‘Can I hold him?’ Netta moved forward, eager to clasp him, but he turned from her, burying his face in Peg’s floury pinafore. Netta tried to wrench him out of Peg’s arms but the baby writhed and howled. She was a stranger and he was frightened. He smelled of kitchen and stale nappy. Peg grabbed him back. ‘You’ve startled him! He’s not used to strangers… There, wee Gus. Here’s a lady come to see you, smile for the lady…’

‘For God’s sake, I’m his mother!’ Netta whispered, trying not to scare him further. The lovely reunion of her imagination was being spoiled.

He disnae know who you are, Netta. This is the only place he knows. Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? Have they let you out for good?’

‘I asked Miss Dennison at the Exchange to let you know. She couldn’t get through.’

‘I expect the line was down with the gale. You should have waited for your father to collect you. We’re no prepared for visitors. What with wee Gus having a cold and the Ne’rday crowd, your room’s not even aired. Dr Begg said nothing about you coming home. Surely he knows you’re back?’ Netta shook her head.

‘You make it sound as if I’m just out of jail, Peg. There was a bit of a rush to send as many as possible home for Hogmanay. I haven’t gone AWOL, I promise you. I’ve been so keen to see Ray. Isn’t he dark? He’s so like his father, all those Shirley Temple curls. Spoilt on a big laddie like you, aren’t they, Raeburn?’

‘We’ve called him Gus… he answers to that. We didnae know how long you’d be away so we just got on with it our way, the best we could under the circumstances…’

‘I know, Peg. You’ve held the fort and I’m ever so grateful. It can’t be easy trying to run the farm, and the war…’

‘I’m not grumbling, am I? Wee Gus just had to fit into the routine of things, didn’t you?’ Peg put him back into the high chair, strapping him into the makeshift harness. ‘We were awful scared he’d rock himself out of yon contraption on to the flag floor and crack his skull so your father’s tied it to the table just in case. There now, you show the nice lady how you can hold a spoon…’

Gus looked up suspiciously, not sure if Netta was going to take his toast soldiers, banging his horn spoon on the tray and bursting into a broad grin at the noise he was creating.