A Rough Kind of Magic

by Louise James

  “It’s alright dad.” Greg gasped as his father reached him. “I’m over the worst. Don’t let mother panic.” Too late Sally had reached them, flinging herself on the ground lifting his head into her lap crying–—

  “John! Ring an ambulance or the doctor. Do something.”

  Greg was recovering now but very breathless. His father got him to his feet and supporting him they moved slowly towards the house. Greg put a hand out to his mother. “Mam, be a dear and fetch my pills off the kitchen table once I have had them I shall be okay.” He panted for breath, mentally crossing his fingers, the sweat of his fear still damp on his brow. “I probably won’t have another for months.” His father lowered him onto the couch.

  “I never realised you had turns like this. Dear Lord, can nothing be done?”

  “They are trying Dad. I had a check- up a week ago and they are still looking for a donor as well as keeping an eye on me. Don’t let mother get the doctor out, he will only put me in hospital for rest and I can do that here. It’s my fault for doing too much. The pain is going now.’ Still shaking he was glad of his father’s help to sponge him down and get him into his dressing gown. After his mother had given him a hot drink, he was almost recovered. Badly frightened, Sally was almost in tears so took herself into the kitchen to prepare a meal for John who hadn’t eaten and Greg who insisted that he wasn’t hungry but nibbled at some toast to please her most of which he surreptitiously fed to Rocky. Into this scene walked Ray and Megan.

  “What’s going on?” Ray dropped his overnight bag and took the tea tray from Sally.

  “Greg had one of his turns but he is getting better now.” John pulled out a chair for Megan who was looking at Greg worriedly.

  “Shouldn’t you have the doctor or go to the hospital for a check-up.” She asked. Greg had to reassure everyone again that there was no need. An hour later Olwen drove onto the yard. Sally ran outside to meet her before anyone else knew that she was back, as Olwen went to kiss her Sally burst into tears.

  “What’s wrong?” Olwen was suddenly frightened.

  “It’s Greg he’s had one of his attacks and I’m so frightened. He shouldn’t be left here on his own. I didn’t know they were so severe, I don’t know how he survived. He had this one outside he was down in the yard when we came. He could have died from the cold alone. We don’t know how long he was there. I know how ill he is but I’ve never seen him like this.’

  “How is he now? Where is he?” before Sally could answer Olwen was running for the house she slammed open the door as Greg looked up.

  “Darling, don’t get upset. I’m fine now only tired. It was just one of my warnings that I’ve done too much.” He drew her down beside him.

  “I didn’t realise, I’m not leaving you again.” Olwen held him tightly.

  “Well either that or we come and live here until the wedding or Ray can move in. I’m not having this happen again.” Sally slammed the dishes down on the table her mind made up.

  “I’ll not be leaving him again.” Olwen trembling as she tried to pull off her gloves.

  “I’m sorry, it’s just that we don’t know each other properly or your family yet. I shouldn’t have sounded off like that.” Sally hugged her. “I know you love Greg and I can tell that you are a beautiful caring girl. We are pleased about the baby though we have never approved of marriage coming second to the child but these are special circumstances it will help Greg to stay positive; anyway he’s so good looking I don’t suppose you could help yourself “Olwen laughed.

  “I see a woman after my own heart. Please don’t worry as I won’t leave him alone here again and Ray moves in very soon don’t you Ray?” Ray and Megan who had been inspecting the flat came back into the room bringing their cups for a refill.

  “Yes and the sooner the better as far as I can see. Greg won’t be messing with even the smallest jobs when I get here. Sally, trust us he won’t be doing a thing.” Sally managed a smile. “I’ll believe that when I see it knowing my son. Megan, I’m sure someone can finish up that pie.” She turned in the doorway. “As a matter of interest, Olwen, am I hearing a good Irish accent there?’

  “To be sure you are.” Olwen laughed. “I did kiss the Blarney Stone once when I was a girl.” She bent and kissed Greg whispering in his ear. He smiled at her. She pulled a funny face at him then turned to greet John who embraced her warmly.

  “Hello Lass, good to see you again. I am pleased for you both, you are good for him I can see that.’

  It’s sorry I am if we have upset you about the baby, John but you know it’s going to be loved and welcome when it arrives.”

  “These things are sometimes sent for strange or special reasons and the wrong actions sometimes have the right reasons. We must not judge.” He replied gently.

  “I’ll have that kiss now, Olwen.” Ray swung her around and planted a kiss full on her lips. “I’ve promised myself this. Greg can’t do anything and Megan isn’t looking.’

  “Megan is looking.” a voice spoke from the doorway. “Much more of that and there will be no February wedding.” She winked at Olwen. “Put him down you don’t know where he’s been.” At her warning delivered in her soft Welsh accent they all laughed. As they went about their jobs of making up beds and settling things for the night, Olwen knelt by Greg’s chair.

  “Sweetheart I can’t bear to see you suffering so, I’ll not leave you again for anything. Mother and Gran must get on with their shopping themselves.’

  “No Olwen, they want the best for you. You must go with them, I’ll be alright.’

