A knowing smile crept over James’s face as he listened to his sister tell the family, who were gathered around her, how much she had missed them all. Maggie’s return to England had answered his question about her political activities and he would be forever grateful to Michael for the part he played in her return. James listened with amusement as Maggie recounted tales of sleepless nights spent worrying over her family in England and that, much as she loved the land of her birth, she had come to realize that her place was with her flesh and blood.
“That’s not the impression I got when I was over there, Rose,” whispered Mary to her sister-in-law.
“Maybe when you left it gave her a longing to follow you over. Mind you, it seems strange that she didn’t wait until the winter was behind us, for young Mary-Anne’s sake,” replied Rose.
Mary inched her way past the captive audience until she was standing next to her husband. She slipped her hand into his and led him towards the front door. There was a chill in the air and Mary took a coat from a hook on the wall to wrap around her shoulders.
“Can we take a wee walk down the street, James?”
“What is it you want to ask me, Mary?” was his reply as he fell into step beside her.
“Is that the only time I pay any heed to you, when I have a question for you? Maybe I just want to spend some time alone with my husband” Mary replied.
James laughed and put an arm around her shoulders.
“But I’m right, aren’t I? You have something to ask me.”
“James McGrother, there’s times when I could strangle you. I’ve half a mind to go back to the house,” Mary had stopped walking.
“Mary McGrother, there’s nothing half-minded about you. Now tell me, what it is you want to know. I’ll be relieved if the word baby is not in the next sentence you say to me.”
There was a burst of laughter from Mary, “It might be,” she smiled. “Wouldn’t it be grand for wee Jamie to have a brother to play with?”
“Tell me you’re teasing me, Mary. That’s not something to jest about,” James was beginning to perspire and it wasn’t from the walk.
“That’s true, I shouldn’t tempt fate like that,” Mary looked around, making sure there were no people about. “I wanted to ask if Michael had talked you into becoming a Fenian. He can be very persuasive, can’t he?” she whispered.
James went very quiet. It was uncanny how well they could read each other, and most of the time it was a good thing. At that moment, James was unsure of how he truly felt.
“I will admit to being sympathetic to Michael’s cause and if I was a single man, with no responsibilities, I could have been easily persuaded by him. I was surprised that he never even tried to talk me into some sort of fund raising at least, but he didn’t, Mary. So you can rest assured that I won’t be bringing any trouble to our door on that account. Michael is driven by something deep inside of him. When we said goodbye I felt as if I was walking away from the loneliest man in the world.”
“Sure how could Michael be lonely? He has Brigid and a houseful of children and lodgers, hasn’t he?” asked Mary.
“I know, love. I was probably imagining it. It was sad parting from him, not knowing if we would ever meet again.”
“Who knows what might happen in the future? Look at us, money in the bank in Ardee, waiting for our return. A fine brood of children to keep us on our toes. Three regular wages coming into the house. We have a lot to be thankful for, haven’t we, James? Can you not find happiness in any of that?”
It was the right thing to say to him and it pulled James out of a sadness that had been hanging over him, ever since his meeting with Michael. Their future did look hopeful. He knew they would face any troubles that lay ahead exactly the same way as they had done in the past, with determination and perseverance. James saw the anxiety on his wife’s face and kissed the creases on her forehead.
“Don’t worry, Mary. As long as I have you and the children I have more than enough reason to be happy. Come on, we should be getting back to the house before all the food is gone.”
James and Mary walked arm in arm back to where the sound of a party was in full swing, spilling music and laughter into the street. As they stepped over the threshold of the door and into the midst of their family, James was caught up in the merriment and laughter. It wasn’t the hot stove that caused the warmth he felt inside him. Nor was it the crowded bodies happily squashed into such a tiny space. It was the feeling of home. James looked around the smiling faces and realized he had been home all along.
“Mary,” he shouted above the music coming from his brother’s fiddle, “This is home.”
“I know, James. I know it is. For now at least and that is . . .” Mary’s words trailed off as they were both sucked into a set to dance the Walls of Limerick.
The End