‘I take it all back.’ Her mum sighed, as she again picked up a section of Ruby’s hair. ‘The man’s an idiot!’

Once the men were again secreted back inside the pub, Merrin rocked baby Glynn to sleep. It felt lovely to hold the little one as he slept trustingly in her arms, comforting in a way she hadn’t expected. Feelings of loss bubbled to the surface; this should have been her, at home with a baby, married and living up the hill at the Old Rectory. Her level of fragility floored her even after all this time.

‘I’d better get him home.’ Bella took the sleeping bundle from her friend and placed him snugly inside the sling now placed around her body.

‘Will we see you later, Bells?’ Ruby asked from the chair, where she was admiring her fancy hair-do in a hand-held mirror.

‘No, I don’t think so. But I’ll be here bright and early in the morning. Mum’s going to have the little ’un and I’ll express milk so she can feed him. Then she’ll bring him to the church.’

‘Smashing.’ Her mum smiled. ‘It’s so exciting! See you in the morning, Bells, and night-night, baby boy!’ She blew a kiss.

‘Merrin, if you fancy a walk, love, we’re nearly out of tea bags.’ Her mum nodded her head matter-of-factly towards the larder.

‘Oh.’ The thought of heading out into the village was almost paralysing. ‘Did . . . did you want to go, Rubes – get some fresh air? I could stay and chat to Mum?’

‘I ain’t going out! Don’t want Jarv or anyone else seeing my hair! Plus, Mum’s going to paint my nails now.’

Heather gave a false grin.

‘I’ll walk up with you, Merry, as far as I can?’ Bella held her eye.

Feeling a little bit cornered and a whole lot anxious, Merry closed the door behind the two of them, stopping by the gate to take in the view of the bay. It was more beautiful in person. Her memory had not done it justice or, more accurately, her memory could not perfectly capture how it felt to look at it. There was something about the landscape that she knew would always affect her like no other because this was where her heritage lay.

Dusk was falling as they strolled slowly up the coastal path. Merrin breathed in the fragrant sea air and felt it help soothe her troubled mind. She might not wake here every day, might be living far away, but Port Charles would always, always, be her home.

‘Do you know how lovely it is just to see your face here?’ Bella called over her shoulder, drawing her from her thoughts. ‘It’s like, now you’re back, all is right with the world.’ She cradled Glynn’s head against her. ‘I’ve missed you.’