Bill Norman was born a coward, and a coward he would be to his dying day.

But even for a man like him, there were limits to what he would endure. ‘You had no bloody right to go round there!’ he yelled. ‘I told you it was over between us… that I wasn’t interested in her or the boy. I told you to let it be, that there was nothing to be gained from raking over dead coals. But, oh no! You had to go and poke your snout in, as usual.’

‘And I’ve every right to poke me bloody snout in!’ Standing at either side of the table, glaring at each other, they were like two mad dogs setting up for a barney. ‘I had to make sure she didn’t imagine the boy was an easy way back into your life. You married me, Bill Norman, and by God, I’ll not let some other woman get her claws into you, not after all these years, and all the hard work I’ve put into our marriage. And God only knows it’s not been easy.’

‘The trouble is, you don’t trust me. You never have!’

‘Huh! And I never will neither!’

‘You should have kept away. You’ve made me look a damned fool.’

‘That’s because you are a damned fool. You’re a lazy, useless bugger, and you’ll never be anything else. Fanny Higgins saw a soft, easy life in you. She imagined her and the boy would live it up at my expense. Well, she knows different now. I told her a thing or two, and I’m not sorry. That woman won’t get her hands on you, not if I can help it. Nor will the boy, however much she lies about him belonging to you.’

‘She’s not lying. The lad is mine.’

‘Rubbish! She’s been with all sorts. He could belong to anybody. For all you know, he could be the coalman’s, or the street-sweeper’s. But I’ll tell yer one thing, Bill Norman, he ain’t yourn, and that’s for sure.’

‘You’re a wicked woman.’

‘Oh? Wicked am I? Because I want to keep you away from slags like that? Are you too bloody dozy to understand I went round there for your own good? Not mine… but yourn.’

‘The lad is mine.’ He wasn’t shouting now, but trying to convince her. He knew the lad was his. There was no doubt.

Laughing hysterically, she tormented him. ‘D’yer still want her, eh, is that it? Want yer wicked way, eh, ’cause you can’t get it with me?’ Rushing at him, she raised both her fists and brought them crashing against his chest. ‘Well, go on then, you useless devil! Get after her. And let’s see how long it lasts, shall we? She’ll soon have you out the house and down the street. The woman is no fool, and neither am I. You’ve no money to call yer own, and you’ll get not a penny from me.’ Flinging open the door, she goaded him to the last. ‘Go on! Go to her. Tell her you’re penniless. Whether the lad’s yours, or whether he ain’t, I’ll warrant she’ll not give you the time of day.’