Rosalee, winded from the force of the fall, gasped for breath in Eileen’s arms. But she wouldn’t cry, Molly knew she wouldn’t cry. The last time she’d cried was when Briony left her.

‘Hello, Mrs. Me and me mum’s been looking out for you like,’ their neighbour told them.

A little woman of indeterminate age came through the door. ‘I thought you could do with a cuppa, love. I’ve had the kettle on all morning, waiting for you.’ She looked at the four girls. Molly noticed the frown as she glanced twice at Resalee.

‘These all yourn?’

Molly smiled. ‘Yes, but they’re good quiet girls.’ She looked at Kerry and Bernadette who had the grace to drop their eyes to the ground. Molly so wanted to make a good impression.

The old woman opened a toothless mouth and screeched with laughter.

‘I’ll believe that when I hear it! I had six, four girls and two boys. He’s the last one at home.’ She indicated her large son with a nod of her head. ‘And I’ll tell you now, give me a houseful of boys any day to girlies. Fighting and arguing and moaning and crying and pinching ... Oh, I could carry on all day. Be nice to have a bit of life up the lane again, though, not enough children here any more.’

Molly felt her heart lift.

‘Now then, how about a cuppa, and what about some bread pudding for you girls, with a nice cup of weak tea, eh?’

She put out a hand, and to the astonishment of Molly, Rosalee wriggled from Eileen’s arms and, taking the old woman’s hand, she went into the cottage with her.

The man grinned.

‘I’m Abel Jones and that’s me mother. We all call her Mother Jones, me and everyone else that knows her. Now get yourselves in out of the cold and I’ll get the furniture in for you.’

Molly smiled at him and followed her eager daughters.

Abel looked at her as she went through the door and smiled to himself. Not a bad-looking piece that. He wondered if there was a husband in tow. Must be to afford the rent on the cottage, but you never knew, Abel told himself. She might be free for a bit of a laugh.

He picked up the heavy wood table as if it was made of paper and walked into the cottage with it.