She had wanted to watch young Nicky growing up, even though it pulled at her heartstrings to be powerless to claim him as her son. Yet … probably it was best this way. Alistair was so unstable that, if they’d stayed in Lee Green, she couldn’t have trusted him not to blurt out his suspicions to Dougal, and she’d have been duty-bound to confess the whole sorry tale. She couldn’t let Marge take the blame for what she had done. Although the move to Forvit had not been made without due consideration, it was effected far too quickly for her liking. Rosie, of course, was against them going, and so, too, was Peggy, who would have to take on some of the responsibility for her mother. Alf Pryor had said it wasn’t his place to put forward an opinion, but, when pressed, he had admitted that he wouldn’t mind cooking Rosie’s meals again. It would leave Marge free to concentrate on her husband and son, and it would give him something to occupy his time other than tending the two gardens.
