Dreams Can Come True

by Vivienne Dockerty

  My thoughts are constantly with you and little Johnny. Strange to think that we will be producing another Dockerty in the Autumn.

  My love to you all.

  Mother.

  Eddie was frowning as Hannah finished reading him Maggie’s letter. It had made him feel uneasy, as if this was the lull before the storm. As much as he loved Hannah, he was beginning to see a mean and petty side to her.

  “Yer know, Hannah, I think you’re storing up trouble by not letting Maggie know about Michael. It’s wrong that you’ve done nothing to help him and I did tell him that you would probably write.”

  “Is that all you can say, Eddie, after I’ve taken the trouble to read you her letter?” Hannah’s eyes glinted in anger at him. “Didn’t you hear me say she’s going to have a baby? See, I was right all along.”

  “Yes, I heard, I was listening, but I can’t help feeling sorry fer your brother. We’ve left him in the hospital and we should have offered him a home.”

  “Eddie, how can you say that after what he said about me being illegitimate. Yes, I know you knew already, but what if you hadn’t? It was a nasty thing to say and it could have caused a lot of trouble between you and me. Do you think he would have any mercy if the boot was on the other foot? No, he wouldn’t. He’d have us out on the street as soon as look at us. Michael was always jealous of me, you know, because I was Papa’s little princess.”

  “Come here, Hannah,” Eddie said and put his arm around Hannah in an effort to calm her.

  “You’re my princess now and all I want is fer you to be happy. I just want you to face it; that one day Michael will inherit Selwyn Lodge and all that goes with it. You might not like it, but it will happen, so I think we should have a contingency plan.”

  “Like what?” Hannah snorted and pulled away from him impatiently. “Don’t think you’re going to get me to live in a hovel somewhere. If it’s not as good as here, I won’t be moving with you. I’ve told you before, Michael will have to prise me out of here with a toothpick.”

  “Yer have to face it, Hannah, we’re just caretakers here until your brother comes out of the army, or if Maggie decides differently and lets us stay. But yer have to let her know that he was in the local hospital, because she’ll find out one day and you’ll have to take the consequences. Yer may have been brought up as brother and sister, but bloods thicker than water, or so they say.”

  “I’ll think about writing,” Hannah answered him sulkily. “But when I get round to it and I’ve heard more about your plan.”

  “That’s more like it,” Eddie said briskly. “Now how about a kiss to show that you still love me? You’re looking tired, Hannah, yer need an early night.”

  It was the day of Maggie’s forty-first birthday. She had decided not to mention it to Bridget and Frank as she knew that they would want to make a fuss. Instead, she had treated herself to coffee and cake in the tea rooms she had found by the River Moy, then wandered over to the churchyard later to lay some flowers on her parents’ grave.

  She had sat on a bench that someone had thoughtfully placed under the shady branches of a horse chestnut tree. It was cool away from the scorching rays of the August sun and peaceful to sit in contemplation, thinking of her son who shared her birthday too. That’s what Maggie needed now; peace and welcome quiet. Away from people and intrusion in her life.

  That was the day she decided to inquire about local property. She had been with her friends now for nearly four weeks. They were kind to her, supportive, and only charged her the bare minimum for her board and rent. But Maggie knew that they relied on the letting of their guest rooms for their income. It was time she looked for a property and stood on her own two feet.

  Bridget was surprised when Maggie broached the subject.

  “I thought you’d be wanting to go back to Neston, dear. Back to your family and businesses. I thought this time here was to help your grieving and make some decisions in your life.”

  “That’s just it, Bridget. I don’t want to go back where I’m known and be looked upon with pity. I want a new life for myself and the baby. Somewhere I can start again and make myself a home. Hannah and Eddie will fill Selwyn Lodge with their own babies, the company I know is in safe hands, so what’s the point of returning when I’m not really needed at all?”

  “Well, if you’re sure,” her hostess said doubtfully. “If I can help you, let me know. I’ll help in any way I can.”

  “I have a mind to go and look at a cottage on the way down to Killala. It belonged to a friend called Mrs. Dockerty, but I believe she’s passed away. How would I get the keys to the property? I know the land belongs to the farmer, but if the cottage is not sold already, how would I know if it’s up for sale?”

  “Hmm, I’ll have to ask Frank about that, he could ask around for you. But why down in Killala, Maggie? It can get very lonely in the winter, as you’ll already know.”

  “Call it nostalgia, Bridget, or a need to be where I belong.”

  Dear Staff Nurse Tibbs,

  I am writing to let you know that the medical officer passed me as fit for duty and I am now awaiting orders at the Chester Barracks. I don’t think they’ll be sending me back to India, as the Regiment’s tour of duty will be over in six month’s time, so they will find me something to do while I am waiting for their return.

  I wrote to my Grandmama, who lives on the promenade at Parkgate, to let her know of my situation. When I receive her reply, I will be requesting leave, in an effort to sort my personal life out. I hope it will be possible to meet and I will contact you in the near future. Yours in appreciation. Sub-Lieutenant Michael Haines.

  “So, who is it from, Katie?” asked Annie, all agog at the official-looking letter that had been delivered by the postman a few minutes before.

  “None of your business, Annie. It’s to do with work. I asked for any correspondence to be sent over here.”

  “Is it from a man friend? That’s why he’s writing here, so that your Matron won’t find out.”

  “I’ve told yer, it’s to do with work, don’t be nosy. Now, are we going down to the cottage? I want to see if Ernie’s all right.”

