The service was under way by the time they arrived. Matt, Luke and their mother slipped into the back pew. The church was crowded, but Matt could just see Jenny in the front row, head bowed. He wanted to rush over to comfort her, to tell her that Ma had asked him to watch over her, and that he had every intention of keeping that promise.

Fortunately it stopped raining by the time they gathered around the graveside. It was while they were standing there that Matt became aware of how weak he still was. He swayed slightly and Luke caught hold of his arm, holding him up. Taking several deep breaths, he glanced quickly at his mother, but she didn’t seem to have noticed. He planted his feet slightly apart to steady himself; he was determined to see it through to the end of the service.

Finally it was over, and, as the coffin was lowered, he gave a silent assurance to Ma that he would do as she had wanted; it was also what he wanted.

‘Matthew.’ Jenny was beside him, her eyes swollen from crying. ‘Thank you all for coming.’ She gave them a tremulous smile. ‘Ma would have been pleased.’

Matt bent and kissed her cheek. ‘’I’m so sorry, Jen, but you should have told me.’

‘You had enough to deal with without more bad news. When did you get out of hospital?’

‘An hour ago,’ Luke said. ‘He thinks he’s stronger than he is.’

‘Oh, you must take him home at once, Mrs Stannard.’ Jenny looked anxious. ‘You shouldn’t have come.’

‘I wouldn’t have missed the chance to say goodbye to Ma. What are you going to do now?’ Matt was hoping to persuade her to live with them until she sorted her life out, but he knew this wasn’t the time to say that.

‘I haven’t given it much thought but I’ll stay at Ma’s house for a week or two. After that …’ She gave a helpless shrug.

‘I’ll come to see you as soon as I can.’ Matt watched her expression, expecting a refusal, but she merely nodded.

There wasn’t a chance to say anything else as Fred, Glad and the rest of the family came up to ask how he was. It was another ten minutes before he was back in the car and heading for home.

29

Friends and neighbours crowded into the small house, each bringing some item of food or drink so they could hold a proper wake for Ma. The day before, Jenny had made two cakes and had cried when they’d both risen beautifully, remembering her first effort that had collapsed in the middle. It was such a bitter-sweet memory.

‘That was good of Matt and his family to come.’ Glad was filling half-pint glasses with beer. ‘Ma would have liked that.’