‘A cup of tea would be lovely, thanks.’

Kerry gave her a cup, stirring it solicitously.

‘You’re putting on a bit of weight, Eileen. You look much better for it.’

Eileen nodded. She was staring out of the window at the sea.

‘I like the ships, Kel. I like to watch them. They blow their hooters so loud. Sometimes I can almost feel the spray of the salt water on my skin. I wish I could be on a boat. I watch the sailors pulling up the rigging, or getting the little fishing boats off the sand. It fascinates me how you can live on the sea, be a part of it, and yet only a few miles away we had no real inkling of it. I wish I’d been born here. Born on the sea. It’s clean here. Even the sailors’ breath on cold mornings looks clean. Sister Mary Magdalene says you have to respect the sea because it’s a stronger force. It can be calm and friendly one moment and like a raging tyrant the next. Her dad died on a ship, he was a merchant seaman.’

Kerry sat amazed at Eileen’s monologue. Personally she couldn’t give a tinker’s cuss about the sea, but obviously Eileen had taken a fancy to it and that was good.

‘It is very pretty here. That view. I suppose that’s what it’s named after. I expect you watch the boats all the time?’

Eileen nodded and resumed her contemplation. Kerry smoked her cigarette. She wished Briony and Bernie would hurry back from seeing the doctor. Eileen gave her the heebie jeebies these days.

Briony and Bernadette were sitting in Andrew McLawson’s office, looking stunned.

‘Are you sure?’ Briony’s voice was incredulous.

The doctor nodded seriously. ‘I’m sure. Your sister knew, in fact. She’s four months gone.’

‘Bloody hell!’ Bernie shook her head in shock. ‘Does my mother know? Has she been told?’

‘She was informed three days ago. She was very pleased, in fact. Over the moon. I was quite surprised, considering her daughter’s illness. Personally, I’m not sure it’s a good thing.’

‘Do you think Eileen will be able to cope with this pregnancy?’ Briony sounded agitated.

McLawson shrugged.