‘Right.’ Betty stands after a few moments’ quiet, and the cat tumbles onto the floor, looking around confused. She sits next to William on the sofa and holds both his hands. ‘God knows we’ve suffered in Aberfan and it’s been hellish. Long, hard and hellish. But we’re still here.’ Betty’s intent gaze holds him like a hug. ‘And we’ve managed to laugh as well as cry, and there are new children and the school is full and there are reasons for living. Lots of them. What you did here, that terrible job, made unbearable moments bearable. And in my experience, that’s what happens. When we go through impossible things, someone, or something, will help us, if we let them. And in our darkest days, William, you helped us. Now, at some point, God forbid, you might need help. And I believe you’ll get it.’ She frowns a little. ‘And it seems to me that if Mary could find the courage to risk all that agony all over again, you can take that risk too.’

William soaks in Betty’s words, her presence, her goodwill. He feels no need to say anything.

‘You do love Gloria, don’t you?’ Betty asks.

‘Oh, yes,’ he answers, and the resolve with which he says it releases something, something he’s held tight, like a clenched muscle.

Betty pulls a tissue from her sleeve and drops it in his lap.

‘Now,’ Betty says, ‘this is all very private, but I seem to be slap bang in the middle of it, so I’ll say my piece and then I’ll be done. All right?’

‘All right,’ he says softly.

‘It seems to me, that out of all this pain you’ve put people through, including yourself, a very good thing can come’ – she glances up the stairs – ‘for all three of you. The end of this chapter and the start of the next is that you become a father, knowing far better than those who’ve never seen the suffering you have, just how precious this child is, even before it’s arrived! And that, William, seems a bit of a gift, don’t you think?’

He nods.

‘So.’ Betty’s hands rub together, sending a gentle rasp into the room. ‘I’m off out for a couple of hours. I won’t be back till teatime. I’ll get fish and chips and you can stay the night if you like.’

She lifts the tray and takes it to the kitchen. ‘This’ll be cold, but help yourself to anything.’ She comes back into the living room, unhooks her coat from the peg and slides it on in one swift, easy movement. She gives him a wave and closes the door behind her.