Dolly had never felt right about her son Frank’s return to the city of his birth, only to have to live with a landlady, not back in his old home with her. The fact that there wasn’t actually any room for him any more didn’t make a difference to her mother’s instinct to have him home to look after him. She’d felt hurt, even though she’d known logically he needed to be closer to the centre and Derby House. It wasn’t about logic, it was about the deep urge to take care of him, no matter how old he was and how far he’d risen through the ranks. Now she felt the same about Kitty. She was almost like another daughter to her, and she wanted nothing more than to see she was safe and well.

‘She’s not really sure,’ Rita replied, shifting a little to make Ellen more comfortable. ‘She’s told them she wants to live back at home. I suppose that would make it better for Tommy, come to think of it. Between Kitty and Danny, they should be able to keep an eye on him if he does come home. Isn’t it the best news, though? I can’t wait to have her back again; we’ve hardly seen her since she left. She says she should be back before Easter. Jack will be made up when he hears.’

Dolly poured two cups from the pot and pushed one across. ‘Here, let me hold my little granddaughter while you enjoy your tea.’ She reached out and Rita gratefully passed Ellen over, taking great care not to disturb her.

‘The thing is, I need your advice,’ Rita went on. ‘Jack’s too far away – I wouldn’t get a letter to him and a reply back in time – so I want to see if you think this is a good idea or not.’

Dolly looked up expectantly, while cradling Ellen’s head in its tiny crocheted bonnet against her shoulder. ‘What’s on your mind, Rita, love?’

Rita took a sip before explaining. ‘It’s who to have as godparents at the christening. Jack and I agreed we wanted to do this properly, seeing as our wedding wasn’t in the church. Now we’ve got time to plan everything. We want to be fair. Jack’s already said he wants to ask Danny, that’s only right, and I thought I’d ask Sarah, being as how she was the one who brought little Ellen into the world. With your help, of course.’ She grinned, glad that part of the process was over and done with.

‘Now don’t be selling yourself short,’ Dolly admonished her. ‘We just cheered you on – you did all the hard graft there.’