‘Don’t be so bloody proud, Jen.’ Matthew was clearly exasperated by her attitude. ‘You and Ma have got to eat. Look at you, you’re starving.’

‘We are not! And who the hell gave you permission to call me Jen?’

‘Don’t change the subject.’ Matt raised his voice. ‘All I’ve done is buy you a little extra food. If it upsets you so much, you can pay me back when you’ve got the money.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she snorted. ‘Where do you think I’m going to get that much money from? And stop shouting!’

There were three sharp taps from the room above.

‘Now look what you’ve done, you’ve woken Ma up.’ Jenny headed for the stairs at a run, with Matt right on her heels.

Ma was propped up and holding her stick in her good hand.

‘Hello, Ma,’ Matt said cheerfully. ‘Sorry we woke you, but your Jen needed a good talking to.’

Jenny couldn’t believe her eyes when Ma winked at him.

‘Ah, I see you approve.’ He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed the stick from her hand, laying it on the blanket where she could still reach it. ‘Now, I don’t want you to worry about her, because I’m going to be around. All right?’

Ma winked again and Matt leant forward and kissed her forehead. ‘Good, that’s settled, then.’

What’s settled? What the devil was he on about? Jenny had thought that Ma couldn’t understand, but she was obviously communicating with Matthew.

‘I’ve bought you a nice little chicken for Jen to cook and make soup with the bones. And a pound of your favourite sausages, because the butcher told me you’re real partial to them.’

Ma winked again.

‘Now I’ll leave you to get some sleep while Jen cooks you a lovely meal.’ He patted Ma’s hand. ‘You keep her in line now. Her language is something shocking!’

Jenny could hear Ma’s cackle in her head as she watched Matthew stand up and give Ma a wink; then he clattered down the stairs and out the front door.

‘Well,’ was all Jenny could say as she stood motionless, absolutely amazed at the scene she had just witnessed. ‘Do you know what he was on about?’

Ma gave a crooked smile. She actually smiled!

Jenny did the same in relief. It was as if Matthew had woken Ma out of the stupor she had been in since the stroke. Hope flooded through her. Perhaps her dear Ma was going to survive against all the odds. ‘Terrible bossy, isn’t he?’ she joked, feeling light-hearted.

The smile came again, and Ma lifted her hand to shoo Jenny away.

‘I see, you want your chicken, do you?’

Ma actually nodded this time. Jenny sang to herself as she went downstairs and set about the meal.