It was the beginning of September and Lily and Joy were getting ready to go to art college. It was a heartbreaking time for me as I finally realised I was losing her.
I recalled my first sight of her away back in 1931 on that searing hot July day when she was born – that awful day when Mum died – and I remembered how it had been love at first sight for me when I saw her lovely face and tiny rosebud mouth. All the years that had passed were filled with memories of us both together but, from now on, I would be without her and I was desolate. Not that I allowed these feelings to show.
Mrs Pringle had organised a get-together on the Sunday before the girls left and we all turned up. Granny, Bella, Hattie and Graham came along. Dad, Rosie and Jay were also there, as were Danny, Maddie and the children.
It was a bitter-sweet day and I realised Mrs Pringle was feeling the same emotions I was experiencing. The two girls were full of excitement at their initial step into the world of study and art and this excitement was infectious. We felt as if this step was being taken by us all but of course it wasn’t. We were all staying in the same place while the great big world awaited them.
In a couple of days’ time, after their departure, I would find myself back at the shop then home to a lonely house. Danny sensed my desolation as he stood beside me. Jay and Daniel were swooping around in the garden, making loud noises.
‘You’ll miss her, won’t you, Ann?’ he asked.
Not trusting myself to answer, I nodded.
‘Do you mind when you were working at the Ferry and you bought her that pushchair? Mrs Peters lent you the money for it.’
It all seemed like a lifetime ago. I managed to laugh. ‘I mind the day Grandad brought the pram home from Jumping Jeemy’s Emporium!’
Danny laughed as well but Hattie, overhearing our conversation, said in a whisper, ‘Don’t mention that flea-ridden thing here, Ann.’
We laughed again. Danny said, ‘Mum certainly didn’t like it, did she?’
Hattie glared at us but I smiled at the memory.
Danny put his arm around my shoulder. ‘We mustn’t dwell on the past, Ann. Let’s look forward to the future.’
I promised I would. However, it was a promise I didn’t think I could keep but saying so out loud wouldn’t help so I remained silent.
In two days’ time, Mrs Pringle was going to Glasgow on the train with the two girls. Mr Pringle had got them accommodation in a nice flat in Sauchiehall Street which had come with good recommendations.
I had opened a post office account for Lily for everyday expenses and I would pay Mrs Barber, who owned the flat, Lily’s board and lodging money every week. Mr Pringle had also arranged this and the money would come from my legacy which he still managed.
I had also saved up my clothing coupons and I used them to buy her some extra clothes. I didn’t want her to look dowdy and old-fashioned amongst the students at the college. Granny had knitted her two jumpers and Hattie had given her a lovely woollen skirt to match. Dad and Rosie had also given her some money to spend in Glasgow and a lovely winter dress which was a present from Alice.
Danny was still speaking about Lily. ‘She’s a credit to you, Ann. Maddie’s parents have always said so and it’s true. You’ve brought her up well.’ He gave me a sharp glance. ‘Have you had any more word from Greg?’
I shook my head. ‘No, just that one letter, after the accident on the hill.’ I felt my face go red and realised I still felt ashamed about the incident – even after two months had passed.
Danny said, ‘You were lucky. I heard there was a two-hundred-foot drop just yards from where you were found.’
I looked around, frightened Granny might overhear what I was about to say, but she was busy chatting to Rosie. I shivered in spite of the warmth of the day. ‘It was Ma Ryan’s warning that alerted me to the danger, Danny. Remember I told you she sent for me one day and told me I was in great danger? Well, that night on the hill, I heard her voice as clear as if she was standing next to me. It was her sixth sense that saved me – just like the last time.’
Danny looked sad. ‘Miss Hood?’
I didn’t answer. Miss Hood was part of the past – just as the incident on the hill had to be. From now on, I would settle down to become a dowdy spinster and spend my evenings knitting or doing whatever all lonely spinsters did in their spare time.
