Now My Life Begins

by Shirley Roe

  “Tim, how wonderful to see you after all these years.” Elegantly, she moved toward the two men with her hand outstretched.

  “Jenny, you look beautiful.” Tim was in awe of Jenny. He took her hand, and instead of shaking it as she expected, he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. Their eyes locked. Gordon was fascinated at the scenario playing out in front of him.

  “Shall we sit?” He moved to the settee and then decided to let Jenny and Tim sit together. Taking the large armchair by the fireplace he lifted the brandy decanter from the tray. “Brandy?”

  Jenny quickly recovered and gesturing toward the settee, she and Tim took their seats and joined Gordon, each with a glass of brandy. Just then Walter appeared at the doorway. “Should I come in now, Mistress Jenny?” Jenny waved him into the room. The tall blond man stood beside her staring at Tim. Walter was wearing his best suit.

  “Tim, this is Walter. He came to live with me when he was just a lad during the war. I want you to meet him. He is like a son to me, and I don't know what I would do without him.”

  Walter blushed a bright red. “You would do just fine without me, Mistress Jenny. You can do anything, can't she, Mr. Gordon?”

  “That she can, Walter. Say hello to Mr. McKitterek.”

  “Hello, Mr. McKitterek. Mr. Gordon said you live in London. I lived in London when I was just a boy, but there was a war, and I had to come here. Did you know there was a war?”

  “Hello Walter, it is nice to meet you. Yes I knew there was a war. It looks like you are happy to have come to Edinburgh.” He shook Walter's hand and smiled at the friendly young man.

  “Oh yes, I am very happy because now I live here. I am the gardener and Mistress Jenny loves roses so I plant lots of roses for her.” Walter's chest puffed with pride as Jenny smiled at him. Tim smiled at Walter.

  “Thank you, Walter, you may go and see cook now. Ask her what time lunch will be served.” Walter nodded his head at Tim and Gordon and left the room.

  Tim turned to Jenny, “What a charming fellow. Do you have children of your own, Jenny?”

  “Yes I have a daughter, Rose. She lives in France with my two grandchildren. What about you Tim, do you have children?” Jenny took in Tim's features, only the scar was different than she remembered him.

  “I have three children and four grandchildren. I lost my wife last year to pneumonia, but of course you knew her, Elizabeth Drury?” Tim felt strange talking about Elizabeth and his children with Jenny. She smiled broadly at the mention of Elizabeth.

  “She was always after you, Tim. Remember how she would come and ask you to dance. I told you she was after you, but you always said I was crazy. Looks like I was right.” Jenny laughed, remembering the many dances she and Tim had attended in Watsworth.

  “She was a wonderful wife to me. Tell me about your husband, Jenny.” Jenny told Tim about Harry and the wonderful years they had together. Remembering Gordon, she was sure to bring him into the conversation as they reminisced about years gone by in Edinburgh. The afternoon was a great success.

  Tim left for London the next morning, a happier man. Jenny was thrilled at having seen Tim after all these years. Although it was still months away, she invited him and his family for Christmas. Tim said he would have to ask the brood and would call her. Gordon watched the entire scenario with curiosity. These were two of his favorite people and he hoped they would develop a relationship. It was obvious that Tim had very deep feelings for Jenny. Time would tell.

  Christmas arrived in a blanket of snow. The McKittereks arrived on Christmas Eve and settled in one of Edinburgh's hotels. Brian was not with them as he had joined the army the previous summer and gone to the continent. Tim was not happy that his son had signed up with war looming on the horizon. Gordon met Tim in the pub in the hotel for a nightcap.

  “Now that Germany has most of Czechoslovakia, war is imminent Gordon. I am very upset that Brian joined the army. Dear God didn't we do enough, now we have to give our sons too?”

  “When did he sign up, Tim?” The men sat at the bar on large padded barstools.

  “Right after Germany took over Austria in early summer. He is very patriotic and it reminds me of myself at that age, so I do understand. As a father, I wish things were different.”

  “I know we are hoping Hitler will be satisfied with Austria and Czechoslovakia and there won't be another war, but I don't think he will be that easy to satisfy.” Gordon sipped his ale.

