Torn Asunder

by Renny deGroot

  Maeve nodded. “After he proclaimed that they are our people.”

  Emmet nodded. “That’s it.”

  Maeve sat down opposite Emmet’s desk. “Will we get embroiled in this awful war?”

  Emmet reached over and patted her hand. “No. Don’t worry. Dev will make his protest and that’ll be an end to it.”

  He leaned back again and changed the subject. “Did your Mam talk to you about our house guests?”

  Maeve brightened. “She did. This is the woman from England that she’s known forever, right?”

  Emmet smiled. “Not quite forever, but yes they’ve been friends since they were about your age.”

  She tilted her head. “Isn’t it strange that she’s friends with an English person?”

  “They’re not all enemies. Most people are just like you and I, trying to live their lives. But aside from that, I think you know that Elizabeth is half Irish.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Her father is Irish.”

  “Yes, and now they’re coming here because their home has been damaged. The Carsons can’t have them. They’ve left Belfast and gone to stay with some distant family living in Donegal. Buncrana or some such hole in the wall.”

  Maeve laughed. “It’s probably quite lovely.”

  Emmet grimaced. “And what would you know about these little villages? You’re a town girl.”

  “I’ve stayed with Nana and Gramps in Ashbourne before. Or does that not count because it’s your little village?”

  Emmet grinned. “Ashbourne is very civilized.”

  Maeve shook her head and returned to the subject of the house guests. “So there’s just Mammy’s friend and the son coming, right?”

  “Yes, he’s her only child. The husband died quite young in an accident of some sort. I think the two of them lived with her father for a while, but from what I understand, he’s actually working with the government now in some capacity to do with the war office.”

  Maeve nodded. “The boys will enjoy having a young man around to pester with questions about living in war.”

  “Actually, I think that’s part of the reason they’re coming here.”

  Maeve frowned. “Why?”

  “It seems as though he wants to sign up and Elizabeth is in the horrors that he’ll disobey her and run off to join the army.”

  “But he must be too young?”

  “He’s a few months younger than you, so he’s seventeen.”

  “So he could easily join if he wanted to.”

  Emmet nodded. “I’m sure he could, but it sounds like he’s coming here, so that will keep him busy for now. We’ll see how long he stays.”

  • • •

  Robert and Malachy weren’t wild about sharing a bed, but the excitement of having the English boy Daniel in the room made up for the inconvenience. Robert and Malachy would bunk together in Malachy’s bed and Daniel would get Robert’s. The tiny storage room had been made over with a second-hand bed to accommodate Elizabeth.

  Maeve had expected Daniel to be sullen and awkward. That was the way many of the boys she knew were. Instead, he had a natural full-lipped smile. He was tall; about five feet ten and he held himself straight and at the same time, relaxed. He liked to stand with his hands in his pockets with a casual ease that exuded confidence. His dark hair was wavy and combed back from his face. He had a long elegant neck, but his most striking feature was his hazel eyes. They seemed to pierce Maeve when he fixed his gaze on her. Maeve loved that Daniel had lovely manners and was very attentive to his mother. She felt her heart flutter the first time he shook her hand.

  School was out for summer break. Maeve’s brothers were always looking for adventure so they were delighted when they could convince Daniel to go along with them. They cycled off to hurling matches, even though Daniel didn’t know the first thing about hurling. He preferred to kick the ball around in a spontaneous game of football. Daniel’s real passion was rugby. Maeve was gobsmacked when he recited part of a poem about rugby by Louis MacNeice to the boys.

  They were all sitting in the parlour after tea one evening. The boys and Emmet were debating the speed and excitement of Gaelic football to rugby when Daniel stood up, his hands clasped before him chest high, in a stance such as a singer might adopt and in a clear, strong voice recited:

  Lansdowne Road - the swirl of flags and faces

  Gilbert and Sullivan music, emerald jerseys;

  Spire and crane beyond remind the mind on furlough

  of Mersey’s cod and Rome’s.

  Daniel lifted his arms above his head in a gesture of triumph and continued:

  Eccentric scoring - Nicholson, Marshall and Unwin,

  Replies by Bailey and Daly;

  Rugs around our shins, the effortless place-kick

  Gaily carving the goalposts.

  He grinned and sat down to a round of clapping.

  Maeve could have listened to him for hours. “Is that the whole poem? Is there more?”

  Daniel shrugged. “There is more, but I don’t remember it.”

  “That was lovely.”

  Maeve’s mother raised her eyebrows “Have you become a fan of rugby all of a sudden then, Maeve?”

  Maeve felt herself grow hot. “Of course not, but I can appreciate poetry about any subject.”

  Robert grinned. “That was grand, Daniel.”

  Daniel dipped his head in a mock bow. “Do I have you convinced that rugby is the superior sport? Surely you have no poems about your football.”

  The debate continued with Malachy protesting that real sports didn’t need poetry, just good, fast men.

  Maeve stopped listening but later, in the quiet of her room, she tried to remember the poem to copy in her journal. She underlined the date to remind herself in the future about what a nice day it had been.

  • • •

  It was a clear August morning. Daniel had declined to go along with the boys to the zoo. “I think I’ll stay behind this time.”

