‘Of course she can; I’ll be here with Joseph. But Kathleen, as soon as you know where she is, let me know. I think you’re rubbing off on me – I have a funny feeling too. I’ll see you back here later. Go on, go.’

Jerry smiled at his mam and, as he did almost every day, he thought how lucky he was to have a mam like Kathleen. His household was as solid as a rock, built on his mother’s common sense and good management. There was a time in his life, with his new baby in his arms and his wife dead, that he had wanted to die himself. And then, Kathleen arrived and there was no doubt she saved him. Jerry was well aware how easily life’s events could drag you down and almost drown you. Things had even worked out with Alice, after the rockiest of starts.

‘Everyone should have a mam like you,’ he said to his mother, ‘I don’t know where Nellie and I would be if you hadn’t come to live with us.’

Kathleen fastened her headscarf under her chin. ‘One thing I have learnt in this life, Jerry, is that more often than not, when you reach rock bottom, even if no one knows you are there, someone steps out to give you a hand back up. I don’t know how or why, some say it’s the angels at work and I’m inclined to believe them myself, for I have no idea what it was that made me get on the boat and come to Liverpool, but I had a feeling, so I did, and I have that feeling again right now, only I can’t fathom what it is or what I’m supposed to be doing at all.’

Jerry hugged his mam and kissed the top of her head. ‘Mam, whatever it is, you will be wherever you are supposed to be – you always are.’

Kathleen pushed her son off. ‘Go you, and come back here and tell me good news about Captain Conor. Alice, we’ll be back in half an hour.’

*

Kathleen could move fast for a woman of her age and with her eyes to the floor, her arm linked through Nellie’s, they left Nelson Street and headed towards St Cuthbert’s Hall on the Dock Road where the bingo was held.

‘Nana, look!’ Nellie pulled on Kathleen’s arm. ‘Isn’t that Peggy down there?’

Kathleen looked over the wall to where Nellie was pointing. Her eyesight wasn’t good and she squinted to see where Nellie was pointing. ‘That’s the dock down there, Nellie, don’t be ridiculous. Peggy will be at the bingo hoping to turn one and six into a quid.’