her anything she put him out of his misery. ‘Nerys lives across the other side of town, that’s why I’ve been so long. It’s two bus rides away and they don’t run so regular after rush hour is over. I had to wait longer for the return journeys. It’s off the London Road . . . Elms Road it’s called . . . in a gabled house, four bedrooms at least with a huge garden. Mind you, it’s small compared to some of the huge places on that street and round about. You could have six families living in some of those. I wouldn’t like to be employed as a cleaner in one of those places. Anyway, goal achieved.’
He visibly sagged with relief. ‘With no mishap to you?’ he asked in concern.
‘None apart from frostbite. So there’s nothing else we can do now except wait patiently until Nerys gets back.’ She intuitively read the expression that crossed Glen’s face then. ‘Look, I know she didn’t show any thought for you whatsoever when she was carrying out her despicable plan against you, and obviously hasn’t since, but even Nerys has to have a morsel of compassion in her somewhere. Anyway, let’s stop talking about her for now. You went to apply for those jobs you told me you saw advertised on Saturday afternoon. Any luck?’
‘Well, I thought I might be in with a good chance at one factory. The manager was still in his office when I got there and agreed to see me, and the receptionist let slip when she was showing me to his office that they hadn’t had anyone suitable apply yet. The interview seemed to be going well, I told him the same background story as I did to Reg Swinton, but this man did ask me if I’d had any trouble with the law in the past. I suppose I should have said I hadn’t and risked them not doing any checks on me, but I decided they just might. As soon as I told him I had, and what for, even though I tried to convince him I was innocent, the interview was terminated.’
‘Oh, well, his loss,’ said Jan reassuringly. ‘There are other Reg Swintons out there, Glen, who’ll only have to look at you to know you’re just not capable of doing what you were accused of. Someone will take you on. Look, as I’ve told you before, should something happen which means you have to leave your job immediately, then my wages will just about cover the rent and food, as long as you have a real passion for bread and lard. We’ll cope until you’re working again. Oh, thinking of food, I’d best get cracking on some dinner for us,’ she said, reluctantly withdrawing her legs from where they were resting on the hearth.
Glen was staring at her thoughtfully. If Jan was prepared to make such a sacrifice for him, did he dare hope that meant she cared for him as more than just a friend?
Slippers on and cardigan pulled tightly around herself to ward off the cold air in the kitchen where the heat from the fire didn’t quite reach, she made to rise. Glen stopped her, saying, ‘You stay put. I’ve got the meal under control. Won’t be a banquet but even a mere man like me surely can’t make a muck up of egg and chips.’
As he went off into the kitchen, Jan slid off her slippers, resting her feet on the hearth and settling back in her lumpy chair, issuing a contented sigh. Before their son’s accident, Harry had been a wonderful husband, but like most men he’d believed cooking was a woman’s job. She had agreed with him then, he was out at work all day providing for his family and it was her job to look after them, but she had been tired too occasionally . . . men never did appreciate that running a house was just as hard as labouring over a machine in a factory. After a particularly gruelling day labouring over the washing tub and mangle, it would have been nice if Harry had offered to see to their evening meal once in a while so she could put her feet up and read the evening paper. She would like to think she could get used to having Glen cook for her now and again, but she couldn’t because sooner or later he would be in a position to fund a place