A mischievous gleam shone in his eyes as he tried to control a grin from spreading across his face. ‘I accept your apology.’ Then he turned on his heel and left.

You’re a difficult man to understand, she thought. What was so amusing about my apology?

When she opened the larder, she understood. Sitting on the marble cold slab was a joint of beef and an array of other food items. He must have brought them with him and packed them away before coming upstairs. She groaned in frustration. You squeezed an apology out of me, knowing all the time I was going to find this! Well, I take it back. You are not responsible for me, but how on earth do I make you see that?

The next day the beef was cooked. After she’d cut off enough for her and Ma, Jenny sliced the rest thinly and made a pile of beef sandwiches. These were shared amongst Fred and Glad’s family, with a couple left over for Jimmy and his mother. She felt better about giving so many a treat from the gift, but she really was going to have to have a serious word with Matthew. The feeling persisted that he was doing this only because he felt sorry for her, and it rankled. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate his kindness, but she would prefer him not to do it. She was going to end up beholden to him, and she didn’t want that.

Jenny frowned, feeling she was stupid to let it worry her so much. But it did.

27

Over the next week there wasn’t a sign of Matthew, and Jenny couldn’t decide whether she was pleased or sorry. He was probably keeping out of her way in case she told him off again. Which she had every intention of doing.

Ma was continuing to improve and was even attempting a word now and again. It was hard to understand, but at least she was trying to talk.

‘Why don’t you pop along and see the centre now it’s open?’ Glad said, as she came into the kitchen. ‘I’ll keep an eye on Ma for an hour.’

‘I’d love to, thanks, Glad.’

‘Off you go. A short break will do you good.’

Jenny grabbed her coat and hurried up the road. It was the beginning of December now and there was a cutting north wind blowing. This winter was going to be hard for so many people. But this area now had the centre, and she was longing to see it. She’d been told that people were coming from all over the borough, and there were long queues every day.

The front door wasn’t open yet, so Jenny went to the side entrance. There were already people gathering, hunched up and trying to shelter in the porch from the wind.