‘Miss MacRory has no family?’
‘No, her grandmother brought her up. She’s dead.’
‘She cannot realise what she is asking of you. Father Turnbull, may I leave you to explain?’
‘What about?’ Charlotte looked from the nurse to the priest.
‘If Miss MacRory regains consciousness she may plead with you to care for her baby. It is difficult to refuse a request when a person is dying. As a single woman I don’t think you would be permitted to adopt a child who is unrelated to you. You must not feel compelled to make promises which may distress you later.’
‘Miss Crainby and I are to be married in less than a month,’ Josh interrupted. ‘But this has all come as a shock, Father …’
‘I understand, but unless God performs a miracle, I fear there is little time to consider the implications. If you wish to avoid making promises to a dying girl I suggest you leave now.’
‘I can’t do that!’
‘We should like some time alone to – to talk.’ Josh said. His arm tightened around Charlotte.
‘Very well, but it is my duty to explain the commitment which would be required …’
‘We work with children, Father, and we are not feckless teenagers to take on responsibility without careful thought.’
‘I see.’ The priest looked at Josh with reluctant respect. ‘I will ask one of the nurses to send in some tea.’
As the door closed behind him Josh and Charlotte looked at each other, then he enfolded her in his arms and held her close. He felt her trembling. They clung together, struggling to make sense of the night’s events.
‘Sometimes it’s difficult to believe there is a God,’ Charlotte murmured. ‘Where is His mercy now?’
‘I know, my darling, and yet I feel there has to be.’ Josh knew he would never have got through his time in the RAF had he not clung to his belief there was a greater power than man. He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. ‘Perhaps even now He is working out some purpose beyond our comprehension. Whatever you decide Charlotte, I want you to know you have my support.’
‘You mean if the baby survives? If … if I promise to take care of it?’
‘I shall be with you every step of the way,’ Josh said with quiet assurance. ‘Bringing up a child affects both our lives. It must be a joint decision. I would have preferred a little time on our own together and time to consider such an important issue, but I doubt if we shall have that option.’
‘Josh …’ Charlotte considered her words with care, ‘we have just got used to the idea of getting married, but – but do you think you would ever have considered adopting a child?’
Josh pondered the question. ‘It’s not something I’ve thought about, but yes, I might have done. If you wanted to adopt a child I would have considered it.’ He thought of his mother and knew she would be against such a proposal. ‘I know how fond you are of children, Charlotte. I remember you considered teaching children who needed help.’
‘Yes, ever since I was in the Swiss clinic I’ve thought I would like to do that.’ ‘Then perhaps we should consider adopting Morven’s child if it is necessary.’
‘I have the money I was saving to buy a house,’ Charlotte said, considering the practical aspects, ‘but I know that will not last for ever. Do you think we can afford to keep a child and educate it? Would you mind the sacrifices?’
‘We can afford a child,’ Josh assured her. ‘Money is not an issue. In fact there are several things we need to discuss. This is neither the time nor the place but I think we might enjoy having a small person to care for. I’ve seen how tenderly you look at wee Joe and Molly.’ He broke off as the nurse brought in tea. ‘I’m ready for a drink. The decision will be taken out of our hands if the baby doesn’t survive. We must consider that too.’ Charlotte caught her breath. She hadn’t.
They had barely time to drink their tea when one of the doctors came in.
‘Miss MacRory is asking for you. She is drifting in and out of consciousness. I will take you to her now. There may not be much time …’
‘Thank you,’ Josh said. They followed the doctor.
‘You may see the baby later if you wish. She has been taken to the special care unit. She is as well as can be expected in view of the trauma. The next twenty-four hours will be crucial.’
Morven had no tubes in her now. She looked almost like a wax doll, lying lifeless in the white bed. Charlotte moved to her side and lifted one limp hand from the coverlet. Morven opened her eye.
‘Charlotte … you came.’ Her voice was little more than a whisper. She gave a faint sweet smile, like a trusting child, Charlotte thought. She had difficulty holding back her tears. ‘Baby girl …’ Morven murmured, her gaze fixed on Charlotte’s face. There was no doubting the unspoken question. Josh moved closer. She looked up at him in silent pleading. His eyes were filled with sadness. Morven looked little more than a child as she lay there and she seemed to be fading away before their eyes.
