Free Memories Are Made of This by June Francis

wife the old witch says he should never have married. You should have heard her go on at me on the way to the Odeon. I asked her point blank what she had against my mother and you know what she said?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜She was on the streets when Dad found her and she led him on!’ Jeanette’s voice shook. ‘I told her I didn’t believe her. I just can’t see Dad marrying a prostitute, can you?’
    Hester was shocked. ‘No. He’s fastidious is Dad. He wouldn’t have a woman who’d sold her body, however sorry he might feel for some of those on the streets. You should have told him what she said about your mother and he’d have put you straight.’
    Jeanette gave a grim little smile. ‘I just couldn’t bring myself to say the word
prostitute
to him. It would appear as if I needed to ask him because I was unsure about the truth of the matter.’
    â€˜But you’d have let him know that his aunt was telling you lies.’
    Jeanette toyed with her fingers. ‘She’d talk her way out of it. She also went on about my mother being very young when he married her.’
    â€˜She seemed old enough to me,’ said Hester. ‘There were times when she got down to our level and then there were others when she was expecting you and just sat in a chair, knitting little garments with an altogether different expression, and I’d think:
You look older today, Gracie.
It was as if she realized having a child brought responsibility.’
    Jeanette smiled. ‘I can see how that could be. The old witch pulled the film to pieces, as well, you know. All the way home, she was going on about the prison governor and the wardens being soft on criminals and how it hadn’t been like that in her day.’
    â€˜Typical of her.’
    Jeanette nodded and gazed out of the window. ‘It looks like rain again.’
    â€˜A blinking nuisance, the weather.’ Hester sipped her tea. ‘I know it’s difficult to ignore what Aunt Ethel says, but I can tell you that Dad used to smile more often when your mother was part of this household.’
    â€˜D’you think he loved her?’
    â€˜To be frank, I don’t know. He introduced her to us as
your new mam
, so I presumed that he’d married her to look after me and Sam. I have a vague memory that our dear great-aunt wasn’t at all pleased and I prayed that she would leave. She didn’t always live with us. I think I remember my mother saying that Ethel had a job where she lived in once upon a time.’
    â€˜Perhaps she was in service when she wasn’t a prison wardress?’ said Jeanette.
    â€˜Maybe,’ said Hester, glancing about her. ‘What happened to my Mills & Boon?’
    â€˜It’s here on the floor,’ said Jeanette, bending to pick it up. She placed the book on the bed. ‘Peggy reads them. Love’s young dream she isn’t,’ she added, scowling.
    Hester cocked an eye at her. ‘They’re relaxing reads. I suppose Dad was in need of a woman’s affection after my mother died, and that could have been another reason why he married your mother.’
    â€˜Well, they must have slept together for me to have been born,’ said Jeanette cheerfully. ‘I wish I knew more about sex. What we were taught in biology class about reproduction makes it sound not worth bothering about.’
    â€˜That’s what grown-ups want you to believe, so you won’t get into trouble. The disgrace and the pain isn’t worth it from what I’ve seen.’ Hester changed the subject. ‘Did Aunt Ethel say anything about you escaping from your locked bedroom?’
    â€˜I didn’t mention your name if that’s what you want to know,’ said Jeanette, smiling. ‘I gave her the impression she was getting forgetful and hadn’t locked me in. She mentioned going senile and I took advantage of it.’
    Hester’s