Running up the steps, Lottie urged, ‘Go home, Molly. Look at yer, you ain’t even got a coat and it’s bloody freezing. I’ll be all right, you know I will.’

‘How will you manage?’

‘I’ll work here, on the fairground. They’re allus looking for young, strong hands.’

‘And where will you live?’

Dave’s voice cut the air. ‘She’ll live with me, in my wagon. It’s warm and cosy and she’ll not go hungry.’ Neither will I, he thought slyly. Only his hunger was of a different kind.

There was something about the young man Molly couldn’t take to, but then, Lottie was obviously fond of him, so he couldn’t be all that bad. Besides, Lottie had always been able to hold her own, even against their dad at his worst.

Suddenly, Molly looked from one to the other, and realised that here was an alliance meant to run its course. She feared for Lottie, yet feared more what would happen if she forced her to come back to Victoria Street.

‘Please, Molly.’ Lottie’s voice shattered her thoughts. ‘I’ve made up my mind: I’m going with Dave. Let me go with your blessing.’

Molly raised her eyes to Lottie’s, and for a time they looked at each other, their faces wet with tears, their hearts aching. They remembered how it had been before, and how it was now, and came to realise that nothing stayed the same. Everything moved on, and now Lottie, too, was moving on. ‘Keep in touch?’ Molly asked, and Lottie promised she would.

‘Wherever I am.’

They fell into each other’s arms and the old childhood love flowed between them; that same love which had been momentarily smothered by circumstance, adolescent selfishness and the unhappiness of others.

After a time, they drew apart and Lottie said, ‘Tell Dad I don’t really hate him.’

Swallowing hard, Molly nodded. ‘I suppose I will.’

‘And give the kids a hug for me.’

Taking a deep breath, Molly placed both hands on her sister’s shoulders. ‘Looks like I have no option but to let you go.’

‘You won’t send the authorities after me, will you?’ It was the frightened little girl speaking. ‘They’ll put me away.’

‘I might,’ Molly threatened with a wag of the finger. ‘If I don’t hear from you regularly.’

Relieved, Lottie smiled. ‘I’ve already said, haven’t I?’

Looking to Dave, Molly conceded, ‘Seems as though I have to trust you, whether I want to or not.’

He gave no answer. Instead he merely nodded, but for Molly it was all she could ask and no more.

Another tense moment followed, before Lottie went up the steps and stood beside her fella; when Molly went away, her heart felt like lead in her chest. She didn’t look back, though she knew they watched until she was out of sight.

Head bent to the cold wind, she made her way home. ‘Take care of yourself, Lottie,’ she murmured. ‘And may God keep you safe.’

The following night, after her dad had gone out to drown his sorrows, Molly opened the door to Rosie. ‘Kids in bed, are they?’ Rosie asked.