–  John’s a good man, y’know, Mary? There’s worse men. Mary? I say, there’s worse men? This life … and him … might not be what you wanted but it’s what you have?

–  I know, I know. I could have done a lot worse. Drink your tea, Bridie.

Outside was bright sunshine and the oblivious fields. I stayed out all day; I did my work, cleaned the byre, swept, carried, dug and toiled ’til the sweat was running down my aching back. I stopped for dinner with Bridie; she’d made us potatoes and fried fish, not burnt, and I was delighted to have the warmth of it, I felt so hollowed out. I could hardly wait for Serena to come back.

I was waiting at the end of the lane where it dropped away from The Hill when I saw her running to me. She jumped into my arms without even a hello. As soon as I felt her I knew something was wrong. She pressed every inch of herself into me and held on for dear life.

–  Serena? What’s the matter?

–  Nora says Dada isn’t my real daddy.

–  What? What did you say?

–  I told her he is my daddy! He is my daddy?

She was as white as a sheet but I hadn’t lied to her and I wouldn’t start now. I’d always known it would come to light but I wished with all my heart that John was standing beside me for this one. He’d know what to say; he’d know how to say it to make it better. For Serena he could always make things better.

–  Look at me! He is your daddy! And do you know why? Because he’s always been here and he always will and he loves you to The Hill and back. You know that, don’t you?

–  Yes, Mammy!

–  People love saying horrible things and this won’t be the last you hear of it. Your daddy is the man who takes the job on, okay? And you don’t know any other daddy, do you?

–  No, Mammy!

–  Well. That’s settled then! When you’re a big girl we’ll talk about this again, alright?

–  Alright.

–  Shall we have a walk? I thought we’d go and see if there were any daisies down at the river?

–  Alright.

We strolled on hand in hand, the guilt chewing its way through my guts. It was hateful that she suffered because of me. Children repeat what they hear and Nora Reilly had most likely overheard her parents sniggering about it. While I got her to tell me about the good bits – eating Jaffa Cakes in bed – I replayed what I had said and found that I’d managed the truth. Her daddy was the man who took the job on and I could not fault John Johns’s love and devotion to her.