The lights changed and Ginger Rogers moved smoothly forward, and the rest of the short journey was punctuated by Tess’s questions and Jonty’s answers. It seemed that things had not changed very much on Bell Farm. Jonty told her that the dairy herd had doubled in size and that there were more store cattle out on the marshes. But when she started to ask questions about the land they had bought from the Larkins next door Jonty said that she would see for herself in due time, and refused to answer any more questions.

Chapter Thirteen

AS SOON AS Albert finished his breakfast next morning he tidied round the kitchen and wrote a note for Janine saying that he had left for the pet shop, but that she would find oats, milk and bread in the pantry and must get herself some breakfast. Then, as soon as he had settled Mr Clarke behind the counter, with the float in the till and a list of current prices, he set off for the pet shop, sheltering beneath his large black umbrella, for it was raining steadily. He expected to see Mitch and Elsie, soaked to the skin, waiting outside the door, but as soon as he entered he saw that Edie had come down early to open up. Smiling, he went into the stockroom to hang up his coat and hat and returned to find that Edie had made a pot of tea. She handed him a cup. ‘The children will start the cleaning now you’ve arrived, so as soon as the cages have fresh sawdust we’ll fill the water pots and food dishes,’ she said, peering out through the windowpane. ‘It’s still raining like billyo, so I don’t suppose we’ll have many customers. I take it Mr Clarke has arrived?’

Albert nodded. ‘He has indeed,’ he admitted. ‘And Mr Clarke isn’t the only one. I had an unexpected visitor last night, and she stayed over. In fact at this very moment she’s probably asleep in my spare room.’

Edie stared, a puzzled frown on her brow. ‘A woman?’ she said, and Albert heard without comprehension a little quiver in her voice. He also saw a pink flush blotch her neck and invade her cheeks. ‘A woman?’ she repeated. ‘Oh, Albert, what do you mean?’

Whenever Albert had suggested that he and Edie might enjoy a closer relationship than one of mere friendship Edie had never shown any obvious enthusiasm for the idea, but now, for the first time, Albert could see she was dismayed at the thought of this unknown woman entering their lives. However, he did not mean to prevaricate. ‘Yes, a woman. My daughter Janine,’ he said bluntly. ‘There have been ugly goings-on in America, from what I could gather. Her husband has met an old girlfriend and means to divorce Janine, and his father has thrown her out of the business which she thought was her own. It’s a long and involved story and I’ve not got to the bottom of it yet. All I really know is she’s come running back to her old dad and will expect me to support her until she finds herself a job.’