Under the July Sun (29 page)

Cat slipped a silver horseshoe on a satin ribbon over Maureen's wrist and kissed her cheek.

‘I hope ye'll both be very happy.'

‘Thanks Cat. Ye've been wonderful and the dress is gorgeous, ye've made a perfect job of it, I feel like a queen.'

‘Yes and ye look like one.'

Louis shook hands with Reggie wishing him good luck, and agreed to help him move his belongings from their house once the couple returned from honeymoon. They were off to Ireland to spend a week with Maureen's parents.

As Louis stood talking to the couple, confetti rained down on them from the crowd and the children scampered about trying to pick it up from the ground.

‘Don't do that girls, ye'll get dirty and you've to get the photographs done yet,' Cat scolded.

‘Yes, put that down and line up, the photographer's already called for you,' Louis said. He shook Anna's hands to free the coloured pieces of paper. ‘Eileen,' he commanded, ‘throw that confetti down and come here. That's right, stand next to Maureen and smile.'

Slowly the entourage made their way back to Cat and Louis' house for the wedding celebrations. As they approached the road leading to their home, Louis said he'd go on ahead and shut Tipper outside as he didn't want him jumping up on the guests, spoiling their wedding clothes.

Louis quickened his pace and was soon quite a distance ahead of the crowd. When he reached the house he entered through the back door calling Tipper to him. Initially the dog seemed reluctant to come to him but with a little coaxing Louis soon managed to get him into the out-house.

On entering the parlour, disaster met his eyes. Tipper had been helping himself while they were at the church, and sandwiches were scattered across the floor; the pile of sausage rolls was considerably depleted and the plate of cold meat had clearly provided the animal with more than he could devour, as he'd left a few slices uneaten.

Louis rushed to the front door, glanced up the road and saw the wedding party was nearing the house.

‘Oh Lord, what a mess,' he said rushing around to re-arrange the sausage rolls, and picking sandwiches off the floor. He inspected the ones that were not broken and put them back on the plate. Then he removed the plate of cold meat and put it in the kitchen. He was just about to cut some more to replace it when the guests poured through the front door and into the parlour. Quickly Louis took off the pieces nearest the outside edge of the plate. It wouldn't kill them, he decided, and it was certainly a lot better than what they'd eaten in the trenches!

Cat filled small glasses of sherry for the women and Louis ladled out some of his homemade beer to the men. The children were in high spirits and more than once Cat had to reprimand them for trying to grab at the food before the guests were served.

In pride of place amid all the food on the table stood the wedding cake that Cat had made them, and on top of it stood the tiny forms of a bride and groom. Maureen was delighted and thanked her.

‘That's my pleasure, Maureen. Ye'll be makin' Reggie's cakes from now on though - so 'twill be me last task. I'm glad ye've found somewhere to live, 'tis a better start to be on yer own, ye know, not livin' in with family.'

‘Yes. It was so lucky to get the flat over the butcher's shop. And Reggie shouldn't be late for work living above now should he?'

‘No indeed he should not. Now, I had better circulate with the sandwiches, we'll speak later.'

Cat mingled among the guests with the plate of sandwiches and Reggie, seeing Lize pulling on her gloves, went up to her.

‘What, going so soon Mum?'

‘Yes, your gran's at home alone, so I'd better be off now.'

‘But we haven't even cut the cake yet.'

‘Oh. Well I'll stay until you've done that, then I'll have to go. You know how she is.'

Reggie pulled a face thinking that even on his wedding day his grandmother was controlling him from afar. ‘But why not stay on for a little longer Mum? The children were dying to see you!' He turned and beckoned to Billy who immediately came to his side.

‘Billy, say hello to Auntie Lize.'

‘Hello, Auntie Lize.'

Lize bent down and kissed Billy. ‘Here you are, sonny,' she said, fishing out a penny from her purse, ‘come round to my shop in the morning and you can spend it.'

‘Oh thanks Auntie. Shall I get Eileen and Anna to come and get a penny too?'

‘Billy, don't be saucy.' Reggie laughed and Lize re-opened her purse.