  “No, I think he has his eye on Poland next. Time will tell, my friend. Now about more pleasant things; what time are we to be at Jenny's tomorrow?” Tim picked up a handful of salty nuts from the dish on the bar, popping one or two into his mouth.

  “Jenny is expecting you at one. I am looking forward to meeting your daughter and your son and I will be happy that you will finally meet Jake. Jenny's daughter Rose and her family will be there as well. It is going to be a wonderful Christmas for us all.” Gordon raised his glass in toast and Tim responded in kind.

  “To us all.”

  The next day the house was a cacophony of laughter, singing and merriment. Jenny, Gordon, Tim, and Tim's son Eddie sang Christmas carols as Eddie's wife, Mary played the piano and Rose and her husband carefully arranged all of the gifts under the huge Christmas tree. Walter amused the little ones with one of his wild stories. Walter fascinated Alex, Eddie's son and he sat near him most of the day. Near the fireplace, Jake and Dorothy were deep in discussion.

  “I'm telling you, there are not enough women lawyers in England. We have to encourage more young women to apply to the law schools.” Dorothy who had graduated with honors was now a full-fledged lawyer practicing in London.

  “In Scotland, we have very few women lawyers. I don't think there are more than two or three practicing in Edinburgh right now. It has been a man's domain for centuries.” Jake poured himself another scotch. “Would you like another?”

  “Yes, thank you. I know it has been a man's domain, and that is the problem. Women are just as qualified as men to be lawyers and judges. Why, in the United States there are several woman judges right now. I never thought the colonies would surpass us, but it looks like they realize the importance of women in that country.” Dorothy shook her red locks in disgust as she drank her scotch. “Men have to step aside. If we are good enough to fight in the war, we are good enough to be lawyers, doctors and politicians.”

  “Okay, don't excite yourself. It is Christmas after all and we are here to celebrate good cheer and goodwill to men.” Jake laughed at her. He found her very attractive and her lively spirit was intoxicating.

  “You see, even that expression, ‘Goodwill to men’, what about goodwill to women?” Dorothy joined in. Her melodious laugh filled the room. The others turned in their direction.

  “It looks like your Jake and my Dorothy are enjoying each other's company.” Tim smiled at Gordon who nodded in agreement. He was happy to see Jake so animated and enjoying himself. Rose came to join them.

  “Dorothy is very pretty, Mr. McKitterek. Is she seeing anyone?” Rose was matchmaking again.

  “Dorothy? No she is much too dedicated to her career. I don't think she will ever settle down.” Rose just smiled. She watched Jake and Dorothy, thinking that the two red haired lawyers had a lot in common and she, as matchmaker, had a great deal to work with. Ralph joined her and following her gaze, he laughed.

  “I recognize that look, Rose. You are at it again. Leave poor Jake alone. He likes being single.” She smiled and pecked him on the cheek before leaving him to find her mother.

  Rose joined her mother in the kitchen. “How is everything coming, Mother?”

  “Cook has outdone herself today, Rose. She has trained Nadia to cook almost as well as she does. I will miss her when she retires.”

  “Mother, Mrs. Burns is in her seventies. I think she deserves to retire and Nadia is an excellent cook.” Nadia was a refugee from Czechoslovakia. At sixteen, she was welcomed into Jenny's home to train as the n
ew cook. It proved to be an excellent decision.

  “Just look at these lovely canapés.” Jenny gushed over the meal the staff had prepared. Cook and Nadia beamed at the praise. Jenny always complimented their work and let them know how much she appreciated them. Turning back to Rose she added, “I do hope everyone is enjoying the party.”

  “Andrew and Sarah are happy to have Alex and Judith to play with.” Rose sampled a piece of cheese.

  “We all seem to mix well, don't you think?”

  “Very well, especially Jake and Dorothy. I think there might be a blossoming romance between those two.”

  “Now, Rose, just enjoy the day and let the young people enjoy theirs. I know you want everyone married and happy like you are, but some people take longer than others to find their true love.”

  “Speaking of true love, Uncle Gordon told me that he thinks Mr. McKitterek is still in love with you. I think that is absolutely the most romantic thing I have ever heard.”

