‘My, something smells good,’ Glad said, as she looked in the kitchen an hour later.

‘It’s a chicken!’ Jenny beamed. ‘You’ll never guess what happened today.’

Glad sat down while Jenny told her about the argument with Matthew because he’d bought extra shopping, and his conversation with Ma.

‘She’s so much better, Glad,’ Jenny told her excitedly. ‘She actually smiled. Isn’t that marvellous? Perhaps she’s turned the corner and is going to pull through.’

‘Don’t raise your hopes too much,’ Glad warned. ‘I’ve seen folks rally for a while and then sink back again.’

‘I know that can happen.’ Jenny’s smile faded. ‘But I can hope, can’t I?’

‘Of course you can.’

Fred came in. ‘I’ll just pop up and see her.’

Fred was with Ma for almost half an hour. When he came down, he handed Glad a piece of paper with spidery writing on it. ‘Ma wants you to sign this, Glad.’ He gave his wife a pen and when she’d put her signature on the bottom, Fred tucked it in his pocket.

Fred and Glad had always looked after Ma’s affairs, and Jenny thought this was another good sign. Ma was obviously feeling bright enough to give them instructions to deal with something. ‘She’s much better, isn’t she, Fred?’

‘She’s quite perky and looking forward to the chicken.’ He laughed. ‘She’s fairly drooling at the mouth, and I’ve given her a pencil and pad so she can write messages while she’s still thinking straight.’

‘That’s a good idea.’ Jenny approved. It would be lovely to be on the receiving end of Ma’s caustic remarks again, even if they were only written ones.

The chicken was beautifully tender, and Jenny was delighted when Ma ate every morsel. She cut herself off a small amount; the rest she sliced up and took next door to Ivy for the children. The carcass with vegetables was made into a large saucepan of soup for the next day.

As the gorgeous smell of cooking filled the tiny kitchen, Jenny felt rather ashamed of the way she had reacted to Matthew’s shopping trip. He was only being kind, but she didn’t want him to feel he owed her something.

Giving the soup another stir, Jenny pondered why that should worry her. After a taste she added a little more salt. The spoon was halfway to her mouth again when she realized why she had exploded at him. She liked Matthew, had done from the moment she had seen him that first Christmas, and she wanted his friendship. Wanted to know he liked her for herself.