‘Here, Billy, give this to your sisters, and mind you do!' she said placing two more pennies in his hand.

‘Look Reggie, I really must go now. Have a good time and come and see me more often.'

‘I'll try Mum, but now the boss is retiring I'll be working much longer hours and may find it difficult for a while.'

‘Well I'm sure if you wanted to do it you would.' She pecked him on the cheek and went in search of Louis and Cat to say goodbye.

Louis and Cat walked to the front gate with Lize and they stood chatting for a while. Then Lize, feeling agitated, said she must get back as she didn't like to leave the old lady on her own for too long as she was prone to dizzy spells.

Lize walked off into the late afternoon and Louis couldn't help feeling sorry about the way her life had turned out. He thought she looked so pitiful walking away from her son's wedding party alone.

At that moment he felt he could forgive her anything, even the way she had insisted they take Reggie in. And they had the better end of the bargain. Having Reggie was infinitely easier than taking his mother in.

He wished he could turn the clock back and return to the old days when Lize's husband Charlie was alive – they had been so happy then. Fate had turned his sister into an old woman long before her time.

His conscience pricked him. ‘You go in, Cat. I'll follow you in a minute.'

‘Are you upset about somethin' Louis?'

‘Look, I just want to walk Lize home, she looks a bit forlorn going off alone. I won't be long.'

‘Sure ye go on; I'd better go back in now.'

It didn't take Louis long to catch his sister up. She wasn't used to walking in high-heeled shoes along the unmade road, and she was clearly pleased.

‘Louis, what are you doing here?'

‘I thought I'd walk you home. You know, just like the old days. Remember how we used to walk out in the evenings when I was on leave?'

Lize slipped her arm through his and they walked along arm in arm.

‘You know Louis, I don't like weddings much.'

‘Why not, for heaven's sake?'

‘Don't sound so surprised.'

‘Well, I am.'

‘Because it reminds me of all I've lost. Of what will never be now.'

‘I'm sorry Lize, I should have realized you would be affected by today.'

‘I didn't think I would. But as I stood there looking at Reggie in the church, I couldn't help thinking how much like Charlie he looked and how it had all been snatched away in the blink of an eye.' She rummaged in her handbag for a handkerchief and blew her nose.

‘Sorry, I should have known you would find it difficult. I suppose I'm not much good at anticipating things, I'm more of an ‘afterthought' sort of person.'

‘It just made me feel like screaming standing there listening to the marriage vows. I can't explain why, but hearing the words ‘till death do us part' brought it all home to me. I didn't expect to be a widow – it never occurred to me. Do I sound too sorry for myself?'

He squeezed her arm, ‘No, Lize. I don't think so. I used to think I was the only soldier who had suffered in the war, but I know now I was just one of millions. It touched all our lives and we all remain scarred in some way or other. Some scars don't show, but they don't heal either.'

‘Louis, do you ever think about death?' They had reached the corner of Lize's road.

Why?'

‘I'm not sure why but lately I've been borne down with a dreadful feeling that I'm going to die before my time and I can't bear it. I still have Iris to look after; though she seems to do more of the looking after me these days. It's just a feeling of foreboding I have and I'm not sure whether it's a dread of life or of death. I can't work out why I feel the way I do.'

They reached the shop; Lize took the keys from her bag and opened the door. ‘Do you want to come in for a moment, say hello to Mum?'

Louis hesitated and he saw Lize's expression change to one of annoyance.

‘Yes, I suppose I'd better. Why wouldn't she come to the wedding?'

‘She said it was too far to walk. But that's not the whole truth. There's nothing wrong with her legs. I think it's because Maureen is Irish.'

‘I wondered. She's never really taken to Cat has she?'

Lize paused before answering, sighed and agreed that she hadn't.

‘It's made it quite difficult for me at times, Lize. The children would love to come to see her but I have to make excuses most of the time because I'm not subjecting Cat to Mum's indifference. What's she got against the Irish anyway?'

‘Probably the same as most other people have,' she said, beginning to climb the stairs. ‘They think they are all stupid drunks and you have to admit it, Michael Nagle didn't do much for their reputation did he?'