‘We shall take care of her, Morven,’ Charlotte said clearly. She felt a faint squeeze from Morven’s fingers. ‘Josh … will make a lovely daddy,’ she whispered, her gaze moved to Josh’s face and back to Charlotte’s. ‘Thank you …’ Her eyelids closed. A few moments later she murmured, ‘Lucy … yours now.’ They were the last words Morven MacRory would utter. Father Turner stepped forward.
‘We will say the Lord’s Prayer together for the mother who has given her daughter into your keeping. May God grant you strength and wisdom.’ They bowed their heads in prayer.
They were only allowed to look through the window at the baby. She seemed to be in some sort of glass bubble and her tiny body appeared to have tubes sprouting everywhere. Charlotte caught her breath.
A cheerful nurse came out of the unit to speak to them.
‘She looks a poor wee soul just now but in a month’s time she’ll be just like every other baby.’
‘Do you really believe that?’ Charlotte asked.
‘Indeed I do m’dear. I’m not saying she doesn’t need careful nursing, but we shall give her that.’ She sounded so matter of fact that Charlotte felt hope surging through her. Josh took her arm and led her away.
‘I’ll stay with you tonight, Charlotte, shall I?’
‘Oh yes please, Josh. I don’t think I shall sleep anyway but I don’t want to be alone.’
‘If I’m honest, neither do I,’ Josh admitted. ‘Death is such a final thing and Morven had barely begun to live her life.’
‘I think Morven intended us to name the baby Lucy, don’t you?’ Charlotte said much later when they were curled in bed together.
‘Yes, Lucy is a nice name. Do you mind?’
‘No. I like it. Do you think we could ask the minister here to baptise her very soon?’
‘I think that would be wise.’
Charlotte was glad they had settled for a quiet wedding but even that seemed to demand more time and preparation than either of them had anticipated. Mimi had agreed to be a bridesmaid so long as she could wear a long dress.
‘I don’t mind,’ Charlotte told Mary, ‘I’m wearing a ballet-length dress and I’ve got a frivolous little hat to match.’
‘The main thing is that you’re both happy, lass,’ Willie said, drawing contentedly on his pipe. ‘And I’ve never seen Josh looking so pleased.’
‘Molly is going to be a flower girl,’ Charlotte told them.
‘It’s a good job it will only be family,’ Mary laughed. ‘I think two-year-old Molly may take more watching than Mimi realises.’
Charlotte was grateful when Libby and Victoria offered to deal with the arrangements to be made at Darlonachie. Everything was to take place so soon after the end of term. The school concert had to go ahead despite the grief and trauma of Morven’s death. The headmistress was depending on Charlotte to accompany the children’s singing but she always needed to practice her music. She was a competent pianist but she knew her limitations.
Josh and Ch
arlotte had expected to be the only mourners at the joint funeral but there were members of staff from both schools and a number of parents were there from Morven’s school. Some of them were in tears as they recounted how much their children had loved their young teacher.
During the last week of term Charlotte cleared her flat and moved her possessions in with Josh. They went regularly to see baby Lucy but for a few days they almost despaired of her survival when she developed an infection which affected her breathing. Despite the reassurance of the sister in charge they were filled with anxiety.
‘Now you go off and get married and enjoy your honeymoon,’ sister advised when Lucy began to improve again. ‘The wee one will be all right with us and there’s nothing you can do, even if you are here. Take my advice; you’ll have plenty of work and worry when she’s ready to go home with you.’
So Josh booked a honeymoon in Switzerland, knowing Charlotte wanted to pay a visit to the clinic there and also to see more of the country and the mountains. He had been quieter than usual during the last week of term and Charlotte wondered whether his mother’s views on adoption were giving him cause to regret his decision. Charlotte steeled herself to ask him.
‘I have no regrets. I think we shall enjoy having a child of our own. I knew my mother would not approve. She has led a sheltered life and she’s a different generation. There was nearly always some relation or other to bring up an orphaned child, but that didn’t always mean the child was wanted or loved. When my mother sees wee Lucy she will love her as she loves her other grandchildren, so don’t you worry, sweetheart.
