‘Oh, darling, I’ve missed you so much!’ her mother answered and seconds later, quite forgetting where she was, Holly was in her arms.

‘Ahem! Why don’t you take your guest through to the staff room?’ Miss May suggested and Holly smiled at her apologetically.

‘I’m so sorry, I had no idea she was coming.’

‘It’s quite all right. In fact, why don’t you take her upstairs to your flat? It’s almost time for you to finish work now anyway.’

‘Thank you, Miss May.’ Holly flashed her a grateful smile then still holding fast to her mother’s hand she dragged her out of the shop and up the stairs to her new home.

‘I’m sorry to come unannounced,’ her mother said breathlessly as Holly hauled her into the small lounge, her face alight. ‘But once you sent me your address I couldn’t wait to see you. I needed to know that you’re all right.’

‘Well, as you can see, I am,’ Holly told her as she filled the kettle at the sink. ‘And it’s wonderful to see you. Now tell me everything that’s gone on back at home.’

Emma removed her hat and after placing it on the table she told her daughter excitedly, ‘That’s partly why I’ve come to see you. You see, your grandfather has had a change of heart and he’s said that you can come home.’

Holly looked astounded as she tried to digest what her mother had said. ‘And what brought that about?’ She was surprised that she wasn’t feeling happy about it.

‘Well, a few days after you’d gone Mr Dolby turned up with the most enormous bunch of flowers for me and a bottle of fine brandy for your grandfather. He said it was his way of apologising for what had happened and he’s been to see us a few times since then. He as good as told me that it had actually been your grandfather’s idea that he should court you and he said that as soon as he offered you the ring, he’d realised it was a terrible idea and that you were far too young to tie yourself down to a man of his age with a ready-made family. He was most distressed to hear that you had left home and begged your grandfather to let you return. He’s actually a very nice man. So what do you think? Will you come back with me?’

Holly frowned as she spooned tea leaves into the pot. Part of her welcomed the chance of returning to the comfortable existence she had known at home and yet in that moment she also realised that although she missed her mother dreadfully she was actually very happy having her independence and living with Ivy. But she loved her mother dearly, so how could she tell her that without hurting her feelings?

‘The thing is …’ she began, choosing her words carefully. ‘It isn’t as simple as that. Ivy and I rent the flat from Miss May who owns the shop downstairs, as I told you in my letter. Her husband is very poorly and she’s come to rely on me. And … well, to be honest, we’re happy here now we have somewhere nice to live. Grandfather was always so strict with us, we had very little freedom, but here I get to meet people and me and Ivy can come and go as we please … and I am grown up now,’ she ended softly. ‘I would have flown the nest sooner or later anyway.’