While Bridget prepared the turkey, Bob watched, in love but not daring to say so. ‘I’d better go,’ he said eventually; if he stayed much longer he might say something to frighten her, like ‘Marry me, Bridget’.

Bridget saw him to the door.

‘Bridget… er, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask,’ he said hesitantly. ‘I wonder if…’ Overcome with shyness, the words stuck in his throat.

Bridget wondered what was coming.

Summoning the dregs of his courage, he blurted out, ‘Will you let me take you and Ruth out? There are some baby rabbits on Tomson’s farm. I’m sure Ruth would love to see them, and afterwards we could have a bite to eat at the Tickled Trout along Preston New Road.’

Bridget thought quickly. What would be the harm? And, like he said, Ruth would love to see the baby rabbits. ‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘Thank you, we’d like that.’

He was so excited he hopped on the spot. ‘Oh, Bridget! That’s wonderful!’

Bridget had an invitation of her own. He seemed such a lonely man, and she owed him so much. ‘I’ve been thinking. You’ve been so good to me and Ruth, seeing us home these dark nights and everything. If you want, you’re welcome to join us for Christmas dinner.’

He was on the point of accepting when Bridget added encouragingly, ‘Fanny will be here, and her son Billy. Nelly Potts is coming from next door – you remember her?’ Of course he did! How could he forget the day Ruth was born? When Bridget recalled the things he had seen – and heard – she blushed to the roots of her hair. ‘I’ll pay you for the fire guard,’ she finished lamely.

‘I’m not likely to forget Nelly Potts,’ he declared with a grin, ‘and I don’t want your money, Bridget. I’ve told you many a time, I’m just glad to be of help.’

‘So will you come for Christmas dinner?’

It was the thought of all the others being there that put him off. If it had been just himself and Bridget, with only Ruth to worry about, he might well have reorganised his workload. As it was, he didn’t see that it was worth it. ‘I can’t, thank you all the same,’ he told her. ‘I’ve work to do. But you will make it soon, won’t you? I mean the farm and everything.’

‘When would you suggest?’ she answered.

‘Next week, after the holidays.’ He could hardly contain his excitement. ‘Oh, Bridget, it will be lovely, just the three of us.’ Laughing, he grabbed her round the waist, lifted her clean off her feet and kissed her long and hard. Then he put her down and walked away down the street, merrily whistling.

Bridget was stunned by the suddenness of it all. Quietly she closed the door behind him and fingered her mouth. ‘Well, Bridget Mulligan,’ she chuckled, ‘you walked right into that one.’

Going down the passageway, there was a smile on her face. As she walked into the parlour, she saw Ruth playing at the foot of Tom’s chair. In her mind’s eye she saw Tom sitting there as he used to when they were first married, his legs stretched out and his eyes turned towards her; eyes that were filled with love.