‘Of course you can. I’m your father. The car will be a … a belated declaration of that.’

‘Thank you.’

‘We’d better join the others now, Janey. We’ll talk together another time.’

She led the way out, knowing that what had been said on the surface was only a fraction of what had been offered behind those words. And oh, she was so hungry for a real family and for … well, love.

He stopped at the top of the stairs to say, ‘You seemed to be getting on well with Gemma. I’m glad about that. She’s as moody as any teenager, but behind it, she’s basically a happy soul. Some people seem to be born with a sunny nature.’

‘I’m still a teenager … technically,’ Janey said. ‘For another few months.’

‘You don’t seem like one. I should think you were forced to grow up in a hurry when you got pregnant.’

And to her amazement she got another quick hug from him. She’d never met anyone like him for hugging. It felt strange, but wonderful too.

She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have a man like him as a father. Not for a minute did she doubt that what he’d said and offered were genuine. It was written in his face that he was a decent man, and kindness shone out of him.

She reached out to prevent him from opening the door of her sitting room for a minute. ‘I’m glad you’re my father.’

‘I’m glad too. Perhaps you could call me “Dad” from now on?’

‘Dad. Yes, I’d like that very much.’

‘I won’t knowingly let you down, Janey. I can promise you that. But I’m no more perfect than the next person, so I’ll make mistakes. Just don’t let any of them come between us.’

‘I won’t … Dad. Same goes for me.’

Chapter Thirty

Stacy was clearing up the kitchen after a late tea. She’d worked hard and the house was pretty well organised with regard to furniture. Well, she didn’t have a lot, just enough for herself and an occasional guest. Best of all to her, the studio was partly operational and she kept walking into it, simply to stand and gloat.

Her next big task would be to sort out the pieces of scrap metal she’d scavenged over the past year or two. They were stored in tea chests, for lack of anything better, and heavy enough that it’d taken two men to lift each one. They were lined up at one side of her new studio and she’d start going through their contents tomorrow – bliss!

When she heard someone knocking on the front door, she thought it was Elise, who had accepted her invitation to come round for a coffee. She glanced at the clock. Her neighbour was a bit early, but never mind.

The minute she opened the door, she was shoved back inside so roughly she stumbled and fell – but instinctively she began shrieking for help at the top of her voice and trying to kick out at her assailant.