Then Jay and Daniel came running into the room. I was suddenly taken with their different looks and natures and couldn’t help but be amazed how like Lily and Joy they were at that age. Daniel was smaller than Jay and he had Maddie’s fair colouring while Jay was taller and had dark hair and brown eyes. Daniel was the quieter of the two while Jay had also inherited Lily’s appetite. He was holding a huge sandwich in his hand and obviously relishing it while Daniel was more interested in playing with his car.
Meanwhile, the twins lay asleep in their pram – a twin pram that Maddie’s mum had managed to get hold of. I peeped in to see them and I thought I saw faint red fuzz on their heads.
Danny laughed. ‘I think James and Patrick are going to be red-haired, like me.’
I thought that was wonderful and I said so. ‘I’ve always liked your auburn hair, Danny.’
Then it was time to go home. Lily and I didn’t sleep that night. She was too excited and I was too depressed.
As we lay awake in the bed settee, she suddenly burst out laughing. ‘Sauchiehall Street, Ann.’
‘What about it, Lily?’
‘I think I’ll saunter down Sauchiehall Street for a sausage roll or maybe some sugarelly.’
I laughed as well. ‘Or maybe you can stagger down Sauchiehall Street for a Spam sandwich or a sherbet dip.’
She became quiet. ‘I will miss you, Ann. I wish you were coming with me.’
‘Och, don’t be daft, Lily. You’ll be mixing with young people of your own age – you and Joy. You’ll soon forget all about me.’
She sounded shocked. ‘Oh, no, Ann! I’ll never, never forget you.’
On that note we tried to sleep. The next two days would be very busy. We had planned to visit Jean Peters at the Ferry and Nellie and Rita before she left for Glasgow.
On the way to the Ferry, Lily said, ‘I’m glad I’m getting the chance to say cheerio to Jean.’
When we reached Long Lane, Jean was already waiting at the door. ‘Come in, come in, Lily. I’ve got your dinner ready.’
Lily’s face lit up and we were soon sitting down to hot Scotch broth and cheese scones. I didn’t realise how hungry I was and it was great to taste Jean’s lovely cooking again. I remembered how much I had enjoyed it at Whitegate Lodge many years ago.
‘We’ve got lodgings in Sauchiehall Street, Jean,’ said Lily. ‘The woman who owns the house is a widow and she knows the Pringle family so we’ll be fine there. I’m a bit worried about the college. I hope my art is good enough and Joy feels the same.’
Jean soon put these fears to rest. ‘You’ll both be great, Lily. You have real talent and I think you’ll both go far – you mark my words.’
Lily beamed. ‘Oh, do you think so, Jean?’ She turned and looked at me. ‘Ann thinks I’m good but she’s biased because she’s my sister and sisters are supposed to like everything their wee sisters do.’
I laughed. ‘You’re using the letter S again, Lily.’
We told Jean the joke from the night before. Afterwards, just before leaving, Jean asked me, ‘And how are you, Ann?’
I felt my throat constrict and I wasn’t sure if I could answer without bursting into tears – something I didn’t want to do in front of Lily but Jean seemed to understand and merely squeezed my hand.
‘We’ve got something for you, Lily,’ she said instead.
She disappeared into the bedroom and brought out two small folding art easels. ‘My man made these for you and Joy so we hope they help you with all your paintings.’
They were beautifully made and we were speechless.
Then Lily said, ‘Oh, Jean, they’re great! Thank you! I still have my pencil box that you gave me years ago and I’m taking that to Glasgow with me.’
It was now Jean’s turn to almost cry and I said, ‘And Jay still has the wonderful train he got. Will you thank your man, Jean, for all the both of you have done for us?’
After another cup of tea, we set off for the Hilltown. Jean stood at the door waving until we were out of sight. I promised to go and see her within the next few weeks. After all, I would have loads of spare time, wouldn’t I?
