Cadi let out a protest. ‘Dad! You’re as bad as mam. I don’t even know if I want to get married, but if I do it won’t be for a long time yet.’

Dewi spoke disparagingly. ‘What do you mean, “you don’t know”? What else are you planning on doing, if you aren’t going to get wed?’

Sensing an argument brewing, Jill pointed at the platefuls of food. ‘Less talking, more eating.’

Using his fingernail, Dewi picked a piece of mutton out from between his teeth. ‘I don’t see what’s so bad about getting hitched, what else are you going to do with your life?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Cadi, ‘but I’m not going to work in the bakery forever, I want something meaningful, a job where I get to call the shots, instead of being told what to do all the time.’

‘What do—’ Alun began, but Jill had had enough. ‘I didn’t spend all that time preparing scrag end just for it to go cold, so quit your mithering and get on with your supper!’

For the next few minutes the room was silent apart from the sound of spoons and forks scraping against the plates.

When they had finished their supper, the men headed down to the pub whilst Cadi helped her mother collect the empty dishes.

‘I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being a housewife mam, it’s just not for me, I want a bit of excitement first.’

Her hands covered in soap suds, Jill itched her forehead with the back of her hand. ‘Has all this come about because of today?’

‘Not entirely no, I’ve always known I wanted more out of life, I suppose you could say today just confirmed it.’

Jill passed her daughter a plate to dry. ‘I admire your gumption, but I think you may have difficulty finding what you’re searching for.’

‘I don’t expect to be treated like a queen every day,’ said Cadi as she began stacking the plates, ‘but I do want to feel like I matter, and I liked it when people asked for my judgment in the beauty contest. It made me feel important and I want more of that.’ She gazed wistfully at the plate she was drying. ‘I want people to look up to me, to value my opinion.’

Her mother took the dishwater out the back door and emptied it down the drain before coming back in. ‘Sounds very much like the role of a mother to me.’

Cadi loved her mother and was keen not to upset her. ‘Being a mother is a very important role, but not the one for me. I want to do something different, break away from the norm, pave my own way in life, be responsible for myself. Is that really so bad?’