Netta took a deep breath, plonked herself down on the grass and told him the full story, holding nothing back this time. Her fingers wound a necklace of daisies as she talked. She told him about Polly’s plans and her own quandary.

‘I ought to stay here and build up my business.’ She sighed wistfully.

‘Don’t be so conventional! You can be in two places at once if that’s what you want. Sewing fingers travel anywhere so go where your heart dictates. Finish off your work here and take yourself back to Galloway. It’s not impossible. What’s stopping you?’

‘I shall miss you and the Oldroyds gang.’

‘I hadn’t intended to be so easily disposed of, Miss Nichol. I shall be here, there and everywhere for a while but petrol rationing won’t last forever. There are trains and buses even in Galloway, telephones and postage stamps. I hope we’ll make our own bridge, if you think there could be a future?’ He edged closer.

‘I’d like that very much. Old friends should stick together.’

‘Not so much of the old, please. And I’d hoped we would be more than that, Netta.’ They linked arms and huddled together, staring at each other with fresh eyes.

‘I hope so too but there’ll always be Gus in my life.’

‘What’s yours will be mine, I hope.’ Drew smiled.

‘Am I dreaming all this? Just a few weeks ago the world was so black. Now it sparkles with possibilities.’

‘And it will be grey and dreich again, Netta. But just for today you can touch rainbows if you reach out for the light and follow your heart. There, that’s worthy of Dr Anwar’s motto collection!’

Netta punched him in the arm, tussling on the grass with him while the sheep watched their antics in alarm.

On Carrick Sands, September 1949

The celebration picnic preparations in the kitchen were nearly complete: the sandwiches cut and wrapped, the cakes in their tin, the flask warmed. The two women sat in silence, each waiting for the other to speak. It had come at last, this day of reckoning.

‘So what are yer plans, Netta, now your assistant’s away to college?’

There was a silence and Netta drew in her breath to speak slowly. ‘I shall stay on in Griseley to finish my orders. Now that Gus is home from hospital… it’s time to think again.’

‘You’re welcome to stay here as often as you like. What we would have done if you hadn’t made me ring Ian Begg… you saved his life. I expect that’s what you’d want, to be back here with him?’