Chapter Thirty-Seven

Meggie arrived home on her first leave from the W.R.N.S. She looked smart and the family were delighted that she could stay with them so long and preparations were made for a re-union party. The boys teased her about her status and saluted her as she moved about the house, but they were obviously proud of her.

Sadie was into the eighth month of her pregnancy and the expectant joy was shared by all, forgetting the misfortune that was attached to the forthcoming event. Meggie wanted to know what name Sadie had chosen for the baby and she was over the moon with joy, but her sister kept her secret to herself and still no-one knew or asked about the father.

The boys and girls all decided they would go to a show and have dinner afterwards, on the Saturday before the planned party for the following day and Tom came round to see Mary. They had the house to themselves.

“Mary, have you thought any more of what I asked you?”

Mary shuffled around hoping to find the right way to answer without giving offence. She took the money Tom had given her and put it into his hand.

“I can’t take it Tom. You are too kind, but I just can’t.”

He was disappointed.

“Mary, money is nothing if you don’t have happiness,” he said, “My business has grown a lot in the last few years and now, thank God, I am able to do many of the things that I had always wanted to do, but because of what I told you, I never could. I want to marry you Mary. I want to share my life with you and your lovely family. I want to be a man again and to walk proud with a woman I could love and respect. Mary, don’t deny me that happiness, please. I love you more than I can say and I need your love.” ... Mary closed her eyes.

“Mary Are you alright?”

Mary knew what Aggie felt about her feelings for Tom Carey, but she was concerned for what the boys would say.”

“Yes, I’m alright ... I’m alright,” she answered as he stood back in anticipation.

“You know the neighbours will be talking about us, Tom. I mean, your coming here so often?”

“Let them talk.”

“Tom ...Can’t we remain good friends, just as we are. You can come for dinner and things like that and I can even do your washing and ironing, if it helps.”

“Are you telling me, Mary that you don’t want to marry me? Is that it?”

Mary filled the kettle and put it on the gas.

“Tom, I do have a lot of feelings for you. You must know that. Don’t think I am without love, but I could never forget my first husband, no matter how much I tried. Why every time I look at the children, they remind me of him especially our Willie. Willie is the image of his dad. You see, I am reminded of my first husband wherever I go and whatever I do.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to block out all your memories, Mary. I’m sure they are mostly happy ones, but your husband is no longer here and you should be happy again. He would want that, I’m sure. Look, Mary, I always wanted children and I was never blessed that way, but I LOVE the company of your children, each and every one of them. I look forward to the times when I can be with you all, here. I feel so much at home and these are my precious moments. The happiest of my life ...”

Mary reflected long and hard on what Tom had said. She liked him ... Of course, she did and she knew that, but did she love him? That was the question she was asking herself as she poured the boiling water into the tea pot.

“Tom, you do realise that I could never give you children. Not now. Not at my time of life.”

“I know that Mary. I don’t expect that. I just want to look after you and share a few of the good things in life that we’ve both missed out on. You shouldn’t need to be cooking every day sewing endlessly and ironing until late in the evenings. You’ll get so tired out and life goes on It doesn’t WAIT for any of us, does it? Mary, we are adults. We’re not children in the first flush of love. We could enjoy life together. We could eat out regularly and you could cook WHENEVER YOU WANTED but you shouldn’t ever need to think that you HAVE TO DO IT.” Mary was wide eyed at the tremendous prospects that were put before her as Tom continued. “You could have a washing machine ... and not that old mangle where you have to sweat every time you dry a sheet. Why Mary, you haven’t even got a telephone and to have a few of these little niceties would not be wrong, surely. God would not begrudge you that.”

Mary composed herself.

“Tom, you are right. You are right in everything you say, but I would be happier if you would spend your money and your affections on someone younger and more caring. Don’t waste your time on me.”

“But Mary, I ... I LOVE ... you and that makes all the difference. I don’t want anyone else. No-one else could make me happy and happiness the kind of happiness that I have shared with you and your family over the past few months is something that money cannot buy. Money is made to be used Mary; to be spent and to give pleasure and I have more than enough for the two of us, to be happy in each other’s company. Mary, I’m talking LOVE and not money. Please think about what I am saying. I’m serious. I’ve thought this out well. I love you, Mary Blair. I love everything about you. I love your children and I would be proud to have you as my wife.”

