‘She has a point, Peg, the girl needs time with the bairn,’ said Dr Begg, for once on her side. ‘You’ll have to learn to share if she stays here.’

‘I’m no having her round my feet forever. She’ll have to find a job out of my hair. You know what I think.’

The Sergeant stood up to go. He was embarrassed by all the argy-bargy. ‘I’ll be away the now, no harm done. Nice to see you back home, Nettie. We were all sorry to hear about your husband. Did you know our Tommy didna make it back either, crossing the Rhine? ’Bye the now.’

Once the policeman had left there was silence around the table. No one wanted to open up the issue again but Dr Begg wanted his say.

‘So, what in name of thunder are you all going to do?’

‘She’ll have to go. I can’t be doing with this carry on.’

‘Angus?’

‘It’s up to Netta, I suppose, she knows what I think.’

‘Jeanette?’ Everyone focused their eyes on her. All the resolve and strength were draining away from her. Netta bowed her head wearily.

‘I’ll go at the end of the week… sort out a job and then I’ll be coming back for Ray. I shall see a lawyer about this too. He’s my son but this atmosphere will make me ill if I stay when I’m not welcome. It doesn’t do my baby any good either. He’s the most important thing in my life from now on. His needs must come first, but I shall be back every moment I can. Don’t think for a minute I’m going to disappear out of his life ever again.’

Saturday, Midday on Shap Fell, 1949

Netta drew the steaming van to a halt by Shap summit. The long drag from Carlisle was taking its toll on the engine. As usual she could boil a kettle on the radiator. It was time for a breath of air, time for a stretch of cramped legs, strolling along the track among the lorry drivers sipping tea from the makeshift kiosk on top of the moors. The bottle of water in the boot would top up the cooling system until she got to Kendal where the engine would have a chance to go cool again. Peg’s package of photographs sat on the passenger seat but this was not the time or place to examine them closely.

The majestic Cumberland fells rose like bosoms in every direction: ochre, purple, grey and green. To the south-west, in the far distance, a shimmer of coastal water glinted on the horizon pointing the familiar route back to Yorkshire: back to the solace of work and friends.