‘I was trying to keep it as a surprise until a night or two before your big day, but I think you should know now.’ Esther laughed, ‘Especially as it looks as if I’ll have to tackle a smaller dress for Kate.’

Enid reached out with fingers that shook. ‘It’s beautiful, missus. How kind you are – I dun’t know how to thank you.’

Even Ma sniffed noisily and, not trusting herself to speak, just nodded at Esther and beamed.

Enid’s wedding was a joyful affair. There seemed to have been little fun and merrymaking for so long. The long years of war, the loss of Ernie and then the homecoming of an invalid Matthew and the deprivations the war had caused even in this small, close-knit community, had weighed heavily upon them all. And finally Matthew’s death.

Now they had something to celebrate. Enid looked beautiful in the wedding gown and Kate was quite the little show-off in her flounced pink dress. Even Danny puffed out his chest and strutted down the aisle behind the bride and her father.

He was growing so like Matthew it was uncanny, Esther thought, and glanced across the aisle towards Beth. He was a living, daily reminder of the love between Beth and Matthew.

Esther’s glance rested upon Robert Eland. What an unusual man he was to care and go on caring for his wife’s child by another man. Esther sighed. Robert Eland must love Beth very much, and it must hurt him to see how she still pined for Matthew.

Always there was an air of quiet sadness about Beth. Though she looked after her husband and son – they were now living in one of the cottages at the Point – and though she smiled and talked, the sadness never quite left Beth’s eyes. Yet Robert still went on loving her and her boy. He was a remarkable man, Esther thought.

Will stood at Esther’s side in the church, beaming with pride as he watched Kate in her pretty dress, her red curls glinting in the shaft of sunlight slanting through the stained glass window.

Will – a favourite with all the folk at Fleethaven Point, not just with Esther – had been invited to the wedding. He had arrived that morning leaving his carrier’s cart in Esther’s yard and setting his horses loose in her meadow for the day.

‘Kate’s just like you were at that age, Esther lass. A bonny bairn, you were, an’ so is she.’

Esther put her hand through Will’s arm as they walked behind the merry wedding group. ‘Known me all me life, haven’t you, Will?’

‘Yes, lass, I have. Watched you grow – and watched over you, though you might not always have known it.’