The close at the foot of the Hilltown was still as I remembered it. Rita and Nellie, however, were now more prosperous-looking and not so emaciated. What a difference having a working man in the house again made. Rita’s son was also working and the two houses were better furnished and the cupboards, in spite of the rationing, had some tins and food on the shelves.
However, the rationing was still the main topic. ‘I see Mr Attlee had ordered more austerity cuts,’ said Rita. ‘The meat ration has been cut by tuppence to one shilling and he warns there’s more cuts to come.’
I knew this was true because the papers had been reporting the shortage of dollars and Britain’s inability to pay for imports of food. Hadn’t Joe been spouting about this austerity crisis for ages?
Still, they were so pleased to see Lily. She told them all about her imminent departure for Glasgow in her cheery manner and they were both duly impressed. ‘Imagine somebody from this close going to college!’ said Rita. ‘We’re all so proud of you.’
I noticed, when she said it, she glanced sympathetically at me. ‘And what about you, Ann? Will you still work at Connie’s shop?’
I said, ‘Yes, Rita. It’s a job I like and these days Connie is not so able to stand for hours but she’s given me three days off this week to see Lily settled.’
I noticed the old clock with the merry tick had been replaced as had most of the old furniture. The women had obviously been to Henderson’s furniture shop in the Wellgate and a solid-looking dining room suite was now in residence in both houses. I felt so glad for them as they deserved a bit of comfort and the money now coming into the home had provided it.
‘The best news, Ann,’ said Nellie, ‘is that we’re maybe all going to be rehoused into a new house with a bathroom, kitchen and hot water. These old houses are going to be knocked down.’
I was pleased for them and hoped Dad, Rosie and Jay would also get a new house with all the modern comforts.
Rita, however, put Nellie’s statement down to wishful thinking. ‘That’s the rumour, Ann, but we’ll believe it when we see it.’
As we were leaving, a heavily pregnant woman came up the stair. She was holding on to the banister like grim death.
Rita and Nellie smiled at her. ‘Not long to go now, Mrs McGregor,’ said Rita.
The woman grimaced in passing. ‘Thank the Lord! I’m getting more and more tired every day.’ She glanced at Lily and me and nodded.
At the foot of the close, Rita said, ‘Mrs McGregor and her man are the new tenants of your old house, Ann.’
A look passed between the women and myself and I knew we were all were remembering Mum. Thankfully Lily was ahead of me and she missed this silent communication.
‘Keep in touch, both of you,’ they said as we went on our way.
It was now time to visit Dad, Rosie and Jay. Rosie was bustling around when we entered the kitchen and I got the impression she was also near to tears. Dad looked so proud as he wished Lily well at the college and Jay was wide-eyed at this small domestic scene. Lily had always been close to him and even he felt the change in the air as she said her goodbyes.
As we were leaving, he ran over and hugged her legs. ‘Cheerio, Lily.’
She knelt down and hugged him back. ‘I’m just going to Glasgow, Jay. I’ll be back to see you all often and, in fact, you’ll all be tired of looking at me.’
However, I knew she was as near to tears as we all were.
When we got home, it was almost time for bed and I for one felt exhausted. On that note, we tried hard to sleep because we both knew the next day would be a busy one.
Mr and Mrs Pringle turned up with Joy soon after breakfast. They were both dressed in gabardine raincoats as the weather had turned wet. Joy stood beside them in her new royal blue coat that sparkled with raindrops and I was suddenly glad that Lily also had some new clothes to go away with. There was no way I wanted her to look like some poor relation.
Mr Pringle picked her suitcase up and I then realised I hadn’t seen Joy’s suitcase. I was on the verge of asking when he said, ‘We’ve got a taxi waiting for us, Ann. It’ll save us getting wet on our way to the station.’
Lily’s eyes lit up. ‘A taxi! The last time I was in a taxi was at Maddie and Danny’s wedding.’
Joy smiled. ‘Well, we’re going in another one, Lily.’
We all hurried downstairs and the taxi was at the kerb with the driver standing beside it. He was smoking a cigarette which he quickly threw away and stamped it out with his foot.