  John and Ray helped Greg to bed where he fell into a deep sleep while downstairs they gathered to discuss the situation. Sally burst into tears.

  “What can we do? We can’t stay until the wedding although we will be back up that week. Can you stay now Ray?”

  “I would gladly but I have to get back to settle things up as I shall be moving everything up very shortly for good.” Ray frowned worriedly.

  “There is really no need I only have a very small amount of shopping left which I can do when Fred is here.”

  Megan broke in. “I am coming up with my mother to sort out the flat and we can do that when Olwen goes with her mother, so I will be here anyway.”

  “Thanks Megan.” everyone breathed a sigh of relief and Olwen hugged her. It was with a better frame of mind they all went to bed.

  The following afternoon brought Bronwyn up to meet the family and to see how Greg was faring. He was better after a restful night and greeted her warmly introducing her to his parents. While they thanked her for her care of Greg, his mother confessed to him later that she didn’t know if she cared for Olwen’s grandmother.

  “She is very strange. There is something uncanny about her eyes, they are so light and they look right through you.” She shivered; John frowned at her.

  “She seemed very honest and straight, one cannot take her to task for the colour of her eyes.” Sally gave herself a little shake. Ray admitted that he still felt a little nervous in her company. It was little Megan although she only knew Bronwyn from events in the village, greeted her as an old friend proudly leading her off to see the new flat and inviting her to her own wedding in February.

  “I love seeing them all but it’s glad I am to have you to myself.” Olwen stretched out on her favourite position on the rug. Greg from his chair reached out a hand to play with her hair. Megan and Ray were down the village at her parents.

  “I know it has felt more like a week than a weekend but just think what Christmas will be like. It won’t be too much for you and our baby will it?” he asked tenderly.

  “Of course not, I’m as strong as an ox. I just like having you to myself.”

  “Be honest with me Olwen. Do you think this plan will work and children will come here to enjoy the farm? Sometimes I get scared that I have taken on so much when I have so
little to give.” Olwen put her head on her knees so her hair swung forward hiding her sudden tears. After a moment she raised her head looking Greg full in the eyes. Grey clouds meeting troubled green water.

  “Listen, me darlin. You are the bravest most splendid man I know. You have a dream and you have made us see your dream. You have already brought life to a child and a derelict farm plus you have given work to local people. You set this up and will see it working providing a future for our child and the welfare of other people’s children that we haven’t yet met. Do you think Ray and Megan would have given up their jobs on a whim? They believe in your dream, they see a future. It will happen and Greg…” her voice faltered as Greg put his arm around her shoulders, she caught his wrist.* “We must face it just in case, if you should leave us. If God in his knowledge of things doesn’t want you to live, your dream will come true anyway. I pledge myself to you. I will see this little farm be the happy place you want it to be for the children that you intend to share it with, your child will grow up here strong remembering through my memories the wonderful man who gave him life and a future and he will learn the same values as his father. It’s sure I am that Ray and Megan will pledge you the same. It will happen. Graig-y –dorth will mean the world to our child and many, many other children too, whatever happens.”

  The silence was long, a log fell in a shower of sparks, the clock ticked loudly Rocky sighed in his sleep. Greg finally spoke his voice husky with emotion.

  “What if our little one is a girl, she may not want our dreams?”

  “She will still be a Morgan of Graig-y-dorth until she marries then it is up to her to do what is best for her but be sure the farm will go on as a refuge for disabled children whatever happens.” Greg buried his face in her hair.

  “I want to live Olwen, be a part of it all for many years and watch our child grow.”

  “You will darlin, just faith that’s all.” He smiled putting both arms around her. “I am so glad Ray is coming here and isn’t Megan a dear? They do suit each other.”

  “I’ll bet he’s been a bit of a lad, hasn’t he?”

  “Just a bit but I think he’s a reformed character. Megan seems to have him on a collar and lead. I never thought that I would see the day.” They laughed.

  “Tell me–Greg said after a while. “How did you feel in Worcester when you found out about the baby, were you frightened?”

  “Yes I used to walk the nearby common with my friend’s dog trying to sort my hea1 out. All over the common were patches of thick green grass with circles of toadstools in them; my father called them fairy rings and he told me that if you turned three times in the centre of one and wished hard enough your wish would come true.” “And did they?” Greg laughed twisting one of her long ringlets around his fingers.

  “Sure I did it night and morning. Anyone who saw me would think it was mad I was for sure but it worked. I soon knew that I must come back and sort it all out.” She rested her arms on his knees. Now I must find some more and wish you well again, It’ll work you’ll see

  “I’m beginning to believe in your sort of magic. Ray once said that this place had a rough kind of magic and I believe him but you bring faith and fairyland right into our home.”

  “And aren’t they one and the same thing?” Her face was serious.

  “I love you my darling and that’s the best magic of all”

  “Faith and patience inherit the promises” Olwen murmured softly.

  “I believe you’re right.” Greg hugged her tightly.

