‘He was away at the war. I came to Fleethaven Point to see Grannie Harris when I was on sick leave. Let’s think, nineteen-sixteen, it would be. I’d been with her eldest son, Ernie, when he was killed in France and he’d told me all about his home and his family. And about “the Missus at Brumbys’ Farm”. That’s what he called your mother.’

‘So you came to see them?’ Kate watched the expression on her stepfather’s face sober. His eyes took on a faraway look and there was pain in their depths.

‘I came to try to bring the Harrises what comfort I could. And then – I stayed for a while. But of course I had to go back eventually. After the war, your father came back. He was very . . . ill, at first.’

‘I can just remember him,’ Kate said softly. So that was what Danny had meant when he had said Jonathan Godfrey had ‘come back’ after her father had drowned. But it was all still a little hazy. She didn’t quite understand what had happened.

‘Did you and me mam . . .?’

At that moment the back door was flung open and her mother called, ‘I’m back.’ Then she was in the kitchen and the moment for Kate to share further confidences with her stepfather was lost.

He had been quite right; Kate need not have worried. Her mother returned triumphant.

‘Ya didn’t say that to her, Mam, did ya?’ Kate hugged her knees to her chest in delight, imagining the scene as her mother recounted the interview between herself and Miss Denham. Esther Godfrey’s eyes still sparkled with the light of battle as she stood, hands on hips, smiling at her daughter. ‘Indeed I did, Katie. I told her she was an old beezum!’

‘What did she say?’ Kate’s question was high-pitched with excitement, while Jonathan smiled indulgently at his wife, ferocious in the defence of her young.

Esther’s grin widened and her eyes twinkled merrily. ‘She said she could see where you got your rebellious streak from, and I said, “Well if there’s many folk like you in the world, she’s going to need it!”’ Her expression softened and she ruffled Kate’s short hair. ‘I’m glad you’ve got a bit of my spirit, lass, even if it does mean we clash now and then.’

‘Did ya get all me things back? All me clothes I left?’

Esther nodded. ‘I left the trunk at the station, though.’

‘I’ll pick it up tomorrow,’ Jonathan promised.

‘Oh.’ Kate knew there was disappointment showing on her face.

‘What is it, love?’ her mother prompted.

Kate glanced from one to the other. ‘Well, just before I left, three of the girls, they’d got summat of mine and – and they wouldn’t give it back . . .’

‘Do you mean this?’ From her coat pocket, Esther drew out the huge whelk shell.