When we reached the railway station, it was quiet – just a few bored-looking businessmen and two smartly dressed women who looked as if they were off to Glasgow for a trip.
Fortunately we didn’t have long to wait for the train which was a blessing as I couldn’t have stood it if we had. The train appeared and Mrs Pringle and the girls quickly got into an empty compartment while Mr Pringle and I helped with the suitcases. He stowed them away on the overhead luggage rack while I stood awkwardly at the open door.
We just had enough time to say a quick goodbye and the train slowly steamed out of the station. Taking Lily to Glasgow and out of my life.
I knew I was crying but I didn’t care.
Mr Pringle took my arm. ‘Come on, Ann. I’ll treat you to a coffee at Draffen’s. I don’t have to be at the office just yet.’
We sat at the table and the waitress brought our cups. I had managed to wipe my face and hoped that any person, should they be remotely interested in me, would surmise my face was wet from the rain.
Mr Pringle said, ‘When we go down to see Joy you can come with us, Ann.’
I stirred my coffee listlessly.
‘It’s not that far away and the girls will be coming home for the holidays. Joy said they would be back for Christmas and the New Year,’ he said kindly.
‘I know, Mr Pringle, I know. Lily said the same. It’s just that I’ll miss her so much. We’ve been together for so long that I foolishly thought we would always be together.’
‘But you know she’s going to be a wonderful artist, Ann. She’s got a great talent and so has Joy but she hasn’t got Lily’s artistic touch.’
I felt so proud of her. ‘I know and I didn’t mean to be so downhearted.’
‘You be as downhearted as you like. It’s only natural.’ He then changed the subject. ‘Do you know Hattie is leaving us?’
I didn’t know and said so.
‘She feels now that Joy is away from home that there’s nothing left for her to do. And she now has Graham to keep her happy and busy. He’s buying a house in Broughty Ferry and I hear Hattie is giving up her house in Westport to go and live with him.’
I didn’t know what to say so I just said, ‘I see.’
‘Hattie told Fay that she didn’t care if Graham got a divorce or not. She was grabbing her chance of happiness now and she didn’t give a fig what other people thought.’
I wondered how Granny would react to this news. Then I thought she probably wouldn’t give a fig either. If there was one thing this awful war had taught us, it was to make people live for the moment as it could all be snatched away tomorrow.
He walked back to Roseangle with me. The drizzle had stopped but it was still grey and dreary-looking. After he left, I hurried up to the flat. I planned to have a quick snack and then make my way to the shop.
Connie was waiting for me, ready to offer tea and sympathy but, the moment I saw her, I burst into tears. Luckily the shop was empty and she made me sit in the back shop with my tea.
‘After you’ve drunk that, Ann, just you get away back home. You can start tomorrow.’
I was appalled. ‘Oh, no, Connie! I’ll be fine in a minute. It’s just the thought of not seeing Lily tonight. The flat will be so quiet.’
She nodded. ‘Aye, it will. Have you thought of taking in a lodger?’
I looked at her in amazement. ‘A lodger?’
‘A big handsome man with blue eyes and burly shoulders.’
I said, ‘Have you someone in mind?’
‘Joe,’ she said and we both burst out laughing. ‘That’s better, Ann. It’s good to have a laugh and, if there’s ever someone to laugh at, it’s Joe.’
‘Poor Joe! What has he done to deserve this character assassination, Connie?’
She snorted. ‘He dropped his cigarette end onto a pile of newspapers and burned a hole right through them. I’ve had twenty complaints today. The hole was right through the middle of the death column and, if there’s one thing the old folk round here hate, it’s the thought of missing a dead body.’
This cheered me up but then Connie always did that. She was on her way home when she suddenly came back through the door.
‘Honestly, I’ve got a mind like a sieve. I almost forgot. Guess who I had in this morning with his new wife?’
My mind was a blank and I said so.
‘Davie Chambers.’
