Rita’s mind then turned to her other sister-in-law, even though she never called her that, since Ruby had never been acknowledged as Winnie’s daughter while the vile old woman had been alive. Now, though, Ruby had stepped up to help out in the shop, not just to mind it for a moment or two when nobody else was around, or behind the scenes with the bookkeeping. She was down there now, holding the fort, and with none of her former crises of confidence.

‘I hope Ruby’s all right,’ she said, going to the door so she could hear if the young woman should call up the stairs for assistance.

‘Oh, I think she will be,’ said Violet with a grin, looking almost like her old self. ‘As I was coming in, I could see she had a visitor.’

‘A visitor? Ruby? Are you sure?’

Violet tapped the side of her nose. ‘And it won’t be the first time. I’d meant to mention it before, but, you know … it went out of my mind, what with everything else that’s happened.’

‘And no wonder,’ said Rita forcefully. ‘Who is it?’

‘Mr James.’

‘What, the old fellow down at the allotments?’

‘No, not him.’ Violet tilted back her head and gave one of her horsy laughs, which, even though it was a sound that took some getting used to, gladdened Rita’s heart, as she hadn’t heard it since before the dreadful day when the telegram had come. ‘His son. Reggie. Have you met him? You must have, he often brings the vegetables.’

‘Oh, him. The one who limps a bit,’ said Rita, remembering now. ‘Are you sure he isn’t just delivering more boxes of tomatoes?’

‘If you ask me, Rita,’ said Violet wickedly, ‘Ruby’s getting more than tomatoes from him.’

Rita gasped. ‘No! Surely not! Not Ruby.’

Violet shrugged. ‘All right, maybe I’m making more of it than there really is. But it’s more than bringing the vegetables, just you mark my words.’

‘So you don’t think I should pop down and see if she’s all right?’

‘No,’ said Violet firmly. ‘Most definitely not. She’ll call if she wants our help. And she’s got to get used to being down there on her own as you’re going back to nursing. How are you feeling about that?’

‘Honestly? I’m looking forward to it,’ said Rita. ‘It will be hard to leave Ellen’ – she glanced at the baby asleep in her basket, tucked beneath the windowsill – ‘but Mam will look after her and she’s old enough to have her bottle. I’d rather do that than send her to one of those nurseries.’

‘We’ll all help with her,’ said Violet. ‘They’ll need you back on the wards.’