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successful. The fact is, they’re all pretty much the same. Younger than me – one’s twenty-nine, two are just over thirty – all are fully qualified and ready to move on from where they are, and all are keen as mustard about running a property department.’
    â€˜Have they had experience?’ Roz asked doubtfully.
    â€˜One has – that’s the twenty-nine-year-old. He’s from a firm in the Borders that sells property in a small way, and obviously fancies running something bigger. The two thirty-year-olds are from very small Glasgow firms without much in the way of property interest as yet, but say they’re very keen. Shouldn’t be ruled out, in my view.’
    â€˜But if they haven’t had experience of running a department, how will they manage?’
    â€˜They’ll learn on the job, as I did. I was young like them when I was first appointed here and hadn’t actually worked in property. But when Mr Banks asked me to take over, I jumped at the chance and have enjoyed what I’ve done. Our successful candidate will probably be the same.’
    â€˜I suppose so. He’ll be lucky, anyway.’
    â€˜Yes, well, I’ll do what I can to give him a good start and leave plenty of information in my files. And he’ll have you, of course – that’ll be all he needs.’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Roz agreed coldly. ‘I’ll be useful, then.’
    â€˜I know you’ll do your best,’ Mr MacKenna said quietly.
    She knew she would, too, and said no more.

Ten
    That evening, when she returned home after work, she found a pleasant surprise – her mother up and dressed and with a shepherd’s pie she’d made herself all ready for tea.
    â€˜Why, Ma, you’re feeling better!’ Roz cried. ‘Oh, that’s wonderful!’
    â€˜I’m better than I was,’ Flo admitted grudgingly. ‘But I’ll have to take care.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, but just to see you up – it’s so nice!’
    Throwing her arms round her mother, Roz was thinking that this was the best piece of news she’d had for quite some time, and if it meant that there might be a softening of Flo’s attitude towards Dougal, that would be a tremendous bonus. For surely she couldn’t keep up her treatment of him while he ate her shepherd’s pie and she sat watching him, knowing he wouldn’t be at home for much longer? But Roz knew only too well that nothing could be expected of her mother. Always, you had to take things as they came.
    There was the sound of the flat door opening, and Dougal’s voice calling. ‘Hallo, Roz! I’m back!’
    Roz and her mother exchanged glances. The vegetables were ready, the pie in the oven was well browned – all they had to do was serve up. But here was Dougal in the doorway, his eyes widening as he saw his mother up and dressed.
    â€˜Ma, you’re up. I never thought … How are you feeling, then?’
    She tossed her head a little, then suddenly sat down at the kitchen table, as though her legs were weakening.
    â€˜Better,’ said Roz, taking out the shepherd’s pie, her face flushed from the heat of the oven. ‘Ma’s feeling better.’
    â€˜Getting better,’ Flo corrected. ‘My first day up, and I don’t feel that grand.’
    â€˜It’s grand to see you up, though,’ Dougal said earnestly. ‘You don’t know how good that is.’
    Flo slowly turned her head to look at him. ‘You’d better go and get yourself washed,’ she told him tremulously, and as Dougal smiled and Roz smiled with him, they knew the storm was over, that their mother had come back. She had been away, but she was back, at least for the time being. It looked like she’d finally accepted what was to happen and that being so, maybe all would be well. Maybe.
    In fact, when Flo had later returned to bed and Roz and Dougal were looking in