  Chapter 33

  Christmas and the wedding drew nearer. The wet and windy weather turned bitterly cold and frosty. There was talk of snow before Christmas. Olwen had been frantically shopping for kitchen utensils, curtains, bedding and food. The things from her flat at Worcester had arrived to be placed and sorted. There was a regular coming of people, builders, electricians, painters and decorators. Ray’s flat was almost finished and shutters for the house had to be put up. There always seemed to be some little job to be finished or a delivery was on the yard. Megan and her mother Gina were working on the flat’s essentials. Greg kept himself quiet much as he longed to be in the thick of things as he knew That the wedding and Christmas would be hectic so he paced himself with small jobs and rested as much as possible.

  It was only a week to the wedding on Christmas Eve and for once Greg was alone this was rare as since his last attack there had always been someone in the house. Olwen was having a final dress fitting at Bronwyn’s, Megan had just left and Ray was due to arrive at any moment. Rocky was let for a few moments for his last run but dashed barking and growling across the yard and for the first time ever refused to come to Greg’s call or whistle. Greg hurried to find his wellingtons. There was no sign of the dog but frenzied barking down the road sent Greg hurrying as fast as he dared calling as he went. It was with a sigh of relief the dog came through the gate just as he reached it. Rocky was still disturbed although Greg could see no one about or hear any vehicle. Once in the house he kept growling at the door and pacing the downstairs rooms. Greg did a tour of the house but could find nothing amiss. He ended in the kitchen making his tea when a bang at the door heralded the arrival of Ray who entered with his arms full of parcels and bags. He stood at the doorway full of admiration.

  “Wow! When did you get all this done? Haven’t been overdoing it again have you?’

  “No, this is Olwen’s doing. She has been at it all week. Like it?’

  ‘I’ll say.’ Ray dropped his bags gazing around with pleasure.

  The long wide room glowed with the warmth of the Rayburn, its rich red colour echoed in the quarry tiled floor, a large earth coloured rug lay before it. The deep window seats filled with autumn coloured cushions matched the curtains and two deep armchairs which stood each side of the Rayburn where Rocky had taken advantage of no one noticing him and gone to sleep. Greg’s first kitchen cupboards were still in place blending well with newer wall units, while the old dresser which had been in the house when Greg bought it; now stood cleaned and polished between the two windows filled with leaf patterned china. The far side of the room hosted a large American fridge, an even larger deep freezer and an enormous electric cooker with a copper hood were built with a commercial dishwasher were built into the pine units and central stood a farmhouse table with matching chairs. At the far end of the room an arch led into a utility room containing wsing machine, dryer and another big chest freezer. The whole made up a beautiful practical home where one could work and relax afterwards. Olwen had done her job well. Ray was speechless. “I could never have imagined it would be like this when all those workmen were here. It’s come together very quickly in the end.” Greg agreed.

  “The children will be coming from all sorts of backgrounds and we want them to find a warm, welcoming, efficient but homely place where they feel they belong even for a short time and everyone here cares about their needs.”

  Ray had seen all this in preparation but in the last two weeks all these goodies had been delivered so only now could he see the full effect. “Where did all these things come from? You win the lottery or something.’

  “Or something—” Greg grinned “Bronwyn’s wedding present to us was the larder fridge and deep freeze for this room then Olwen’s mother wasn’t going to be beaten so she bought a new washing machine and dryer and my parents brought the big chest freezer(our old stuff is all out in the shed might go in the new build somewhere) Their excuses were that they had to buy wedding presents anyway, we are out in the sticks when the snow comes and thirdly we don’t know what children we may get that have special needs or diets so what else could they give us?”

  “That’s brill, Greg and you haven’t had mine yet.’

  “Not another deep freeze?’

  “You wait and see.’

  The bright modern kitchen made the old living room look dull and shabby but at the weekend Olw
en pressed Ray and Megan into service. Dean came up and whitened the ceiling doing a few minor repairs as he did so, then papering the walls with a soft old- rose patterned wallpaper which everyone told her would drown the room in roses, her only reply being ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet.’ She was right, the room was transformed appearing much larger and warmer. The furniture that had come from the sale room was cleaned and polished to be put in place.

  “No point in buying more. The kitchen cost the earth so we have to manage but I’m sorry boys, the curtain and carpet will have to go, they are odd and I hate the thought of blue with rose paper. I’ll buy them as a wedding present to myself that’s reminded me Greg, I hope you are well enough for town tomorrow, there is something very important to buy.” Greg groaned but there was a smile on his face when they returned. Olwen wearing a diamond flower engagement ring in white gold with a matching wedding ring in a little blue box which he handed to Ray for safe keeping. Ray took one look clapping his hand to his mouth. “Oh! My God” and fled from the room. Greg and Olwen stared at each other wide eyed as they heard the motor racing down the lane, Greg began to laugh.

  “What? What?” shrieked Olwen; Greg creased up and fell into the armchair.

  “Ray hasn’t bought Megan a ring yet; bet you a pound.’

  “Oh! No. Wouldn’t she have said something to him?’

  “Not Megan, she would think that he would want them to use the money to buy things for the flat.’

  Later that evening a sheepish Ray brought Megan in to show off her hoop of sapphires. Both girls exclaimed in delight over each other’s rings then went off to discuss weddings. “What happened to you then?” Greg tried to look stern.