Doctor Gilmore had just two days left of his visit to Blackrock before returning to England. The hospital where he worked had been very understanding of his situation with his wife’s illness, as long as he didn’t take advantage of them. It was agreed that he should take one week off in four, while Mrs. Gilmore recuperated in Ireland.
Having Mary-Anne McGrother stay in the rented house was part of his plan to put pressure on her sister, Catherine. He knew that she had taken her aunt’s place in the Blackrock Hotel and thanks to the idle talk of her sister, he was even aware of which days he could find her there. As Doctor Gilmore massaged his favourite cologne into his cheeks and throat, he admired his youthful appearance. The man looking back at him from the mirror over the mantelpiece of his small bedroom, although in his mid-forties, could have been ten years younger.
Gilmore had given his wife the larger room and Mary-Anne the middle-sized one, preferring the quietness at the back of the house. The birds singing in a tree outside his window would normally have irritated him and forced him to shut it tight, but his thoughts of Catherine brought a calmness and tolerance that belied the quick-tempered character he had been since childhood. Waiting for the right time to put his plan into action had taught him patience, something his father had never been able to do.
Having left the quiet house, careful not to disturb the two sleeping women, Doctor Gilmore made his way to the hotel. He knew that Catherine would be found changing beds and gathering laundry. He was also well aware of her unhappiness with her marriage, a fact that her sister Mary-Anne had attested to, on more than one occasion.
On the pretext of choosing a room for some guests that may be visiting the area, Gilmore had been given the keys to inspect some of the empty rooms.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you, sir?” asked the man at reception.
“Not at all, I’ve stayed here myself, so I’m quite familiar with this hotel. I can see you are busy so I’ll let you get on with your work.”
“Oh, well, if you need anything, one of the cleaners is up there. She’ll be able to answer any questions you might have concerning the rooms,” the man called out after the doctor.
Climbing the stairs to put the last part of his plan into action, Gilmore could feel his pulse quicken with anticipation. It would only be a matter of minutes before a scene he had played over and over in his head became a reality. How would Catherine, so unhappy with a husband who neglected her for his radical friends, react?
‘Her son’s real father is about to extend a very generous hand to her,’ thought Gilmore. ‘How can she refuse?’
From halfway down the corridor the sound of soft humming could be heard and as he approached an open door Gilmore saw Catherine, her back turned to him, lifting a pile of sheets from a bed. He stepped into the room and closed the door.
“I’m sorry, I’m almost finished here . . .”
Catherine turned and froze at the scene that met her eyes.
Gilmore was leaning against the door, holding up a bunch of keys.
“I’m looking for a couple of rooms that might suit my friends on their visit here. I was told you may be of assistance in helping me choose them, Catherine.”
Gilmore didn’t move an inch as his terrified captive backed away towards the window. Dropping the bed linen onto the floor, Catherine pushed up the sash wide enough to climb through.
“If you come one step closer, I’ll jump. I mean it.”
“Don’t be foolish, woman. The most damage you are likely to do is break both of your legs and how would that help your children. I believe that if it were not for the work you have in this establishment, your family would starve – or so your sister tells me,” said Gilmore.
“You cannot believe a word Mary-Anne says. She is well known for her wild imagination and tall tales,” Catherine was beginning to feel more in control beside the open window.
“Ah yes. Her vivid imagination. Shall I tell you about Mary-Anne’s latest fantasy?” Gilmore went on in spite of Catherine firmly shaking her head at him. “The poor girl thinks that I may have an interest in her, beyond that of an employer.”
Gilmore moved to the bed and Catherine sat on the window frame, neither one taking an eye off the other. The doctor was savouring every second of her discomfort.
“She really is a very pretty girl, you know. Almost as pretty as you. What makes you far superior is the combination of beauty and intelligence – and the fact that you produce fine healthy offspring.”
“What have my children got to do with you?” Catherine’s fear was quickly replaced with anger.
“Come come, my dear. Have you forgotten young Tom’s lineage? We both know that I am his father. The trouble is, your husband has not been made aware of that fact yet, has he?”
