Ada reeled and had to stop to catch her breath. ‘This is terrible news,’ she declared, utterly shocked.

Sister Mann nodded. ‘The police are searching for them, but it’s still very worrying.’

Horrified that two little children could be wandering lost and alone in a strange dangerous world, Ada shivered in fear, before forcing her thoughts back to Rosie, who was the one she was in a position to help right now. She quickly focused on the practical.

‘How is Rosie now?’

‘The prognosis for a healthy birth was never good; a combination of malnutrition at the beginning of her pregnancy plus ongoing anaemia.’ Sister Mann gloomily shook her head. ‘And now this, early onset of labour brought on by shock.’

Ada didn’t need any more information; she was an experienced midwife and she knew the combination of Rosie’s problems was unlikely to add up to a happy outcome.

Worried sick about Rosie too, Sybil (like Ada) abandoned the relaxation class. Heading into the hospital, where she knew she would get nothing out of Sister Mann, she searched out Dora, who in the past had always been more helpful. Finding her in the nursery, sterilizing the bottles in readiness for the next scheduled feed, Sybil cautiously approached.

‘I’m sorry to trouble you, Dora, but I’ve heard Rosie’s poorly and, well, I’m worried,’ she said with obviously genuine concern. ‘She’s the only friend I have here in the Home, and I’d like to help her, if I can.’

Dora had been surprised when she’d noticed that the two vastly different women had become friends. It seemed genuine enough, though; from the laughter and chatter that passed between them, they obviously enjoyed each other’s company, and Sybil’s friendship had certainly improved Rosie’s spirits.

‘If you could just tell me what’s going on,’ Sybil begged, ‘I really would be grateful.’

Dora nodded in the direction of the nurses’ station. ‘Over there – I don’t want us to be overheard.’

Once they had reached the big desk, Dora lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this, Sybil, but, seeing as you are the best of friends these days, well … Rosie’s gone into labour. She collapsed after she heard that her children had run away.’

Thinking that she too might collapse with shock, Sybil gripped the side of the desk so hard her knuckles went white.

‘Ronnie and Sally!’ she gasped.

‘Disappeared yesterday, nobody knows where,’ Dora added.

‘Oh, my God!’ Sybil wailed as she slumped into the nearest chair. Covering her face so that Dora couldn’t see the fear there, her thoughts became frantic. ‘Jesus Christ! This is all MY FAULT. They would never have run away if they had been here safe with their mother.’

Dora’s next words brought tears to Sybil’s green eyes. ‘It’ll be the death of Rosie if those kiddies aren’t found soon.’