‘The paper laddie who went into the navy?’ I remembered Davie very well. His mother was a widow who didn’t have much money. He would appear at the shop on cold mornings with short trousers and red-raw knees. I had got some good clothes that had belonged to Danny and they fitted him so, after I gave them to his grateful mother, at least he had been warmly clad on the winter mornings.
‘He’s a fine-looking man and his wife is small and very pretty. They’ve been staying with his mother for a few days. You’ll mind she got another house in Tulloch Crescent and a good job in the school kitchen at Rosebank.’
I did remember. It had been Mrs Chambers who had kindly lent the robe for Jay’s christening.
‘Well, he was asking for you, Ann. He’s away back to Portsmouth now. He’s still in the navy and they’ve got a flat in the city.’
I was so happy for him and his small and very pretty wife but, after Connie left, I felt down again. Everyone seemed to be getting married or moving in with their men.
The appearance of Joe didn’t help my mood. He was morose because of the earlier mishap. ‘Connie was furious with me,’ he said. ‘I never saw the fag falling on the papers till I saw the smoke.’
‘Och, don’t worry about it, Joe. Connie was laughing about it before she left.’
His face brightened. ‘Was she?’
He stayed for ages, chatting on and on about the state of affairs in the country. But I barely heard him. I was wondering if Lily had arrived at Sauchiehall Street with Joy and Fay Pringle and thinking about how she would cope with all the newness of a big city.
That night, instead of going back to an empty flat, I went to see Granny. Bella was there but there was no way I could backtrack through the door when I saw her. I put a big smile on my face and breezed in.
Bella looked sourly at me. ‘What have you got to smile about, Ann? Your sister is away and you’ve no’ got a man in your life.’
Granny gave her a sharp look but either Bella didn’t notice it or she didn’t care.
‘And we see Hattie is going to bide with her fancy man. She’s giving up her house to live in sin with him – just like Kathleen and her fancy man. What is the world coming to?’
I didn’t answer her.
Granny said, ‘You can bide here the night if you want to, Ann.’
It was a very tempting offer until I realised I had to get on with my life. It wouldn’t be very long till Christmas as James Pringle had said. I would see Lily then and we would catch up with her news. I would get my life’s excitement second-hand.
I left Bella with Granny. As usual Bella was complaining of aches and pains, general tiredness and a few other complaints. I felt sorry for Granny but Bella was too much for me at that moment.
The street was still busy and I considered going to see Danny at his shop on the Hawkhill. Then I realised I didn’t want to discuss my loneliness with anyone, not even Danny – at least not that night.
I spent another sleepless night and wondered if Lily was also feeling the same. I hoped not.
October came in grey and miserable and it matched my mood exactly. My days were filled with mundane matters. Going to work, going home, going to bed, day in and day out. My only bright spot was Lily’s weekly letter with all her news and I devoured it like a starving man. I tried to make my letters cheery and usually wrote about the customers at the shop and any titbit of news that came my way but I have to say there wasn’t a lot of that.
Even the river view from the window failed to brighten my mood. It didn’t seem like the same view without Lily. Anyway, the curtains were pulled as soon as I arrived back at night and I sat down with only the wireless for company.
At the end of the month, on a Saturday evening, there was a knock on the door. I had just finished washing my hair and, thinking it was my elderly neighbour from next door, I opened it.
I almost fell down in surprise when I saw Greg standing on the doorstep. I was kicking myself for looking like a frump with a towel around my head.
Then remembering my manners I said, ‘Come in, Greg. What a surprise!’ As he stepped inside, I looked out at the landing, fully expecting to see his fiancée standing there. The landing, however, was empty.
Greg sat down on one of my new fireside chairs and, to cover my confusion, I went into the small scullery to put the kettle on.
I called out from my haven, ‘I thought you were in Oxford, Greg.’
He said, ‘I am but a job has come up for a chief librarian in Dundee and I’ve come up for an interview. Whether I get the job is another matter but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.’