“What is it you want? It had better not be my son, for you will never have him.”
The doctor walked around the bed to sit on the side nearest the window. Catherine had already made her mind up to scream, should he lay a hand on her and felt braver as a result.
“My wife has asked Mary-Anne to accompany her back to England at the end of the summer, to live as her companion. Mrs. Gilmore is quite taken with your sister. She feels very lonely throughout the long winter days, confined to the house due to inclement weather. I cannot give her the attention she needs as I must attend to my work at the hospital. Your sister has agreed to discuss it with your parents, but her excitement at the offer was plain to see.”
The thought of Mary-Anne living so far away brought mixed emotions to Catherine. The fear that Gilmore would take advantage of her sister conflicted with a sense of relief, at no longer having to put up with hurtful remarks and sly threats. With Mary-Anne out of the way, Catherine’s relationship with Patrick might improve immensely. It may have been a selfish reason that influenced her next words but they had the desired effect on her tormentor.
“What a wonderful opportunity for Mary-Anne, your wife’s offer is most generous. I cannot see why my parents would stand in her way,” Catherine sounded much more positive than she felt.
Gilmore was in front of her in one stride and grabbed her by the elbows, pulling her up so close she could smell the old familiar cologne. The combination of his scent and his touch, made Catherine retch and she felt the sting of bile at the back of her throat. Turning her head to look in desperation at the street below, she saw one of her neighbours passing by and shouted out to her. As quickly as her assailant had grabbed hold of her, he let her go and stepped backwards, away from the window. Catherine continued to exchange greetings with the woman until she felt a tug at her skirt.
“I can see that I’m wasting my time. You need have no fear of me taking your son. And whatever generosity I was about to bestow on him will not be forthcoming, after your little display this morning. I will not give you another opportunity to insult me again. Good day to you, Mrs. Gallagher.”
Catherine stood by the window and watched until she caught sight of Gilmore’s tall figure enter the street below. It was only when he had walked far enough away to be out of her view that she could breathe easy. The rest of her working day passed in a blur for Catherine and it wasn’t until she had to leave the hotel to walk home, that she once again felt her heart beat rapidly in her chest. What if Gilmore was waiting to accost her? Worse still, follow her home to make a scene with her husband present, or to snatch her son. The last thought set Catherine’s legs in motion and her step quickened the nearer she got to her house.
A great roar of laughter told the frantic young woman that all was well with her family and she could hear her brother’s voice teasing the children. As Catherine stepped through the open door, the sight of her husband laughing heartily, with his two little girls balanced on his lap, brought a happy smile to her pale face. This did not go unnoticed by Patrick and he quickly rose to give Catherine his seat.
“Here, love. I’ll pour you some tea, you look worn out. Have they been giving you extra work to do at the hotel?” he said.
“It’s been busy this week, with the nice break in the weather,” Catherine knew it was the encounter with Gilmore that had her visibly shaken.
“Thomas has been telling us of the strange situations he’s been in on his travels across America,” said Patrick. “It sounds like a grand place to raise a family. What do you think, Catherine?”
If Patrick had spoken those words at any other time, they would not have been so disturbing to his wife, but Catherine was still reeling from being trapped in a room with a man she lived in fear of. It was all too much for her and rising from her chair, she excused herself and ran towards the door. As soon as she reached the hedge at the side of the cottage, Catherine threw up anything that was left in her stomach. It had been a long time since she had retched so violently, her last pregnancy being the occasion.
Inside the house Thomas distracted the children with a rhyming game while Lily poured some water into a cup to bring out to her sister-in-law.
“She’s as white as a sheet, Patrick. I haven’t heard that sound from our Catherine in a while. Not since she carried this wee mite?” Maggie tickled the child on her lap and the adults fell silent. “Well, go on out to her Lily, see what she has to say for herself.”
