She walked slowly across the little landing towards the bedroom door; then came to an abrupt halt. The door was open and in the reflection of the wardrobe mirror she saw her ma and da. Mike had his arms around Lizzie and she had her arms around him. Mary Ann didn’t turn away. Years ago she had joyed in watching such reunions between her parents—it meant that everything was all right—and as she looked at them the anger died in her. Mike’s voice came to her softly now, saying, ‘I wouldn’t mind, Liz. You can; it’s up to you.’
‘Don’t be silly, man. When I travel I’ll travel with you or not at all. As for the Spaniard…I got him years ago.’
Mary Ann turned away, and as she did so the kitchen door opened and Corny came onto the landing. ‘All right?’ he whispered down to her.
She nodded and pointed towards the bedroom, and after catching a glimpse of Mike with Lizzie in his arms, Corny turned quickly away.
Taking Mary Ann into the sitting room, he said quietly. ‘Your world all right now?’
She nodded and dropped her head slowly onto his breast. Then she muttered, ‘Why couldn’t I have won that car and the trip abroad instead of that old devil? I would have loved you to have had a Wolseley.’
‘Look.’ He took her by the shoulders and brought his face down to hers. ‘I don’t want a Wolseley; I’ve got everything. I’ll be so busy in a little while that I won’t know where to put meself. As for money…well’—he moved his head slowly—‘there won’t be any more worries about that. Yet all that is on the side; the main thing is I’ve got you. You’ve always been all I wanted; you’ll go on being all I want. I want you to get that in your head. Make it stick. You understand?’
Mary Ann’s eyes were moist as she gazed up into his face. He hadn’t mentioned the children, just her. She buried her head again, and he held her tightly. Then after a moment he said, ‘Do you know what? I know a way we could get her car.’
She screwed up her face and he bent his head and touched her nose lightly with his lips as he said, ‘You could bring her to live here and I could garage—’
‘Oh, you!’ She punched at him with her two fists.
‘Well, it’s a way. I mean we’d be sure of the car. And just think…a Wolseley!’
‘Corny Boyle.’ Again she was punching at him as he laughed. ‘Do you want me stark staring mad?’
His arms enfolding her once more, he rocked her backwards and forwards. ‘I want you any way…any way, Mary Ann Boyle. As long as you…’ He released one arm and, throwing it dramatically upwards, thrust back his head and bellowed, ‘ACT LIKE A WOMAN.’
‘Oh, Corny! Corny! Oh, you’re daft.’ She was shaking with her laughter.
‘Come on,’ he said, hugging her to his side. ‘We’d better get next door and see the end of Dame McMullen’s pantomime.’
When they reached the landing, there was Mike and Lizzie coming towards the kitchen door, and Corny, taking up another dramatic pose, cried in an undertone, ‘United we stand, divided we fall. Forward, the Shaughnessy McBoyles!’ And on this he thrust open the door and, with an exaggerated bow, he ushered each of them into the room. Mike followed Lizzie. Both were laughing. Mary Ann, following Mike, caught at his hand, and her other hand she placed in Corny’s. She was happy…happy.
‘Mam! Mam!’
‘Ma-am!’
But when she heard her children call she released her hold on her father and husband, and, running back to the top of the stairs, she spread her arms wide to her angels. And as she held them she thought that it was odd but during the last few telling days, although she had not forgotten about her angels, they had been thrust into the background, and she had thought only of their father.
And that’s how it should be at times; and that’s how it must be…in the future.
The End
Mary Ann's Angels Page 21