They both laughed at this, though Rosie knew there was some truth in it. Coming out of the hug, she told them, ‘Let’s hurry – the tea shop is one street back, so we’ll cut off the promenade here.’

Turning off the promenade was like going into a wind tunnel, as the strong gusts found an outlet. Bending double, the girls had almost to fight their way forward. When at last they heard the clanging of the doorbell announcing their arrival at the tea shop, they all giggled with relief. ‘By, I thought Scotland were the place for autumn winds, but that nearly cut me in two.’

‘I knaw, we get some easterly winds here at times, Florrie, and though it’s only September, they can really chill you.’

‘Shut the door quickly, girls, and keep the heat in. What can I get you?’

‘Three teas and three of them scones, if you’ve got three, please, Kath.’

‘Right-o, Rosie. Are these your sisters, then? Not that I need to ask. They all look like you. I’ve a nice fire going in the other room, so take yourselves in there. It’s early in the year to light it, but I thought today warranted it.’

‘Thanks, Kath. Come on, you two, follow me through. You’re in for a treat.’

‘Eeh, Rosie, this is cosy.’

‘Aye, it is, ain’t it, Florrie? We can kill time here until our train’s due – the station’s only just up the road. Eeh, I can’t wait to see Ma, and all of them.’

Rosie had waited for this day with both eagerness and trepidation. Eagerness because not only was she seeing Florrie and Daisy, but they were all to travel to Scotland together to stay with Ma for a week; trepidation because it would mark the last time, for who knew how long, that they would all be together.

Florrie made straight for the roaring fire. A small side room carpeted in red, this part of the tea shop was Rosie’s favourite. Low-ceilinged with beams hung with shiny brasses, the room had four tables set against bench seating fixed to the wall, each table covered with pristine white tablecloths.

Joining Florrie, who was warming herself by the roaring fire, Rosie snuggled into her sister.

‘You’ll get red blotches on your legs, the pair of you. Get away and let the warmth circulate.’

Pulling a face at Daisy, but not retaliating, Rosie sat down at the table that Daisy had chosen.

‘You can look like that, Rosie, but I have to watch out for you.’

They smiled at each other, and Rosie felt a deep love for her elder sister. Never mind that they were often at loggerheads, they were really very close, and it was their similar natures that caused friction.