Before she left, Molly asked impulsively, ‘What’s troubling you, Mam? And I’m not talking about the bairn, or Lottie, or being in here.’ In an unguarded moment she had seen that same faraway look on her mother’s face, and couldn’t let it pass. ‘There’s something else, isn’t there?’

Amy forced a smile. ‘You’re imagining things, love.’ It came as a shock to think Molly had noticed. ‘There’s nothing but what we’ve already talked about.’

‘Are you sure, Mam? Because if there is something, and it’s playing on your mind, we can talk about it, just you and me.’

‘There’s nothing to talk about!’ Irritation crept into her voice. ‘So stop moithering and get off home.’ She paused, her brown eyes softening as she looked into the girl’s upturned face. ‘Go on! Before I have you thrown out of here.’

Realising she had overstayed her welcome, Molly bade her mam goodnight.

On the way out, she had a brief word with the duty sister. ‘It’s natural for your mother to go through a stage of depression,’ she assured the girl. ‘Give her time. The main thing is, she’s doing very well. In fact, we’re expecting to send her home quite soon.’

With that in mind, Molly went off to meet Alfie with a lighter heart. At last she had something positive to tell the children.

Waiting until Molly was out of sight, Frank made his way to the reception desk.

‘Can I help you, sir?’ Polite as ever, the nurse regarded him with some suspicion. Slightly unsteady on his feet and now leaning over her counter, Frank Tattersall presented an unsavoury picture. His bold eyes roved her young face before lowering to the top button of her blouse and the swelling of her breasts beneath.

‘I said, can I help you?’ She could smell the booze, and something else, too – the rank smell of clothes worn too long before being washed.

When he leaned further forward, she instinctively drew back. ‘I’ve come for the wife,’ he grunted. ‘Amy Tattersall’s the name. She came in here with a bairn and now she’ll be going home without it, not that I give a hang about that. All I want is to get her back where she belongs, quick smart!’

When the nurse opened her mouth to speak, he raised his voice. ‘We’ve too many kids. Our Molly’s worse than bloody useless at looking after ’em! They need their mam, that’s who they need.’

Reluctantly, the nurse pointed him in the direction of the general ward. ‘Visiting time is over,’ she warned, ‘but I shall let you have five minutes.’

‘So when’s she coming home, eh?’

‘I’ve an idea she’ll be allowed home any time now, but the best person to ask is the doctor.’

Without replying, Frank ambled down to the ward, muttering, ‘Ain’t got no time for doctors and ’orspitals. I don’t like these places and never have!’

At the top of the ward he was stopped by the duty nurse, who took an instant dislike to him.