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you have a bit of a fling with her at one time?’

      Frank laughed it off. ‘Not really. She might have wanted to get her claws into me, but I’m nobody’s fool. I soon told her where to get off.’ He smiled at Alice and was relieved when she smiled back.

      He was furious with his father for mentioning the embarrassing fling he had had with that Thompson bitch.

      Truth be told, it was Rosalind who unceremoniously dumped him, and not the other way round. He was heartbroken, until he found Alice Jacobs.

      Frank had always been careful to make Alice believe she was the only one.

      He had no intention of letting her find out that she was his consolation prize.

      

      The conversation changed direction and continued over dinner, with Tom and Nancy having the occasional teasing dig at each other, and Alice thoroughly enoying their company.

      Frank assailed them all with talk of his ambitions to have his very own farm, ‘…with a hundred acres of prime, crop-growing land; another fifty acres of pasture, and a stable filled with top quality horses straight from Ireland. I’ll build us a fine house and hire enough experienced men to run the place, while the two of us travel the world,’ he told Alice.

      Joe was impressed at the scale of his brother’s ambitions; though he was naturally dubious. ‘So, how d’you intend funding this amazingly extravagant enterprise?’

      Frank resented his question. ‘Why, from Alice’s parents of course.’

      Alice was shocked. Like the others, she had no inkling that he was making such plans. ‘You mustn’t rely on my parents, Frank,’ she cautioned him gently.

      ‘Why not?’ Unlike the others, Frank was surprised and irritated by her remark.

      ‘You don’t know what they’re like where money’s concerned, or you would never have included them in your plans.’

      She revealed a snippet of information. ‘The only person they ever helped was my sister Pauline. She was always naturally good at hairdressing, and she learned her trade well. When her employer was ready to sell up, he offered it to Pauline, and she asked Mother to buy it for her. You see, it was always Mother’s dream to own a hairdressing salon for the well-off. So she went along with Pauline’s business plan, and it was a huge success. There are five salons now, right across the county. Father is tied up with his own business, so it’s Pauline who oversees them. She works long and hard because she revels in it. But the deeds to each and every shop are all in Mother’s name.’

      Worried, she glanced at the others. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she apologised, ‘but it’s best if Frank knows the way things are.’

      ‘So the hairdresser’s shops are all in your mother’s name, but what does that matter to us?’ Frank persisted, ‘I’m talking about a loan, a safe, secure loan for something I know inside out. I’m a mature man, tried and tested, and as far as I know, neither of your parents know the first thing about farming the land, or raising animals, or anything else that makes a farmer’s day. Now then, Alice my love, am I right, or am I not?’

      Frank did not appreciate having his plans cruelly dashed, especially in front of everyone.

      ‘Yes, you’re right, of course you are,’ Alice answered kindly. ‘But you had your father to share the load, and I’m sure he taught you everything you know. The way my parents will see it, is they had no one to lead or teach them; they had to learn the ropes the hard way, on their own with little or no guidance. They’ll tell you how they had to make sacrifices in order to get their first business off the ground, and that they did it themselves without asking help from anyone.’

      She gave a wry little smile. ‘When we were growing up, we heard it all, time and again. She lightly mimicked her mother. ‘“We did it all on our own, and you girls will have to do the same when the time comes!” They’ll expect you and me to do the same, Frank. To make our own way in life, the way they did.’

      Frank still did not accept her explanation. ‘You’ve got it all wrong,’ he insisted. ‘They must approve of me or they wouldn’t have sanctioned our marriage; or be spending an absolute fortune on our wedding. Besides that, you’re their flesh and blood…their baby daughter. It goes without saying, they’ll want to see you living in the style to which you’re accustomed.’

      Alice agreed. ‘I won’t deny they’re spending a fortune on our wedding, but that’s only because it will be a showcase for their friends, and you’re right, Frank…they will want to see us living in a fine big house with land. But they’ll expect us to work hard and provide it.’

      Frank was open-mouthed with disbelief. ‘I’ll believe that when I hear it from them!’

      Throughout this exchange, Tom and Nancy had remained quiet, listening but not wanting to interfere. But now Tom spoke his thoughts. ‘If you don’t mind me saying, Frank, I can understand what Alice is trying to tell you. And I have to say, I fully agree with her parents’ viewpoint. A man has to make his own way in this world. That way he remains his own man, not indebted to anyone. It’s the only way he can be proud of what he’s achieved.’

      Frank strongly disagreed. ‘You don’t understand,’ he argued, ‘If I’m given a kick-start, then I’d be on my way and never ask again.’

      Alice intervened. ‘Trust me, Frank. I know my parents. They’re just not those kind of people.’ She went on with quiet sincerity, ‘There’s just you and me, Frank. It’s up to us, and no one else.’

      ‘Well said!’ Nancy exclaimed. With every passing minute she was learning more about this quiet girl who Frank had chosen to spend his life with.

      ‘You’re wrong, all of you!’ Frank rounded on Alice. ‘When I mentioned my plans to your father, he seemed really interested. You’ll see! When we’re wed and I’m a part of the family, they’ll be falling over themselves to set us up with a business of our own.’

      Seeing how agitated he was, Alice reluctantly conceded, ‘Perhaps it’s me that’s got it all wrong.’ Though she knew it was not.

      Having remained silent throughout, Joe now added his contribution. ‘There’s something you appear to have forgotten,’ he reminded Frank. ‘If you’re so intent on building your empire, and so sure you’ll get the help you need, then you won’t be here for Dad. Have you thought of that?’

      Frank assured him, ‘’Course I’ve thought of that. Unlike you, I would never let Dad down.

      ‘What I plan to do won’t happen overnight, Dad, not even with Alice’s parents helping me out. I’ll still be here with you for a good while yet. Meantime, Joe can learn the ropes inside out, and of course we’ll need to let go of Jimmy, because he’s a bloody liability! There are plenty of sensible, hard-working blokes who would jump at his job.’

      He congratulated himself, ‘So like I said, it will all work out in the end.’

      Tom thought differently, but he wanted this particular conversation ended. ‘Course it will, son,’ he said jovially, ‘course it will.’ There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

      Later, when the time was right, he would have a heart to heart with Frank. Somewhere along the line, his eldest son had become too full of his own importance, and that would never do!

      Nancy felt the same but kept her own counsel. She was disappointed to hear Frank talk that way in front of everyone. Such delicate issues should remain between a man and his partner, and no one else. At least not until it might be finalised and others needed to know.

      Determined that the evening should be a success, she kept the conversation going on a lighter note, and soon everyone was in much better humour.

      The apple pie was served and enjoyed, and the meal finished with a glass of homemade cider, and then it was time for Frank and Joe to check the animals and

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