Vera glanced around the shelves, which were as well stocked as Rita and Violet could manage, even if there wasn’t the variety of goods available before the war broke out. Despite the cheerful display of Camp coffee bottles and the bright tins of Ovaltine, she looked dissatisfied. ‘I’ve changed my mind,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll make do with a tin of soup for my tea, and I’ll write to my Alfie to let him know that Kitty’s back. He always took an interest in her. He’s good like that, has a heart of gold.’

Violet nodded dubiously, because that wasn’t the Alfie Delaney she remembered at all. He had a reputation as a conscription dodger and a coward, but he hadn’t been seen around for a while. Rumour had it that he’d offended a lot of people by selling contaminated meat which he’d obtained on the black market, and had had to make himself scarce when many of them fell seriously ill. ‘Where’s he now, then?’ she asked, trying to make pleasant conversation as it didn’t do to lose a regular customer, however unpleasant they were.

‘He got a transfer to Clydebank,’ Vera said, puffing up with importance. ‘He’s doing very well for himself, working his fingers to the bone for the war effort.’

Not what Danny used to say about him, Violet thought, but didn’t speak it out loud. Danny and Alfie had worked together down at the Gladstone Dock and nobody had a good word for him.

‘I see,’ she said neutrally. ‘Well, don’t let me keep you, Mrs Delaney. There’s still a nip in the air once the sun starts to go down.’ She hoped the woman would get the hint. If she wasn’t going to buy anything, Violet wanted her out of the shop so she could shut up and go home.

Vera sniffed again but didn’t linger, turning on her heel and leaving without saying anything further.

Violet breathed a sigh of relief as she drew the bolt on the door. There were times when she wished she was better at doing the books or other backroom tasks, as some of the difficult customers could try the patience of a saint, and tonight she didn’t have any patience left. But it was her job to smile and get on with people, so she had to do it. She wanted to be back in her room, dwelling on the sweet memories of the time she’d shared there with Eddy.