Their conversation went over Ellen’s head as she looked towards the river in the gaps between factory buildings and caught bright glimpses of water with the sun glistening on it, and once a lone willow tree with the slightest hint of pale greening on its tips trailing a slender branch towards the water. That tree will endure, she thought, in spite of the commerce around it. It has life growing within its core and it will survive, just as we will.

Outside the cottage Ellen saw Lizzie and Mr Tannerson waiting, along with Karl in his cart and the Boscos with Thomas clamouring to get out of the wagon but being held in check by Filip. Mr Tannerson got down from the driving seat, plucked up Thomas and came towards her, holding a set of keys.

‘Here you are, Mrs Randell.’ He put Thomas down to stand by his mother’s skirts, and handed over the keys with a flourish. ‘I happened to see the Lucans this morning and offered to bring the keys to you. Welcome to your new home. I hope you’ll all be happy here. I’m sure that you will be once Harry comes home.’

Ellen felt choked and could barely speak to thank him for his efforts to help them. ‘Harry will want to say ’same,’ she said. ‘He’ll be very grateful.’

‘Can we go inside, please?’ Sarah piped up, and Mary joined in and then Thomas, saying, ‘Yes, please. We want to look inside.’

Everyone followed Ellen and the children; she opened the door wide and the girls rushed in. ‘But where are the stairs?’ Mary asked and Ellen laughed and opened the staircase door. Mary squealed and said it was just like Granny’s house in Holmpton and she and Sarah dashed up the stairs to look.

Ellen turned with a big smile on her face and saw Filip and Karl bringing in the iron bedsteads and hoped they’d get them upstairs. Tannerson carried in a basket of logs and kindling, Billy brought in the two chairs and placed them opposite each other by the fireplace, where miraculously a fire was burning. Ellen had a question on her lips as she looked at Tannerson, who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders as if to say he knew nothing about it.

She heard Mary upstairs telling Filip and Karl that their bed should go in the big bedroom. ‘This is ’one Sarah and me have chosen,’ she heard her carol, ‘not ’middle one.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Filip boomed, ‘but we’ll hear what Mama has to say, shall we?’

Mary clattered downstairs. ‘Ma, Mr Filip says we have to go in ’middle room and we want to go in ’biggest one cos there’s Sarah and me and Thomas.’

‘And what about when Dada comes home?’ Ellen said gently. ‘Where will he sleep? You know what I said about him having to rest after being in hospital?’