‘So, he’s dead then?’ She sat down heavily as she let the news sink in but all she could feel was relief. At least now she wouldn’t have to live in fear of him kidnapping the children again. But to bring him back here and even have him buried next to Tom!

‘Can’t you just have him buried somewhere else?’ she asked bluntly.

‘I’m afraid not.’ Much as she loved her daughter, Sunday was prepared to stand her ground on this. ‘I know he put us all through hell, but I spoke to his doctor this afternoon and he confirmed that Ben was very mentally unstable. Apparently, he had told Ben a short while ago that he should soon be fit to rejoin his regiment but now he regrets it, as clearly Ben was still very unwell. He would never have done what he did had he not been so ill. Surely you can see that? I know he hurt you more than any of us; it was unforgivable the way he took advantage of a young girl who trusted him, but he also gave you two beautiful children, for which we should be grateful.’

It was clear to Kathy that her mother would not budge on this, and though she despised Ben for all he’d done to them, she knew from her mother’s set face there was no point trying to change her mind. But her anger was bubbling within her and she turned and marched out of the room. At the door she paused and looked back at her mother. ‘You do what you have to, Mum. But I will not be going to that man’s funeral, and I never want to hear his name again.’ Then she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. There was no way she would ever be able to forgive the man who had caused her so much heartache, no matter how ill her mother said he had been.

Ben’s body was brought back to his hometown the following week and taken to an undertaker where he would lie in the chapel of rest, until the funeral took place two days later.

‘I shan’t be going,’ Kathy said emphatically when she heard of the arrangements.

Sunday sighed. ‘And I cannot force you to,’ she admitted sadly. ‘But whatever he did he was the father of your children and once he knew of their existence, in his own strange way I think he wanted to be part of their lives. Still, you must do what your heart tells you, Kathy. It’s going to be a very small affair with only a few people attending and because of the circumstances there will be no wake afterwards. All I can say is, if I can find it in my heart to forgive him then perhaps you should?’