"Are we going to Nanna's house?"
"Yes."
"I thought she was on holiday."
"She is. We're just doing something for her."
Jackie thought about how Bethany asked questions all the time. A typical four-year-old, she supposed. Taylor wouldn't be far behind but for now she was just 14-months-old and asleep in the pushchair that Jackie was navigating up the hill to her mother's house. George walked at the side and although Jackie was in the eighth month of her pregnancy he didn't offer to push. When they got to the house George had a look round inside.
"There's some nice stuff in here. I can get rid of that, and that."
Jackie nodded, mute.
"Don't forget, after you drop that bairn there's other ways of paying. Have you got the doings?"
"I've got a works in my bag."
"Sound."
Later, in the bedroom that she had dreamed in as a child, Jackie sat on the bed.
"What's this?" said Bethany, picking up a toy figure of a girl with long blonde hair.
"It's a beautiful Princess. Nanna gave it me when I was little like you."
"Can I have it?"
"If you want. You're my Princess. When you're bigger you'll marry a Prince and live in an enchanted castle." Bethany picked up the Princess and looked around for faithful subjects to give orders to.
"Nanna promised."