Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

cars?’ The woman had also just done her shopping and was growing frustrated. ‘The trouble is, I can’t get my old car to start. And I don’t belong to any car-rescue scheme, so I’m in a bit of a mess.’

      ‘I’ll see if can find out what the problem is,’ Jack promised. ‘I run a showroom out at Lytham, and I’ve been around cars now for a few years . . . so let’s see if I can figure out what’s wrong, eh? Look, here’s my card, so you know who I am.’

      Jack soon had the bonnet up and quickly identified the problem. He could tell that the car was on its way out. He noted that it had 128,000 miles on the clock. However, he soon had the engine running, and all the woman had to do was to get behind the wheel and drive away.

      ‘How can I thank you?’ she asked. She thought instinctively Jack might be offended if she offered him money.

      ‘Come to our special event tomorrow morning, if you can,’ he suggested. ‘Curtis Warren Motors, over in Lytham – the address is on the card. I’ll look out for you. And who knows – maybe we can fix you up with a reliable new car.’

      Bidding her cheerio, he returned to his own car. He had no idea that the whole incident had been observed by Libby, who had just emerged from the staff entrance at the back of the supermarket.

      Having put her own shopping down for a moment so she could turn to close the door, she had paused, intrigued by the sight of a tall young man going to the other driver’s assistance. He looked just like the stranger who had loitered under the trees opposite their house the other night . . . and who had been hanging around near the chip shop later on. She recognised his light-blue rain-jacket with its distinctive white panels. Thomas had spoken of him having a big black car and had spelled out its number, all but the last digit. Libby wondered if this man’s car would be the same one.

      It was something about his stance that she recognised – something about the way he held himself as he walked along, so sure of himself, sort of easy and confident. It was him – she would have bet her day’s wages on it. But there was something else . . . something that made her breathing quicken, something that her heart knew even before her conscious mind had caught up.

      Quickly concealing herself beside the paper recycling skip, Libby studied him more closely. Now that she was seeing him in daylight, and he was not completely hidden from sight by his brolly, she could see him for who he was. She could hear his familiar voice, and her heart did a somersault.

      It was Jack Redmond!

      For what seemed an age, Libby remained concealed but within hearing distance, until Jack had picked up his bags, got into his own car and driven off. Libby was amazed to see that yes, the car was black and the registration number was similar to the one Thomas had mentioned. Only then did she emerge into the open, stunned by the discovery that Jack was back in his home-town, Blackburn.

      Suddenly she was fearful. What if she never saw him again? What if she’d found her dear friend, only to lose him again?

      Sighing with relief, she then remembered he had told the woman something about Curtis Warren Motors in Lytham. Quickly finding pen and paper, Libby wrote it down. Later she would think what to do about it. She could look it up on her laptop.

      For now, she’d better get home. Her mother and Thomas would have been expecting her at least half an hour ago, and she didn’t want to worry them. Excited and reeling with the discovery, she located her car and drove away.

       Chapter Nineteen

      BACK IN BOWER STREET, Thomas was worried. It wasn’t like Libby to be late. He paced up and down, pausing only to look out of his window. ‘She’ll be here soon,’ he told himself. ‘Yes . . . she’ll have been called to do summat an’ nowt, and now she’ll be on ’er way home.’

      He toyed with the idea of calling her mobile phone. He even picked up the receiver and began to dial.

      ‘No. Best not,’ he decided. ‘She’ll think I’m checkin’ up on her, poor lass.’

      No sooner had he replaced the receiver than he heard her tapping on his front door. Crossing the room to let her in, he then gently woke Eileen, who had enjoyed a nice nap. ‘Libby’s here, m’darling. Time to go home.’ He would have loved her to stay here with him, but sadly, that was not possible, for many reasons. Some of which were best left alone.

      Libby was apologetic. ‘I’m sorry I’m late, Thomas. I’ll explain later on, if that’s OK.’ She went over to Eileen.

      ‘Fell asleep, did you, Mum? I’m really sorry to be late.’ She bent to kiss her. ‘I’m here now though, and I’m ready for bed.’ She saw her mother yawning. ‘Much like you, by the look of it. The next time they ask me to do a late shift, I won’t be so obliging.’ She was positively bursting to tell Thomas about her sighting of Jack Redmond, but she remained calm in front of her mother.

      Eileen had an impish sense of humour, which seemed to just pop out when no one expected it. ‘Libby?’

      ‘Yes, Mum?’ Libby was easing her mother’s shoes back on her feet. ‘What is it?’

      ‘Me and Thomas could get married,’ she informed Libby. ‘Then I can sleep here with him, and you won’t need to worry about me so much.’

      While Libby was taken aback, Thomas roared with laughter. ‘I don’t know as I could handle a tiger like you,’ he teased.

      When Eileen suddenly got up and was taking it upon herself to fetch her coat, Libby quickly went to help.

      ‘Leave me be, now,’ Eileen edged away. ‘I’m not a baby. I can get my own coat.’ Sometimes, however hard she tried, Eileen could not think straight, so when her head was clear, she cherished being able to do every little thing for herself, such as now. ‘I’m all right, love. Stop fussing.’

      Wisely, Libby left her to it.

      In his usual gentlemanly way, Thomas walked them home.

      ‘Are you coming in for a nightcap?’ Libby knew she should have phoned him about being late. It was obvious he’d been worried about her.

      ‘Oh, go on then.’ Thomas loved spending time under this roof. It was like home from home, especially when the two people he loved most in all the world were right here.

      Libby was grateful for the company. There was a lot she needed to get off her chest. ‘Mum?’ She helped Eileen take off her coat. ‘Thomas is staying for a nightcap. Do you fancy one?’

      Eileen shook her head. ‘No, thank you, dear. I’m very tired.’ She glanced across at Thomas. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, won’t I, Thomas?’ For some reason, she felt threatened.

      ‘Yes, m’dear. You get a good night’s sleep, eh?’ Eileen grew anxious. ‘You’re not going away, are you?’ Thomas ambled over to her. ‘Will yer please stop getting yersel’ into a pickle. I’m just having a nightcap with Libby, then I’m away to my bed, just next door. And that’s as far as I’m going.’

      Eileen needed convincing. ‘Promise me you won’t go away?’ Her voice began to shake. ‘Promise you won’t leave me?’

      Thomas took her into his embrace. ‘You listen to me, my darling.’ Holding her tight, he spoke softly in her ear: ‘You and Libby are my family now. And I love you both, like my own flesh and blood.’

      He held her at arm’s length. ‘I promise I will never leave you. Not as long as I live.’ He then made her smile. ‘You’ll not get rid o’ me that easy!’

      Eileen looked into his eyes, so kind, so familiar. All these years she had trusted him. Good times. Bad times. Times when shocking things happen and you can never shut them from your mind, however hard you try.

      Reaching up, she touched his face. ‘Goodnight, old friend. God bless.’

      ‘Night night. God bless.’ He gave her a peck on the