‘Good heavens, Georgie, we can’t expect Tommy to look after you and Auntie Sarah, now can we?’ Nancy crouched down so that she was on the same level as her son. She wasn’t sure what all this was about. Ruefully she told herself that she’d got off lightly so far – Georgie had by and large been a compliant little boy, rarely complaining, happy to go to whichever babysitter Nancy could find for him. The only thing he really objected to was his Granny Kerrigan’s food, and she could hardly blame him for that.

However, since Tommy had moved back home, Georgie had grown to idolise him more and more. Given half a chance he’d have followed him everywhere. He’d started to ask for clothes like Tommy’s, and Nancy had caught him in front of the mirror trying to brush his hair so it looked the same. The older boy could do no wrong. Nancy tried in vain to persuade her son that Tommy had to have a bike for work and that Georgie didn’t need one. ‘Maybe when you’re bigger,’ she said with her fingers crossed behind her back. She didn’t want Georgie riding off and falling down potholes.

‘I’ll help look after them,’ Georgie said. ‘I’m good at helping, Granny Feeny said so. And I’m old enough. I’m going to school soon.’

Nancy nodded, even though she sometimes found it hard to believe – her little boy almost old enough to go to school. In some ways she dreaded it – it was such a milestone for them both. Yet she knew he would love it as he was a sociable little chap, and it would give her more freedom in the daytime. For a moment she imagined more secret trysts with Gary in the early afternoon. Then she brought herself up short. Although of course Gary couldn’t say anything definite, he’d given her to understand he would be back in action soon. He still hadn’t asked her to come back to America with him, but she was certain he was building up to it. Perhaps Georgie wouldn’t have long to spend at his infant school in Merseyside …

‘Mam, you aren’t listening,’ he protested. ‘Let me stay one night with Tommy and Auntie Sarah. Just one.’

Nancy thought again of lying in Gary’s arms. Maybe they could snatch an entire night with each other, one last time before he went back into action. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘We’ll ask. You’ll have to be good and do what they tell you, mind.’

‘Of course,’ said Georgie, offended by the idea that he would do anything else.

‘Let me help you with your case, Kitty.’ Frank reached for the rather battered overnight bag that Kitty had brought with her on to the train.