She peeked in at the girls before going to her own bed but didn’t fall asleep immediately; a wind was getting up and she heard the patter of sleet on the bedroom window. Winter’s here with a vengeance, she thought; better get prepared. Mentally she ran through her head all the items they had in the larder, and what extra would be needed. Tea, sugar, flour, soap and soap flakes. We’ve enough vegetables; there’s a sack of potatoes in the barn and plenty of onions. She was just nodding off when she heard the clop of hooves and the clatter of wheels and knew the men were home.
Aaron’s feet were cold when he climbed in beside her and she grumbled at him and said he should have kept his socks on. ‘Did our Jack tell you about the bairn?’ she asked.
‘Aye. It’s a bad job, isn’t it? He’s right upset.’
‘Is he?’ She heaved a sigh. I suppose all men want a son. We were lucky to have one of each, but unlucky that there were no more. ‘Did you see your Harry?’
‘Aye, I did.’ His voice brightened considerably. ‘He asked if I wanted to go fishing on Sat’day and I said yes. A few of ’other shrimper lads were there at ’Humber Tavern. Two of ’Wilkin brothers, Fred Starkey, Frank Parrott, we’d a right old natter. It was good to see them.’ His voice had a wistful quality and Peggy knew he missed his old cronies.
‘You should go fishing more often,’ she murmured.
‘Mebbe I should.’ He turned on to his side and put his arm round her, drawing her towards him and kissing her cheek. ‘But I made a choice, didn’t I? My place is on ’land now, not out on ’estuary or at sea. I’ve no regrets.’
She turned and returned the kiss on his stubbly cheek, which once had the tang of the sea and now smelled of the earth and the sweet scent of tobacco, and knew that in his heart he must once have had a few misgivings. ‘Goodnight, m’darling,’ she said sleepily, and was glad that he was safe by her side and not battling the deep waters of the Humber.
The next morning Peggy was up earlier than usual. She baked a batch of bread, then prepared some beef and vegetables for a stew and put it in a cauldron to cook over the fire. She began to fry ham rashers, knowing that the aroma would rouse everyone, before setting the table for breakfast. As soon as the children were off to school, she decided, she’d check on Susan and give her her breakfast, and then she and Robin would drive to Hedon and ask again at the police station about his mother.
I must be sensible, she told herself. She must be found. Then a thought struck her. I hope in heaven’s name she hasn’t done away with herself. Who knows what desperate straits she must be in to leave her son with strangers? Unless, of course … Odd notions began to run around in her head. Perhaps we’re not strangers. Mebbe she knows us somehow. Has she met us at some time? I must ask my sisters, see if they can shed any light on the matter.
Jackson? Is it her married name or is she a single woman? Would a single woman leave behind a boy of ten? She would if she had a very pressing problem, but why here, if, as he says, they’d lived in London? Surely she’d have folks there who would have him. It doesn’t mek sense. No sense at all.
It was extremely cold and she wrapped the girls up well with warm stockings, bonnets and scarves. She told them to go upstairs one by one to see their mother before going off to school, and this they did, and then Molly went up too, to tell her mother she was going out to Hedon with Granny.
‘I didn’t tell Ma that you were going as well,’ she told Robin when she came down again, ‘because I didn’t fink she was very happy.’
‘I’m sorry about that,’ Robin said. ‘Perhaps she’s not feeling very well.’
Aaron popped his head round the door. ‘I’ll tek ’bairns to school,’ he told Peggy. ‘It’s starting to snow; they’ll be soaked afore they get there if they walk. I’ll harness up owd Betsy, so tell them to wait. And I forgot to tell you last night that Barney Foggit has died. Funeral’s at ’end of next week. His wife’s going to live in Preston wi’ one of her daughters so there’ll be a smallholding going beggin’.’
Glory be! Peggy praised beneath her breath, though she was sad to hear of the old man’s death. It’ll be just the place for our Jack. It’s a good house, and that land reaches ours so he can still easily work with his da. Her mind began planning: they’ll be able to keep their own hens and grow vegetables and Susan can learn how to be a farmer’s wife in her own home instead of feeling like a spare part in mine. Ten years – she must be as fed up wi’ me
