So it was told – the whole sorry tale. And now Kate understood, if not every little detail, then enough to know that what they said was true.

She and Danny were indeed half-brother and sister.

‘Has she told you it all, then? What’s she said about me, eh? ’Spect I’m the bad woman in it all . . .’

‘Why . . .?’ Kate’s voice was a whisper, but her eyes held her mother’s gaze relentlessly. ‘Why didn’t you all just tell us the truth? If we’d grown up with it – knowing – we’d have accepted it. Been just friends, been,’ the bitterness crept into her tone, ‘been brother and sister!’

She was standing facing her mother across the kitchen table.

Esther, hands on hips, her mouth a grim line, said, ‘There’d have been no need for you to know, if you’d done as I’d told you . . .’

‘You didn’t want us to know ’cos it was your fault . . .’

‘Oh aye, I thought as much! Trying to set you against ya own mother . . .’

‘Who? Danny’s mam? Oh no, dun’t blame her. She even told me not to think badly of you; said I should understand how it must have been for you with no family and nowhere to go . . .’

‘She had no right to tell you anything about me . . .’

‘She stuck up for you, Mother! Her, of all people!’

Esther blinked.

‘Yes, that’s shocked you, ain’t it? And she wouldn’t tell me much about you, either. Said I’d to ask you or me grandad.’

‘Ya’ll do no such thing. Ya’ll not say anything to ya grandad. It’ll upset him.’

‘Then you tell me. Go on, you tell me.’

‘No,’ Esther said through gritted teeth. ‘It dun’t concern you. You know now all ya need to know, an’ that’s too much! Ya’ll learn no more from me.’

‘Well, I’ll find out. One day I’ll find out everything. As for now – I’m going away. You wanted me gone four years ago, so now you’ll get your wish. I’m going!’

Suddenly the fight seemed to drain out of her mother and she sat down heavily on a chair, leaned her elbows on the kitchen table and dropped her head into her hands. ‘You don’t have to go, Katie. Not now.’

‘Oh yes, I do,’ Kate leaned towards her mother as if to drive the hurtful shaft in harder. ‘I can’t stay here – seeing him every day. Not the way we feel about each other. Mother – we’re in love. We want – wanted . . .’ her voice broke a little as deliberately she changed the tense, ‘to get married.’