‘Why would you think I’d do that?’
‘I thought you still cared for him. And she looks like him,’ he said. ‘Dark eyes and hair. Nothing like me. And he used to turn up sometimes and give one of his sneaky grins as if he had a secret. I thought that if he clicked his fingers you might go running to him. Then, when we had the other bairns, I reckoned that you wouldn’t leave them all.’
‘I’d never have done that,’ she whispered. ‘How could you think such a thing?’
He shrugged. ‘I was scared, I suppose. I thought I was second best.’
She licked her lips. ‘We’ve both made mistakes.’
‘Aye, we have. Is it too late to …’ He looked pleadingly at her.
‘Put things right? No, I don’t think so. Can you forgive me? I’m more to blame than you and I’m really sorry.’ Her eyes were moist and her words unsteady.
He had never seen her like this before; she was always full of bravado, always quick to find fault. ‘Let’s not talk about blame.’ He reached out to hold her. ‘We’ll have a fresh start. An honest one.’
‘Yes.’ She put her head on his chest. ‘I’d like that. And shall we tell your folks, just so that they know everything? Mek a clean breast of it.’
‘Aye, I reckon so. Just one thing, though. What do we do about Robin?’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Delia, Peggy and Aaron continued to discuss the situation. Jenny had not interrupted again after her suggestion that Jack and Susan should give their views.
‘But we want Robin to stay more than ever,’ Peggy said, and there had been more tears when she’d added, ‘especially now that we know he’s ours.’
‘And you must come whenever you want to, Delia,’ Aaron said gruffly. ‘You must think of this as home. We realize that you won’t be wanted at ’other place so we’ll not include them, but that’s their loss.’
Delia had always wanted such a home, one where she would be sure of a welcome, and the idea of it took some getting used to. She had lived an itinerant life, hand to mouth sometimes when the theatre engagements were few, always knowing that what she couldn’t provide in her rootless existence was constancy; yet what was remarkable was that in spite of their lifestyle Robin had turned out to be adaptable and well balanced and seemed to be happy.
‘I can’t thank you enough,’ she said tearfully. ‘But I think that Jenny is right. First you should hear what Jack and Susan have to say.’
Aaron had shaken his head and said that it wouldn’t make any difference, but when Jack and Susan did return Delia went into the parlour and sat with the children whilst the family talked. It was a warm and cosy room, with a log fire and squashy chairs, and books and games scattered over the carpet.
Rosie sidled up to her and leaned on her, then teased her fingers through her dark hair. ‘Robin’s ma,’ she said plaintively, ‘we’d like Robin to stay wiv us. We play good games when he’s here.’
‘Yes, but you don’t live here any more,’ Molly broke in crossly. ‘You live in your own house, so Robin’s my friend not yours.’
‘I am Rosie’s friend, Molly.’ Robin spoke up from the floor where he and Louisa were engrossed in a noisy game of pick up sticks. ‘And Emma’s and Louisa’s and your cousin Ben’s as well.’
‘You’ve got a lot of friends, Robin,’ Delia said, and lifted Rosie on to her knee.
He looked up at her. ‘I have,’ he agreed. ‘I only really had one before, didn’t I, Arthur Crawshaw, and he was a grown-up friend.’ He turned back to the game and shouted with glee when Louisa’s pile of sticks collapsed. ‘Wouldn’t he be surprised if he saw me now? I wish I could write to him and tell him what a good time I’m having, but we don’t know where he is.’
After about twenty minutes the door opened and Jenny glanced round at them all, her gaze lingering not on Robin but on Louisa. ‘I’ve made yet more tea, Delia, and we’ll have to think about going in an hour or so if we’re to catch our train. Jack and Susan are about to go home.’
‘I’m going with them.’ Emma stood up and Rosie slid from Delia’s knee and said, ‘I fink I will as well.’
Delia got up too. ‘I’ll come and say goodbye,’ she murmured. ‘Will that be all right?’
Jenny nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said, her voice catching. ‘I think so.’ Delia approached Susan. ‘We haven’t been introduced, Susan,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m Delia, Robin’s mother.’
‘Yes.’ Susan flushed, and seemed embarrassed. ‘I’m pleased to meet you.’ Her voice was low and husky, as if she had been crying. ‘I gather that Robin’s going to stay here for a while. My – our girls are really fond of him. Especially Louisa.’
‘And me.’ Molly had followed behind them. ‘He’s learned me to read.’
‘Taught you, Molly,’ Emma butted in. ‘Not learned.’
‘That’s what I said!’ Molly declared, and Delia understood that a good deal of patience was needed where Molly was concerned.
‘We’re just off home.’ Jack came over to Delia and put his hand on Susan’s shoulder. He was very subdued. ‘We’ll see you again next time you come, won’t we? We’ll – erm, have a chat and sort things out, mebbe? To see how to go about things? I’m …’ He heaved a breath. ‘I’m – really sorry to have caused you so much—’
‘Yes,’ Delia broke in. ‘We’ll talk.’ She could barely comprehend that she was speaking almost normally to the man she had reviled in her heart for so long.
Robin came behind her and put his arm round her waist and she looked down and wound hers about him too. ‘I’m pleased that you’ve met my mother, Jack,’ he said, smiling up at them both. ‘And you too, Susan. Now everybody knows everybody else!’
Delia was proud of him; he behaved
