Free Daughters of the Mersey by Anne Baker

way she was more like Steve, who rarely spoke of his interests. Leonie tried to get her to talk about her school and her friends but she revealed very little.
    Amy was an altogether sturdier build than her half-siblings but she had lovely rounded limbs and a pretty face. Leonie couldn’t stop herself searching for a resemblance to Nick. Amy had inherited her own straight hair, and it was not a beguiling colour like June’s, but then Nick had straight hair too. Amy had dimples in her cheeks and they must have come from Nick. Leone knew she hugged her more than she had her two older children. Amy was her love child.
    Most people found her delightful because she would smile up at them and talk to them; she’d even edge up to sit on their knees. Leonie had been half afraid Steve would take against Amy, but she watched her do that to him and he treated her with as much affection as he’d given Milo and June when they were very young.
    Nurse Bridge and Mrs Killen were equally enamouredof her and very happy to take charge of her. She shared her sweets and toys with other children and expected them to share theirs.
    From an early age, the children played outside and ran wild with their friends. Milo had always known there was a sailing dinghy in one of the two sheds in the two-acre garden.
    ‘I’d like to use it, Pa,’ he said one night over supper. ‘It’s called
Dido
and the sails seem fine, all they need is new ropes. They’re all there, Duggie Jenkins and I spread them out to see.’
    ‘It’ll be no use to man nor beast now,’ Steve said shortly. ‘It’s been lying there far too long.’
    ‘Duggie’s dad came to look at it and he says it can be repaired.’
    ‘What business has he got coming into our garden and what does he know about boats?’
    ‘Did it belong to Edward?’ Leonie asked to deflect his ire.
    ‘No, it was Raymond’s.’
    ‘Your Uncle Raymond was killed in the Great War, love,’ Leonie told their son.
    ‘There are times when I wish I’d been killed too,’ Steve said irritably. ‘It would be better than this.’
    ‘No, Pa, you don’t. Nobody wants to be dead,’ Milo said in disbelief. He put down his knife and fork. ‘Does that mean I can take over the dinghy?’
    ‘Miles, don’t you listen to what I say? If you put
Dido
in the river, it would sink. The wood must be rotten by now.’
    ‘Mr Jenkins says it is clinker built and all it needs is a couple of planks replacing and he could show us how to do it.’
    ‘Don’t expect me to pay him for that. It’s not safe, Miles, you coulddrown yourself and those boys. It would be better to leave it alone.’
    ‘But Pa, please look at the boat. If you talk to Duggie’s dad you’ll see he knows all about—’
    ‘No I will not. Your mother and I would be very worried if we thought you were out on the river in that. There are huge tides and strong currents, quite apart from the big ships out there.’
    ‘I want to learn, Pa. I want to learn everything about boats. Can I ask Mum to have a word with Mr Jenkins?’
    His father flared. ‘No, I said. Don’t argue. We need to eat our meals in peace. You’re giving me indigestion.’
    Leonie turned to her son and surreptitiously put her finger across her lips.
    ‘Sorry, Pa,’ Milo said. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’
    When the meal was over, the children helped Leonie to clear the table, while Steve went off to his study.
    In the kitchen, Milo said, ‘Mum, we really want to try to put that boat in order. Duggie’s dad is a boatbuilder, he knows what he’s talking about. He thinks it would be a great project for us boys. He doesn’t want to be paid. He says it’ll be good for us all and we’ll learn a lot.’
    ‘But you’ll need wood,’ Leonie said, ‘and money for paint and things.’
    ‘Yes, and I’m going to get a job to pay for them.’
    ‘Milo,’ she cautioned. ‘You’re only fourteen.’
    ‘Lots of boys start work at fourteen.’
    ‘But not you, you have to stay