‘Oi! Ladies!’ Ben called from the rear terrace of the pub. Three pints of beer sat in a triangle within his wide grip. ‘When you’ve quite finished putting the world to rights, there’s beer going warm up here!’

The two ambled up Fore Street towards the pub.

‘And of course, when you marry a Kellow girl, you marry the whole bloody clan.’ Jarvis laughed and Miguel got the impression that, far from being a negative, this was a thought Jarvis relished.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN MERRIN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MERRIN

With her heart pounding, Merrin stepped into the parlour and could feel her mum staring at her. It was all she could do not to fall to the floor and sob again, for so many competing reasons. The loss of the last two years, the memory of the days after her wedding spent utterly broken by grief, and also in deep sadness that her beloved gran was not going to heft the back door open with her bottom and tell her that she needed to eat something. And in that moment, as she thought of her Milbury Court quarters, which consisted of just a bedroom and a bathroom, she realised how much she had missed this homely space.

At the same time, she looked with nervous regularity at the back and front doors, her spine stiff, prepared for someone to walk in and make a comment, reminding her of the day she was left at the altar. That, and she was fearful of reuniting with Ruby. The frank and hostile words exchanged between the two of them were lodged in her skin like thorns. There was a small part of her that worried her parents might take her sister’s part, especially as they saw Ruby every day and Merrin was not around to put her side or fight her corner. Telephone calls that spilt love down the wire as if it were liquid gave her some reassurance, but she knew that until she sat in the parlour and was handed tea, this thought would not quieten.

‘What is it, Mum?’ She turned towards her with eyes brimming.

‘I just can’t get over your hair!’ Heather shook her head as if coming to terms with a tragedy.

‘I cut it ages ago!’

‘I know you did, but because I don’t see you every day,’ she said pointedly, ‘I imagine you to look like you used to, with your lovely long, thick hair, and it’s a shock to see you with that little short bob thing going on.’

‘I really like it.’ Bella voiced her opinion, and she was grateful.