‘Mm, it’s a bad do,’ said Tom. ‘But don’t take on so, lass. We need to put our heads together and see if there’s owt we’ve overlooked. She’s not been far in her life and I can’t think she’s travelled that far now.’

‘Mr Stellion reckons James has gone overseas,’ sniffed Dora.

‘Well, I’d be amazed if Gina is with him,’ said Tom. ‘I think, whatever she thought of James Stellion before the police came looking for him, she’s got a clearer picture of him now.’

Ellen put her head discreetly round the door and then brought in more tea, the Beveridges following behind. It had been planned as an evening to discuss the wedding, but now there would be a funeral to prepare.

Ellen, too, was thinking of Gina. If only she could find her and persuade her to come home. But it seemed too much to hope that, after all these weeks, she’d be home in time for her father’s funeral.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

ELLEN WONDERED WHETHER to give visiting Mr Shepherd a miss, it being the day after her father’s funeral, but Dora was keen she should go.

‘It’ll do you good to get out of the house and think about summat else, love,’ she said, handing Ellen a cup of tea. Both of them were going to work this morning, trying to get on with their lives, though today was Ellen’s usual afternoon off. ‘And you know Sally is always a cheery sort. You love your bookish talks with Mr Shepherd and, don’t forget, he looks forward to your company now he doesn’t get about so much.’

‘You’re right, Mum, of course,’ said Ellen. ‘I’ll ask Uncle Tom if I can take Mr Shepherd a bunch of those asters. They’re very vigorous this year …’

Ellen felt sad that her father had died, but in a detached way, such as anyone would feel to learn that any person they knew was dead. He’d been out of their lives for a year now and she’d long since ceased to think about him. She hadn’t loved him – she acknowledged that now – and her memories of him were overwhelmingly of his sulks, his silences, his ill temper and his outbursts of violence against his wife and daughters.

The visit to Mr Shepherd was a real tonic for Ellen after the horrible funeral, attended by her friends and Dora’s, keen to support them, but none of Philip’s because he’d had no friends. Ellen felt so pleased she’d made the effort. She knew how Mr Shepherd valued his ‘young visitors’.