Under the July Sun (30 page)

‘Oh well, at least ye went. C'mon now sit down and have a glass of this.' She poured him a glass of wine and he asked what the occasion was.

‘Maureen's had a little boy. They've called him Charles. I said we'd go round tomorrow and see the baby.'

‘That's nice. Does Lize know?'

She probably does by now. Reggie was goin' round there when he left here. I wonder how she'll feel bein' a grandmother. It doesn't seem possible does it?'

‘No. I suppose one day we'll be grandparents too. That seems unbelievable, doesn't it?' Louis flopped into his armchair and looked around for Tipper.

‘Come here Tipper, come on boy.'

Tipper left the bone he was gnawing and slumped down at Louis' feet.

‘That's right, there's a good boy.'

He fondled Tipper's ears and rested his head back against the chair, closing his eyes. He looked deathly pale and Cat stood looking at him.

‘Are ye feelin' all right, Louis?'

‘Just tired.'

‘'Tis this weather. Rain, rain and yet more rain. I'm sure I don't know where it all comes from. Here, take off yer boots and I'll get yer slippers.' She fetched his slippers, worried about his pallor.

‘D'ya want yer meal now?'

‘In a minute. I'll just have a little doze. It's been a long day.'

‘Louis doesn't look so well, Cat,' Maeve said as they walked into town together.

‘No, he's had such a cough Mummy, all last winter, and it took everythin' out of him. I hoped comin' home would help; the fresh air and all.'

‘He's got awful thin, Cat.'

‘Not really, he's still wearin' the same size shirts Mummy.'

They arrived at Peggy and Breda's shop and Cat felt a wave of nostalgia. She could smell toffee apples. Peggy must have been busy. Then she remembered Mary filling up the sweet jars - so long ago now.

‘Well here we are then,' Maeve said, opening the shop door, ‘and where's my little darlin'?'

‘I'm here Granny,' Marie called from the back of the shop.

‘C'mon out then, here's yer mammy to see ye.'

Marie came running out and threw her arms around Maeve who kissed the top of her head repeatedly.

‘C'mon now pet, give yer mammy a kiss.'

Marie stepped forward and raised her lips up for Cat to kiss.

‘Hello darlin',' Cat said putting her arms around Marie, ‘my ye've grown into a big girl, ye have.'

Marie extricated herself from her mother's embrace and Cat noticed that her child didn't seem to want her to hold her. She felt a stab of jealousy, quickly replaced with the sobering thought that she couldn't expect anything else. They had decided to leave her to be brought up in Fethard so it was no wonder Marie felt distant from them.

‘Where's Billy, Eileen and Anna, Ma?' Marie asked Cat.

‘At Monroe with Granddad. Ye can walk back with me when I go.'

It amused Cat that she called her
Ma
. None of the others did and it set Marie apart, as well as her strong Tipperary brogue.

Peggy finished serving a customer and rushed to greet Cat.

‘Ah Cat, 'tas been too long. And will ye look at this one,' she said pointing at Marie, ‘nearly as tall as her mother.'

‘Well that's not very hard, there's nothin' of her at all,' Maeve laughed.

Cat walked into the side of the shop where Breda usually worked, but she wasn't there.

‘Where's Breda, Peggy?'

‘She's away up at Paddy Hogan's doin' a fittin' for his wife's new outfit.'

When Cat came back into the sweet shop Peggy could see by the look on her face that she'd made a mistake telling her.

Cat felt as though she had been kicked in the diaphragm. She couldn't say anything, but her thoughts were running riot. What on earth was Breda doing cavorting with Paddy Hogan's wife?

Suddenly Cat wanted to get away. She burned inside with anger at what she felt was their betrayal but was also confused because she felt deep sorrow. She made an excuse about having to get back to Monroe as Louis wasn't feeling too well.

‘Shall I come with ye, Ma?' Marie asked uncertainly.

‘Oh yes, if ye want to.'

Marie turned to Peggy. ‘I'll be back later, Auntie.'

‘That's fine,' Peggy said turning to Maeve. ‘Mummy, ye're stayin' for a while, aren't ye?'

‘Sure I am. Is the kettle boilin'?'

