Though Ada was now bigger than most of the residents in the exercise class, she still enjoyed the weekly afternoon relaxation classes, lying on the lawn with the sun on her upturned face. Her soft voice with a hint of a warm Northern accent was both soothing and reassuring to her pupils as she repeated the familiar set of instructions.

‘Legs up, nice and slowly, breathing deeply … hold the position as long as you’re comfortable with it.’ She stopped speaking as she too tried to control her breathing, before releasing her body from the pose and lowering her legs to the ground.

‘Phew,’ Ada gasped.

‘You’ve grown even bigger since last week,’ one of the girls teased.

Ada patted her huge tummy. ‘If this little one had his way, he would be out of there right now,’ she joked. ‘Right, shall we give it another go before we all fall asleep in the sunshine?’

In the company of wheeling swallows circling overhead and the occasional gull drifting upwind on a warm air current, the class recommenced, only to be interrupted by Sister Mann, who had absented herself yet again from attending the class.

‘Sister,’ she called urgently as she almost ran across the lawn. ‘May I have a word, please?’

Struggling to her feet, Ada followed her colleague till they were a discreet distance from the class, at which point the two women conversed in low voices. Visibly shocked, Ada turned back to the group. ‘I’m so sorry, ladies, something urgent has come up – I’m going to have to abandon you.’

Leaving the class goggle-eyed with curiosity, Ada hurried after Sister Mann.

‘What’s going on?’ the women whispered among themselves.

‘Summat must be wrong,’ a girl remarked ominously. ‘Dragging Ada off like that.’

‘Aye,’ another gloomily responded. ‘Somebody’s in trouble.’

‘I wonder who?’ another mused.

Sybil instinctively knew exactly who was in trouble.

‘Oh, God! Rosie!’ she thought.

31. Reparation

Hurrying after Sister Mann, Ada was trying her best to steady her breathing.

‘Are you sure it’s a good idea involving me?’ she asked.

Sister Mann answered brusquely, ‘We’ve no choice: as soon as she went into labour, Rosie started calling out for you. We’re all more than capable,’ she added huffily, ‘but clearly that’s not enough for Rosie.’

Not wanting to get on the wrong side of Edith, especially if they were going to be in the delivery suite together, Ada answered self-deprecatingly, ‘I’m sure it’s nothing other than familiarity. Rosie and I have known each other since she arrived from London.’ Moving quickly on, she added, ‘What happened?’

‘It was the shock that brought it on.’

Mystified, Ada asked another question. ‘What shock?’

‘Haven’t you heard?’ Edith enquired. ‘Rosie’s children have run away. Rosie collapsed and went into premature labour after Matron broke the news to her this morning.’