When Lily got off the bus in Kirkby Steepleton and walked home to Laurel Cottage a happy occasion was in store. Florence had worked hard with meagre rations to produce a fine party tea. Also, Freddie had made a card. It had a crayoned picture of himself holding hands with Florence and Lily.

‘I wanted to draw Dad, but I couldn’t remember what he looked like.’

Florence walked to the mantelpiece and took down a photograph in a frame. It was Arthur and Florence on their wedding day in 1924. ‘He was a wonderful man, but Jesus wanted him to go and live with the angels in heaven.’

‘Will Jesus send him back?’

‘No, dear,’ said Florence. ‘He’ll always be in heaven.’

‘Will I get to see him again?’ asked Freddie.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Florence looked sharply at Lily. ‘I think I know who that might be.’ She glanced at the clock and shook her head. ‘Late for a visit.’

Lily opened the door and Tom stood there in his uniform. ‘Come in out of the cold,’ she said.

‘Only for a moment,’ he said. ‘Happy birthday.’ He handed over a sealed envelope. ‘Your card,’ he added with a smile.

‘Thank you,’ said Lily and looked over her shoulder. ‘We’re just about to cut the cake. You’re welcome to come in.’

‘Sorry, I’m on late shift, but I wondered if you would like to go somewhere tomorrow, maybe the cinema again? There’s a good film on. It’s called My Wife’s Best Friend.’

‘What’s it about?’ asked Lily.

‘I read the review in the Herald. It got a good write-up. Apparently, Macdonald Carey and his wife, Anne Baxter, are in a plane that is about to crash and he tells her he had an affair with a friend because he didn’t want to die without confessing the truth … dramatic stuff.’

‘That sounds terrible!’ said Lily.

‘Well, the good news is the plane lands safely.’

‘So I suppose the moral is never tell the truth on your deathbed,’ said Lily.

Tom sensed her disapproval and glanced at his watch. ‘I’ll have to go, Lily. We could go for a drink instead if you like.’

‘Yes, the film’s not really my cup of tea, so come round tomorrow evening.’

‘Fine, see you then.’

There was the usual pause while he waited for Lily to make the first move, but her mind seemed elsewhere.

‘Save me some cake,’ he said with a smile as Lily opened the door and he went out into the darkness.

Back in the front room Florence and Freddie were sitting by the log fire.

‘It was Tom,’ said Lily simply and stood his card unopened on the mantelpiece.

‘Thank goodness you didn’t invite him in,’ said Florence gruffly. ‘Now, let’s light the candles.’