Soul Searching

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘All ready for the big day?’ he asked her, taking her in his arms and kissing her.

  ‘Of course I am. I’m feeling a bit nervous about it all. I was thinking, we need witnesses don’t we? I was half wondering whether to ask Jimmy? He is my twin after all. I think he’d keep it secret. What do you think?’

  ‘I’m not sure. When would you tell him?’

  ‘I could ask him if he’d come round here in the morning and then tell him. I could ask him to look smart.’

  ‘If you want to, do it. Do you think the registrar woman would be the other witness?’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe.’

  ‘You do whatever you like love, as long as you’re here in good time tomorrow.’

  ‘He’ll be out tonight playing in his band but I’ll see about bringing him tomorrow. I’d better get home now. Mum will be wondering what happened to me. This is it, then. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be Mrs Paul Jenkins tomorrow. I can hardly wait.’

  She walked home, almost floating on air. Tonight she planned to wash her hair and have a bath. Even if Veronica objected, as she often did, she would do it anyway. Then she would have an early night so she felt fully rested. She was just hoping she could keep her excitement contained, so her parents didn’t suspect anything.

  ‘Hello, love. Supper won’t be long. Had a good day?’

  ‘Not bad. I called to see Paul on my way home.’

  ‘Does he want to come for his supper? I’ve made plenty. Not exactly much meat in it but there’s plenty of potatoes.’

  ‘He’s got something in, thanks.’

  ‘Well, perhaps he’d like to come round tomorrow. Are you going out tonight?’

  ‘No. I really need a bath and my hair needs a wash.’

  ‘Hope there’ll be enough water. Our Veronica’s been in there for ages this afternoon.’

  Chapter Twenty

  Ruth was awake very early the next day. If the truth be told, she had slept fitfully and couldn’t wait for the day to begin. She went upstairs to the bathroom and then crept quietly into her brother’s room. He was fast asleep and lying on his back, snoring peacefully. She left him there as it was still early. She could put her plan into action later. She went down again and put the kettle on. It was still difficult to make the tea ration go round but she used the old tea left in the pot. She drank the pale liquid and grimaced. It really wasn’t nice. She looked at the clock and it said it was only seven o’clock. She went to make sure it was still going as the time was being so slow to move on. She went back into the air raid shelter and flopped down on the mattress. She lay there thinking about the day ahead. She wanted to take all her things round to the flat but knew it would excite the family if she did. No, she needed to wait until afterwards when they came to tell the family what they’d done. She grinned to herself, thinking about the look on her mother’s face when she heard the news. Then she realised it was a Saturday and her father might be watching his favourite football team. Jimmy would want to go, too. There was nothing she could do about it now.

  Mabel got up and came down and put the kettle on. It was still warm from Ruth’s earlier tea making. She went to Ruth’s door and knocked.

  ‘You awake, love?’

  ‘Yes. I made some tea earlier. It wasn’t very nice – I used the dregs from last night.’

  ‘We’ll have ourselves some new tea. Come and join me.’ Ruth went into the kitchen and watched as Mabel made tea. ‘You all right, love?’

  ‘I’m fine, thanks.’

  ‘You look a bit… well, pink. I hope you haven’t got a temperature.’

  ‘Course not. I didn’t sleep all that well.’

  ‘Oh dear, and after you had an early night. Is something worrying you? It isn’t the flat, is it?’

  ‘Course not. I’m fine. Is that tea brewed yet? I’m dying for a decent cup.’

  Mabel continued to stare at her adopted daughter anxiously. She had been working so hard to get the flat looking nice and, with Paul living there now, she couldn’t quite understand her hesitation to organise the wedding. She decided to bring it up once more.

  ‘When are you planning to get wed?’ she asked.

  ‘How do you mean?’ Ruth replied, blushing furiously.

  ‘Like I say. When are you thinking of starting to organise this wedding. Me and your dad will help you out with a bit of money. I’ve been saving the odd pound here and there. We want you to have a decent day of it.’

  Ruth sat still, petrified even of speaking. Did her mother know of their plans? If so, how on earth had she found out? No, she couldn’t know.