Catherine was grateful for the cool water that soothed the sting in her throat. The retching was beginning to ease, so Lily took her by the arm and walked her to the wall that separated the garden from the road. Patrick had repaired it as best he could when they first moved in, to keep his young children from wandering off, but some of the larger stones remained lose and prone to give way. James had rebuilt it one afternoon, while Patrick was in town, and it had become a bone of contention between the two men.
“I’m much obliged to you, Lily, for your kindness,” said Catherine, as she sat on the now solid wall.
“Ah sure, it’s only a sup of water.”
“Not just for the water. You are the only person I can talk to about what happened with Gilmore.”
Catherine paused, listening to the chatter coming from inside the cottage before continuing. She told Lily about her encounter with the doctor earlier that day.
Patrick came outside, interrupting her story and the two women fell silent.
“Is there something I need to be told, Catherine?” he asked.
There was no response to his question and the young man took a few steps closer to his wife. He wanted so much to reach out and hold her but it was Lily who was comforting her. Catherine wouldn’t even look him in the eye.
“Then it’s true, what Maggie said.”
“What did she say?” asked Catherine, jumping to her feet.
“Stop your dramatics,” Patrick was getting irritated with his wife’s strange behaviour. “We’ll manage somehow, sure we always do. This could be a good reason to take the boat to America.”
Catherine opened her mouth to speak but Lily hushed her before she could say something in haste that might be regretted later.
“Maggie thinks you might be with child, Catherine. That’s what you’re speaking of, is it not, Patrick?” said Lily.
“Of course it is. What else could have you in this state? Surely the opportunity of a fresh start is something to be grateful for. You have family there, Catherine. Sure, yourself and Thomas would look after us – until we get settled, wouldn’t ye, Lily?” Patrick’s eyes were shining with hope.
As Catherine slumped back onto the wall, she whispered something that neither Lily nor Patrick could hear. Looking up at both of them, she could see the concern on their faces.
“We didn’t hear what you said, love.” Patrick spoke softly.
“I said I’m not with child. I have been feeling unwell since midday. I must have eaten something that disagreed with me. It was your talk of America that upset me,” Catherine’s voice was not accusing, her tone as soft as Patrick’s.
“I’ll leave the two of you alone. You need to speak of this now, while there is no anger between you,” said Lily.
Sitting by his wife’s side, his arm around her shoulder, Patrick knew that whatever he said next would determine the fate of his family. It was the window of opportunity he had been waiting for and when he spoke, each carefully chosen word was heavy with emotion.
“I could go there first on my own and get work. As soon as I have enough money saved, I’ll find a place for us to live, a good home for the children – not in one of those overcrowded tenements that we hear tell of. We’re young and healthy, love. Now is the time to go, or we might regret it later.”
Catherine looked up into Patrick’s eyes. The love he had for her was plain to see and she was full of remorse for deceiving him about the circumstances of her first pregnancy. A realization came to her in a thought so clear that she knew it was the right thing to do. This, at last, was a way to repay a debt she felt was owed to her husband.
“Do you promise me that we’ll come back together if it’s not to our liking? You must promise me on our children’s life, Patrick.”
There was a loud whoop and Catherine found herself being picked up and swung through the air.
“I don’t know what has changed your mind, and you don’t have to tell me. But I want you to know that you have made me the happiest man in Ireland right now.”
The whooping and laughter outside the house brought the family running through the door to see what it was all about, and Catherine nodded her approval when Patrick asked if he could tell them the news.
“Ah, I knew it. A wee brother or sister for ye, Maisie,” Maggie squeezed the little girl’s hand.
Patrick laughed and kissed the older woman’s cheek, “You’re wrong this time, Maggie. You couldn’t be more wrong,” he took hold of Catherine’s hand. “My lovely wife here, has agreed to give America a try. As soon as I have enough to pay for my passage, I’ll go over and find work. It won’t be long before I have the money saved for Catherine and the wee ones to join me,”
“No, Patrick, if you go we’ll be with you. We stick together in this family, is that not so, Tom?” Catherine pulled the boy close. “Besides, you’d be lost without your son to mind you. You’ll keep your da out of trouble won’t you, my love.”