Ralph regarded his mother-in-law again. She was a mere five foot four and slim yet she had a very high level of confidence. Was this because she had Alfred, a bear of a man, beside her. Alfred had a huge belly and a mass of grey hair and was immune to looking sharp. Ralph wondered about their relationship and how the two extreme opposites had found each other appealing. Did Alfred occasionally smack her? And did she like it? Or did she have a hold over him? Perhaps she had been great between the sheets. It was something he would probably never know. Trudi didn’t talk much about them except to say they had been good but strict parents. “I’m starving. Good spread Mrs Buttal.”

This prompted Jan to get up. Trudi helped her clear the table and then waited in the kitchen whilst Jan chec...

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