‘You send them along to the hall at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Thank you very much.’ Jenny’s eyes shone.

Her former employer smiled gently. ‘You didn’t believe I would bother with this, did you, Jenny?’

‘To be honest I thought I was wasting my time appealing to you, but I’ll try anything to help my friends. I did think you’d forgotten about it, though.’

‘My son Matt wouldn’t let me forget,’ she laughed.

‘Oh?’

‘You don’t know my boys, Jenny, but they’re eager to help in any way they can. They are all fine men.’ She looked so proud as she talked about her sons. ‘They care. We all care. Even my husband, though you may find that hard to believe after the way he treated you. He still frets about it.’

‘He shouldn’t do that.’ Jenny didn’t feel animosity towards any of them now. ‘It’s all worked out for the best.’

‘Has it, Jenny?’ Louise said softly.

‘Oh, yes, I’m happy where I am.’ And she knew that was the truth. The life she was now living had important things her former existence had lacked: friendship, love and a genuine caring for each other. They were all priceless qualities.

Louise glanced at the clock over the Town Hall door. ‘My goodness, look at the time. I must hurry, Jenny. There’s a great deal to do and not a moment to lose.’ Before rushing off, she kissed Jenny’s cheek. ‘You take care of yourself, my dear.’

Jenny watched her hurry up the road, her stride purposeful. She couldn’t believe that show of affection. Louise Stannard had just kissed her former under housemaid! Completely oblivious to the rain now coming down in a torrent, she laughed out loud as she began to run home with the good news for Jimmy and Ron. What a strange world this was.

Breathless, Jenny tumbled into Fred and Glad’s front room. ‘Oh, good, you’re both here,’ she gasped, seeing Ron and Jimmy there.

‘Stop and catch your breath before you try to talk,’ Glad said, grinning. ‘Whatever are you so excited about?’

‘I’ve just seen Mrs Stannard at the Town Hall. She’s going to open the centre in about a week. She said that if Ron and Jimmy go along to the old community hall at about two o’clock tomorrow, there might be a job for them.’ When Jenny saw their faces light up with hope, she added quickly, ‘It will only be for a couple of weeks, though.’

‘That don’t matter!’ Ron laughed and kissed her cheek. ‘You’re soaking wet!’

Jimmy was hopping around in excitement. ‘Let’s get there early, Ron. When word gets around, there’ll be dozens fighting for the jobs. Let’s be first in the queue.’