Molly ran upstairs and folded the child to her. ‘It’s all right,’ she murmured, kissing the rosy cheek and carrying Bertha back to bed. But it wasn’t all right.

How could it be?

Chapter Eleven

It was midnight when Lottie came home, arrogant as ever, and looking for a fight. ‘Don’t go up yet.’ Molly had waited for her and now she stood by the parlour door, barring the younger girl’s way.

‘What are you playing at?’ Lottie had never seen Molly so serious. ‘I’m going upstairs, so you’d better clear off out of my way.’

‘Sit down. I’ve got something important to tell you.’

‘What’s so bloody important it can’t wait till tomorrow?’

‘Sit down. Please!’

‘Not if it means another damned lecture, I won’t!’ Pushing hard against Molly she tried forcing her way through, and was surprised when the other girl stood her ground. ‘All right, but be quick,’ she snapped, backing off. ‘I need my sleep.’

When Lottie was sitting down, Molly came and sat beside her. This time there was no hesitation. ‘Mam’s gone.’ The words were like a slap in the face to Lottie.

Springing out of the chair, she regarded Molly with suspicion. ‘What d’yer mean, “Mam’s gone”? Gone where?’

Molly asked her to sit down again, and when Lottie fell into the chair opposite, she confessed, ‘I don’t know where she’s gone.’ Reaching into her pocket she handed Lottie the note. ‘She left this.’

While Lottie read the letter, Molly paced the floor. Telling her sister had not been easy. Telling her father would be even harder.

‘Oh God! How could she do this?’ Dropping the letter to the floor, Lottie scrambled out of the chair and ran to the door. Flinging it open, she went up the stairs two at a time and into her room.

Placing the letter on the table, Molly followed more slowly. She knew how her sister was feeling, for hadn’t she felt exactly the same herself? Besides, bad as she was, Lottie was still only a kid. Her mam leaving them for good was a lot to take in.

Molly found her looking out the window at the night sky, her face drained and streaked with tears. ‘Come back downstairs,’ she suggested kindly. ‘It’s not good to be up here on your own.’

Lottie’s face hardened. ‘Leave me alone!’ Folding her arms, she deliberately turned her back.

Recalling how she herself had wanted to be on her own when she first read that damnable letter, Molly understood. ‘All right, love. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.’

She was out on the landing, about to close the door behind her, when a muffled voice called her back. ‘Moll. Wait!’

Molly turned and went back in.

‘She might come back… mightn’t she?’ Lottie’s voice trembled.

Molly shook her head sadly. ‘I don’t think so, love. You’ve read the letter. It seems final enough to me.’

‘Was it because of me?’ Lottie’s face twitched nervously. ‘Tell me the truth, Molly. Did I drive her away?’