  ‘Soon. We’ll get married quite soon.’

  ‘Thank heavens for that. Have you decided on a day yet? Only we’ll need to contact the chapel to make sure they’ve got a free day. And then there’s the reception. We’ll have to decide where we’re going to have that. I was wondering about the social club. Would you like it there?’

  ‘Just leave it for now, Mum. Paul and I will talk it through and let you know what is happening and when it will be.’

  ‘I could pop round to the chapel this morning if you like. Just check on the days he’s got available.’

  ‘Please leave it for now. Do you want some toast? I’ll put some on for us both. Perhaps I could take a cuppa up for our Jimmy too.’

  ‘I’d leave him be. He was late home last night.’

  ‘All right. I’ll make toast then. Is Dad going to the match today?’’

  ‘No, I don’t think so. It’s somewhere up north and that means it’s too expensive with the travelling. What makes you ask?’

  ‘Nothing. Just wondered. Pass the marg, will you? We need something on this toast. Bit of marg will just do the job. Roll on the day when we can spread real butter on the toast.’

  ‘Wonder when that will be? I can hardly remember ever being able to spread butter on the toast. Thanks, love. Don’t know how I’d manage without you. Our Veronica… well, she couldn’t be more different.’

  ‘Where do you think she’s been all these years?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. She won’t talk about it.’

  They finished their toast and Ruth got up and went to the bathroom. She then crossed the landing and went into Jimmy’s room.

  ‘Wake up, you,’ she said, shaking her brother. ‘I need you to do me a favour.’

  ‘Whassup?’ he mumbled.

  ‘Will you come round to the flat with me? Put your decent suit on, too.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Please don’t argue. Just get up and get dressed and tell Mum you’ve got a business meeting or something.’

  ‘For you, dear sister, anything. Make me some toast then. I can’t do anything till I’ve eaten and drunk summat.’

  ‘All right. Though Mum will want to know why I’m doing this for you. It’s a bit unusual.’

  ‘You can think of some reason.’

  She went downstairs and did as he’d asked. When Mabel asked why she said he’d woken up and asked her to do it. He’d got a business meeting or something. Her mother accepted all she said. At last they were both ready to leave.

  ‘You do look smart, love. Where are you going?’

  ‘Into town. I’ll be back for dinner.’

  ‘I’m going to see Paul. We can walk down together.’ Ruth felt herself trembling slightly as they left. It was here at long last.

  ‘So what’s going on?’ asked Jimmy.

  ‘We’re getting married this morning. You’re going to be our witness.’ He stopped dead.

  ‘You’re doing what?’

  ‘Getting married. It’s all arranged. The registry office is all booked and, well, that’s it.’

  ‘And you haven’t told anyone? Mum’ll kill you.’

  ‘She’ll be pleased. No organising a big do or anything. Save her lots of money. You’re the only person we’ve told.’

  ‘I’ll come along with you but I know Mum will be so disappoi
nted. On your head be it.’

  They reached the flat and found Paul anxiously waiting.

  ‘I was wondering where you’d got to,’ he said, kissing his fiancée. ‘Hi there, Jimmy. I assume you’ve been told what’s happening?’

  ‘Well, yes. I can’t say I’m particularly happy about it though. Mum’ll be so disappointed. She’s really looking forward to organising everything.’

  ‘I still think she’ll be relieved. The rationing is still going on and so she’d have such a job to organise enough food for everyone. It’ll save so much effort and money. Anyway, I’d better go and change.’

  ‘Would you like a drink?’ offered Paul. ‘I’ve got some beers in, in case.’

  ‘It’s a bit early for me thanks. You nervous?’

  ‘Me? No. I’m fine. What’s to be nervous about?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I thought most folks were nervous before getting married. So, what time is it happening?’

  ‘Eleven o’clock. I hope Ruth’s brought her birth certificate. I should have asked her.’

  ‘No idea.’

  ‘Ruth? Have you got your birth certificate?’ Jimmy shouted through to her.

  ‘In my bag. Won’t be long.’ At last she came through.

