Ruby managed a fleeting smile which didn’t reach her eyes. ‘There ain’t nothing anyone can say, Auntie Peg. It’s what ’appens in a place like that.’ She clenched her fist, her expression hardening. ‘And I’ve never hated a place so much. It took everything I loved, Peg, and I couldn’t wait to get out of there.’

Peggy had no words to ease her awful pain but knew instinctively that Ruby needed her love and warmth and the assurance that now she was home, she’d never have to leave again. She drew the girl to her, expecting tears, and was surprised when Ruby remained dry-eyed during their long embrace.

Ruby finally drew back. ‘I ain’t got no more tears left,’ she explained. ‘But I knew I was right to come back to Beach View, cos it’s where I can start to make sense of it all and begin again.’

She brushed her dark skirt with her fingertips and gave a sigh. ‘Nothing and no one will ever replace them, but Mike left me with more than enough money to make my life much easier, so the days of working in a factory are over.’

‘Well, it’s good you can be financially independent,’ said Cordelia, drying her eyes. ‘But you’ll need to invest it wisely. I can put you in touch with the chap who advises me, if you’d like.’

‘Thanks, Grandma Cordy. I might take you up on the offer once I get me bearings again.’

‘I didn’t realise Mike had much to leave you,’ said Peggy, pouring more tea.

‘He didn’t before we was married,’ she replied. ‘But ’is dad made him a partner in the family business as a wedding gift. It’s big and very successful, with the logging, pulping, timber and paper mills and fleet of heavy lorries, so when Mike were killed, I inherited his third share.’

She reached into her handbag, pulled out a silver brandy flask and added a tot to each cup. ‘To help keep out the cold,’ she said lightly. ‘The freezing winter is still in me bones, and I reckon it’ll be a while before I ever really feel warm again.’

‘So you’re part owner of a huge business in Canada,’ murmured Peggy as she appreciatively sipped the alcoholic tea. ‘Won’t it be difficult to keep tabs on it from over here?’

‘I didn’t want nothing to do with any of it,’ Ruby said flatly. ‘So the minute the thaw come, I went to Quebec City and got advice on how much it were worth, and then sold my share back to Gerard and Claudine.’ Her smile was wry. ‘I think they was relieved, cos they knew I were never going to stay on without Mike, and it would ’ave complicated things.’

‘You’re very wise for someone so young,’ said Peggy.

Ruby shrugged. ‘I’ve had to think on me feet since I were a nipper, so it made sense to clear things up once and for all so I could come ’ome and start again without being tied to the past.’ She gave a deep sigh. ‘Though there’s still a tiny part of me in Canada, lying in the family cemetery – and it was very hard to leave them behind.’