Jenny stopped slicing the cake and put the knife down. ‘Do you believe there’s anything after this life, Glad?’

‘I don’t rightly know, but Ma was sure there was. She always said she’d be with her old man and Bessie again one day.’

‘Oh, I do hope she’s right.’ Jenny wiped the moisture from her eyes. ‘I would like to think I’ll meet Ma and my father again. My dad was such a gentle man, and I did love him so.’

‘I don’t see it does no harm to believe life goes on, especially if it gives folks comfort.’

‘You’re right, Glad. I expect it gave Ma comfort to believe she would see her little girl again.’

‘I think it did.’ Glad picked up the tray and winked at Jenny. ‘If it is true, then she’ll be waiting for you, asking where the hell you think you’ve been.’

Jenny laughed for the first time in a week.

An hour later everyone had gone except Fred and Glad.

‘Now, Jen’ – Fred leant on the mantelpiece, looking all businesslike – ‘have you decided what you’re going to do?’

This was something she had been avoiding, but it was now a decision she would have to make. The thought of moving on again was enough to make her heart sink. ‘I suppose I’ll have to find somewhere else to live.’

‘I think you ought to take over the rent of this place and stay here.’

Jenny gave Fred a startled look. ‘I wish I could, but how would I pay the rent? I couldn’t possibly afford to furnish a place of my own.’

‘I’m sure you could get a job at the centre, even if it’s only part time, and you could always get something to eat there.’ Glad smiled encouragingly. ‘It’s worth a try.’

How she wished she could stay in the house she had been so happy in with Ma …

‘It’s what Ma wanted you to do.’ Fred took a sheet of paper out of his pocket. ‘This is properly signed and Ma wrote it while she was in her right mind. She leaves the entire contents of this house to you, Jen. Ma’s even put your real name – Eugenie Winford – so there’s no mistaking who she means.’

‘This is all mine?’ Jenny’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. ‘But why me? There must be someone else it should go to, surely? She must have relatives somewhere.’

‘She ain’t got no one else, and she loved you, Jen,’ Glad said. ‘She wanted you to have a home after she’d gone. It ain’t much, but if you can manage the rent, it’ll be a place of your own and you won’t have to move on again.’