Alfie remembered just after he'd spoken, and his head snapped to face Oriel straight on so that he could read his lips. Still, probably a bit too late for that to have been clear.
He could remember from now on, at least, and his sisters would probably be upset he'd forgotten at all. "Good. Just got off work." He jerked a hand to the street to indicate he worked in the alley - he didn't really know how to explain the grocer's stall.