‘Not yet,’ she said, turning away and walking round the table.

There was a woollen muff, a large wicker hamper and three large men’s handkerchiefs. She stared at these then picked one up, holding her breath. The initials J. G. were embroidered at the edge. She sighed and moved on, taking in the packets of tea, a handbag, a woollen scarf and empty mailbags.

‘They’ve took all the letters that were in them,’ said the youth. ‘Think they can post them out once they’ve all dried.’ He moved towards Ann as he spoke, standing too close.

She moved away and glanced back at him. He was only young, his expression desperate.

‘My apologies,’ she said, aware that, like her husband’s aunt, she too was treating others with disdain. ‘I ought to have asked before. Who have you lost?’

For the first time, she took in his pasty complexion and watery brown eyes.

‘Dad. And my two wee brothers, Jimmy and Bobby. They were all over at my Auntie Bessie’s in Fife. My mother cannot come here, she cannot do anything, she just keeps crying and crying.’

He looked at her face, searching her dry eyes. ‘You doing all your crying at home then?’

‘Yes, yes, I suppose I am.’ She pushed past him. ‘Excuse me, I must leave.’ She attempted a smile. ‘I wish you and your mother well.’

She swept out of the room and gulped in the fresh cold air. She had never cried at all. Not once.

CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14

2015

‘Jamie, I’ve got a great idea.’ Fiona climbed to the top of the stairs and peeked round the attic door. ‘I thought it’d be nice to frame a couple of your pictures for Granny for her birthday next week.’

Jamie was kneeling on the window seat, binoculars in hand. ‘You want me to do more pictures for her?’

‘Well, let’s see what you’ve got. Where did you put them all?’

Jamie placed his binoculars on the seat and jumped down.

‘What were you watching?’

‘The seals. Pa says the mum seals are going to be having their babies soon and that he’d give me a pound for each baby seal I see. He gave me a sheet of paper here to record them. So I’m keeping watch.’

Fiona chuckled. ‘Yeah, well, good luck with that. Just make sure Pa pays up.’

Jamie opened the bottom drawer of his bedside table and pulled out a carrier bag, which he placed on his mum’s lap, then returned to his seal watch.