‘So what is bothering you then, Josh?’ He looked at her.
‘Something I should have told you a long time ago,’ he said. ‘Several things have happened and they’re forcing me to make a major decision now. I have to learn to consult you. This decision affects both of us and more than anything in the world, I want you to be happy, Charlotte.’
‘I am happy, Josh. I know all about getting married, thanks to you,’ she grinned, ‘so I’m not nervous about it. I think Lucy will make the biggest change in our lives.’
‘You’re right there,’ Josh agreed. ‘This place is not suitable for a child for a start. Charlotte, do you remember once telling me you couldn’t wait to get away from Darlonachie?’
‘Yes. I thought everybody despised me because I was my mother’s daughter. It hasn’t been like that though. Whenever we go back people are always friendly.’
‘They respect you for selling everything to pay off your mother’s debts. They like you for the person you are, not for who your mother was. Just as my mother learned to love you and welcome you into her family.’
‘Yes, I shall always be grateful for that. I know you couldn’t have been happy if your mother had disliked me, as she did my mother.’
‘It would have made things difficult,’ Josh admitted, ‘and I would not have asked you to make the choice I’m going to put to you now.’
‘You did say you would go back to Darlonachie one day, I remember,’ Charlotte smiled, ‘so the answer is yes, before you even ask. If that’s where you want to live, then I’ll be happy to be wherever you are, dearest Josh. But what would you do about your work? I wouldn’t like being left alone all week and having a weekend husband.’
‘Neither would I,’ Josh answered with feeling and pulled her onto his lap. It was a little while before they resumed their discussion.
‘I’ve been offered a job as a physics teacher but I have to decide soon.’
‘Wouldn’t that be a step backwards?’
‘Depends how you look at it. I enjoy teaching and seeing my pupils progress and helping the ones who have difficulties. I think the satisfaction will make up for a lot. Besides, there’re other things I’d like to do. I miss not having a garden and I’d like Lucy to enjoy the freedom of the countryside, as we did when we were children.’
‘As you and your brothers did,’ Charlotte grimaced. ‘You have no idea how restrained my childhood was. I wasn’t a happy child, Josh.’
‘I suppose not,’ he said. ‘You were never allowed to play or get dirty, were you?’ He hugged her. ‘I’ll make up for that, my wee Lottie, if you’ll let me, and we’ll make sure Lucy has a happy childhood and we shall enjoy it with her.’
‘Oh, Josh, I do love you,’ Charlotte said. ‘Shall we have to go house hunting when we return from our honeymoon then? I’d like to keep this flat as a base until we get Lucy out of the hospital.’
‘Yes, we’ll do that. Do you remember Lintysmill, the wee farm Mr Glenys rented?’
‘Yes, of course I do.’ Charlotte frowned.
‘No one else wanted to buy it with a sitting tenant so I bought it myself. It’s paid for, and now it’s empty. We could sell it at a decent profit but that’s not what I want to do unless you insist. You see what I mean about the changes all coming at once? The house at Lintysmill is vacant. We need a house. We could move down there and have a large garden and an orchard. We could keep one of the fields for a pony. I’m sure Andrew would rent the extra fields from us. Even if he didn’t, some of the other farmers would be glad of an extra few acres. What do you think, sweetheart?’
‘I can’t believe it!’ Charlotte exclaimed.
‘Would you move back to Darlonachie? The house needs a lot of improvements, but I’m planning to change it.’
‘Oh Josh, that sounds wonderful. We could use the money I kept in the bank.’
‘If we need to, but there’s no harm in keeping a wee nest egg. I’m no callow youth, remember. I’ve worked for a number of years now and my mother brought us all up to be thrifty so I think I shall manage to make a comfortable home for the three of us. Will you mind moving back to Darlonachie, Charlotte?’
‘I’d go to the end of the world, so long as we go together.’ Charlotte pressed her lips to his. ‘You make it all sound so wonderful. I can’t believe my good fortune and it will be lovely to be near all your family. Lucy will have Molly and wee Joe for playmates.’
‘And no doubt Mimi will volunteer as a nursemaid,’ Josh grinned. ‘I’ve been quite worried about telling you in case you didn’t want to leave Glasgow, Charlotte.’
