She had taken the precaution of registering Gus’s name at a little private nursery near by where he would be picked up after work each day. It had taken months to organise everything so that his homecoming would be as perfect as possible. At long last she was fired up to reclaim her son once and for all. This time she would take no refusals from Peg. They had had their fair share of him. Now it was his mother’s turn.

What a shock Arnie and Vida would have when she introduced her son to them. Netta had taken the precaution of getting a statement of her financial affairs from the Penny Bank to prove to her father that her account was at long last in credit.

She had even made a confidential visit to Arthur Worthington, a local lawyer, to check what rights she had concerning her son. He had assured her that according to English law there should be no problem since Netta had never signed him over for adoption in the first place. She was entitled to ask for him back. As far as his investigations could discover, Gus was not listed as a ward of any court in Scotland. This knowledge armed her even further with the righteousness of her claim.

This time she made no song and dance about her return to Stratharvar, arriving unannounced and making her own way from the station by bus. She settled into the holiday routine as if nothing was changed but her heart was thumping for the right moment when she would spring her plans into action and take them by surprise.

Peg for once was relaxed in the glorious sunshine, chatty, even ready to admire the photographs Netta had brought of her cottage and some of her brides in spectacular creations lined up for approval. She showed Father her accounts to prove how well she was progressing, drew in a gulp of breath and dropped her bombshell at the tea table on the second night of her visit.

‘It’s time Gus came home with me. I have kept my word and done everything you’ve asked of me. Stayed away when my fingers itched to hold him. Made no fuss with the lawyers and such like. Now I’ve got a lovely wee room for him to call his own and set everything in place for him to return with me at the end of the week. I never signed any papers so I know he’s mine by rights. He’s always been my son, hasn’t he? I was just too feared to make a fuss.’

She watched the two of them shooting glances at each other, faces flushed with surprise at this outburst. Her thunderous news was bursting over their heads and for once they were silenced.

‘We didna think it would be so soon…’ Her father pushed his dinner to one side.