Dolly sighed heavily and said, ‘Look, Maeve, we both know Georgio was a ducker and diver. Whatever he’s done, he’s more than paying for it now.’

Maeve was stopped from answering by the front door opening and Donna’s cheery hello as she came in. She walked into the kitchen with a stack of books held against her chest.

‘Hello, Donna love. What’s all those?’

‘Hello, Maeve. Oh, these are the books from the car lot. I’m going to look them over, see if I can make head or tail of them. Hello, Dolly, how about a nice cup of tea? I couldn’t half do with one.’

Dolly poured her out a cup and listened to her chattering on.

‘I’m getting to like working there. I think it’s because I’m getting the hang of it. Even Carol’s started leaving me alone now to get on with it. I still don’t understand a lot of stuff, but I’m getting there. Also Carol has started taking calls at home, which takes the pressure off. Davey can concentrate on the buyers, and travelling round looking at motors. So really, I think it’s working out well!’

Maeve smiled. ‘What kind of calls is Carol taking? Surely there’s no reason for that if you’re there all day?’

Donna shrugged and sat at the scrubbed pine table. ‘I don’t know. I think it’s the regular customers - they think I might bodge it up or something. Once I get more experience I expect everything will be much easier for all concerned. I had a lovely letter from Georgio this morning. He’s settled in at Parkhurst and his appeal should be in about eight months. He sounded much happier than he has for ages.’

She smiled widely at the two older women and they smiled back at her. Maeve sipped her tea, all the while wondering what kind of calls Carol could take at home, that couldn’t come into the office any more?

‘Look at her! What’s she doing here?’ Mark Hancock’s voice was loud. The men all looked at the woman walking towards them in a white hard hat and designer Wellingtons. Her legs encased in tight black ski pants, with a heavy rib white jumper over them, made her look as if she should be at a race meeting at the very least. Not on a building site in Ilford.

‘What can I do for you, Mrs Brunos?’ Mark said aggressively, and the men nearby sniggered.

Donna picked up the tone and smiled tightly, embarrassed already. ‘I understand from my husband that the footings should have been in six weeks ago. So the contract is behind schedule—’