‘That’s right. You go and see Ruthie.’ Kissing her from behind, he said meaningfully, ‘I’ll wait for you in the front bedroom, shall I?’

‘Not tonight, Bob.’

‘What’s the matter with you?’

‘I’m just concerned about Ruthie, that’s all. She’s been acting very strange lately.’

‘It’s been almost a week.’

Bridget shrugged him off. ‘I know.’

‘If you don’t show me some affection soon, I’ll begin to think you don’t want me any more.’ He walked round to face her. ‘You do want me, don’t you, my lovely?’

Not for the first time, Bridget began to wonder. ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself,’ she said, which infuriated him. ‘You finish clearing the table and I’ll go up to Ruthie. Afterwards, we’ll sit and talk.’

Before he could argue, she was out of the room and on her way up the stairs.

‘Bitch!’ He slammed his fist on the table, shaking with anger.

Upstairs, Bridget sat on the bed next to Ruthie. ‘What’s wrong, sweetheart?’

‘Will you and… him… get married, Mam?’

‘Would you be very unhappy if we did?’

There was a long pause before Ruthie shook her head. ‘Not if you really wanted to.’

‘You don’t like Bob, do you?’

Ruthie shrugged her shoulders. ‘You do.’

‘I suppose I must.’ It was a strange thing to say, but these days, ever since she’d seen Harry again, her feelings were all at odds.

‘Mam?’

‘I’m listening, sweetheart.’

‘If I asked you not to, would you still marry him?’

It took a moment for Bridget to give her answer. ‘Not just because you asked me. You would need to give me a very good reason. We’ve already made plans, and I happen to think Bob would make you a very good father. We need a man about the place, and I won’t always have you here. One day you’ll get married and I might end up a lonely old woman.’

Ruthie hadn’t thought of that. ‘I wouldn’t want that to happen, Mam.’

‘Neither would I. So, if you have a good reason why I shouldn’t marry Bob, then I need to know.’

When Ruthie started softly crying, Bridget held her close. ‘Is there something you want to tell me?’

A moment passed, and then Ruthie shook her head.

‘Ruthie?’

‘Yes, Mam?’

‘You always used to like Bob.’

‘Yes, Mam.’

‘What’s changed to turn you against him?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Are you jealous, is that it?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘Do you think I won’t love you as much? Because if that’s so, then you’re wrong, sweetheart. You’re very precious to me, and you could never do anything to stop me loving you.’

‘I love you too, Mam.’

‘And do you think you could learn to like Bob again?’

No answer.

‘All right. We’ll see.’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t want any dinner, Mam.’

‘There’s still some hotpot left,’ Bridget replied hopefully. ‘And happen a slice of apple pie. Would you like to come back downstairs for a while?’

‘Don’t want to.’

‘Then you don’t have to.’

‘Mam?’

‘Yes?’