at present. The boys would love living at yours.’

‘Oh, Queen. That’d be brilliant,’ beamed Viv.

‘I’d love you to move back in. But what about Albie? He might not want to live with his in-laws.’

‘Well I’ve had to live with his family, haven’t I? What’s the difference? It won’t be for ever, will it? Bit of luck, it might make Albie get his arse into gear and get himself a proper job.’

‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Molly grinned. ‘I don’t really want Viv doing bar work, she works hard enough as it is.’

‘And so do you, Mum. Wait there, I’ll talk to Albie now.’

Albie was about to give a small speech and toast to his mum when Queenie dropped the bombshell. ‘Jesus wept! My mum ain’t even cold yet, Queenie. Give it a rest, will ya! How can you ask me something like that, today of all days?’

‘Because we live in a shithole where brasses sell themselves on the corner and next door’s overrun with rats, Albie. I’ve done my bit caring for your mum, now it’s your turn to help my family out. I thought that’s what marriage was all about, give and take.’

‘We’ll talk about it tomorrow, OK,’ hissed Albie.

Queenie was relieved when her mum and sister got up to leave. Albie’s Aunt Liz had plonked herself at the table, telling funny stories of Albie as a child. Queenie had silently prayed she wouldn’t mention him hiding in her loft, and thankfully she hadn’t. Apart from Mrs O’Leary, Queenie had never told anyone. ‘Bye then, Mum. I’ll speak to Albie tomorrow about you know what. Then I’ll pop round and see you after your cleaning jobs. Bye Viv.’

‘Nice lady, your mum. Shame for her what happened to your dad. Imagine fighting in the war, then losing your life in a tragic accident like that. Life’s so bleedin’ unfair at times. Look how poor Ida suffered. She was a beautiful woman years ago, ya know. Could have had her pick of men. I knew Charlie Butler was a womanizing bastard the moment she first brought him home. I clocked him looking me up and down on more than one occasion. Ida just got on with it when he walked out on her and the boys, bless her. She was never the same after losing her leg though. Sapped her personality, that did,’ explained Aunt Liz.

‘What did he look like, Charlie Butler? Albie doesn’t really remember him.’

‘Look at Albie and that’s Charlie. Albie’s a dead ringer for his father. Same mop of black hair, piercing green eyes. Bert looks more like Ida, poor sod,’ Liz chuckled.