‘Please, God,’ Rosie echoed; then, looking a bit sheepish, she asked, ‘I know it’s been a busy time for you, lovie, but did you manage to uncover anything about my Mick?’

Remembering the promises of help she had given Rosie during their stay in London, Sybil quickly explained. ‘I did make some initial enquiries on your behalf when I was in London,’ she started apologetically. ‘But leaving so quickly with the children and everything that followed took my eye off the ball.’

‘Of course it did,’ Rosie answered fondly. ‘You’d got more important things to cope with.’

‘But I promise,’ Sybil continued, ‘once I’m back in London I will probe further, get a few friends to make enquiries, do a bit of snooping.’ Laying a comforting arm around her friend’s shoulder, Sybil said softly, ‘We’ve got to keep hoping, sweetheart, and never give up.’

Rosie nodded. ‘Keep smiling through, as the song goes,’ she said bravely.

‘For I know we’ll meet again, some sunny day,’ they sang in unison.

48. One Good Turn Deserves Another

Shortly before Sybil was due to leave Mary Vale, she beckoned Rosie into her room and handed her a bag of clothes.

‘I really don’t need them any more,’ she said. ‘Would you like them?’

Looking at the pile of expensive cashmere jumpers, tweed skirts, silk blouses and summer frocks, Rosie refused point-blank to take them.

‘They’re too good for me!’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Sybil urged. ‘You’ll need some smart clothes if you go for any job interviews. Anyway, to be honest, you’d be doing me a favour. I really don’t want to ever see any of them again; they remind me of Monty or being pregnant – both of which make me feel miserable for very different reasons.’

Knowing that Sybil’s son’s adoption had been finalized and the little boy was due to leave Mary Vale shortly after his mother, Rosie (who had asked the question more than once) nevertheless asked it again.

‘You’re quite sure about having your baby adopted?’

‘Without a doubt,’ Sybil declared.

‘But you’re so wonderful with my children,’ Rosie reminded her.

‘I wasn’t,’ Sybil firmly reminded her. ‘And, bear in mind, I didn’t actually give birth to them,’ she pointed out. ‘Rosie, I know that right now I simply wouldn’t be a good mother; it’s not the poor little blighter’s fault but entirely my own. The least I can do is to give him a fresh beginning with a family who loves him.’

Rosie smiled. ‘I’m quite sure Father Ben will have found a good family for him.’

‘I’m sure he has,’ Sybil agreed. ‘I trust him completely.’

Turning back to the pile of clothes she had just been presented with, Rosie asked, ‘What are you going to wear if I take all of your old clothes?’