‘I’m glad. Angus and Nell have been working hard on that little street. You’d hardly have known it was there before, everything was so overgrown. It’ll be fascinating when it’s an Arts and Crafts Village, won’t it? We could go and look at what they’re selling, couldn’t we?’

‘Oh, yes. I’d love to do that.’

‘I wonder—’ Janey broke off and looked at her mother, who was now tickling Millie and making her laugh. That sight did her heart good. Every child deserves grandparents.

Her mother looked up. ‘What do you wonder?’

‘Would you mind looking after Millie for half an hour or so? I’d like to nip round to see Angus and Nell to get the full story. Winifred and her friend Dan are in the other room if you need any help.’

Tears started rolling down her mother’s face.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing’s wrong.’ She scrubbed at her cheeks. ‘It’s just, that’s the first time you’ve trusted Millie with me on my own.’

‘You didn’t know her before and now you’re both well acquainted. What time is your lift coming for you?’

‘When I phone them. They don’t mind if it’s late. They like us to get out and about, if we can. So you could stay for a while if you liked. I’d love to put Millie to bed … if you don’t mind.’

‘All right. Thanks.’ It was like treading on eggs sometimes, chatting to her mother. Would they ever be easy together again?

‘Be careful, Janey.’

‘Yes, of course. It’s only a few houses away.’ Down a driveway about a hundred yards long, but she wasn’t going to let herself be afraid of the world like her poor mother was.

She walked briskly along to the big house, enjoying the occasional crackle of the frosty edges of puddles beneath her feet and the brightness of the stars. They looked like glitter that had been spray-painted across the darkness of the sky.

If Nell and Angus were busy she’d just say she was out for a breath of fresh air. But it’d be nice to stay for half an hour or so. However much you loved your little daughter, you needed time for yourself occasionally. Maybe she could go out with some of the others from her technical college classes occasionally and leave Millie with her mother if this worked tonight.

‘Who can that be?’ Nell wondered as the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll get it.’

Angus was off to do so before she could say anything else.

There was the sound of voices then he came back with Janey. ‘Look who’s called to see us.’

‘How nice. Are you on your own, Janey?’

‘Yes.’

‘You should be careful coming here after dark.’

She laughed. ‘I carried a chunk of wood as a protector. I left it on your doorstep ready for the return journey. It’s such a short distance, though, I could run to safety in two minutes. But there was no one around. I don’t know why I always feel safe when I come into your grounds, Angus, but I do.’