Winter on the Mersey(110)
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, returning to the task in hand and weighing the butter.
‘Put that down for a second, and give me your hand,’ he said. ‘Look, I can’t get down on one knee, but you swore you didn’t mind about my injured leg and so you’ll have to forgive me. Still … Kitty Callaghan, I love you more than I can say and you are the most precious woman in the world. I can’t imagine life without you. Will you marry me?’
‘Frank.’ Kitty’s hands went to her face.
‘Look, I’m sorry if I’ve rushed it. I know we’ve only been together for a couple of months. It’s just that we’ve known each other so well for so much longer than that, I suddenly couldn’t wait to ask you.’
Kitty gasped and then came into his arms again. ‘Don’t be sorry; don’t even think it. I’m surprised, that’s all. I didn’t think you’d ask – or at least not so soon. Yes, Frank, yes, with all my heart. Of course I’ll marry you. I can’t imagine how anyone could be happier. Yes.’
For a moment they stood still, as the golden sunlight shone through the window, and outside they could hear somebody cheering, and the clattering of Tommy’s ladder as he strung the flags from the house to the closest lamppost.
Then Kitty gently pushed him away. ‘Duty calls, Lieutenant Feeny,’ she said, her eyes bright with happiness. ‘I’ve got a cake to make.’
Nancy watched Georgie trying to keep up with his bigger cousins. Michael and Megan knew exactly what they were doing at the victory garden, which is more than she could say for herself. She could count on the fingers of one hand the times she’d been there since her mother and Violet started it, although she’d been happy enough to eat the produce.
She took a deep breath as Megan began to pick rhubarb and Michel carefully explained to Georgie how to find out if the radishes were ready yet. Her son looked so solemn. He’d had a lot to get used to, what with his father – a total stranger to him – turning up. He’d been polite but puzzled. Sid wasn’t like his friends’ fathers or the men he knew. He was very quiet, very thin, and very different to the few pictures he’d seen of him.
Nancy had been cautious at the first sight of Sid. She’d thought she was prepared, but when she’d finally come face to face with the shell of the cocksure man she’d married, she’d been almost speechless. Of course his mother had been all over him, and it had been some while before they’d managed any time on their own.
Sid had looked mostly at the floor, down at the parlour carpet Nancy so hated. ‘Thank you for your letters,’ he’d managed to say after a painful pause. ‘It was good to have news of the nipper. He’s a fine lad, you can see that.’
‘He is,’ said Nancy immediately. ‘He’s brave an’ all. You can be proud of him, Sid.’
Sid had rubbed his forehead, as if that exchange had used up all his reserves of energy.
‘Don’t you overtire yourself,’ she’d begun, but he’d waved his other hand at her.
‘You’re still a fine-looking woman, Nancy.’ He kept his eyes down. ‘I know I wasn’t the best husband to you when we were wed. I see that now.’
Nancy shrugged. It was true, but then she was a fine one to talk. ‘Doesn’t matter, Sid. That was a long time ago. We weren’t much more than children ourselves.’
Sid laughed wearily, and coughed. When the spasm was over he cleared his throat. ‘The thing is, Nancy, I don’t know if I can be a husband to you now, if you know what I mean.’ He’d glanced up and then away, embarrassed. ‘I’m that tired all the time, I don’t know if things will work like they used to. And lots of us got sick and weren’t treated proper. I’m not the man I was, if you get my drift.’
Nancy didn’t know what to say. ‘Early days yet, Sid,’ she replied awkwardly. ‘We’ll have to get used to each other all over again.’
‘That’s if you want to,’ said Sid morosely. ‘Just look at me, how I am now. I wouldn’t blame you if you said no. Mam will look after me.’
‘I’m sure she will,’ said Nancy with asperity. Then she softened her tone. Sid’s grim honesty deserved sympathy, she acknowledged. ‘Look, you want to get to know Georgie properly, don’t you? He’ll want his parents to stay together,’ she went on carefully, preparing the ground as best she could.
‘He’s a grand little lad,’ Sid said, his voice brightening. ‘You’ve done him proud, Nancy. I’m just sorry that I can’t give you a little brother or sister for him, or not for a long while, I don’t think.’
Nancy had clasped her hands and sent up a silent prayer for courage. Then she’d bitten the bullet. ‘Well, Sid, about that …’
Sid had been shocked, but not as angry as she’d feared. At first he’d said he’d think about it, but over the next few days he’d come round to the idea of being the father of the new baby. Nancy had been heartily relieved, even if she foresaw her life being consumed with taking care of all three of them – Georgie, the baby and this semi-invalid Sid. Well, they’d work something out. They’d have to. At least Georgie could say he had his daddy home again. Even if Nancy was for now sleeping on the sofa in the parlour.