Dragging it on her slim frame, she smiled at everyone. ‘Be back in two ticks. I’m going to get me mother. Keep your eye on Kel for me, all right. And if Bernie rings, tell her to get herself home, though with a bit of luck Kevin Carter will have tracked her and Marcus down.’

‘All right, Bri. Get yourself off. And drive carefully, the weather’s atrocious.’ Mrs Horlock’s voice was concerned.

Briony felt a glow come over her. Kissing the old woman’s wrinkled cheek, she said, ‘Look after Kerry, won’t you?’

Mrs Horlock smiled. ‘Of course I will. Now you get going before this snow gets worse.’

After Briony left the kitchen, the midwife said: ‘She’s a lot nicer than you’d think, isn’t she?’

Cissy nodded. ‘Yes. But if anything happens to Kerry, you’ll see a different side to her, so get yourself back up the stairs.’

The woman didn’t need to be told twice. She left the kitchen in double quick time.

‘If Molly comes, I’ll be very surprised.’

Mrs Horlock shook her head sagely.

‘If Briony wants her here for Kerry, then she’ll come. Briony will see to that.’

Cissy poured herself a cup of tea and in her mind admitted to the truth of that statement.

If Briony wanted her, she’d get her.

Molly was trimming the small tree with Rosalee passing her the ornaments as she always did. Marcus and Bernadette had brought round presents for them both, and Molly looked at the gaily wrapped parcels with sweet anticipation. Briony’s presents to Rosalee were with them; Rosalee’s was a new coat of deep red wool that would keep her as warm as toast. Bernadette had told her that earlier. Briony had also bought Rosalee a collection of hand-made animals that she could put on to her dressing table. They were carved from hard wood and Rosalee would be unable to break them.

‘This cake is lovely, Mrs Cavanagh, did you make it yourself?’ He knew Molly had, but he also knew she liked to boast about the fact.

‘I did, it’s me own recipe. Boiled fruit cake it is. Quick and tasty, with just enough cinnamon to give it a kick.’

‘And a drop of brandy as well, Mum, if I know you.’

Molly laughed.

‘Of course. A drop of the hard doesn’t go amiss with dried fruit. They complement each other.’

The feeling in the house was festive and cheery. It was into this happy warmth that Briony came, bursting through the doorway in a flurry of snow.

‘Briony!’ Bernie’s voice was high with shock.

‘Hello, Bernie, I’ve been trying to locate you all afternoon. Kerry’s in labour.’

Rosalee had set up a screeching from excitement, her huge cumbersome body rocking itself in her chair by the fire.

‘Hello, Rosie darlin’.’ Briony kissed her sister who pulled her into a hard embrace.