‘Oh he's a nice enough fellow really, Lize. He's just a heavy drinker, that's all. And he's not so stupid either. He's had a good education; he just can't leave the liquor alone.'
They had reached the top of the stairs and Lize called out.

‘Mum, I'm back.' There was no reply. ‘She's probably fallen asleep; I'll go and see. Make yourself at home.'

Louis sat in an armchair listening for any sign from the room above that his mother would be joining them and when Lize called out for him to put the kettle on to make tea, he realised that for her, even though it was her son's wedding, it was just another day.

‘It's a boy!' Reggie beamed at Cat as she opened the front door.

‘Oh, congratulations Reggie. How's Maureen?' She stepped aside to let him in.

‘Fine. Just fine. Bit tired, but that's to be expected.'

‘Yes. I know all about that, Reggie,' she said closing the door. ‘C'mon inside now, Louis should be home any minute. Here, take off yer coat and g'w'on over to the fire.'

Reggie shed his coat and as Cat hung it on the coat pegs he rubbed his hands together, moving towards the fire where he squatted before it warming himself.

‘What'll ye call him?'

‘Charles, after my dad.'

‘That's nice. Yes, I like the name.'

Cat looked across the room as Billy came in from his bedroom. ‘Billy, ye've a new baby boy cousin.'

‘Oh,' he said unenthusiastically, and pulled a chair in front of the fire before burying his head in a book. Undeterred by Billie's lack of enthusiasm, Cat called to the girls who were in the scullery.

‘Eileen, Anna, the baby's arrived. A little boy. His name's Charles.'

The girls rushed into the room jostling each other and it was Anna who managed to fire the question at Reggie.

‘When can we see him, Reggie?'

Reggie said they could go as soon as they liked, but Cat shook her head saying the children should wait until Maureen felt like having them there. Cat and Louis would visit the next day, but the children must wait.

‘Now, Anna,' Cat hugged her, ‘g'w'on and get that bottle of homemade wine down from the dresser, 'tis time to open it.' She looked at Billy who was still reading.

‘Billy, did ye finish yer mathematics yet?

‘Ages ago.'

‘Good, well then clear all these tridlums
¹⁴
off the table and the girls can set it up ready for tea. C'mon now girls, set the table for me, there's good children, while I talk to Reggie.'

Billy scowled and lowered his book. He glanced at the table, saw that the girls were already clearing his books and pencils away, and continued to read.

Cat poured two glasses of homemade wine and they welcomed Charles into the world. She and Reggie each took a long gulp and Cat gasped.

‘That's powerful stuff.'

‘Phew! It really has a kick in it,' he agreed.

‘Well, how does it feel to be a father?'

‘A little strange really. It hasn't sunk in yet.'

Cat laughed, ‘Huh! It will when he keeps ye up all night cryin'.'

Reggie nodded, took a sip of the wine, then put the glass on the table.

‘Where's Louis? Is he working late?'

‘No, he's at the doctor's.'

‘Oh! Nothing serious I hope?'

‘Just an irritatin' cough. It won't shift, so I made him see the doctor finally. Honestly Reggie it's been like tryin' to move a mountain to get him to go.'

‘How's his work?'

‘Steady at the moment. But things are lookin' bad. Unrest an' all that. I don't suppose ye've got that in yer job. After all, the dead animals aren't goin' to talk back at all are they?' She filled their glasses again.

‘No. One thing's certain,' Reggie said, ‘whatever happens, people have to eat.'

‘Yes, or die! That's another good line to get into, Reggie, funerals! People always need burying, so ye'd never be out of work would ye? Sláinte,' she said, lifting up her glass.'

‘Here's mud in your eye,' he laughed.

* * *

Louis arrived back long after Reggie had left and when he entered the parlour Cat thought he looked pale. After stoking up the fire she asked him what the doctor had said.

‘Not much really. Just the usual thing – rub camphor into my chest at night and have onion soup regularly. Don't get wet; or stay in damp clothing, and keep away from draughts.' He took his coat off, went into the hallway to hang it up, and then ambled back into the parlour.