  Maeve sat out in the back garden with a book when he came out to join her. She shaded her eyes to look up at him. “You look restless. You should have gone along with Robert and Malachy.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve had enough small boy adventures.”

  Maeve raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”

  “May I sit?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Daniel pulled over another chair, angling it so Maeve wouldn’t have to look into the sun. “What are you reading?”

  Maeve held up the cover of her book for him. “It’s a biography about the Countess Markievicz.”

  Daniel frowned. “I’ve heard the name but don’t know her. Is she some Russian?”

  Maeve felt herself grow hot but took a breath before answering. “No. She’s the greatest Irish woman who ever lived.”

  Daniel’s eyes widened. “Oh. Sorry.”

  Maeve could see he wasn’t sure what to say next. She also saw that his startling hazel eyes had chocolate flecks. Yes, they were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to come across so strongly. She’s my heroine.”

  “Tell me about her.”

  Maeve sketched out the highlights of her life, concluding with “She died before she could take up her seat after the ’27 elections.”

  “Right, now I do remember hearing about her.”

  “She was the first woman to be elected to the British House of Commons, so even if you don’t know much about Irish history, that’s how you might have heard about her.”

  Daniel nodded. “You sound very passionate when you talk of her.”

  “She had such an impact on our country.”

  “Yes, I see that.” He hesitated and then continued. “I’ll bet you could make that kind of impact.”

  “Me?” Maeve closed the book and laughed.

  “Certainly. Why not?”

  Maeve shrugged. “True. Why not, indeed.”

  Daniel stood. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  Maeve stoo
d. “All right. We’ll go down to St. Stephen’s Green. Give me a minute to get my hat.”

  It seemed to Maeve that the walk to St. Stephen’s had never been covered so quickly. It was usually at least a twenty-minute journey for her, and perhaps it was this time as well, but Maeve didn’t feel it. During the walk they spoke of the houses, gardens and churches they passed. Daniel told her about where he lived and the destruction of so much that had been familiar to him.

  Before she knew it, they were wandering through the park, and finally when they spotted an empty bench, as of one mind, they moved towards it and sat side by side to watch the children playing ball. When they sat down, Maeve had almost forgotten the conversation they had been having earlier, in her own garden, and she had to think for a moment when she heard him speak.

  Daniel voice was carried on a sigh, so that she almost didn’t hear him. “I want to do great things as well.”

  Maeve smiled at him. “What sort of great things?”

  His beautiful eyes were serious when he turned to her. “I should be joining the army and fighting.”

  “The British Army.”

  He frowned. “Yes, of course the British Army.”

  She nodded. “Since you and your mother have been here, I’ve almost forgotten that you are British.”

  He had a trick of raising one eyebrow when he wanted more information.

  She looked away. “For all my life I’ve learned that the British Army were our enemies.” She turned quickly and saw his face colour. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that you’re my enemy, and of course, you’re partly Irish.”

  His voice was stiff. “I’ve never felt partly Irish. I’ve only ever been British.”

  “Oh. Even now that you’ve been here in Dublin for a while? Do you still feel the same?”

  “England is still my home.”

  She tried to get back to the comfortable way they had been. “I’m sorry. I interrupted you. You feel that you should be over in France or wherever fighting.”

  She heard his intake of breath and knew he was also trying to regain the ease of a few moments before.

  He nodded. “I have schoolmates who have gone.”

  Despite herself, she felt a catch in her throat. “How awful.”

  He shook his head. “They are standing up for what’s right. That’s what I should be doing. Not here with my mother, hiding. I feel like a coward.”

  Maeve looked at him with new eyes. He had seemed so young until now. He’s a man, not a boy.

  She touched his sleeve. “I don’t think the war is going to be over tomorrow. Your mother wants to keep you safe as long as she can.”

  At her touch he flushed again, his cheeks firing red. “I know, and I am trying to be kind to her and not harass her, but when I’m eighteen, I can do as I think best.”

  She nodded. “I, for one, hope that you find something worthwhile to do, other than join the British army.”

  “Such as?”

  “You told me that you love the sciences. Perhaps being a doctor would be worthwhile?”

  He sniffed. “Now you sound like her, like my mother.”

  Maeve frowned and pursed her lips. “Oh no. I don’t want to sound like your mother.”

  There it was again. The raised eyebrow.

  Now it was Maeve’s turn to feel the colour rise in her face. “I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with your mother. I just mean I don’t feel like a mother to you.” Dear God, just stop talking.

  She stood quickly. “We should go back.”

  Daniel stood, and this time offered his arm to her. Maeve took it, trying to imagine any boy that she knew of her own age behaving like this. He’s different. Maybe because his Da died so young. He grew up fast.

  They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes.

  He glanced at her. “When I go home, would you write to me?”

  She nodded. “That would be fun. I can keep working to convince you to go to medical school.”

  “Yes, you can try. That is, if you have time to write. You’ll be starting college yourself in a few weeks.”

  “That’s true. I’m so excited to be going to University College Dublin. It’s a great school.”

