Chapter 5
MARIA ANDERSON MARRIES RONALD MAKINTOSH

In 1980, Maria Anderson became the famous name that rang a bell in every household in England. She was among the batch of women who were admitted into the British legal profession. She passed the Law Society examination with distinction and was respected by her peers. She left no stone unturned when she defended children in family disputes. She was strong and brave, qualities that challenged her male colleagues.

Maria was so immersed in her profession that the idea of marriage and having children sounded alien to her. She had always brushed the thought under the carpet. She had seen many marriages go down for trivial reasons and was sorry for the children, who got stuck in the middle.

Brenda had advised her daughter to consider getting married and having children. ‘It is a good thing to have your own family and lavish your love and affection on them. They are your future and will provide you with emotional support when your spirit is down. Having a family is a good thing.’

‘Mum, trust me: some families breed more grief than joy,’ Maria answered casually.

‘Just think about it, sweetheart,’ Brenda pressed.

At thirty Maria was successful in her profession and independent but had never been in a relationship. All her mates were men, but she never allowed them to think about a relationship. None dared mention the topic, not because she would do or say something to hurt them but because they just did not see her as someone who was meant to be in a relationship with the opposite sex. She was very competitive in sports and would do what the boys did.

One case she dealt with involved a boy called Robert Howe, who was caught up in drug gang bullying. Robert was used by the mob to push drugs, but when he decided he could not continue and informed on them, the mob’s leader subjected him to abuse. When the boy’s uncle Ronald asked Maria to represent his nephew in court, Maria did not hesitate to accept. She secured a happy ending, and the mob was imprisoned for trafficking drugs and child abuse.

A year later, Maria accidentally bumped into Ronald at Wimpy in Bexleyheath town centre. They had a long chat about general things as they settled for lunch. They seemed to like each other and met quite often for lunch at the Wimpy.

Ron was the head teacher of the local secondary school. He fancied Maria but was not sure if it was mutual. He had realized that Maria got on well with the opposite sex and felt she might take him for just a friend. The thought of it worried him. She was a lady with a strong personality, intelligent, and full of humour when she was not working. If only she would allow him, he could make her happy.

He was not getting younger; he was in his late forties and a single father. He had attended a musical at the Golden Tree restaurant at Gravesend and had a lot to drink. He brought home his date, who had been getting closer to him all evening. What happened next resulted in their daughter, Emma. Ron tried to get along with Emma’s mother, but there was no chemistry between them, and they agreed to quit. He had been in Emma’s life since she was born five years ago and loved her very much. He now needed a woman who would make his life complete, and Maria seemed the perfect match.

Ron decided to man up and ask her out, as Valentine’s Day was just round the corner. At Wimpy that afternoon he asked her for a date. Maria was reluctant but agreed and asked, ‘Where are you taking me to?’

‘Where would you like?’ Ron replied back excitedly.

‘Surprise me. I have all weekend up to Wednesday off,’ she said.

He would like to take her somewhere romantic and treat her as a lady. He sat thinking about it. ‘I will pick you up at seven in the evening on Saturday,’ he said at last.

‘That’s okay, I am delighted,’ Maria said.

It would make her mother happy to see her bring a man home. After all, Ron was good-looking and looked responsible, the type of man a woman would like to accompany out. Maria had considered the invite as getting occupied and doing something different apart from writing notes for the courts.

She told Brenda that she was going out on a date for the weekend. Brenda raised her eyebrows and looked at her. ‘You are joking me. I didn’t think you liked men, Maria. When did this happen?’

‘Mother, it’s someone I know from one of my defence cases two years ago, and he seemed not to give up on me,’ Maria explained.

‘I am just surprised,’ Brenda said.

‘I thought you would be happy.’

‘Yes, I am over the moon.’

‘Well, I will see how it goes,’ Maria replied.

As this would be Maria’s first date ever, Brenda was excited and at the same time scared that she was going to blow it up. She warned her to behave and be a girl for her and not a boy.

Ron booked a table for two at the Golden Tree restaurant. The Golden Tree was situated out of town about five miles away. It was quiet and decent and attracted businesspeople who needed a quiet place to relax after a busy time. They had an outdoor bar, with seats and tables under shaded trees. In the evening, the place was decorated with fancy lights keeping the seated areas private. Couples loved the spot because they could snog and kiss without being seen. Soft music played throughout the evening. A good spot to start a romance, Ron thought.

He waited patiently as the clock ticked and the days went by. Finally it was Saturday. He was nervous; he was brave to take a woman of Maria’s calibre on a date. He was dressed casually, but sexy. He wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with his nipples poking through. His unbuttoned jacket hung loosely over one shoulder. Maria was dressed and ready. She wore a strapped deep blue dress and moderate make-up. Her hair, delicately curled, hung loosely at her back.

Ron was happy; he had waited months for this. Making this date happen was a step forward, and he was eager to make the most of it. He knew that Maria was a busy woman who was dedicated to her job. He would have to let her know about Emma; that was very important because his girl would always be part of his life. That was what he was worried about; if she happened to be OK with it, he would be the luckiest man.

Ron and Maria found a seat at the outdoor bar, in a corner far away from the rest. Maria felt at ease in Ron’s company. She had not been in this situation before, a man taking her out for a date. She was a little bit nervous but later began to enjoy every moment of it. She loved the privacy, the food she said was gorgeous, and the cold beer in the summer evening was perfect.

