‘I knaw. Them being away and in danger is like a sore that you keep rubbing, and it don’t get better, it gets worse. And aye, you’re right about our Billy; he has many traits of his own da. Harold Roford were the Devil incarnate, but Billy ain’t as bad as that, thank God, as Angus has been a good influence on him. But no matter that he is a sod at times, he’s our sod, and we love and miss him. Eeh, Rosie lass, I just want you all home, and for us to be like we used to be.’

‘Oh, Ma, why did all of this have to happen?’

‘Greed – and the need to lord it over others. I sometimes think I knaw Hitler well, as Harold Roford was a Hitler type. They want what others have got, and will do owt to get it. The need to have power is what drives them.’

‘You’ve never told me much about Harold Roford, though his shadow has seemed to hang over our family all me life.’

‘He ain’t someone as you want to talk about – that’s why. He took all that your Aunt Mags had. He were in love with your Aunt Susan, but she had nowt, so he betrayed her and denied that Sibbie were his child; and he wormed his way into Mags’s affections, but only because she were rich, or at least her father were, and she stood to inherit the lot. Anyroad, lass, it’s a tale too long to tell, but you get the gist of it. Hearts were broken. But them hearts have mended now and are happy, and that’s what’ll happen to you, lass. It will, I promise.’

Rosie snuggled into her ma, trying to get comfort and feel some of what her ma had promised, but she couldn’t. At this moment she couldn’t see a time when her broken heart would mend.

At that moment the door opened and Angus and Roderick walked in. The greetings were a distraction. ‘Eeh, our Rosie, it’s good to see you, lass.’

‘Ta, Roddie, and it’s good to see you an’ all. I were sorry to read about your disappointment, lad, but it gladdened me heart, too, because at least one of me siblings is safe from going to fight. Though I still worry about you. What you and Da do, going to sea to bring fish in for the nation, and manning the lifeboat, is dangerous and necessary work. I reckon as you’re the most courageous of us all, and I’m proud of you.’