Sid had looked mostly at the floor, down at the parlour carpet Nancy so hated. ‘Thank you for your letters,’ he’d managed to say after a painful pause. ‘It was good to have news of the nipper. He’s a fine lad, you can see that.’

‘He is,’ said Nancy immediately. ‘He’s brave an’ all. You can be proud of him, Sid.’

Sid had rubbed his forehead, as if that exchange had used up all his reserves of energy.

‘Don’t you overtire yourself,’ she’d begun, but he’d waved his other hand at her.

‘You’re still a fine-looking woman, Nancy.’ He kept his eyes down. ‘I know I wasn’t the best husband to you when we were wed. I see that now.’

Nancy shrugged. It was true, but then she was a fine one to talk. ‘Doesn’t matter, Sid. That was a long time ago. We weren’t much more than children ourselves.’

Sid laughed wearily, and coughed. When the spasm was over he cleared his throat. ‘The thing is, Nancy, I don’t know if I can be a husband to you now, if you know what I mean.’ He’d glanced up and then away, embarrassed. ‘I’m that tired all the time, I don’t know if things will work like they used to. And lots of us got sick and weren’t treated proper. I’m not the man I was, if you get my drift.’

Nancy didn’t know what to say. ‘Early days yet, Sid,’ she replied awkwardly. ‘We’ll have to get used to each other all over again.’

‘That’s if you want to,’ said Sid morosely. ‘Just look at me, how I am now. I wouldn’t blame you if you said no. Mam will look after me.’

‘I’m sure she will,’ said Nancy with asperity. Then she softened her tone. Sid’s grim honesty deserved sympathy, she acknowledged. ‘Look, you want to get to know Georgie properly, don’t you? He’ll want his parents to stay together,’ she went on carefully, preparing the ground as best she could.

‘He’s a grand little lad,’ Sid said, his voice brightening. ‘You’ve done him proud, Nancy. I’m just sorry that I can’t give you a little brother or sister for him, or not for a long while, I don’t think.’

Nancy had clasped her hands and sent up a silent prayer for courage. Then she’d bitten the bullet. ‘Well, Sid, about that …’