‘'Tis. I'll just make the tea. Cat, stay for tea won't ye?'

‘No. No thanks Peggy. I'm away now.' And she left the shop quickly with Marie running to catch her up.

Peggy nervously bit her lip and stared at the empty doorway after Cat had left.

‘Oh Lord, I've said the wrong thing haven't I, Mummy?'

Maeve nodded and raised her eyebrows.

‘She's been gone from home a long time, Peggy. She probably has no idea that things have settled down here and that Paddy has changed now he's married.'

‘I didn't think. I could bite my tongue off for lettin' it come out like that. We should have warned her before. I wouldn't hurt her for the world.'

‘I know, Peggy. But what else could we have done? It's not easy to put in a letter that Breda is makin' Paddy's wife's clothes now, is it?'

Peggy continued biting her lip and Maeve could see she was worried.

‘All the same Mummy, it must have been a shock for her to find out in that way that we've forgiven him. She doesn't know he's changed because we've not spoken of him in years. I think I wrote and told her he was getting married, that's all.

I'm worried what she'll say if she finds out Marie has been to his place ridin' around on his horses too. I hope Marie doesn't tell her before I get a chance to.'

Maeve crossed herself. ‘Jesus, Mary and Holy St. Joseph let's hope the saints keep all our mouths shut.'

‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, Louis, that cough's gettin' worse, I swear it.' Cat lifted the kettle from the range and walked across to the table where she poured some hot water into a bowl.

Louis used his shirt cuff to wipe sweat from his brow and lit a cigarette. She saw his hand trembling as he put it to his lips.

‘And smokin' won't help either. Now, look here, I've Friars Balsam for ye to inhale. C'mon here and put yer head over the bowl.'

Louis stood and slowly ambled over to the table where he sat heavily on the chair and leaned over the bowl of steaming liquid. Cat placed a towel over his head and told him not to lift it until he had inhaled at least twelve times. He sat breathing in the vapour, occasionally coughing.

The children were playing dominos as snow fell softly outside, covering the houses and roads in a soft blanket of white. Cat stood looking out of the window thinking that if they had much more snow it would completely block the front gate and she would have to dig it away. Louis was in no fit state to go out in the cold clearing snow.

She looked across the room at his hunched form leaning over the bowl and fear gripped her. What if he was sicker than they thought? The doctor had only told Louis to do simple things earlier on in the year, but none of it had worked and now he couldn't look at onion soup without feeling physically sick. She resolved she would go to the doctor after Christmas and demand that Louis was sent to the hospital for a diagnosis. He wasn't getting any better and she knew he had been coughing up blood lately.

Tears filled her eyes and she turned her back on the room so that the children and Louis would not see how upset she was.

‘Cat?' Louis called, breaking into her thoughts.

‘Yes, Pet I'm here,' she said in a bright tone, quickly blinking away her tears.

‘Could you let Tipper out? He's at the door.'

‘Of course.'

She went to the scullery and opened the garden door. ‘C'mon Tipper. There's a good boy.'

Tipper gingerly stepped out of doors, his nose held high as he sniffed the air.

‘G'w'on ye coward, get yerself outside,' she said pushing him with her foot. She closed the door and returned to the parlour. ‘He should have been born a lamb, not a dog. He's too scared altogether to go out in the snow.'

Louis emerged from beneath the towel and wiped the vapour off his face. He remained where he was, staring into the distance.

‘I said he's too scared to go out, Louis.'

‘Oh what was that you said?'

‘Nothin'. 'Tis not important. Look why don't ye go to bed, ye look banjaxed.'

‘Yes. Maybe I will.' He stood and looked down at the children playing and then without warning he began coughing. He rushed from the room into the scullery where Cat found him spitting blood into the sink.

‘Louis, this can't go on. Ye've to go to the doctor straight after Christmas and get an appointment for the hospital. I
insis
t!'

‘Yes. I will. I promise. Now I simply must go and lie down. I'm sorry Cat. I didn't want to spoil Christmas.'

‘Just go to bed Louis. I'll come and wake ye later, Pet.'

