Without giving away any names, Jenny briefly explained what had driven her to run away. As she finished the story, something occurred to her with such force that it took her breath away in alarm.

‘Are you asking me to leave, Ma?’

‘God love you, Jen, that’s the last thing I want. I’ve grown right fond of you.’ She reached out, took hold of Jenny’s hand and squeezed it as hard as her arthritic hands would allow. ‘It fair breaks my heart to see a young girl like you working as a skivvy. You should be out having fun, but I’d be terrible sad to lose you.’

‘That’s a relief!’ Jenny’s heart stopped thumping. For one dreadful moment she thought she would have to find somewhere else to stay. And she couldn’t go through that again. She just couldn’t!

‘I’d be daft to let you go.’ Ma’s eyes crinkled at the corners in a smile. ‘You’ve only been here four weeks, but my place has never looked so spruce. And my front step’s something to be proud of. Didn’t look as good as that even when I could do it myself.’

Jenny stood up and bent over to kiss Ma’s leathery cheek. ‘Don’t you worry about me. I’m happy here – and I feel safe.’

‘You are, ducky. That beastly family of yours won’t find you here.’ She looked over at the table. ‘You give me your cup and saucer.’

‘But I haven’t washed it up yet.’

‘I know that. Come on, hand it over.’

Jenny did as ordered, watching with amusement as Ma swished the tea dregs around and then tipped the cup upside down in the saucer. Ma tapped it three times and turned it back the right way again.

‘Now let me see …’

Jenny suddenly realized what Ma was up to and she giggled. ‘Are you reading the tea leaves?’

‘Don’t laugh, Jen. I knows what I’m doing, and more often than not I’m right. Uncanny my readings are, that’s what people around here say.’ The elderly woman gave a superior toss of her head and bent to her task.

‘Well, what do you see?’ Jenny sat down again, deciding that she would humour Ma.

‘Don’t rush me! Hmm, now … There’s people looking for you –’

‘I know that, Ma.’ She stifled a giggle again. After the tale she’d just told Ma, that didn’t take much working out.

‘Don’t interrupt! It isn’t just two people; it’s lots. Some mean you harm; others don’t. But you’d do well to stay out of everyone’s way for the time being. It’s hard to know who to trust.’ Ma looked up. ‘That don’t include anyone in this street. You can trust all of them.’