  ‘You look nice,’ Paul said. ‘I’ve got some flowers for you.’ He went into the kitchen and came back with a small bunch of roses. ‘They’re not a huge bunch but it was the best I could do.’

  ‘Oh, Paul, they’re lovely. Thank you.’

  ‘Have you ordered a taxi?’ Jimmy asked.

  ‘Course not. We can easily walk.’

  ‘You really are a pair of skinflints.’

  ‘I never thought of it. Come on then. Let’s set off now. It wouldn’t do to be late.’

  ‘Isn’t there a bus we could get?’ protested Jimmy. ‘I think it’s starting to rain.’

  ‘Come on. Let’s get on our way. And just stop moaning, our Jimmy. I shall begin to regret putting you in the picture.’ Ruth was feeling cross with her twin’s attitude.

  ‘Picture. Has anyone thought about a camera?’ asked Jimmy.

  ‘No. Haven’t given it a thought. Now, come on you two or we’ll be late.’

  Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the registry office and went inside. The registrar, a somewhat austere looking man with grey hair and a pair of half-moon glasses perched on the end of his nose, took them into the office.

  ‘Birth certificates,’ he snapped. The two of them handed them over. He took details from them and wrote them onto an official form. ‘Right. Is this all of you who’re coming?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ Paul told him. ‘Jimmy’s here as witness.’

  ‘Is he the only one you’ve brought?’

  ‘Well, yes.’

  ‘Oh dear. I’ll see if our Miss Willis will act as the second witness. Excuse me for a moment.’

  They all stood in a row feeling somewhat awkward. The registrar soon came back and said they could go into the marriage room. They followed him through a couple of doors and then sat down in a dark, oak-panelled room.

  ‘Miss Willis will be in soon.’

  Then it was all over. The registrar murmured congratulations and wrote out the certificate. Jimmy signed it and so did Miss Willis. They were married. Mr and Mrs Jenkins left the office clutching their piece of paper and then they burst out laughing. Jimmy joined in and they walked away, still giggling.

  ‘Well, that was easy, wasn’t it?’ Jimmy remarked. ‘I might even do it myself. That is always assuming I ever find someone to marry. Come on then. I’m going to buy you a drink.’

  ‘Where shall we go?’

  ‘The Crown, of course. Where else would I take you?’

  They sat together, Paul and Ruth holding hands as Jimmy arrived with a tray of drinks. ‘I’ve got you a port and lemon. I know you said you like that. I’ve got beer for us and a whisky chaser. Hope that’s all right. Well, cheers all. Hope you’ll be very happy’

  ‘Lovely, thank you. Cheers.’

  ‘And I’m insisting on us having a taxi back home again.’ They all laughed and nobody protested. ‘So, what’s next?’ he asked.

  ‘Perhaps we’d better go and confess. I do need to collect my stuff and take it round to the flat. I didn’t want to do it before in case Mum would think we were living in sin.’

  ‘And of course you’d never do that, would you, Sis?’

  ‘Course not. So where’s your taxi?’ she asked her brother.

  ‘I’ll go and organise it now. Don’t you want another one for the road?’

  ‘Not really. I’d like to go home now and face the family. We’re planning to go out for a meal tonight, aren’t we love?’

  ‘Yes, of course. But you’ll need to get your ration book from your mum. And we’ll need to go shopping at some point. You’re right though. We need to go and tell your parents next.’

  Jimmy disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a grin on his face. He’d ordered a taxi and it would be here within a few minutes. Ruth felt very grand riding home – riding back to her parents’ home – in a taxi. She hoped the neighbours would notice their arrival and be impressed. It took just a few minutes and they were back. Clutching her roses, she led the way, while Jimmy paid for the taxi. She felt very nervous and clutched Paul’s hand very firmly.

  ‘Ready?’ she muttered. He gave her a squeeze and she smiled. ‘Hello,’ she called.

  ‘Oh, hello love. Wasn’t expecting you back this early.’

  ‘We’ve got something to tell you. We’re married.’

  ‘What?’ Mabel uttered disbelievingly. ‘I hope you’re not in the family way.’

