Maggie's Girl Read Free Page A

the slightest suspicion about her precious son, Ned.
    â€˜Cliff’s turning into a fine boy – he takes after Bertie! Only thank the Lord he’s too young for this lot blowing up.’
    How many other couples, he wondered, were in their situation – having lost both boys in the Great War, and with a grandson of an age for this one?
    He tried to reassure her about John, while she tried to tell him about John’s real plans after university. Silas turned a deaf ear, and was relieved when she finally went upstairs to dress.
    That had been altogether too close for comfort. He couldn’t begin to imagine all the upset it would cause if Adèle ever discovered an off-shoot of her precious Ned’s was growing right under her nose, here in Castle Maine. That boy Harry! It was the biggest wonder she’d never seen the likeness, but there it was! Folk saw what they wanted to see, and that was a fact.
    He’d done his best to help Daisy Bridges, and it wasn’t as if he didn’t owe her father enough already. Silas knew full well if it hadn’t been for William Oakes all those long years ago, the factory would never have got off the ground in the first place. Businessmen trusted William’s common sense – they hadn’t trusted Silas, not then.
    This business with Ned – at last it had spurred him into doing what he should have done long since. Better late than never! William knew it, too; the knowledge had been there in his eyes when Silas said he was settling money on him.
    â€˜I don’t want your money!’ he complained.
    â€˜There’s others might have a right to it,’ Silas began, aware he was treading on dangerous ground. ‘It’s only right, William!’
    â€˜You think money makes it right?’ William glared up at him from under shaggy eyebrows.
    â€˜It is when it’s owed. As much as money can make a thing right.’ Silas blustered on, looking for the appropriate thing to say and failing miserably.
    â€˜I need to do this, William.’ At last he stumbled on the right words. ‘Tell ’em it’s something long overdue from when we were young.’
    The two old men had stood in that cramped little cottage, all pretensions stripped away. After all they’d been through, they were just two old friends doing what they could to right a wrong.
    And if it gave Silas’s foolish old heart a lift, seeing one or the other of them when he was about his legitimate business in town – that girl, Maggie, for instance – Ned’s daughter! Well, he was pleased.
    He knew he had to keep it to himself. William would never tell a soul – he appreciated peace and quiet too much, and all hell would break loose if this ever came out.
    There was no denying Maggie was a fine girl, if ever there was one. A chip off the old block, Silas thought.
    He’d done his best to put things right. Family was family, when all was said and done…
    Â 
    â€˜You had no business going anywhere other than straight home,’ Maggie said sharply.
    â€˜Sorry, Mam.’ Harry hung his head, looking not one whit ashamed, and his mother bit her lip. This boy! Whatever should she do with him? He was getting to be a handful, and that was a fact.
    â€˜I haven’t time for this now – it’ll have to wait until I get back!’She knew as she spoke that she was letting him get away with too much – again! She’d tried her best, but he was of an age when he needed a man’s hand.
    Shaking her head, she let herself out of the house, calling a hasty goodbye to Holly and Gramps and her mam, who’d just arrived, flustered, full of some tale about Mary in trouble at work.
    Maggie had no time to listen, and felt guilty. Late as ever, she was still buttoning her coat as she ran for the bus.
    The night was wet, the pavements shiny, almost translucent under the lamplight. There was a bitter wind, and the bus was late. She