A Safe Harbour by Benita Brown Page A

‘Well, Albert, how much do I owe you?’ she asked once Mr Brunton had helped her down.  
    ‘Nowt,’ he said. ‘You know I don’t want payment.’  
    ‘Well, will you take a bit of fish?’  
    ‘If you insist. Tilda would like that.’  
    While they had been talking Mrs Brunton had appeared in the doorway of the shed that served as an office, holding a plate. She walked towards them and held out the plate, and Meg reached into her creel and took out most of the fish that was left. She slapped it on the plate. Kate realized even before her aunt glanced at her and winked that this was a ritual.  
    ‘Hev you enjoyed yerself today?’ her aunt asked as they walked home to Belle Vue Cottage.  
    ‘Very much,’ Kate said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.  
    ‘It’s been grand having you along,’ Aunt Meg continued. ‘Someone of me own to keep me company. And never fear, Kate. You’re a clever lass – you’ll soon pick them up, the tricks of the trade.’  
    Kate was sure she would. And she was genuinely glad that her presence was making her aunt happy. Even though her heart was aching she was determined to make the best of things. Not just for her own sake, but also for the baby she was carrying, who was all she had left of Jos.  
    Her mother was waiting at the door of the cottage. ‘How’d you get on?’ she asked.  
    Kate couldn’t have expressed how pleased she was to see her there. ‘You’d better ask Aunt Meg.’  
    ‘The lass did very well,’ her aunt said. ‘But hawway in; we’ll hev a cup of tea.’  
    The fire had been banked up and it didn’t take long to stoke it up a little and get the kettle boiling. The day had been warm but it was cool inside the cottage and although her mother and her aunt sat companionably at the table Kate drew her chair to the fireside and savoured the cheery glow.  
    ‘Lissen, Kate,’ her mother said, and she looked troubled. ‘There’s no one else knows yet that you’re expecting. Just you, me and Meg here.’  
    ‘And my father.’  
    ‘Oh, aye, not forgetting your father.’ Her mother sighed. ‘And he’s the reason I want to keep this quiet. If word got round and if he thought there was gossip about you he would . . . he would be angry.’  
    Kate knew that was an understatement. ‘And he would take it out on you,’ she said.  
    Her mother didn’t reply, but there was no need. All three of them knew that it was true.  
    ‘So yer ma and I agreed that we’ll let folk think you’ve come here to help me,’ Aunt Meg said.  
    ‘It’s for the best, Kate, believe me,’ her mother added. ‘It’ll be our little secret.’  
    ‘That’s all very well,’ Kate said, ‘but the secret won’t keep, will it? What happens when I begin to show? What happens when the bairn is born?’  
    The two older women looked at each other and Kate thought her mother looked unhappier than ever. ‘Shall I tell her?’ Aunt Meg asked.  
    ‘Aye, you’ll hev to.’  
    ‘I’ll write to your Aunt Winifred,’ Meg said. ‘I’m pretty sure she’ll take you in. In fact she’ll be pleased to.’  
    ‘Who is Aunt Winifred?’  
    ‘My little sister. She’s a couple of years younger than your father.’  
    ‘Why don’t I know her?’ Kate asked.  
    ‘Because she ran away long before you were born.’  
    ‘Ran away?’  
    ‘Aye, and it was your father’s fault.’ Aunt Meg sighed. ‘When your grandfather was drowned along with our eldest brother, your father, although just a lad himself, became the man of the house and started laying down the law about what Winifred and me could do – our ma, too. Well, Ma just gave in to him and I did too, to keep the peace. But Winifred was just like you, Kate. She spoke up for herself and wouldn’t give in. Our poor mother had a lot to bear and I’m sure that’s why she followed our father to the grave only a year later. Then your father became worse than ever, a proper tyrant, so