SOME SORT OF PENANCE - Margaret Armstrong - Bog

After the unexpected death of her husband, Gordon, Mamie, now approaching old age and suffering a crisis of conscience due to her adulterous behavior while Gordon was alive, moves south to begin a new life, promising herself and the dead Gordon to be a much more caring person in future. Having been thoroughly indulged throughout her married life, Mamie decides she should start her new life by getting something or someone to care for, and so she acquires her little dog, Forsyth. Eric, has his own similar regrets, suffering from self-loathing as a result of his philandering and neglect. He feels the need to suffer for his sins, going about it in a way which Mamie thinks is ludicrous and dangerous. She suspects Eric is deranged. Finding Eric in a state of distress and temporarily disabled after injuring himself, Mamie takes him into her home. Eric is suspicious of Mamie's motives. Nineteen year old unemployed Nicky also needs help and, again, it's Mamie to the rescue. And who is the unwelcome intruder from Mamie's past?