Benedict nodded. But there was something else about the woman, something so familiar it preyed on his mind for the rest of the day.

The next shock for Briony that year was even more serious.

Molly was beside herself with annoyance, continually telling poor Rosalee exactly what she thought of Briony and her gang, as she referred to her daughters and grandchildren. Mother Jones was bad again, and Molly’s time was taken up with looking after her. Unlike previous illnesses, this one was serious enough to have the doctor visit daily without being asked. Mother Jones had picked up a ’flu virus and it was really knocking her out. Molly was single-handedly taking care of the old woman who was now bedridden and incontinent of both bladder and bowels. Consequently, Molly was very busy and for this reason didn’t notice Rosalee’s unusual quietness. When she finally did, she was grateful for it. But Rosalee was ill herself. Unable to tell anyone exactly what was wrong with her, she just sat passively, feeling worse by the day.

‘What are we doing about Gran? Is she coming here for Christmas?’ Boysie, always the first to calm down after an argument, wanted to see her now, and his Auntie Rosalee for whom he had bought a beautiful brooch as a Christmas present.

Kerry shrugged. ‘To be honest, Boysie, I thought she’d have been in touch by now. I sent Mother Jones a basket of fruit. Abel’s really worried about her. I expected me mother on the doorstep before now, moaning about looking after her.’

Briony bit her lip thinking about this for a second. ‘Tell you what, how about me and you pop round and see the old girl tonight? That way me mother can either act as if nothing’s happened, or she can start her antics. Either way we gave her a chance. But I ain’t begging her. No way. This last turn out was all her fault, and if she does come for Christmas she ain’t drinking. Kerry’s bad enough.’

Boysie laughed. ‘Fair enough. Danny should be in soon, we’ll all go.’

Briony looked at the big man in front of her and grinned. ‘You’re missing your old gran, ain’t you? Big as you are.’

He smiled good-naturedly. ‘She’s a pain in the arse at times, but she ain’t really a bad old stick. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow. We’ll go tonight and see how the land lies. I want to see Auntie Rosalee anyway.’

Briony smiled again. The twins loved poor old Rosalee. Other children might have been ashamed of her, but not them. They doted on her.