Mary shook his hand playfully away, but her stomach did a somersault at his words. She couldn’t wait either – but it would all be on her terms and Cindy would be her guide.

*

‘Are you going to tell them about the money?’ Tommy asked quietly as they handed the bottles around.

‘No, not yet. Them bizzies will be all over the docks like a rash tomorrow, so we’ll wait for it to die down before we let them all know about that.’

They walked Peggy back to her house, Kathleen, Maura and Alice – the rest of the women were already in there and the house was spotless. Even Deirdre was soft-spoken as they made their way in.

‘I’ve brought the settle in from yours, Maura, and made it up by the fire, for she’ll be better off down here. I had to use your spare bedding, though.’

‘Don’t be worrying about that, Deirdre,’ said Maura. ‘’Tis only blankets.’

‘Has anyone told Paddy yet?’ asked Alice and they all turned as her husband answered, ‘I have and he’s here.’

They parted to let big Paddy through and he removed his cap to sit on the side of the settle. Peggy’s daughter lay in her arms; she’d refused to put her down since Shelagh had given the baby to her.

‘A girl, Pegs?’ Paddy said, looking at his wife, who had eyes only for her daughter.

‘It is,’ she said, ‘she’s a beautiful colleen.’

‘Have we a name?’ asked Paddy, who felt as though he were looking at their firstborn.

‘I do. Kitty. I’m calling her Kitty.’

Maura, watching the scene from the side, blinked away the tears that sprang to her eyes.

‘Jerry’s going to be the new gaffer,’ said Paddy. ‘He’s putting me on the sheds and I’ll be working every day now, I promise.’

Peggy looked up at her husband and smiled and then around at the women who had saved her. Jerry had told Paddy how close he had come to losing his wife and instead of the angry reaction he had expected, Paddy had been filled with remorse. Little Paddy came into the room, still wide awake at one in the morning. He sat on the opposite side of the settle and peered over the blanket at his new baby sister.

‘Did you say her name was Kitty, Ma?’ he asked.

‘I did, Paddy, is that all right with you?’

Paddy, wide-eyed, nodded his head. ‘Oh, aye, Kitty will love that. I’ll tell her next time I see her.’

They all looked at Paddy; for a simple boy, he said the strangest things.

‘God, that lad, he’s away with the fairies,’ said Deirdre, as Jerry and Tommy joined them.