  ‘Course I’m not. We’ve just been to the registry office and, well, we’ve done the deed.’

  ‘I hope you weren’t in on this, our Jimmy?’

  ‘Course I wasn’t. Ruth only told me when I was walking round to the flat.’

  ‘So when did you plan all this?’

  ‘A while ago.’

  ‘And you never told me? Never told anyone?’

  ‘I’m sorry, but no. I… we… didn’t want some big affair with lots of people around. This seemed like the obvious way.’

  ‘And you got wed in that dress? Not even a new outfit?’

  ‘It was too complicated. What with coupons and everything.’

  ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m very disappointed to have missed everything. Very disappointed.’

  ‘What have they done to disappoint you, Mum?’ asked Veronica coming downstairs.

  ‘They’ve only gone and got married.’

  ‘That saves us all a lot of dosh, doesn’t it? No presents or fancy outfits. No reception. All sounds good to me. Anything to eat?’

  ‘Aren’t you going to congratulate us?’ Ruth asked in a small voice.

  ‘Oh, course I am, love. Congratulations to the pair of you. I hope as you’ll be very happy. I haven’t even got anything to offer you to drink. Our Jimmy, go down to the shop and see if you can buy a bottle of sherry or summat.’ He nodded and set off. ‘What will your dad say, I just don’t know. Any road, come and sit yourselves down. Goodness me. My little girl married.’

  ‘I’ve been married before don’t forget. It’s not as if it’s the first time. Have you got something I can put my roses in? They’re beginning to wilt.’

  ‘I’ve got a jug somewhere. I’m sorry, Paul. Congratulations to you, too.’

  ‘Thanks Mrs Davies.’

  ‘I suppose you’d better call me… what do you want to call me? Mabel’s my name. Yes, you can call me Mabel.’

  ‘Thank you. I really hope you don’t mind. We really love each other. We’ve wanted to get married for ages and now it’s all come right. I’ve got a job and Ruth has got her job. And we’ve got a flat. It all seemed the right thing to do.’

  ‘I’m sort of getting used to the idea. I’ll just call my husband. Better let him know the news.’

 
‘Where is Dad?’ Ruth asked.

  ‘He’s in our room. Doing a bit of maintenance. The light doesn’t work and he’s trying to fix it.’

  *

  ‘I gather congratulations are in order,’ Dan said as he came into the room. ‘Well done, lad. You’ve saved us a packet.’

  ‘I’m glad you see it that way.’ Paul grinned at his new father-in-law. Dan went over to his daughter and gave her a hug.

  ‘Hope you’ll be very happy.’

  ‘I’ve sent Jimmy to the shop to see about buying some sherry or summat to toast the happy couple.’

  It was a while before Jimmy came back, carrying a bottle of sherry and several bottles of beer.

  ‘Oh, goodie,’ said Veronica. ‘At last there’s something decent to drink.’

  ‘Sorry I took a while. I had to go round to the pub. The shop doesn’t have anything to drink there. Now, have we got some glasses? Sherry for the ladies and beer for us chaps.’

  ‘Come on then, tell me all about it,’ Mabel requested.

  They talked solidly for the next hour until Jimmy said, ‘Is there any food in this place? I’m damned near starving.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness,’ Mabel spoke. ‘I’d quite forgotten. I made a cheese pie and forgot to heat it up. It doesn’t seem like much of a wedding feast.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Mum. We can go back to the flat now and leave you in peace. I’ll just get the rest of my stuff. We’re planning on going out for a meal tonight.’ She went into the air raid shelter and collected her things together. ‘I’m borrowing your case, Mum. I’ll bring it back tomorrow. Hope that’s all right?’ she called out.

  ‘Course it is. I can’t get over it. Our little Ruth, a married woman. And this time, it was her choice. I really do wish you well, love.’ She then hiccupped loudly and sat down heavily. ‘Oh dear. That sherry’s gone to my head.’

  Ruth came out carrying her mother’s old battered suitcase, crammed full with all her clothes. She was grinning fit to burst and they all could see how happy she was.