Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection

‘And don’t you go worrying about things going wrong with the party!’ Vicky advised. ‘Because everything is in hand. It’s all been checked and double-checked; Jamie’s presents are all wrapped and ready, the birthday cake is setting and will be perfect for cutting tonight, the trimmings are up and the barn is all ready … or so you say!’

‘It is!’ Ronnie grumbled, falling into the room. ‘Apart from a few finishing touches which’ll only take a few minutes.’ Hunched in his chair, unshaven, unwashed and with his hair standing on end, he looked like he’d been fished out of the river.

‘Right!’ Clapping her hands together to release a flurry of flour, Vicky went to the tap and filled the kettle which she then put on the stove. ‘Lucy! A dozen rashers of bacon and a bowl of eggs, if you please. We’ve a hungry mob waiting to be fed.’

‘I’ll have three eggs if they’re going.’ That was Thomas, bleary-eyed and yawning.

‘God Almighty! Look at the state of the pair of you!’ Vicky laughed. ‘I hope you can both manage to recover for tonight.’ She did a little jig on the spot. ‘’Cause your mammy’s expecting you to give her a dance or two!’

Lucy saw how Barney’s strained face lit in a smile at his wife’s antics. ‘There you go, Vicky.’ Placing the eggs and bacon on the side, she peeped again at Barney, and suddenly in that one precious moment, there was not another soul in the room but herself, and him.

At 6.30 p.m. the first partygoer arrived. ‘I’m a bit early,’ Adam apologised. ‘Only I thought there might be summat I could do to help.’ In truth he had wanted a quiet talk with Barney.

‘You’d best come wi’ me.’

Barney guessed the reason for his early arrival. ‘We’ll check the barn and see if I’ve forgotten anything.’ In his grey corduroy trousers, best blue shirt, and with his unruly hair tamed to a shine, Barney looked good.

‘The ladies are upstairs titivating theirselves and the boys are in the kitchen picking at the food.’ He chuckled. ‘If Vicky catches them, they’ll wish they’d never been born.’

As they strolled to the barn, Adam asked, ‘How are you feeling, matey?’

‘If you mean am I looking forward to the party,’ Barney replied, ‘the answer’s yes. If you mean have I accepted what’s gone on with me …’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘What choice have I got, old friend?’

Saddened to his heart, Adam nodded. ‘And what will you do about America?’ He was reluctant to interfere but knew the dilemma Barney faced. ‘There’ll come a point when you have to tell the family.’

‘I’m dealing with it.’

Adam sighed. ‘Remember, you’re not on your own, Barney,’ he said softly. ‘I’m here for you. Any time you want me, I’ll be here.’ When the tears filled his eyes he blinked them away.

‘I know.’ Throwing an arm round the little man’s shoulders, Barney walked him to the barn, where he threw open the door. ‘Well, what d’you think?’

Adam was mesmerised. The barn was festooned with colour from one end to the other: paper chains and streamers hung across the roof and down the walls, and in between, strategically hung so as to be safe, were a dozen long lanterns, all lit and twinkling. The benches were set out; the food table was dressed in a long pink cloth, and the dance-floor stretched away as far as the eye could see.

‘It’s like Wonderland!’ Adam marvelled and Barney laughed. They went inside and walked round the floor. Then Susie came running in. ‘Mam says you’re to come and help carry the food,’ she said, and ran out again.

For the next half-hour it was mayhem, with everyone trotting backwards and forwards with plates and dishes of food, cutlery and jugs, dodging each other and making a second and third trip, and when the long table was filled to bursting, the guests started arriving: the butcher and his wife; Doris Dandy from Everton, various villagers and others who had known the Davidsons for many years.

Jamie was getting very over-excited; dressed in his best clothes and overwhelmed by all the noises and strange faces. Lucy let him enjoy himself for a half-hour or so, then she popped back to the farmhouse with him and put him to bed, waiting until he had fallen asleep before returning to the festivities.

Leonard Maitland arrived alone, his attention instantly drawn to Vicky, who looked very fetching in her new cream-coloured skirt and pink lace blouse, with her hair loosely looped up on top of her head, and long wispy strands curling round her face. She was a picture of loveliness.

There were two neighbouring farmers and their entire families, and finally, arriving in a flurry of excitement with one of her new girls trailing in her wake, Bridget came waltzing through the doors. ‘Jaysus, Mary and Joseph, will ye look at this! It’s like heaven come to earth!’ she screeched with excitement.

A moment later, taking the young woman aside, she reminded her, ‘You’re not here to enjoy yourself.’ She kept her voice low. ‘Sure, haven’t I suffered the bad atmosphere in the house these past few days, the pair of youse, fighting and arguing like two alley cats! I’ve only brought you here tonight so I can keep an eye on you, while the other one calms down.’

She wagged a warning finger. ‘Watch your tongue and keep yourself to yourself, Brenda. I don’t want ye messing with the men tonight.’ She edged closer until they were eyeball to eyeball. ‘I swear, if I so much as see you look at a fella, I’ll thrash the arse off ye, so I will!’

Wisely, the young woman backed off. ‘What am I supposed to say if anybody comes talking to me?’

‘Oh, you’ll think o’ something, I’m sure.’ Bridget gave her a gentle shove. ‘Now be off and fetch me a glass o’ that wine they’re handing out.’

