Jamie stood in his Desperate Dan pyjamas at the door, taking in the scene of his mother and grandmother in tearful embrace.

‘That would be just lovely, darling. Thank you.’

Jamie ran to the fridge for the milk, then to the cupboard for the chocolate. ‘I’ll put marshmallows on top too!’ he shouted, excited.

Dorothy stroked Fiona’s cheek and smiled. ‘We’ll speak tomorrow, sweetheart. I’m off to bed once our little chef has done my hot chocolate.’

* * *

Fiona took the fish-and-chip wrappers out to the bins in the garden and looked back up at the house. Lights were on downstairs and in Jamie’s top floor bedroom. Shabby neo-classical, that’s how Stru used to describe the grand Victorian exterior as it slowly became more run-down.

What was it he used to tell her mum when she berated him for ignoring her pleas to repair the masonry? Fiona chuckled as she remembered his ditty: ‘Your house will still be here once you’re gone.’ And now he was gone and here was this solid house. Okay, it was a bit tatty round the edges but still, it was her dad’s family house, the Craigs had lived here forever. It didn’t seem possible that he was no longer with them. How could they get over his loss?

Well, at least things seemed better between her mum and her, so hopefully that was a start. She turned towards the Green and thought about what her dad would have made of Pete’s note. It was so strange that he had addressed it to Jamie, not to her. A recurring thought came back to her. What if he had been that guy at the school gates, some kind of paedophile and he wanted to take Jamie away with him. Maybe he and Debs were going to abduct him.

It just didn’t seem plausible, any of it. The Pete she knew was a kind, gentle guy – not some sort of crazy psycho. But then, she never thought he would run out on her like he did either.

She wandered back into the house and locked the back door. She would go and meet him, but by herself. No way was she taking Jamie along. She would go tomorrow, when Jamie was at school. When she thought of seeing him again, she felt a shudder of excitement, then shook herself out of it.

For God’s sake, she told herself, he left me, stole all my money and disappeared without a trace. He’s got some explaining to do. His excuses better be good.

CHAPTER 51

Chapter 51

Monday 12 January 1880

Once she was sure that the Baxters and Jessie were all busy round the back of the house, Ann pulled on her shoulder cape and stepped onto the lawn so her steps would not be heard on the gravel as she headed for the gate.

There he was, waiting. He whipped off his cap.

‘Good morning, Alfred.’