Alice laughed until her chest hurt, when she took a deep, invigorating breath. “You could be right.” Very carefully, she stretched her back, until she felt more comfortable. “I can’t deny it. I’m impatient, stubborn, fussy, bossy and aggravating.” She gave a mischievous wink. “But don’t tell anyone else, will you?”

The two of them were still chatting when Raymond arrived.

Guided by Alice’s gentle suggestions, he looked smart and presentable in gray trousers, a navy jacket and cream-colored shirt. His hair was newly cut and falling smartly about his ears, and as he approached them, his face was wreathed in a happy smile. Today, he was taking Alice home.

“My, but he’s a fine fella.” The nurse was first to see him enter the ward. “If I wasn’t already married, I could fancy him myself.”

“Ah, don’t give me that,” Alice protested. “Sure, haven’t I seen your husband – got the dreamy look of a film star, so he has.” She glanced at Raymond, big and bumbling, very slightly knock-kneed, and not one “film-star” feature on his lolloping square face.

Tongue in cheek, she asked the nurse, “I bet you wouldn’t swap your fella for mine, would you?” There was a twinkle in her eye. “I mean, why would you want to swap a rose for a cabbage, eh?”

The two of them chuckled at that.

In truth though, Alice had come to love Raymond as much as he had always loved her. It was not the kind of love where the world turns upside down at the touch of someone’s hand. Instead it was a warm and wonderful experience, and now, as he walked her gently through the ward, she felt that no one in the world could ever hurt her again.

Safe in the car and headed home, Alice asked him, “Have the police been to see you?”

“Not since last week, no.”

“So do you reckon they’ve given up on finding Maddy?”

“I hope so. But who knows?”

“So, what did you tell them? Did you remember what I said?”

“I just told them what I’d said before, time and again, that Maddy no longer worked for Drayton, and that she had not been in the club at all that night.”

“And did they ask about Ellen?”

“Yes, and I explained that, as far as I could recall, Ellen had been feeling unwell after she came offstage, and so probably went straight home. I said there had been talk of her going on holiday for a week or so. I told them I knew nothing more than that.”

“Did you send the letter?”

Raymond nodded. “I did.”

“You didn’t change anything, did you?” she asked. “You copied it down exactly as I said?”

Raymond fell silent.

“Ray?” Alice gave him a tap. “I’m still waiting for an answer.”

Looking sheepish, he apologized. “I copied down everything you’d written, word for word,” he confirmed, “except I told them not to contact me or anyone else at the club; I said the police were still about, so Maddy and Ellen needed to keep their heads down.” He paused. “I hope I did right?”

Alice could tell he had more to say. “What else did you write?”

When the traffic lights changed, he quickly swung the wheel to the left. “I’m sorry, love. Don’t be cross. I just… kinda mentioned that we’d meet up again one day – me, her, and Ellen. That’s all.”

When Alice made no response, he glanced down at her. Alarmed to see her crying, he drew the car over to the curb. “I did wrong, didn’t I? Oh look, I’m sorry. Please…”

But as she answered him, he was amazed to see her smiling through the tears. “Oh Raymond, aren’t you the lovely man? As for what you wrote, as long as you didn’t give Maddy any idea that I’m still alive, it was not wrong to tell her that we might meet up one day. In time, she will have to know the truth, but only when I’m satisfied that she’s safe from harm. Meanwhile, you’ve given her a glimmer of security, letting her know that she hasn’t been altogether abandoned. And I truly thank you for that.”

With her two hands she drew his face down to hers, and kissed him with all the affection she felt.

“I do love you, Alice,” he murmured. “You know that, don’t you?”

“I love you too,” she said. And meant it.

As they drove on, she wagged a finger at him. “Next time I ask you to copy something I’ve written, don’t take it upon yourself to add a whole new letter of your own.”

“I won’t.”

“Ah sure, I can’t abide folks who think they know better than anybody else.”

“I know you can’t,” Raymond agreed stolidly. “As for me, I can’t abide folks who are argumentative, frustrating, and difficult to please.”

“Oh! Would that be me you’re talking about, by any chance?”

“Well, if the cap fits…?” He gave her a sideways glance.

Alice had to laugh. “Will ye listen to the two of us,” she croaked. “Going at each other like an old married couple, so we are.”

“That’s exactly what I want,” he answered softly.

“What… the two of us fighting and feuding?” As if she didn’t know what he was getting at.

“Me and you – ‘an old married couple.’” Another sideways glance. “So, what do you think?”

“Glory be! Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I might be.”

“Then I might think about it,” she replied teasingly. She pointed to the cyclist wobbling alongside them. “Watch out for the old fella. And for goodness sake, keep your mind on the road!”

He smiled to himself. Alice had said she might think about them getting wed. That meant there was a chance.

His smile grew broader.

“And what the divil are you grinning at, like some Cheshire Cat, might I ask?”

“Just thinking.”

“Well, stop thinking and do like I said – keep your eyes on the road!”

Though, as he came onto the straight, her heart couldn’t help but smile too.

Thirteen

By the end of November, winter had really begun to settle in. Blue skies had fallen to gray, the wind was bitter and for three days now, the driving rain had been relentless. But as always, inside Bob Maitland’s house, at number 8, Ackerman Street, it was cozy and warm.

“Look at me! I’m so big and heavy, my legs are going bandy.” Having negotiated the narrow stairway, Maddy ambled into the kitchen for breakfast. Patting her swollen belly, she eased herself into a chair. “I’ll be glad when the baby’s born,” she groaned.

“I’m not surprised.” Grandad wagged a finger. “You’re never still – making beds, sweeping the yard like somebody possessed, and insisting on your turn to do the washing and cooking. In your condition, you need to take things easy, lass, not drive yourself into the ground.”

Like any woeful man with misguided intentions he hoped to make her see sense by pointing out how, “It’s obvious you’re dog-tired, and I can’t help but notice how lately, you seem to be covered in spots.”

Oblivious to the fact that his kindly meant comments were not helping to restore Maddy’s confidence, he went blithely on, “All the upheaval of moving here, and the burden of carrying a child – well, it’s plainly telling on you, lass. It stands to reason, you can’t push yourself to the limits and still look bright and lively. So will you listen to me, pet, and be kind to yourself. Ease up a bit, eh?”

Feeling more self-conscious than ever, Maddy gingerly stroked her puffy face. “Where are they, these spots that I’m supposed to have?” She felt miserable now. “I haven’t seen any.”

At that moment Ellen arrived from the front room, where she had been hanging her smalls on the clothes horse. “Ellen? Have I got spots all over my face?” Maddy asked.

“I can’t see any,” Ellen said, peering at her. “What makes you think you’ve got spots anyway?”

“Grandad Bob said I had some.” Getting out of the chair, Maddy went to the fireplace, where she stretched up to look in the overhead mirror. “Where are they?”

“I’m surprised at you, Grandad,” Ellen gently chided. “I would have thought you knew better than to tell a woman she’s looking at her worst, especially when she’s eight months’ pregnant and already feeling self-conscious.”