They talked about a lot of things. Ron told her about his childhood. He had a sister, Martha, and their parents were rich and owned a hundred-acres with an apple farm, livestock, and horses. Ronald and his sister lived on the farm until she moved to live with her husband in Scotland. His father died at the age of eighty-nine and his mother at ninety-one. Ronald and his sister inherited the estate; they decided not to sell but to lease it out and get ten percent from the total profit every year. Maria wondered why he chose to be a teacher, but he explained that teaching was what he had wanted to do all his life, and he loved it.

Maria told him about her brother, Jonathan, and her mum, Brenda, whom she still lived with. He told her about Emma and how interesting she was. Naturally, Maria was passionate about children and said she would like to meet her one day. They left the bar when it closed at midnight, but not before Ronald kissed her hands. Maria giggled as they held hands strolling out of the bar.

The next morning, Maria told her mother about her evening with Ronald. Brenda was the best friend she had, her confidant. ‘Are you falling for him?’ Brenda asked.

‘I don’t know, Mother, but he seems a nice man, and I will give it a go to make you happy,’ Maria replied, pulling faces.

‘Invite him home for dinner,’ Brenda suggested.

The pair went out on several occasions; each time was spectacular and brought them closer to each other. Maria met Emma when she was invited by Ronald’s sister, Martha. When Ronald told Martha about his new-found love, she asked them for dinner, and they got on well.

Maria’s colleague Jamie had commented at the court room that Maria had changed and now wore skirts and dresses more often. Jamie wondered if Maria had found herself a man. It was a personal attack, but she ignored the comment and went ahead with her defence. She was still the strong attorney who would challenge unfair rulings.

It was true that she had changed in her appearance and manners too. She was less aggressive and more graceful. Was she in love? That question she could not answer; she was not sure if she was, but she would go ahead with Ronald. He was the gentleman any woman would like to have, and above all her mother liked him and had always said he was the right man for her. He was polite and treated her with uttermost love.

Ron had confided in his sister his plan to marry Maria. ‘I think it’s time to cement my relationship with her. She is definitely the one for me, and it’s been six years since Emma’s mother left. What do you think?’

‘If you feel she is surely the one for you, considering your past experience, go for it, Ron. You are a good man, and any woman will be lucky to have you for a husband,’ his sister replied, giving him a peck on his cheek.

‘Can you help me get a deserving ring?’ he asked her.

A woman of Maria’s calibre was delicate and must be treated with passion and utmost love.

A sensational feeling run through him at the thought of it, he was the happiest man on earth. This ends my bachelor life; I have found love at last.

With his confidence boosted, Ron and his sister went to a shop in central London to get an engagement ring. He was filled with excitement and prayed that Maria would say yes. His sister helped him pick a ring with a diamond stone in the middle of what seemed a rose.

‘It is elegant, and I expect Maria will like it,’ she said while examining the ring carefully.

The jeweller came round and showed them more rings but Martha’s eye was on the rose with a diamond. Ron also liked it, so he got ready to pay five hundred pounds for it. I will also purchase a wedding ring if she says yes, he thought.

Ron’s insecurity suddenly kicked in, and he asked the jeweller whether, if the woman said no, he would take the ring back.

‘Don’t be silly, Ron. Of course Maria will say yes!’

‘I am just asking; you know how women are,’ Ron reasoned.

‘Don’t worry, sir, we will take it back, but you will pay ten percent of the full price if you return it within the next twelve weeks.’

‘That isn’t bad. I will pay now and pray that I don’t return it,’ he said, laughing with excitement. Martha was very happy with the choice. On their way back, she continued to assure her brother that he had made a good lifetime decision. She knew Maria very well and thought them a perfect match. And Emma would get another mother soon.

Two weeks after Ron’s purchase was Maria’s birthday. She decided to celebrate it quietly at the Golden Gate. He had pre-informed the pub management that he was going to propose and wanted it to be spectacular. After they had settled at their favourite spot, Ronald looked straight into Maria’s eyes and sank onto one knee. He said, ‘Maria, you are my beautiful red rose. I love you dearly and would like you to be my soul mate for the rest of my life. Would you marry me?’

‘Yes, I will marry you—who wouldn’t? You are so kind and full of love … yes, I will marry you!’ Maria responded. The whole room applauded, and the requested song was played: “You are always on my mind.” There was a toast in their honour.

It was a surprise of some sort, Maria knew it would happen but she was not sure when it was going to happen. Ronald’s friend Jamie happened to be in the pub with his girlfriend and also proposed a toast for the newly engaged couple. Maria and Ron kissed and danced, and they both went home to Ron’s that night.

Ronald and Maria got married before Easter in an ancient church outside town. It was a private occasion, and only family members and some friends were present when they read their vows. Emma was a flower girl. Due to pressures of work, the honeymoon was postponed until winter. Maria moved to live with her husband but visited her mother and Jonathan every weekend.

‘I have observed something,’ Ronald said to her one evening. ‘Please don’t be upset if I mention it. I love you very much, and I tell you that every day, but you have not declared your love to me yet.’

That seemed to be their first row.

‘You sound ridiculous, Ron; I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love you.’

‘I want you to tell me. I want you to say you love me, but you hardly mention the word love, as if the word were poison. Maria, I don’t get it,’ Ron queried seriously, avoiding Maria’s gaze.

‘I made us some cottage pie. Would you have yours now?’ Maria offered.

‘Yes, let’s eat in peace and stop arguing. I am hungry.’

Maria got up for the plates. They ate in silence and never raised the topic again, but Ronald always felt that Maria did not love him enough, and it made him insecure. He did not think she was cheating but just thought he was not good enough for her, and the thought hurt him. He loved her and would not give up on her.

Then, in early spring, Maria told Ronald that she might be pregnant.