  “What will the study of literature and history get for you though? Anything practical?

  “I expect I’ll teach.”

  Maeve wanted to walk past the house just to continue their conversation. She slipped her hand from his arm before getting close to the house. No point in giving the boys something to tease me about.

  • • •

  Daniel spent less and less time with the boys and more time with Maeve. She knew people noticed but didn’t care.

  Today they were at the Municipal Gallery to see the Lady Lavery Bequest.

  They wandered around the old townhouse which housed the gallery. Maeve stopped in front of a portrait of Lady Lavery. “She was beautiful, wasn’t she?”

  Daniel studied the painting. “She certainly was. There’s a real elegance about her, isn’t there?”

  Maeve looked around and lowered her voice. “They say that she was in love with Michael Collins, you know.”

  He turned to stare at her. “The man who negotiated the treaty?”

  She nodded. “I heard she was heartbroken when he was assassinated.”

  “My goodness. Who would guess that such a fine English lady would fall in love with an Irish rebel?”

  “There have actually been many cases of relationships between English and Irish.”

  He smiled and the way his eyes sparkled at her made Maeve’s heart race. “So it’s not always contentious between us then?”

  She tilted her head, feeling bold. “No, not always.”

  He nodded. “There’s something fascinating about the Irish. You bring such enthusiasm to everything. That’s very different from the understated ways I’m used to. You’re very different than any girl I’ve ever met, Maeve.”

  She felt sweat prick under her arms at his serious look. She tried to joke about it. “And how many girls do you know?”

  “I’ve met a few. None are like you.”

  She turned to walk on and they strolled side by side along the gallery of paintings. “Well, I’ve never met anyone like you either. You seem so much older than your age.”

  “I’ll miss you when I go home.”

  Maeve didn’t want to think of it. “We better enjoy the time we have then, hadn’t we?”

  • • •

  August was at an end. It was one of the last nights of their stay. Tea was long finished, and Maeve’s Mam and Elizabeth were deep in conversation. The boys played checkers and Maeve’s father had fallen asleep in his easy chair with the newspaper across his chest.

  Daniel leaned in close to Maeve. “I read in the paper that we can expect a sky full of shooting stars tonight. It’s dark enough now. Shall we go out in the garden to watch them?”

  “Oh, yes. Let’s.”

  They stood and Mam looked up. “Where are you two going?”

  Maeve waved her hand towards the garden. “Just outside to see the shooting stars. Would you two like to come?”

  “Perhaps in a bit.”

  Maeve led the way into the garden and they strolled to the farthest end so that the light pouring out of the windows didn’t distract from the view.

  They stood side by side gazing up. Daniel pointed. “There! Did you see that?”

  “No. Darn. Where are you looking?”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, his temple touching hers. “There towards the plough.”

  A star flared across the sky.

  Maeve gasped. “Oh! How lovely.” She felt Daniel shift and then she was looking up at him rather than the sky. She couldn’t see his eyes in the darkness but imagined them gazing down at her. She shivered as he placed both his hands on her face, drawing her towards him. His lips touched hers and she felt every fibre in her body respond. She pressed closer to him and pulled him in, her arms
circling his body. They kissed again, and she felt as though she might melt against him.

  They parted, her breath racing. In the silence she heard the door open and the sound of her mother’s voice calling her. “Maeve? Where are you?”

  They moved apart, and she tried to calm her voice. “Down here, Mammy. You can see the stars better here, away from the house.”

  Maeve took a step along the path to meet her mother, leaving Daniel. She heard his breath rasping as he tried to steady himself.

  Maeve, Daniel and the two mothers stood for a few moments, admiring the stars as they put on their magical display.

  When they said goodnight without Maeve having another chance to be alone with Daniel, it seemed to her that she almost dreamt those moments in the garden. She wrote in her diary: my first kiss. I think I’m in love. Surely it wouldn’t have been so amazing, had I not been in love?

  • • •

  It was time for Elizabeth and Daniel to leave. There had been some talk of staying on, but it would mean Daniel missing his last year at school, so even Elizabeth had to concede that it wasn’t a good plan.

  There had been no other chance for Maeve to be alone in private with Daniel. It felt as though her mother had conspired to ensure that wouldn’t happen. Maeve knew that her mother had noticed the time she and Daniel spent together. Once her mother gave her a piercing look when she noticed the two of them laughing together. Maeve had automatically reached out to grasp Daniel’s arm as she emphasized her point of the argument. Maeve saw the look her mother gave and released his arm as though it were on fire.

  Now, as Elizabeth and Daniel waited for a taxi to take them to the train station, Maeve sensed that Daniel would reach out, perhaps to kiss her cheek. She longed for it but knew her parents would find it inappropriate. The taxi rolled up. Maeve held out her hand to shake his.

  A shadow of a frown passed across his face and then he placed his hand in hers. “Goodbye, Maeve. Thank you for being such a friendly hostess. I’ve enjoyed our conversations.” He gave a small bow and then turned to shake the hands of the boys and Maeve’s parents.

  He turned for one last look to Maeve who nodded, her eyes holding his for a second too long. He smiled. She felt the warmth in her cheeks.