Christmas on the Home Front. Roland Moore

him in Leicester. He was due to leave soon.

      ‘What was that dish that Annie always made?’ Joyce knew that Esther would come up with something to wind up Finch.

      ‘Oh, old shoe surprise? That was her signature dish, wasn’t it?’ Esther scratched her chin as if recalling the details. Finch shook his head in bad-tempered annoyance before she’d even finished the sentence. Everyone laughed. Except for Finch. Maybe he really was worrying about what he would get in Leicester …

      As the laughter died down, conversation turned to the big celebration. Iris mentioned that she would go to Birmingham to get the dried fruit.

      ‘Oh, good luck with that.’ Esther speared her last piece of meat onto her fork.

      ‘I might go with her.’ Martin looked anxious.

      Iris gave him a curious look.

      ‘In case it’s heavy?’

      ‘I can still carry it if it’s heavy, thank you very much!’ Iris grinned.

      Esther looked at her son’s disappointed face. He was trying so hard to make an impression on young Iris. She suspected that Iris knew that he liked her and it warmed Esther’s heart to see Iris throw Martin a warm smile.