  “Rose! You mustn't say such things. It is not polite.” Jenny's face turned crimson.

  “Why, Mother, I think you're blushing. Perhaps you have feelings for the long lost love of your life.” Rose placed great dramatic emphasis on ‘long lost love’ for effect. Her mother swiped at her with the tea towel. She ducked.

  “Rose Mitchell, you stop teasing me this minute.” The two giggled like teenagers. Jenny was enjoying her time with Rose even if she did tease her mercilessly.

  Jenny returned to find Gordon watching Jake and Dorothy from across the room. “She is a lovely girl, isn't she, Gordon?”

  “Yes she is. She reminds me of Amy. Her red hair and animated facial features are so similar to Amy. I wonder if Jake sees the resemblance?” Gordon never took his eyes off the young woman.

  “I don't think Jake sees anything but a beautiful young woman. Her mother, Elizabeth was very beautiful. She looks like her except for the red hair.” Just then, Tim joined them.

  “Yes, Dorothy looks exactly like her mother. Of course, the red hair is the McKitterek curse. Your Jake seems infatuated, Gordon. He would be the first young man Dorothy has given more than five minutes too. She is very much involved in women's rights, you know.”

  “Really, so was my wife, Amy. As a matter of fact she was one of the founding members of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage before the war. How long ago that seems now.”

  Dorothy saw her father and the others watching her and excused herself from Jake. He was disappointed that the conversation was concluded. Dorothy joined Tim, Jenny and Gordon.

  “Dorothy, Gordon was just telling me that Jake's mother was one of the founding members of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage many years ago.” Dorothy looked surprised. She turned to Gordon.

  “You should remind your son of that. He seems quite the chauvinist.” She left to join Rose, Mary and Eddie around the piano. Gordon, Tim and Jenny laughed out loud.

  “Well, it looks like Dorothy is not as infatuated with Jake as Rose thinks.” Jenny smiled at Tim.

  “I told you so. She chews men up and spits them out. She is a tough one, my little Dorothy.” Again they all laughed. Jake, who was sitting alone by the bar, watched Dorothy join the carolers, unaware that he was the brunt of the joke.

  It was a wonderful Christmas. Everyone enjoyed the company, many new friendships were started and Jenny was pleased that it went so well. The staff had cleared the empty dishes and she and Tim sat in the dining room. The two were enjoying a sherry together. The others had left an hour before, but Tim wanted to stay behind and talk to Jenny alone.

  “Jenny, I can't thank you enough for this wonderful day. I was worried about having Christmas without Elizabeth and without Brian's family, but this was more than I could have dreamed of. I know Dorothy and Eddie enjoyed meeting you and your family.”

  “And we enjoyed having all of you. Alex and Judith were adorable. Christmas is so much better with little ones in the house and I think everyone got along very well.”

  “Rose and Ralph are very nice, and, of course Walter is a true blessing. He entertained the little ones all day.” Tim ran his finger around the rim of the glass pensively.

  “Walter is a Godsend. Andrew and Sarah love him and he was just as good with Rose and Jake when they were young.” Jenny could tell Tim had something on his mind. Even after all these years she knew him so well. It was a little unnerving. “Tim is there something you want to say?”

  “Oh, my Jenny. You can read me like a book. I never could pull the wool over your eyes. No, my Dear, I was just thinking silly thoughts.”

  “What silly thoughts?” Now he had her curiosity. She sat up and leaned toward him. “Come on, what silly thoughts?”

  “If you must know, I was imagining that you and I have always been together and today we were celebrating Christmas with our family. Silly isn't it?”

  “No, I don't think it is silly at all. We did celebrate Christmas with our families. Just two different families, and of course we must not forget the McDonald Clan. If it wasn't for Gordon, we would not have found each other after all these years.” Jenny reached for his hand. “I am glad we found each other, Tim. You were my best friend when we were young.”

  He held her hand and looked into her eyes. “Yes Jenny, and you were mine. I always thought I would marry you.” She looked away. Realizing the conversation was heading in the wrong direction, he stood and bid her goodnight before he made a fool of himself.

