If she’d had a bit of foresight, she’d have thought to build a false back in a cabinet or a panel she could slide out of a drawer. But when she’d made the plans to renovate her bedroom, back in August, she hadn’t known what would be needed. Instead, she’d had a vision of a dressing table with a nice round mirror and a green felt pad to put her hairbrush on – she’d drawn a sketch and Mr Mayhood had been helping her to make it ever since. He’d shown her how to use the lathe out in the shed to turn the legs, which she’d enjoyed a lot. Even Charlie had pitched in, sanding down the tabletop and hack-sawing a dovetail joint or two. It was mostly done now, clamped in pieces on the workbench while they waited for the glue to set. She could see herself becoming skilled in making furniture – as in really taking time to get the measure of the tools. For now, the only thing she dreamed of making was a tall wood box to put Mal Duggan in the ground.

In the draughting room, she found the Mayhoods and her brother standing by the window, sipping coffee. They were in the throes of conversation – about what, she couldn’t tell. Mr Mayhood was saying, ‘If it’s eight by eight, we’ll save a fraction on materials. But, in time, I think we’ll need more space than that. He always took a long old view on things, did Hollis, and I still can’t disagree with him. What do you think, Charlie? Do we stick to ten by ten?’

‘All the same to me.’ Her brother heard her close the door and craned his head in her direction. ‘But maybe having extra room makes sense. I mean, there’s nothing lost by keeping it half-empty for a while.’

‘Yes, good lad. You’re seeing it right.’

When she went to stand with them, she saw that Charlie’s careful drawings for the root cellar had been laid out on the plan chest.

‘Nice of you to join us,’ Florence said. ‘We’re just consulting on dimensions. For the final time, I hope.’

‘You’re late again,’ her brother said.

She whispered, ‘Women’s trouble. Shush.’

Mr Mayhood was still pondering his answer. ‘All right, then, decision made. Let’s stick with ten by ten. I’ll take on more surveying work if need be, to offset the costs.’

‘Good. I’ll phone the fellow with the digger. You never know, he mightn’t charge us much. I’d like to start the groundwork in a day or so.’ Florence lifted up the drawing and was carrying it away towards her desk when Mr Mayhood stopped her. ‘Hold on. We should have him do a negative of that, I think,’ he said. ‘The lad could use the practice.’

‘Right you are.’ She went and placed it next to Charlie’s board instead.

‘You’ll need to watch this, Joyce, for future reference.’ Mr Mayhood clicked his fingers, pointing at the plan chest. ‘There’s good tracing paper in the bottom drawer, there. Standard size.’