Flinging open the door, Molly dropped the envelope and its contents on his lap. ‘Take it back where it came from,’ she told him fiercely. ‘And you can tell Jack Mason this while you’re at it: I don’t want his money! I don’t want to hear from him or my mother ever again, and if I see you down this street, I’ll set the dogs on you. Do you hear what I’m saying? DO YOU?’

The man looked at Molly’s tear-stained face, and his heart went out to her. He had a daughter much the same age. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said sympathetically, and, calmer now, he was able to start the car and drive away. Yet all the way up the street his eyes looked through the rear-view mirror at Molly standing there, a small forlorn figure in the snow; head bent and shoulders bowed, she seemed like a lost soul. For the first time in his life, he hated himself. ‘Next time Mason wants a dirty job doing, he can do it his bloody self because, work or no work, I’ll hand in my notice before I’ll do this again.’

Seeing Molly like that was too much for Sandra. Running the few steps in her bare feet, she took her friend by the shoulders. ‘Come away, love,’ she urged. ‘Yer don’t want the nosy neighbours to see you out here like this, do yer, eh?’

She led Molly back to the warmth of the Craigs’ parlour. ‘Sit yer arse down there while I make you a brew,’ she said, in her own inimitable way. ‘It’ll not take a minute or two.’

Sure enough she was soon back with two steaming mugs of tea. ‘Get that down yer, gal.’ Handing her one of the mugs, Sandra sat beside Molly. ‘I didn’t mean to be so unfeeling. You know – saying you were set up for life an’ all that,’ she apologised. ‘I just opened me big, stupid gob and out it came.’

But Molly had said her piece to the man and felt better for it. ‘I didn’t think you knew about Mam having run off,’ she commented. ‘I wasn’t sure if Rosie had told you, and I don’t see enough of you these days to tell you anything myself.’ She took a sip of her tea. ‘How did you find out?’

‘Down the pub.’ She didn’t want to hurt Molly any more but, ‘The whole town’s talking about it. You know what they’re like, gal… dogs after a bone.’

Molly smiled sadly at that. ‘I can’t blame them. It’s only natural.’

‘S’pose so.’

Molly’s thoughts drifted, her voice incredulous as she spoke, almost to herself. ‘How could she do that? What made them think money could put it all right again?’ Anger reared its ugly head. ‘Doesn’t she know the kids want her back! Instead, their mammy and her fancy man send a wad of blood-money to ease their consciences. They deserve each other, damn them both.’

‘Hey!’ Sandra was shocked at the vehemence in her normally gentle friend’s voice. ‘Don’t get yerself all worked up like that. They’re not worth it, gal.’