Chapter Forty-Seven

Meggie’s letter arrived in answer to one that Aggie had written to her almost six weeks before.

Dear Aggie and All at home,

This is just a wee letter to let you know that I am still alive and kicking and I hope everyone is well. Aggie your letter arrived this morning ... Doesn’t it take a long time to get here. That must be nearly three weeks since you wrote it, but I was delighted to hear from you and to hear your news so graphically described. Thank you again, Aggie. I am delighted that you are now able to follow your vocation and enter the Carmelites, as you have so long wished to do. I used to hear you talking about becoming a Nun and I will admit now, I didn’t want you to do it then and I hoped you might change your mind. I realised that we might never see you again, once you took the step, but I hope we will be able to visit you from time to time. Everyone is going to miss you at home. I have so many questions I want to ask you, but I guess its better that I wait and HOPE that they will let us see you sometimes. Will you take a new name?

Charlie and Rachael will soon be getting married from the sound of things. Aren’t they a pair of love birds?

Sadie’s news is good too. I don’t know Robert Wells, but he sounds nice and if he is good to Fiona, well that’s everything, isn’t it? I send all my fondest love to you and everyone at home, not forgetting of course, the handsome William Has he broken any hearts lately?

George sends his love to you all, with this little letter. It’s all fits and starts but I’m trying to write in the Wireless Room and it’s difficult, with messages coming through all the time. I hope you understand. By the way and a big, by-the-way .George has asked me to marry him when we next come home on leave. Plenty of time, I know, but I’m terribly excited. I do love him.

Will keep you posted, but have some heavy exams in Morse etc, at the moment.

With my fondest love, always ... Meggie. X X X

Sadie came into the living room as Mary was about to drop off to sleep on the large armchair by the fire and Fiona was tucked away comfortably on the settee, with two chairs propped against it to stop her falling off. Sadie lifted the baby quietly and hummed a little tune softly in her ear.

Mary woke up with a start.

“Hello, Love. I didn’t hear you coming in. Did you have a nice time? Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes, Mammy, I’d love a cup of tea and I did have a very nice time. Thanks for looking after Fiona. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Not in the least, Sadie. That little one is never any trouble.”

Sadie patted her baby as Mary went into the kitchen, taking her knitting bag with her. She looked into the little girl’s eyes sadly for she could see something there that no-one else ever did, before she called out to her mother in the kitchen.

“Mammy”

“Yes Darling. What is it?”

Sadie lingered between the living room door and the kitchen and the baby started to cry ...

“Mammy I may be leaving home soon,” she said with a finality that seemed to silence even the air around her, although her voice was hardly audible as she spoke, but Mary heard what she said and rubbed her eyes with her closed fists as she watched the steam rage from the kettle spout and pondered quietly on her daughter’s bolt from the blue

“Where will you go, Love?

Sadie continued to nurse Fiona until she stopped crying.

“Robert wants me to go and live with him,” she said and puckered her lips to make a funny face and to amuse the child.

Mary was unsure of the statement she had heard as the steam continued to rise to the ceiling and she could do nothing about it. It screamed its tormented venom into the air. Her hands were numb and her brain was fuddled. She paused discreetly before she asked her next question.

“Are you going to get married then, Sadie?”

“No Mammy ... well not yet ... I want to be sure of what I’m doing.”

Tom had come into the room as she was speaking and greeted Mary as she came from the kitchen

“Tom I was going to make a cup of tea, but I want to talk to Sadie. Would you mind doing it for me, Love?”

Tom nodded and went into the kitchen.

“Has Robert got a place of his own ... I mean ...”

“He has a two-roomed flat. We will be O.K.”

Mary looked sadly at Fiona and a nervous smile appeared across her face as she realized that nothing she could say or do would make her daughter change her mind. It was settled as far as Sadie was concerned and Mary knew that wild horses would not make her daughter think any differently.

“I’m going to miss looking after this little lady, I can tell you,” she said as Tom came back with the tea tray. She took her glasses from the mantelpiece and returned them to their case, tapping the end as if to secure them in place.

“I won’t have any tea, Tom but you and Sadie should have one. I have a bit of a headache coming on and I think I’ll go and lie down for a little while upstairs, if you don’t mind.”

Tom looked worried as he poured the tea for Sadie.

“Are you alright, Mary? Can I get you an aspirin?”

“No ... no, I’ll be alright in a wee while, Tom.” She turned to Sadie as she spoke, “Can we talk more about this matter later, Darling, or tomorrow perhaps, eh?”

Sadie dallied with the baby in her arms and Tom looked about him in confusion.

“Mammy, I have thought this matter through entirely and my mind is made up, but of course, we can talk about it whenever you like. I hope your headache gets better soon.”

She kissed Mary and watched her go upstairs.

“Are you O.K. Sadie?” asked Tom as he knew that something was brewing and that it had upset Mary.

“Yes. I’m fine Tom. Just wish me luck, will you?”

Tom studied Sadie’s face carefully and wished there was more he could say to help, but he had only a rough guess of what was going on ...not that it was totally unexpected.