  “Good Night Jenny, and again, thank you for a lovely Christmas. We will be heading back to London in the morning. I will call you.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  The butler helped him into his coat, and Jenny walked him to the door. “Thank you, Tim, it is nice to have my friend, Tim, back in my life.” She waved to him and watched the car go down the laneway. Walter drove him back to the hotel. Tim tossed her words over and over in his mind, ‘It is nice to have my friend, Tim back in my life.’ I guess I will have to settle for that.

  Jenny retired for the night. She climbed into her bed and reached for Harry's photograph. “Merry Christmas, my Darling. I love you with all my heart.” She hugged the photograph to her breast, tears rolled down her face. “It was a wonderful day, but I miss you, my Darling.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Britain declared war on Germany, September 3rd, 1939. Brian McKitterek was sent to France. Many British troops were deployed to the Continent, in what was nicknamed the Phony War by the British. Churchill referred to it as the Twilight War. Tim was happy to receive letters from Brian, filled with stories of barracks pranks and nights in Amsterdam, instead of battles.

  The first German air attack on Britain took place almost in Jenny's back yard. Six weeks into the war, on October 16th, 1939, German bombers launched an attack on Rosyth naval base over the Forth Bridge in Scotland. Jenny and Walter watched from her window as RAF Spitfire squadrons shot down the first German planes to attack Britain. She was terrified. Walter clung to her arm.

  The next day, she and Gordon hired a contractor to build an ‘Anderson Shelter’ in her back garden. It was a small shelter that would hold the family and the staff. An underground bomb shelter opened on Princes Street. Jenny watched the HMS Hood pass beneath the Forth Bridge on the way to Rosyth. One morning the HMS Norfolk was anchored in the distance. War was getting too close, and Jenny was growing very nervous. The ships fascinated Walter and Jenny constantly reminded him not to venture far from the property.

  “I think I will go up to Aviemore for a few days, Jenny. If we need to get out of Edinburgh, it would be a good place to stay until this ghastly business is over.” Gordon had been thinking of his country estate for a few weeks. The beautiful country manor in the Grampian Mountains would be safer than Edinburgh, if the war started to escalate.

  Jenny saw Tim a few times between Christmas 1938 and spring of 1940. They rekindled their friendship and talked on the telephone often. In the spring of 1940, things changed.

  After the declaration
of war in 1939, the people of London expected that air raids would occur. Shelters were built and preparations made, but when the air raids didn't come the people became complacent.

  Jenny and Gordon traveled to Salisbury to visit with Rose and Ralph. On the third day of her visit, Tim arrived to take them to see Stonehenge. Gordon decided to stay and go golfing with Ralph, leaving Jenny and Tim to venture off alone. Rose and Gordon winked at each other when no one was looking. Tim and Jenny left happily. The two arrived at the ancient, massive stone structure and stood in awe. “Remember how we used to talk of coming to Stonehenge when we were young, Jenny?”

  “Yes, I remember. We wanted to see if the ghosts of the Druids were still haunting the ancient site.” Jenny had to smile as she remembered how the two of them would dream of traveling the world.

  “Come, sit on the blanket. We shall stare at the stones and see if we see any ghosts.”

  Tim spread a large woolen blanket on the grass and Jenny lowered herself, taking care not to dirty her new dress. Soon they were both staring at the imposing structure silently.

  “Close your eyes and see if you can hear the drums and the pipes of old. Imagine that the Celts and the other ancient people are gathering for a religious celebration.” Tim closed his eyes.

  He opened them to see Jenny staring at him. “I said close your eyes, Jenny. Come on now, just like we used to.” She settled back and closed her eyes.

  Within minutes she began to imagine the sounds of the ghosts. When the imagined sound of the bagpipes grew louder and louder, she opened her eyes in fright. Tim watched her and started to laugh, a deep hearty laugh. She looked up to see a piper marching past. He walked the circle around Stonehenge and Tim laughed and laughed at the startled look on her face.

  “Tim McKitterek, you knew he was coming. You haven't changed a bit.” She swiped at him. Tim reached over and gently punched her shoulder, as they always had when they were young.