‘Yeah, Tom, we’ll find out who sent the message and then I’m gonna muller them. Me personally. No one, but no one, touches me or mine... So whoever sent this so-called message better start saying their prayers because, as Christ is my witness, they’ll need all the fucking prayers they can get!’

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Molly was brushing out Rosalee’s hair. Unlike years before, when it had been cropped to keep the lice at bay, Briony had insisted on having her sister’s hair left to grow. Now Rosalee sported a mass of thick blonde curls.

‘Would you keep still, Rosie darlin’!’ Rosalee was fidgeting, moving her head from side to side and making low guttural noises which annoyed the life out of Molly.

Eileen walked into the kitchen and Molly smiled, a real smile that encompassed the girl from head to foot.

At twenty-eight Eileen was much better. Her nerves were still bad, but she had stopped her wandering and the nonsensical conversations were long gone. She even had a beau of sorts, a friend of Abel’s who took her for long walks and listened avidly to all her chatter. He was a good deal older than Eileen, but Molly wasn’t against that. Eileen needed a man who was settled. A man who would look after her.

‘I’ve had a really good time, Mum. Joshua took me to Bow. We shopped in the little market and stopped for pie and mash. And I bought some material, I thought I might make meself a dress.’

Molly was amazed at those words. Although Eileen was clean, God knows she was forever washing, she still had that unkempt look about her. The shapeless garments she wore were such a part of her that the thought of her wearing anything even remotely nice was like music to her mother’s ears.

‘But Briony is always offering you money for clothes and you turn it down.’

Eileen faced her mother.

‘I don’t want anything from Briony thank you very much. I know she means well, but the thought of wearing anything bought with the money she makes...’

‘Oh, all right, Eileen love, leave it, leave it. You make yourself something nice if that’s what you want.’

Molly sighed heavily. It was still a sore point with Eileen about Briony, and Molly, who had once been her daughter’s most ardent opponent, was now her most ardent supporter. The girl had taken the bit of money from the Dumases and turned it into a small fortune. Also, Molly could deny no longer her own involvement in both her daughters’ downfall. Though the word ‘downfall’ was certainly not how she would describe Briony’s life.

‘Kerry’s not been then?’ Eileen tried to make amends.

‘To be honest, I don’t think she remembers where she lives!’