* * *

It was dark when Cat slid into bed next to Louis. The whole afternoon and evening had passed as he slept. He woke as she cuddled into his back.

‘Oh Cat, I feel so much better. It's dark. Is it late?'

‘Yes. Ye've been asleep all afternoon and evenin'. 'Tis ten thirty now. The rest will have done ye good. I'm glad ye gave in and went to bed. Is there anythin' I can get ye before we go to sleep?'

‘I wouldn't mind a drink of some sort.'

‘What sort of drink. Would ye like tea or hot milk or somethin' a little stronger?'

‘I'd actually like a small drop of your homemade wine if there's any left.'

‘There is,' she said slipping out of bed and wrapping a shawl around her shoulders. ‘I won't be a minute.' She disappeared from the bedroom to return immediately with two glasses and the bottle of wine. The bedroom was cold and she shivered. ‘Sit up now and hold the glasses while I pour.'

Louis sat up and held the glasses as Cat filled them with wine. She put the bottle on the floor and climbed back into bed where Louis sat scrutinising the glass of wine against the light of the candle.

‘It's a good colour. Probably very potent, Cat.'

‘Sure it should be. 'Tis a couple of years old.' She raised the glass to her lips. ‘Sláinte.'

‘Cheers. And here's to us.'

‘Yes, Louis. To us!'

They poured another glass each and were soon chattering and laughing. Louis had colour in his face.

Relieved that he looked so much better, Cat relaxed. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. But he must still go to the doctor she thought, pouring their third glass of wine.

‘I'm getting a bit tiddly, Cat.'

‘I'm more than a bit tiddly, Louis. C'mon now, give us a kiss.' She closed her eyes and puckered her lips, but Louis just kissed her briefly on the cheek and took another sip of wine.

Disappointed, Cat opened her eyes. ‘Not that sort of peck on the cheek, Louis… I want a
proper
kiss.'

‘That
was
a
prope
r kiss woman. You're just wanton you know,' he laughed putting his glass down on the floor. He lay back on the pillow and looked at her.

‘Wanton or not. I demand to be kissed properly, just like a film star.'

‘You know where that will lead, Cat.'

‘I don't care. I've waited long enough to be kissed properly and I'm not waitin' any longer. Kiss me. Now!'

They reached down and put their glasses on the floor, before Louis turned to Cat smiling.

‘Right, you asked for it! Don't say I didn't warn you!'

‘How much longer will Mummy be, Reggie?'

‘Oh quite some time yet, Anna. London's a long way. Try to get some sleep now both of you. You need to be good girls for Mummy.'

‘Reggie?'

‘Yes, Eileen?'

The child's lip trembled. ‘Is Daddy going to die?'

‘No, of course not. They just want to do an operation to make him better.'

‘That's good. I don't want him to die.'

‘Settle down now then…I'll be back later after I've talked to Billy.'

Reggie left the room and went to talk to Billy in his bedroom.

Tipper lay in front of the fire but pricked his ears up as Reggie moved about the house. The dog had guarded Louis' slippers all day, waiting for his master to return.

Reggie appeared at Billy's doorway. ‘Right, Billy have you finished reading your book?'

‘Yes, sort of. But I can't concentrate. I'm too nervous about my exam on Monday.'

Reggie nodded. ‘Ah yes. I forgot about that. It'll be good if you win the scholarship. Not many boys have that chance. I certainly didn't.'

Billy slid beneath the covers. ‘Daddy says I can go to a Grammar School if I pass.'

‘Good. That will be very nice. So you don't want to be a butcher then?'

Billy thought for a moment. ‘No. Actually I would rather like to become a doctor.'

‘A doctor eh?' Reggie smiled, ‘Well you'll certainly have to work hard to do that.'

‘I intend to, Reggie. It's what I'd really like to do one day.'

‘I should think your parents would be very proud of you if you manage it.'

Billy remained silent for a while and Reggie turned to go, but then Billy called him.

‘Reggie. It's pretty serious with Daddy isn't it?'

Reggie hesitated. ‘We don't know at the moment, Billy. Let's wait and see what they say after the operation tomorrow. We'll keep our fingers crossed. Now come on settle down and try to get some sleep.'