Cissy put down her cup and placed her hand over Ruby’s. ‘It’s his heart, lass. He had a funny turn two years ago and he’s got worse bit by bit since then. The doctor says the injuries he got during the war have played their part and there’s nowt to be done. Mind, he could go on for years, there’s no knowing, and he’s better in the summer. This cold doesn’t suit him. You’ve caught him in a bad spell. Sometimes he can go for weeks on end without struggling for breath, but once that starts I make him stay in bed.’ Cissy looked at her daughter. ‘Adam’s been good,’ she said quietly. ‘He’ll do any jobs that need doing and I know I can always call on him.’

The mention of his name pierced Ruby through but she made no sign of this, saying evenly, ‘How are they? I heard they had a daughter,’ as she removed her hand from under her mother’s.

‘Aye, little Alice. By, she’s a bonny piece.’ Cissy paused. ‘As to how they are, well . . .’ She shrugged. ‘It’s not a happy home, lass.’

If Ruby had voiced her inward response to this it would have been that her sister and Adam had got what they deserved, but she didn’t want to upset her mother. She had enough on her plate with the emotional strain of caring for her da. But neither could she be a hypocrite. Flatly, she said, ‘Did they move into the house in Wood Street?’ The house that should have been hers and Adam’s.

‘Oh, no, lass.’

Her mother sounded as shocked as if she’d suggested something indecent. Ruby thought this was a bit rich in the circumstances, considering Olive had stolen Adam and had a baby by him. Occupying the house that should have been her marital home was nothing in comparison, surely?

‘No, they’ve got a place at the back of the sawmills.’ Cissy paused again. ‘Hinny, it was wicked what she did, I know that, lass, an’ it grieves the heart of me, but she’s been made to suffer for it. I don’t get involved – you can’t come between man and wife, can you – but he can’t stand the sight of her an’ that’s the truth.’

In spite of how she felt about Olive, it was now Ruby who put her hand over her mother’s. Her mam looked so old and tired and to have all this at her age, it wasn’t fair. ‘It’s probably not as bad as you think.’