Kate’s heart was pounding in her ears as she hurried over to the place where she had agreed to meet John. Oh God, she had lied to her teacher! She had pretended to be sick when she wasn’t, to get out of her summer class. For the first time in her life she was playing truant! It wasn’t what a sensible young lady aspiring to be a teacher would do. Especially not one who had already been reprimanded several times over the course of the summer for not taking her lessons seriously enough. And if ma found out… Kate didn’t even want to think about that scenario. She’d rather run away from home and become a music hall dancer than deal with ma if she found out! Oh, she did feel terribly wicked!

But she had missed her brother for five agonizing years! And very soon he would have to go away again! And she was stuck in summer class all the time! It was unbearable. She had to have at least one day with John. Alone with him. Not with her father there, who still seemed awkward – more awkward than his usual self – around his eldest son. Not with ma, who seemed increasingly stressed. Not with Joe who was very much to blame for her mother’s recent stress. Just her and John.

Ma wouldn’t find out that she had played truant, Kate reasoned with herself in an attempt to shake the adrenaline. There was no way for ma to know that her daughter was in Robin Hoods Bay rather than school. And her teacher thought that she had gone home sick and trusted her. Ach – that made her feel worse! She had often been praised as an honest and reliable girl. It was only once, she told herself. Just this one time!

Her fear and guilt ebbed away when she spotted John. She waved and sprinted over, resting her hands on her knees and catching her breath when she reached the bench. Then she rose and looked around anxiously. “Let’s go,” he breathed with a half-laugh. She was eager to get out of town, lest somebody who knew she should be in class spotted her.