‘Oh Josh … I never believed I could feel so happy.’
‘Mmm, there’s only one thing I need now …’ Josh grinned and stood up, lifting her with him, ‘that’s bed with my favourite girlfriend before I become an old married man.’
Although the wedding was supposed to be a quiet family affair they were both surprised by the number of people who had delivered gifts and good wishes either to Home Farm or to Polly’s cottage. On the day itself Mimi was delighted when so many of the locals crowded around the wee kirk to greet them and wish them well. Charlotte felt proud of Josh. He was tall and slim and both he and Andrew had retained their thick brown hair, unlike Willie who was almost bald. Happiness leant them both a radiant glow. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the day so much that Josh had difficulty getting Charlotte away in time to get to the airport to catch their plane.
They spent a week in Switzerland but as soon as they landed back in Scotland they went to the Glasgow flat and then to the hospital. They were eager to see baby Lucy and hoping for news that she might be allowed home soon. Neither of them could have anticipated the dark cloud which awaited them.
Josh gave a gasp of dismay as he read the letter from the Adoption Society. Charlotte moved closer to read it with him.
‘But we promised Morven we would take care of her baby and give her a home,’ Charlotte protested in dismay. ‘They can’t take Lucy away from us! What do they mean we must be approved? It-it was Morven’s last w-wish …’ her voice broke and Josh knew she was near to tears. ‘Oh Josh, if they discover my mother committed suicide, or that I spent two years in a clinic with tuberculosis, they’ll never approve me.’ They were both tired after travelling and now it seemed their dreams of taking Lucy into their home and hearts were to be shattered.
Chapter Thirteen
Ba
ck at Darlonachie, Peter had completed two years of practical farming at Langmune and High Bowie. He was nineteen and he felt he had reaped the benefit of his Uncle Andrew’s experience and knowledge, as well as Willie’s more traditional way of farming. Recently he had spent some time with Billy and Libby, listening and learning, knowing that he too must accept changes and continue learning.
‘I’m not saying my way is the only way, Peter,’ Uncle Andrew had told him on more than one occasion, ‘but my methods work for me and for Langmune and change for the sake of change is no use.’
Cathy wrote regularly but he had heard nothing from Dinah or his stepfather during the last two years. Cathy had hoped he would attend the agricultural college at Edinburgh so that they might meet but he had not even applied there. He had received an acceptance from Ayr and from a college in Devon. He fancied seeing another part of the country and Uncle Andrew had agreed it would add to his experience. Mimi protested. She was twelve now but she and Lachie still spent their spare time following Peter and Fraser around, helping when they could.
Peter had a tender heart where Mimi was concerned; she had been like a ray of sunshine in his life from the day he arrived and she had filled the gap he had felt when parting from Cathy. When he saw her mouth tremble and the tears spring to her eyes he hugged her, lifting her off her feet as though she was no bigger than Molly.
‘I shall miss you all wherever I go,’ he told her, ‘but I shall write and tell you about my new life and I shall look for letters from you too giving me all the news. I’ll take some photos with my new camera and send you some pictures.’
‘But Devon is like going to the end of the world,’ she wailed.
‘Don’t exaggerate, Mimi,’ Mary said with unusual sharpness.
‘It seems like the end of the world,’ Mimi protested and her chin wobbled. Peter chewed his lip; sorry he had upset his little friend. Willie intervened.
‘Come on, laddie, we’ll take a walk to the top o’ the hill and check yon ewe that was lame.’ There was no lame ewe but both Willie and Mary knew their young daughter thought the world of Peter; they feared he had unwittingly encouraged her adoration. It was time for Mimi to grow up. Mary knew she would be hurt when she realised Peter had girlfriends who could dance and run and play hockey and tennis and badminton, not girls who walked with a limp. He had grown tall and he was a good-looking lad with his lean jaw and dark twinkling eyes; he had a fine mop of brown hair too but it was his smile which would break a few hearts. They had heard Fraser tease him about various girls in the Young Farmers’ Club. So far none of them had been more than casual friends. Peter had been serious about his aim to save as much money as he could, and he intended to pay his own way through college, with the help of a grant towards his fees. But Mary knew he would not remain immune to the charms of the opposite sex.
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