Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

she was gone from this earth, she would never regret knowing and raising that lovely-natured little girl.

      ‘You must tell the child the truth,’ Aggie said firmly. ‘That her father went away and never came back. You can tell her all about him if you choose, or make up any story you like. But the child has a right to know who her father is.’

      Emily’s heart sank. ‘That’s for me to decide, Mam! You mustn’t worry your head about it.’ The prospect of telling Cathleen who her father was had caused her many a sleepless night.

      ‘I’m not saying it isn’t your decision, lass. All I want is for you to think about it and be ready, for when she starts asking the questions.’

      For a moment Aggie discreetly observed her daughter deep in thought. There was a troubled look on Emily’s face that prompted her to ask worriedly, ‘Cathleen is John’s child, isn’t she?’

      Emily looked up. ‘Well, that’s what they’re all saying, so it must be right.’

      ‘Yes, lass. It’s what they say, and we all thought the same. But you’ve never said. You’ve never confirmed or denied it. Not so as I recall, anyway.’

      Pushing the chair away, Emily excused herself. ‘I’m feeling tired now, Mam,’ she apologised. ‘I’d best be away to my bed.’ She kissed her mother on the forehead and was soon on her way upstairs.

      Left alone, Aggie began to wonder. A dark suspicion crept in. If she wasn’t John’s child, then who was Cathleen’s father? Emily had only ever had eyes for John Hanley. The lass never kept company with any other young men – not so far as she knew, anyway.

      A shocking thought entered her head then; so terrible that she thrust it to the back of her mind. ‘You mustn’t think bad things, Aggie!’ she told herself. ‘What happened with you was a long time ago. You mustn’t let it colour your thinking, or it’ll send you out of your mind!’

      Afraid of her own rampaging thoughts, she took herself off to bed. But it was a long time before she could get to sleep, and even then, it was a sleep full of restless dreams.

      In the morning it was as though the conversation between Emily and her mother had never taken place.

      When Emily came into the kitchen with Cathleen beside her, Aggie was already cooking breakfast. ‘Look what I found, Mam.’ Emily sat the tousled-haired child at the table. ‘One half-asleep, starving-hungry little girl.’ She stooped to give her daughter a hug.

      ‘Dolly Dora wants a hug too.’ Cathleen held out her rag-doll. ‘I think she wants some porridge as well.’

      Aggie turned from the stove to give her a smile. ‘Well now, we’d best feed you both, eh?’ she chuckled. ‘Afore you start eating the table!’

      The child found that very droll. ‘We won’t eat the table, Grandma,’ she said. ‘Anyway, Dolly Dora hasn’t got any teeth.’

      While Aggie spooned out the child’s porridge, Emily poured her a glass of milk. In a matter of minutes the child was settled, but no sooner had the two women sat down than there came a familiar tap on the door. ‘Any chance of a brew for a weary, hardworking milkman?’ Grinning from ear to ear, Danny poked his head round the door.

      At once, Cathleen scrambled down from the table and threw herself into his arms. ‘Danny! Danny! Dolly’s having porridge,’ she said, leading him to the table. ‘You can have some too, if you like – can’t he, Grandma?’ Her face shone up at Aggie. ‘If there’s none left, he can share mine.’

      ‘Oh, there’s plenty left,’ she answered readily. ‘Only I’ve a feeling Danny might rather have eggs and bacon – and mebbe a sausage and a morsel o’ black-pudding too?’ She looked at Danny, who nodded emphatically.

      ‘That sounds just the ticket,’ he said, and sat himself at the table. ‘Morning, Emily.’ As always, his face lit up when he looked at her.

      Emily bade him good morning. She brought his tea and served his meal, and the four of them sat together at the table, talking and laughing, and exchanging tales, just like a real family. For Danny it was a wonderful feeling. One he intended making permanent, soonever he got the chance.

      When the meal was over, the dishes were carried to the sink. ‘I’ll give you ladies a hand washing up.’ Danny sank his hands into a pot-sink full of soda and hot water from the kettle, but that was as far as he got. ‘Take Cathleen up to see her grandad,’ Emily suggested, ‘while me and Mam wash up.’

      ‘That suits me.’ Danny drew his hands out of the water, and pretended to examine them. ‘All this hot, greasy water is doing terrible damage to my skin.’

      ‘Go on with you!’ He always made Aggie smile. ‘Get off upstairs, the pair of youse. Oh, and will you tell Dad I’ll be along shortly to change his bedlinen?’

      ‘I’ll do that,’ Danny answered with a cheerful grin. ‘And will you be all right, Emily?’ He always came back to her.

      Emily gave him a grateful glance. ‘I’m fine, thank you, Danny,’ she answered. ‘Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right behind you. Tell Grandad that for me, will you?’

      Danny assured her he would. ‘So now, Cathleen me little darling, shall we go and say hello to your grandad, eh?’

      ‘Come on then!’ The child slid her hand into his. ‘Grandad’s waiting.’

      Beaming, he allowed her to lead him away.

      ‘That man aches with love for you.’ Aggie never lost an opportunity to sing Danny’s praises.

      ‘I wish he wouldn’t,’ Emily answered. ‘I could never promise him anything.’

      ‘He’d wed you tomorrow, given the chance.’

      ‘I know that, and I’m flattered.’ Emily had a soft spot for Danny, but it wasn’t love and never could be.

      Aggie, though, refused to give up. ‘He’s a good man.’

      ‘I know that too, Mam. But it doesn’t mean I have to marry him.’

      Keeping her face to the window, Aggie dipped a plate into the hot water. ‘Love isn’t everything, lass,’ she said, scrubbing the plate until it shone.

      Emily took the clean plate and wiped it over with her cloth. ‘Why do you say that?’

      ‘Because it’s true.’

      ‘You and Dad loved each other.’

      ‘Yes, and look what happened!’ There was anger in her now.

      Keeping her voice down so as not to let anyone else hear, Aggie turned to her. ‘I gave him years of pampering. I worked alongside him, out there in all weathers. By! There were times when I were so tired and weary I thought I’d fall down on the spot, but I kept going, and when the day’s work was done, I’d wash his clothes and cook his meal, and give him all the loving a woman normally gives her husband.’

      Turning away, she shook the water from her hands and wiped them dry. ‘After all that, he ran off and left me, when I needed him most.’ Looking Emily in the eye, she warned her, ‘You should never set too much store by love. There are more important things in life, such as security and contentment.’ Wagging an angry finger she finished, ‘You’d do well to remember that, my girl.’

      She would have walked away, but Emily blocked her path. ‘You still love Dad though.’

      ‘Who says so?’

      ‘I do. Don’t deny it, Mam. You’d have him back tomorrow, wouldn’t you?’

      ‘Aye, lass, I would.’ The whisper of a smile touched Aggie’s mouth. ‘But that’s only because I’m a silly old fool who should know better.’

      ‘I must be a silly fool too, because that’s how I feel about John. I don’t love Danny in that way,