‘Where is your fiancée, Greg? I hope she’s not waiting outside in the rain.’ I tried to make my voice sound neutral but I felt the words came out wrong.
He looked serious. ‘We’ve broken the engagement off.’
I must have looked stunned because he said, ‘It’s not really a big surprise. We were just company for one another when we worked together but, when her mother was killed in a buzz bomb raid, I somehow got into a situation where we both assumed we would get married – hardly the basis for a happy married life.’
‘Where is she now?’ I asked, aware that my voice was croaky.
‘She went back to London and, as far as I know, she’s got another man – someone she knew from years ago.’
My head swam with relief. Greg’s engagement was no longer looming like a sword of Damocles over my head.
‘How do feel about that? Are you sad?’ I asked.
He grinned and I almost cried at the sight of the old Greg. ‘Actually, I feel relieved.’
My mind was still reeling. I mustn’t look too keen, I thought. So, trying to sound nonchalant, I turned the subject away from his ex-fiancée, thinking he didn’t want to talk about her. ‘Lily and Joy have gone to art college in Glasgow. Hattie is going to live with Graham and Granny is keeping well.’
He nodded. ‘That’s good news, Ann. Lily will be a big girl now. It’s funny how quickly time has gone in. And what about yourself? Are you happy about Lily going away?’
‘Oh, yes,’ I said brightly. ‘I’ve got lots of plans and loads of friends to look up. And I’ve got my job at the shop and I meet lots of interesting people.’
He nodded seriously while I almost choked on all the lies I had just uttered. But still I babbled on. ‘Maddie and Danny have three boys now. Daniel and the twins, James and Patrick. Kathleen has gone to live in London with her boyfriend, Chris.’ I was aware I was babbling but I couldn’t stop myself. I knew, if I stopped speaking, I would throw myself into his arms and surely, after all this time, he would be embarrassed.
He sat on my utility chair and gazed quietly at me as I scurried from the room to the scullery and back, chatting like some insane person.
Then, to my utter dismay, he said, ‘I won’t stay for tea, Ann. I’ve got my train to catch in an hour.’
I tried to hide my intense feeling of rejection. ‘Of course, Greg – I forgot you’re just here for an interview.’ I walked to the door with him, trying desperately to hide my tears which threatened to erupt any minute now.
At the door, he said, ‘I’m glad everyone is fine and that the news is good on all fronts. I just wanted to come and see you and check you were all right after your ordeal on the hill in the summer. Mum and Dad said it was a miracle you weren’t killed. Another few steps and you would have fallen into that deep gully. It’s a dangerous spot.’
Just hurry up and go, Greg, I prayed, before I show myself up.
‘I would come to the railway station with you but, as you can see, my hair is still wet.’
He nodded. ‘It’s all right.’ He stood on the landing for a brief moment and then turned towards the stairs. ‘Well, cheerio, Ann. I’m glad I’ve seen you and that your life is happy and I like your new flat – it’s lovely.’
‘Thanks. Lily and I love it.’
Then, with a final wave of his hand, he was gone. I stood on the landing for ages, still aware of the faint trace of his presence. I was shaking with anger at myself. Why had I behaved like an idiot? I’d rabbited on and on about trivialities when there was so much I wanted to say to him. Still, if he had wanted to say something important to me, why hadn’t he done it? No, I thought, his visit wasn’t to say anything special to me but merely a social visit because he was in Dundee. Maybe he thought I would get to hear of it and be dejected that he hadn’t called.
Well, I wasn’t dejected, was I? Oh, yes I was. In fact, I was worse than dejected. I felt totally drained of any emotion and just wanted to crawl into bed and nurse my grief in the darkness.
I should have gone to the station with him. After all, that was the place where I said all my goodbyes to people I loved. Standing on a desolate platform.
The next day didn’t bring any relief from my misery and I mentioned Greg’s visit to Granny. ‘I should have told him how I feel, Granny, and maybe he would have stayed.’
