Jake stopped restoring some books of fairy tales to their disorder on the table. ‘Why does Bessie keep so much junk? All those beads and bangles and dolls’ clothes she used to play with but doesn’t any more? And what the hell are you talking about, Laura?’

‘The answer to your first question is Bessie is a hoarder, like her namesake was. My gran never threw anything out. She also had a passion for cut glass, and the family used to call her house the crystal palace—’

‘How did cut glass get into this conversation?’

‘I don’t really know, but since it did, I’ll mention too that I had it in mind to give half of my gran’s collection, left to me and still stored in Manchester, to Janis when she marries. The other half will be kept for Bessie. Plain though she is, goodness shines out of her and the right man will recognize it and value her.’

Another silence followed, then Laura again spoke her mind. ‘To me, Jake, both are my daughters, and Jeremy is my son. Janis and Jeremy have become to me a precious legacy acquired by my marrying you, and I’d have liked to have known the woman whose blood children they are. She has to have been someone very special. It was you I fell in love with, but the children you brought with you to our marriage are a bonus any second wife would be thankful for.

‘When you summoned me upstairs and referred to Bessie as my daughter – it was as if what I believed to be a real family was no more than self-delusion.’

‘How like a woman to twist a man’s words! The way I felt when I read what I did, it’s remarkable that I remember what I said, but my words weren’t meant for the interpretation you gave them. A family is built on more solid ground than mere words, Laura.’

‘But however solid, the ground shook for you, didn’t it? How is “Mr Barrett” feeling now?’

‘Is that going to be your name for me from now on?’

‘I’m still not sure there’s to be a “from now on”.’

‘My dearest girl, it never entered my head for a second that there wouldn’t be—’

‘In that case I can now tell you that “Mr Barrett” has long been my private nickname for you.’

Jake managed to smile.

‘If you could make that a laugh,’ said Laura, ‘we’re on our way.’

‘Give me time,’ he said, and took her in his arms.

Chapter Nine

Having her brother-in-law to stay, and in Frank’s absence, could not but be a strain for Leona.