With everybody safe inside and a glass of best homemade wine in their hand, Barney stood on the chair and welcomed them all. ‘This is really a triple celebration,’ he said, winking at his wife. ‘Not only is it to mark little Jamie’s birthday and christening although the little chap in question has gone to his bed, but as most of you will already know, the Davidson family are away to start a new life in America.’

Pausing for breath, he thought about the imminent journey, and his secret heart was heavy. ‘It’s good to see you all here,’ he finished. ‘And now let’s have a toast – to Jamie … and America!’ There was an almighty cheer. ‘To Jamie and America!’

‘God bless you and your family, Barney, and all the luck in the world. It’s no more than you deserve.’ The glasses were raised again, and when they were empty, Vicky and Lucy and Susie were on hand to fill them up again.

While the toasts were given, Dr Lucas stood at the back of the barn and raised his glass along with everyone else. But, with the exception of Barney and Adam, he was the only one who knew that Barney might never be going to America. And if that was the case, then his family would not be going either.

It wasn’t long before the music started, in the form of old Victor and his accordion and beside him, the blacksmith, who could not only shoe a horse in record time but could also play a mean flute. Between the two of them, they played a merry tune and soonever the music struck up, the party-goers flocked to the dance-floor and let themselves go.

‘Would you look there!’ Barney nudged Lucy, gesturing across the dance-floor to where the butcher was swinging his wife round on the edge of his podgy arm. ‘I reckon he must think she’s a side o’ beef,’ Barney joked, ‘the way he’s chucking her about!’

Lucy’s attention was caught elsewhere. ‘It didn’t take Leonard long to get Vicky on the dance-floor,’ she remarked, and when Barney looked across he was taken by the manner in which his boss held Vicky, close and tight, as though he did not want to let her go.

The smallest surge of jealousy rippled through him. ‘Come on, lass, let’s show ’em how to do it!’ Grabbing her by the arm he ran her onto the dance-floor, and when the music suddenly changed to a waltz, he slid his arm round her waist and bent her to him. ‘You look lovely,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I meant to tell you that soonever I saw you, all dressed up like a princess, with your pretty eyes shining.’

Lucy laughed. ‘Why, thank you, sir, and you don’t look bad yourself either.’

Secretly, she was thrilled to be in his arms, and as he moved her slowly round the dance-floor, she closed her eyes and imagined he was her real partner; having brought her to the dance, later, when it was over, he would take her home again. On the doorstep he would kiss her good night, and she would go to bed and dream of him.

She laughed as Barney swung her round again. She knew it would end, but it didn’t matter. Tomorrow was reality. But tonight was a memory she would keep forever.

While dancing with Lucy, Barney kept an eye on Vicky. Looking up at Leonard, she was talking, seemingly unaware that he might be holding her too close, or that he wasn’t listening to a word she was saying. Instead he was looking into her eyes, discreetly content to be holding the woman he loved.

Barney saw all this and now, as Vicky turned to smile at him, he smiled back and winked; pleased when his wife blew him a conspiratorial kiss.

Barney laughed with Lucy, and swung her round like a young man with his sweetheart, yet all the while he was thinking of the future, and his lovely Vicky. He knew how devastating the news of his illness would be to the family, and to her, and he would have done anything on God’s earth not to have to tell her. If only there was a way, he thought. If only he could somehow save his family from the pain and anguish they were bound to suffer.

In the darkness of his mind, an idea was growing; an idea which, in the fullness of time, would come to fruition and shape their destiny.

During the evening, Lucy would return to the farmhouse every so often; an old dear from the village was there, keeping an eye on little Jamie. ‘He’s the same as he was when you came in half an hour since.’ A widow these many years, old Meg now filled her life with looking after other people’s children. ‘He’s sleeping,’ she told Lucy with a toothless grin. ‘You go and enjoy the party, dear, and leave me to my knitting. Your little lad is safe enough with me.’

After going upstairs to check Jamie, Lucy gave the old woman a grateful kiss and returned to the party.

Outside in the shadows, Edward Trent emerged from his hiding-place and crept stealthily towards the barn. Placing himself where he would not be seen, he peered in through the window.

He saw Barney’s son, Ronnie, hand-in-hand with Lucy as he led her onto the floor. The two of them danced wildly to the rhythmic sound of the accordion, Ronnie playing the fool and Lucy laughing at his antics while he flirted outrageously with her.

When the music stopped and Lucy was making her way back to the table with Ronnie, his brother Tom came on the scene and grabbing Lucy, he led her back onto the dance-floor. The music changed to a slower tempo, and soon she was moving effortlessly round in his arms, chatting and smiling, and seeming at peace with herself.

Edward saw all this and the rage inside him knew no bounds. Thrusting his fists against the window it seemed for one moment that he might smash it from its frame. Then the music stopped and everyone was clapping, and when in that moment a woman turned towards him, he ducked down and disappeared into the shadows again.

‘What d’you think you’re doing?’ Ronnie demanded light-heartedly of his brother. ‘Stealing my woman from under my very nose?’

‘I rescued her,’ Thomas answered, stuffing a piece of pork pie into his mouth. ‘I could see she was fed up dancing with a four-footed idiot, so I thought I’d show her what a real partner could do.’

Lucy giggled. ‘Stop it, you two,’ she said. ‘I’m having a wonderful evening. You’re both good dancers and you know it!’