When the other two burst out laughing, she saw the funny side of it. ‘Here, you can have the little sod!’ Handing the child to Fanny, she suggested with a cheeky grin, ‘I reckon you should teach him which way the wind blows.’

Soon after that, Fanny took her leave. ‘I’d better not come and visit you at home,’ she told Bridget. ‘Tom wouldn’t take kindly to that, you know he can’t stand the sight of me. Common as muck, that’s what he thinks of me, and I’m buggered if he’s not right.’

Bridget regarded her friend with affection. The business with Bill Norman had taken its toll on Fanny. There were dark circles under her eyes and the laughter that used to light her smile just wasn’t there any more. Yet her spirit was intact, as always, even if it was slightly ragged. ‘Has Bill been round to see you?’ Bridget asked.

‘No, and he’d better not! If he shows his bleedin’ face at my door, he’ll rue the day, I can promise yer that!’

Before Fanny left, she and Bridget agreed to keep in touch by letter. ‘Until I’m strong enough to come to your place,’ Bridget said. ‘By then we’ll have tales to swap, and the babies can start getting to know each other.’

‘You’ve got a good friend in her,’ Nelly remarked as she helped Bridget prepare to go home when Tom arrived. He was due soon.

‘I’ve got a good friend in you too, Nelly.’ Bridget would never have dreamed that this old gossip had such a heart of gold under her wagging tongue. ‘I won’t forget what you did for me.’

‘It was no more than anybody else would have done.’

‘Maybe, but I owe you a lot. I know we’ve never been that close, Nelly, but from now on, you’re welcome in my house any time.’

Nelly laughed. ‘In that case you’ll have to mind you don’t let slip any juicy gossip for me to carry away. I can’t help it, you see. I’m a tittle-tat. Always have been.’

‘All the same, Nelly. I meant what I said. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you.’

‘Give over, lass.’ Nelly flushed with embarrassment. ‘I’m only too pleased it all worked out in the end.’ She helped Bridget on with her coat, picked up the baby and escorted Bridget downstairs.

‘I can hold her,’ Bridget protested.

Nelly would have none of it. ‘You can hardly put one foot before the other,’ she chided. ‘Anyway, don’t deny an old woman the feel of a bairn in her arms. You’ll have plenty of time to molly-coddle her when you’re settled back under your own roof.’

When Tom arrived to collect his family, he looked as shy as a man on his first date. He had finished work early, been home, washed and changed, and lit a small fire, for the houses in the area were chilly in the evening, even in the month of August.