Annie had never seen Mary so calm. “I’ve made up my mind. Me and Nancy are going back

Annie hugged Isabella. “I’m so glad to have you for my sister-in-law,” she said. “Thank you and please visit any time. Alex and I will always be glad of your company.” “And Mary?” inquired Isabella. “I believe she’s going to be living with you and Alex.”

Annie nodded. “Mary too, will be glad to see you,” replied Annie, truthfully. “Her only concern now is her daughter.”

Mary took Nancy up to bed, leaving Annie and Alex alone in the parlour.

“You don’t think it was deliberate, do you?” she ventured to Alex, fearful of the answer.

She knew how much Billy had endured these last months and, even although she no longer loved him, she couldn’t help but feel concern.

“Who knows!” responded Alex, conscious of the part he’d recently played in Billy’s life.

Everything Alex had done since falling in love with Annie, he’d done with her best interest at heart and it was up to Billy to deal with his life like a man.

Mary quietly returned to the room and sat beside Annie on the settee. “I’ve decided to go back,” she announced simply. “To Billy.”

A shock

It was Alex who broke the silence that followed the announcement.

“It’s been a shock to us all, Mary,” he began. “And we’re all concerned for Billy, but going back might not be a good idea.”

Annie had never seen Mary so calm. “I know what you’re saying Alex, but I’ve made up my mind. Me and Nancy are going back.”

“From what Constable MacPherson said, Mary,” continued Alex gently, “There’s no home to go back to.”

Mary turned to Annie. “Could me and Nancy live at the single-end till things get sorted?” she asked matter-of-factly.

“If that’s what you want Mary,” she replied, knowing her sister’s determination. “And Billy too – if he’ll come?” “Billy too.” Annie nodded. “It’s settled then,” she affirmed, standing up and straightening her bridesmaid’s dress. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

Annie and Alex sat in silent thought for some time before Alex finally crossed the room and took her hands in his. “Come to bed?” he asked quietly. “Mrs Melville.” Annie felt her heart beat faster in her breast. “There’s nothing I want more,” she replied, smiling at her new husband. “Mr Melville.”

“Not exactly the wedding day we’d planned,” he whispered as they mounted the stairs. “Do you love me, Annie Melville?”

Annie felt her whole body relax. She was home at last. “I love you,” she replied simply and honestly. “With all my heart.”

The following day, Mary was met by Grannie Ogilvie at the end of the close.

“An awful bizness,” she exclaimed blackly. “Nearly killt, he waz.”

Mary held Nancy closer to her. “Do you know where he is, Mrs Ogilvie?” asked Mary, hoping that the old lady could tell her.

The crone leant closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Nobody kens where he is, Mrs Da’son. Nobody.”

Mary fought back the urge to run up the stairs and shout out Billy’s name.

“He waz last seen ga’in up Todburn Lane towards the mill. But, since then… nuthin’.”

Mary nodded her head. “Thanks anyway, Mrs Ogilvie. If you should see him, will you tell him, me and Nancy’s living at the single-end, if he wants to see us.”

Grannie Ogilvie raised a quizical eyebrow. “Annie’s place?”

“That’s right, Mrs Ogilvie. Now she’s married, she’s no need of it.”

Panicking

The neighbour folded her arms defensively across her large frontage. “And does the factor ken?”

Mary felt herself panicking. “Not yet, Mrs Ogilvie, but I’ll be seeing him on Monday.”

Mrs Ogilvie seemed to be satisfied with the answer and, on spying Mrs Kennedy and her twins, moved away to pass on the ‘latest news’.

The sight of her burned-out home reduced Mary to tears. There was nothing left to salvage and she quietly returned to the single-end.

“We’ll be fine here, Nancy,” she told her child. “Till your daddy comes for us.”

Billy’s brush with death had affected Mary more than she had imagined it would.

She remembered how it had been when she and Billy had first married and Nancy had been born.

It was only when Annie came to live with them that it had all gone wrong, and now that Annie was married, maybe, just maybe, things could be sorted between her and Billy.

She tucked Nancy up in the small bed for the night. “We’ll go and find Daddy tomorrow,” she promised her daughter.

“When he finishes work at the Mill, we’ll wait for him and bring him home.” Nancy sighed as her eyes closed. “Not a care in the world,” whispered Mary. “Oh, to be a child again.”

The sun was still warm in the summer sky as Mary waited with Nancy at the gate of Baxter’s Mill. Long shadows stretched across the yard and the smell of jute hung in the air.

She saw Billy emerge from the door of the weaving flat long before he saw her.

He was still a handsome man, tall and dark, although his hair now had begun showing signs of grey.

Mary squeezed Nancy’s hand. “There’s Daddy now,” she whispered. “Go and say hello.”

The child squealed in delight at the sight of Billy and toddled towards him. “Dada,” she called. “Dada.” Billy looked up, his eyes filling with light at the sight of his daughter.

He picked her up and swung her above his head. “Nancy,” he grinned. “How’s my darlin’ girl?”

“She’s fine, Billy,” answered Mary from the shadows.

Worried

Billy’s face hardened.

“Bad news travels fast,” he said, placing Nancy back on her feet. “Are you alright?” Billy’s defences began to form around him. “What’s it to you if I’m alright or not?” he asked, not really wanting an answer. “I was worried.” Billy threw his head back and laughed sarcastically. “Worried,” he repeated. “Since when have you – or that sister of yours for that matter – worried about anyone but yourselves?”

Mary recoiled. “Please, Billy,” she whispered. “Don’t be like that.”

Billy closed in on her and the fear she had managed to dismiss from her heart returned.

“I don’t want your pity, Mary Pepper, and I don’t want you. Now, clear off and leave me alone. The only thing you’ve got that I want is Nancy.”