Mary smiled and turned to him.

“Will you stay for dinner, Mr. Carey,” she asked

“Whatever will the neighbours think, Mrs. Blair?” he asked

“Oh! Mr. Carey, Sir ... You haven’t brought all the neighbours with you, have you?” she giggled and they sat down happily together and laughed together as Tom took her in his arms.

“I wish I’d met you years and years ago, my Love,” he said.

***

Mary and Tom were married in June 1942. Two weeks after Willie had left school. It was a quiet wedding with only the family there and a few of the neighbours.

***

Tom put the surprise to Mary just one month after the wedding. He had bought a house outside Glasgow in Rouken Glen; a house that had five bedrooms to accommodate his new family and it also had a large garden. There were two bathrooms, a large fitted kitchen with all mod. cons. and to put the icing on the cake, Mary had a little room of her own, where she could do all the things she had always wanted to do, like sewing, embroidery, reading, etc., and she felt like a queen.

“I thought it was time the children now they are growing up, should have a bit of space to themselves,” was all that Tom would say.

***

Sadie went into hospital to have her baby. Her health was fine by that time and she didn’t anticipate any worries. Mary was overjoyed and anxiously awaiting the new arrival at their new home and Tom was like an excited schoolboy. Anyone would have thought he was about to be the biological grand father. Had Sadie been his own daughter, he could not have been happier. Mary sat by the new topaz coloured telephone, dusting it from time to time, just to ensure that the sound would come through clearly of course.

Several of the family spent the evening at the hospital with Sadie until the nurse ushered them out before the great arrival and at 12.35 in the morning of August 12th. 1942, little Fiona was born. She weighed six lb., five ounces. She was a pretty baby with a shock of dark hair and large brown eyes and there wasn’t a hungrier baby in the whole hospital, than Baby Blair. Willie could not take his eyes from her as she gurgled through her feeds and Charlie shyly stroked her tiny face, afraid that he might hurt her with his large, weather-beaten hands. Everyone took a turn at holding Fiona and Meggie who was allowed a special leave from her Unit for the birth, was ‘christened’ as she held her on her lap. Mary Blair was the proudest woman on earth as she looked from the baby to Sadie and from Sadie to Tom and then at all the family in turn, trying to capture forever in her mind, the joy on the faces of her loved ones. Tom had truly been accepted into the family and he basked in the pleasure this enrolment had afforded him

Willie took careful note of the young nurse who was looking after his sister. She was fair and tall, with a clear complexion which was enhanced by her uniform as she glided gracefully through the wards. She had noticed Willie too.

“Is that your brother, Sadie?”

“Yes, I have two brothers ...which one do you mean?”

“That dark haired boy with the gorgeous eyes,” Lindsey Peters struggled to prevent her blushes becoming obvious.

“Would you like me to introduce you, Nurse?” Sadie asked just at the moment when Willie came striding into the ward, with a bunch of roses in his hand. “Willie This is Nurse Peters ... Lindsey ... I think that is your name, isn’t it?”

Lindsey Peters shook Willie’s trembling hand and he knew his blushes were as obvious as those of the young nurse. They talked together for a short time and then the Sister called her to do something at the other end of the ward.

“Sorry, I have to go Willie Bye.”

“Can I see you again Lindsey?”

“If you like ...”

“When are you off duty, then?”

“Six-thirty this evening, I’m free. I’ll be at the Nurses Home.”

“Fine .... I’ll see you there then ... “

“Bye, Willie.”

“See you soon Lindsey.”

Sadie looked on as the conversation came to an end and Willie sighed.

“Are those flowers for me,” she asked.

“Oh! Sorry Sadie Yes, of course they’re for you ...Who else?”

Sadie smiled.

“I was beginning to wonder, that’s all ... “

She moved in her bed to make herself more comfortable and the baby lay in a little cot by her side.

“Isn’t she just lovely Willie?”

Willie looked to the other end of the ward, when he should have been looking at the cot.

“Yes ... she’s a smasher,” he replied

“I meant the baby, silly boy.”

“What? Oh! Sorry, Sadie Yes, of course, she’s lovely. What else should she be? I’m her uncle aren’t I? What did Lindsey say her other name was Peters?”

“No, Minnie Mouse.”

“Ha! Ha! Feed your baby and pass me some of those grapes, will ye?”