‘Well, Ann, maybe he would have but what if he hadn’t? What if his visit was a courtesy call and you had poured your heart out to him? Have you thought of that?’
I nodded miserably. ‘I have Granny.’
It was back to work on the Monday morning as usual. The streets were quiet as I made my way to the Hilltown. The mill workers weren’t on the streets yet but it would all change in an hour or so.
Connie used to do this very early shift but I had being doing it for a while now, picking up the piles of papers and getting them ready for the paper boy and all the early morning workers. Joe didn’t come to the shop as early as this now. He had rheumatism, he said, and he liked to stay in bed a while longer on these cold and damp dark mornings.
I was looking forward to my weekly letter from Lily. She was full of the art college news and all the people she and Joy had met up with. It was a life full of interest and happy socialising. The students all seemed to meet up at the weekends and have lively get-togethers to discuss art and the world in general.
I always tried to keep my letters cheery and bright, telling her all the local gossip from the shop and mentioning all the plans I had for hobbies. I was going to start a brand-new life tomorrow with all my interests. The only thing I didn’t mention was that mañana never arrived.
Connie came in during the afternoon and I set off for home. The weather was still damp and murky with spells of heavy rain and I hurried along the wet pavements. I was dying to get the fire on and have a cup of tea. Then I’d spend an evening with the wireless or maybe visit Granny or Rosie. Or maybe I would just sit by the fire like a zombie before going to bed. Or I could visit Danny and Maddie. Maybe.
I saw Lily’s letter on the mat when I opened the door and I went to read it by the window. The river was invisible on a dull afternoon like this. Damp mist hugged the pavements and it was like looking over a sea of greyness. I had barely read half of it when someone knocked at the door. It would be the coalman, I thought. Once a month he came later in the day and I paid for my weekly bags of coal then. Moving to the door like some middle-aged spinster with my purse in my hand, I opened it.
A young telegram boy stood on the doorstep and handed me a telegram. My heart almost stopped beating with fright. Please, not Lily I prayed. Please don’t let something be wrong with her. The boy turned to go and I carried the flimsy missive in my sweaty hand. I knew I was breathing heavily when I sat down by the window, beside Lily’s letter. Had something gone wrong between her writing to me a day ago and now?
Taking a deep breath, I tore the telegram open but shut my eyes, like some tiny child afraid of the dark. Then, steeling myself, I glanced at the typewritten words, ‘Sorry I was such a coward the other night. Will you marry me, Ann? Greg.’
For one dazed moment, I stared at the words – Greg was asking me to marry him. I jumped up and, if there had been anyone in the room, I would have kissed them.
‘Yes, yes, yes!’ I shouted at the wall. ‘Yes, yes, yes!’
I rushed out to the nearest post office to reply. I wasn’t even going to think about all that had happened over the years. Seize the day, Kathleen had said to me. She had certainly seized her day and I was about to do the same.
After sending off my reply, I rushed up to see Granny. It was an emotional meeting.
‘Oh, Ann, I hope you’re both happy after all these years,’ she said.
‘I am, Granny, I am – believe me!’
She was crying by the time I left but she promised to pass on my good news to all the family – Dad, Rosie and Jay and Hattie and Graham.
Meanwhile, I hurried up to see Maddie. She was putting the twins down for a nap when I burst in.
‘Maddie, I’m getting married! Greg has just asked me.’
She was confused. ‘Is Greg still in Dundee?’
I shook my head. ‘No. He’s proposed by telegram.’
Maddie tried to keep a straight face but she couldn’t. She burst out laughing. ‘A telegram, Ann?’ She started to laugh again and I joined in with her. It really was a funny way of proposing to someone, after all.
We wiped the tears from our eyes then Maddie became serious. ‘I’m really pleased for you both and I know Danny will be as well.’
‘I’m writing to him tonight to say we’ll get married as soon as possible. I’m not losing him this time, Maddie.’
‘Good for you, Ann. It’s about time you thought of yourself for a change.’