‘After we’ve eaten,’ Peggy said huskily. She seemed shaken to the core.
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Robinson,’ Delia whispered. ‘I hadn’t intended it to be this way. Although I didn’t know what I was going to tell you until I got here.’
‘There’s no need for you to apologize for anything, Delia,’ Aaron butted in, and now there was steel in his voice. ‘But somebody has to answer for himself afore this day is out.’
The house was filled with little girls as Louisa, Emma, Rosie and Molly returned. Robin introduced them to his mother, murmuring to her that Louisa was his very best friend. Molly overheard him and butted in to add that she was Robin’s special friend too and that he was teaching her to read.
‘I hope you don’t all spoil him,’ Delia said quietly.
They didn’t seem to know what spoiling meant, and Louisa piped up that Robin was like a new brother; and then Molly added that they’d had a baby brother but that he’d died and they’d never even seen him.
Delia glanced at Peggy, who nodded. ‘Stillborn,’ she said quietly. ‘Came too early.’
Dinner was almost ready and Delia asked, ‘Can I do anything?’ as Jenny put on an apron to baste the roast potatoes. ‘Although I’m out of practice,’ she confessed.
‘No, you take it easy,’ Peggy said. ‘You’re our guest today. Mebbe another time when you come again?’
Inwardly, Delia felt an easing of tension. They weren’t going to ask her and Robin to leave, even though she was sure they had now grasped the whole situation. Aaron had gone out into the yard. Through the window she could see him pacing.
‘Have you never had a proper home since you left ’village?’ Peggy asked her when all the children had disappeared into the parlour.
‘No,’ Delia said croakily. ‘I—’ She looked down into her lap and confessed, ‘When my mother found out, she told my father, and …’ She hesitated. There was no need to tell of the leathering or the harsh things he had said or threatened her with; neither did she want to drag up the sickening memory.
‘He said I should leave immediately, but Ma persuaded him that I could stay the night and leave next morning. He agreed to that but said I shouldn’t be there when he got back from fishing or it would be the worse for me.
‘It’s a long story. I’d just enough money to pay for the train into Hull and lodgings for one night, and the next day I began looking for work.’
The scullery door banged and they could hear Aaron pulling off his boots. He came into the kitchen in his thick socks. Peggy changed the subject, saying that it was a pity she and Jenny couldn’t have stayed the night, but conceding that they both had commitments, before adding anxiously, ‘But you’ll let Robin stay, won’t you?’ Then Aaron interrupted to say, ‘Of course we want him to stay, but we must talk this over, and it’ll be Delia’s decision in ’long run.’
Peggy looked worried at his remark but busied herself with checking the vegetables. Delia got up and went to stand by the window looking out at the yard. There were ducks and hens scratching about in the dust and a terrier-type dog sitting by the fence watching them as if he might round them up if they attempted to escape or misbehave.
She recalled that the Robinsons had always had a dog that could be patted or stroked, unlike the dogs that her father had kept on a metal chain in the kennel near the door. They were either cowed or vicious, and she thought that he had made them so by his ill-treatment.
‘That’s a nice little dog out there.’ It was a throwaway remark of no consequence to anyone in particular.
‘That’s Charlie; he’s Robin’s dog,’ Aaron replied, coming over to her side. ‘I rescued him from a bad home and Robin took a fancy to him. Our old dog went to ’new house.’
‘Robin has a dog?’ she murmured. ‘Oh!’
‘That’s all right, isn’t it?’ Aaron turned to her. ‘I was going to get another dog to keep here. The other dog is used to ’bairns, that’s why he went wi’ them. But then I came across this one and he sort of followed me home.’
‘And you gave him to Robin?’
‘We’re sharing him,’ he said softly. ‘We’ve built him a kennel.’
‘You and Robin?’
‘Aye, that’s right.’ He looked at her kindly and put his large hand on her shoulder. ‘It’s ’sort o’ thing I’d have done if I’d had a grandson. Done things together, you know.’
She nodded but couldn’t speak. Such a simple act of kindness brought tears to her eyes. Aaron hadn’t known then that Robin had any connection to him, and yet he still treated him thoughtfully and generously. They were good people, she thought, and the knowledge should make her decision easier, but it didn’t. Even though she had left him with them, every day that passed she missed him more and more.
‘Are you all stopping for some dinner?’ Peggy asked the girls. ‘Or is your ma cooking when she comes back?’
‘Don’t know, Gran,’ Louisa said.
‘I want to stop,’ Rosie said. ‘I couldn’t smell anyfing cooking at home.’
‘We’re having cold ham and mash, Ma said.’ Emma chipped in. ‘And she’ll cook later. She’s really busy cos she’s had to go over to Preston to look at this new horse.’
‘Right,’ Peggy said evenly. ‘Wash hands, everybody, we’re about ready. Jenny, will you put out extra cutlery?’
There was a mad rush to the scullery and Delia smiled; it didn’t seem to perturb Peggy in the slightest that there’d be three extra mouths to feed.
They were finishing off their apple sponge pudding when Jack arrived back and announced that he hadn’t bought the horse after all. ‘He was difficult to handle,’ he said. ‘There’s no wonder Rudge’s missis didn’t want him. Susan wouldn’t have been able to hold him. We’ll look for another.’
He looked
