‘Three years I’ve been waiting for this moment. He’s all I’ve lived and worked for – to be successful enough to prove I can keep him myself. That was the promise. You knew it would come to this one day. It was what was agreed.’

‘Don’t be hasty, Netta, bide a while more. The bairn’ll have to get used to the move too. He’s hardly seen much of you, has he?’

‘And whose fault is that? I’ve come when I’m bidden and welcome. I’ve bit ma tongue not to just turn up.’

‘Aye, you’ve done well enough but there’s a sour tip on yer tongue the now. You cannae just spring this on us. I’ll have to speak to my lawyer. We have our rights tool’

‘What grazing right is this? Keep a bairn on yer pasture for three years and automatically he’s yours to keep? He’s not a cowl’ she heard herself shouting.

‘Ach, not that at all. In his eyes we’re his mam and paw and you’re his Auntie Netta. Tell me how we just let him upsticks with you and flit to another country with no preparation? He’s only three and at a difficult stage,’ pleaded Peg.

‘It seems to me every stage is difficult. First he was a bairn and needed routine, then he was a toddler and now he’s three. He can use a potty and talk. He’s not at school yet. Do I have to wait until he’s left the Academy before he’s ready to live with me?’

‘I think we should all sleep on this. Gus can be an awkward little cuss when he’s having a tantrum. He’s awful strong-willed the now. You’ve no experience. You just see him high days and holidays in short bursts. You come bearing gifts and sweeties, far too many in ma book, and he’s all over you. I know… that’s what visitors do. I suppose you need to do that to compensate for not being around, but you’ve no the full picture of things here.’ Peg twirled her cup round and round on its saucer, hardly able to hold back the tears. Netta was not going to be swayed.

‘At the end of the week he comes away home with me. We shall have a holiday on our own to settle him in his new surroundings. You don’t know how long I’ve been preparing for this day. Don’t try and stop me or I shall just walk out with my baby and you’ll never see him again. It’s not that I’m not grateful for what you’ve done here. I suppose I had to go and prove myself, set the heather ablaze after such a bad start. Now there’s nothing left to prove.