The women laughed and the sound filled the room, wrapping them in a cocoon of love, the warmth of which Merrin had quite forgotten. She bottled the moment and buried it deep inside.

With a mug of tea now nestling in her palm, she sat back on the sofa. Her mum’s smile was so wide she thought it could only make her cheeks ache. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to arrive somewhere and be so welcomed.

‘I still can’t believe you’re here.’ Heather Kellow bit her lip and continued to stare at her. ‘I’ve cooked a proper tea.’

‘I’ve only just had some tart!’ She took a sip of tea. ‘But what have you cooked, out of interest?’ Merrin’s mouth watered at the thought of her mum’s home cooking.

‘I’ve made a big steak-and-ale pie with butter-mashed potatoes and peppered greens, followed by apple crumble with home-made vanilla custard.’

‘Sweet Jesus, Mum, that’s a feast!’

‘You know your dad likes a good supper after being at the pub and I wanted to make a good impression with Miguel.’

‘You’ll do that right enough, he’s a gannet.’ She laughed.

‘We’ve missed you so much.’ Her mum fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. ‘I can’t even tell you.’

‘And me you.’ Merrin admitted, taking another sip of tea to avoid having to voice her loneliness or her guilt.

‘I wish Gran was here.’ Ruby looked towards the shelf, where a photo of Ellen and Arthur on their wedding day lived.

‘Me too,’ Merrin mused. She and her sister exchanged a look and Merrin knew the row that had flared about her not returning for Granny Ellen’s funeral was likely fresh in Ruby’s mind too.

‘Well, I reckon what she’d want is for us to enjoy the weekend. I mean, I’m not married yet. There’s still time for me to get out there and have some fun!’ Ruby grabbed a mug of tea from the range and took a sip.

‘What are you talking about? Me and Bells are planning on having lots of fun! It’s only you that’s going to be an old married woman.’

‘I’m not old!’ This, apparently, was where Ruby’s objection lay.

‘I’ve got to be honest, Merry, I’m not having that much fun.’ Bella pulled a face. ‘I mean, I love being Glynn’s mamma, of course I do, but the chances of me finding a man who’s looking for a skint single mum with sore nipples and a baby who’s yet to understand that night time means sleepy time . . . I think it’s fair to say that type of bloke is in quite short supply. But you know what? It’s his loss. Whoever he is!’