  “Oh, he’ll be at work, Katie. Let’s leave it fer today and go down tomorrow. It’s too hot to be walking and we’ll have to drag these two along with us. Sam’s mother’s gone up to the cemetery to visit her husband, yer know. She’ll look after them tomorrow for me.”

  “You’ve been putting me off since I arrived, Annie. Have yer got something to hide? He’s still at Lilac Cottage, isn’t he?”

  “That’s the thing, I don’t know, Katie. Since I told him off fer messing up the floor here, we’ve not seen him. He’s not been fer his dinners and Lukey said he’s been down, but couldn’t see him anywhere.”

  “I might have known this would happen,” Katie cried. “I should never have let yer do the swap. He was happy here, you know. And now I come to think of it, you and your kids have made a right mess of this place. There’s dirty marks everywhere and that rug’s in a terrible state.”

  “Well, what did yer expect?” Annie fired back. “There’s five kids, a cat, a granny and me and Sam living here. Yer didn’t think I’d pay fer a daily to come and clean fer us?”

  “The deal was that you looked after Ernie for me while I was away at the hospital. Cook fer him, wash his clothes and do the cleaning at his place. Now, if yer can’t manage your part of the bargain, just say so, Annie. It’s Ernie’s name on the deeds as well as mine, yer know, and he can always come to live back here again.”

  Hannah groaned as she saw who was on her doorstep. It was Grandmama Haines, looking every inch of her seventy two years, with Mr. Arlington close behind her. Hannah braced herself for the visit, by putting a smile on her face.

  “Why, Grandmama, to what do I owe the pleasure? How long has it been now since last I saw you then?”

  “Don’t get clever with me, young lady. I know I’m not welcome in this house; your stepmother has always made that cl
ear enough.”

  “Alice, get to the point, dear, of why you’ve taken the trouble to call on Hannah,” Mr. Arlington said, looking embarrassed. “Perhaps we could come inside for a moment, if that’s not too much trouble for you?”

  “Maybe you would like to sit in the garden with me instead. It’s pleasant in the sunshine and little Johnny is fast asleep in his perambulator. Perhaps you would like to take a peek at him.”

  Alice muttered something under her breath but meekly followed Hannah. Her husband gave her a warning look, but she took no notice of him.

  “The reason I’m here is because I’ve had a very distressing letter from my grandson,” Alice began, once she had settled into a chair without even looking at the sleeping baby.

  “We’ve just been up to church, haven’t we, Mr. Arlington? And I said to you, didn’t I, it’s not right what’s been happening? So I decided to see what’s been going on. We’ve only just got back from staying in Llandudno with Mr. Arlington’s cousin and there it was; a letter from Michael. It had been posted to me a couple of days ago.”

  “And?” said Hannah frostily, knowing what was coming. She could almost here the accusations that were about to start ringing in her ears.

  “Is it true that you refused to visit him in hospital? And where has his mother gone? He says that she’s away visiting some relatives. Doesn’t Michael know there are none now?”

  “Well, if you’ll let me get a word in, Grandmama. I sent Eddie to visit Michael, because as you can see I’m expecting another baby. I didn’t want to go myself in case my brother was infectious.”

  “I can see you’re expecting, Hannah, but that’s no reason to turn your back on yer brother. He has more right to be in Selwyn Lodge than you have, yer know. I’ve a good mind to write to your father, let him know what you’re up to. He’s still married to Maggie and he can still have his say.”

  Hannah lost her temper then, with her grandmama mentioning her father like that. If it hadn’t have been for his defection, the family wouldn’t have got in this mess.

  “Oh, do what you like, I can’t stop you. And let me say it for you, shall I, since you try to remind me at every turn? I must remember I’m illegitimate, not entitled to a sausage, because of Kitty May!”

  Eddie found her later, crying bitter tears as she cuddled little Johnny on her knee. He’d seen Alice and her husband go as he’d driven down to the stable. Alice had been shouting something and Mr. Arlington was looking annoyed.

  “I see you’ve had a visit from Atilla. What’s she said now to upset yer then? You only see her when she’s up to mischief. I suppose this has to do with Michael and you not going to see him.”

  “Yes,” Hannah sniffed, pulling her baby closer as he tried to slide off her knee. “ Look he wants to come to you now. Go on then, go to Dada.”

  She passed the baby over to Eddie then began to walk a few feet away to deadhead a couple of roses.

  “I don’t know why I put up with her, for all she is my grandmama. All she did was pick and poke and never even acknowledged our little baby. You know, I’m beginning to think you’re right about leaving here and starting afresh somewhere else together. Somewhere no one knows me and can remind me who I am.”

  “Oh, Hannah. Come here, will yer.”

  Eddie’s voice broke as he saw the hurt in his adored wife’s eyes. She went into his arms and he hugged her and their child together.

  “Now sit yourself down, Hannah and let me tell yer something. Never feel that way about yourself again. It wasn’t your fault that your Dad made Kitty May pregnant. It happens. There’s selfish men out there who only consider themselves and not the consequences. You, Hannah, are the best wife and mother that anyone could ask for and it doesn’t matter which side of the blanket yer were born on and it certainly doesn’t matter to me.”

  Hannah went pink at her husband’s praise and she picked on some threads in her dress to cover her embarrassment.

  “If it wasn’t for my mother, Eddie, I would leave here. I mean it, but it seems so cruel when she’s relying on us so.”

  “Ah, but yer don’t know where I’ve bin today, do yer? I was going to wait until you’d written to Maggie, to tell her of Michael’s untimely appearance. But if Joan has left us some dinner, we’ll eat it now and then I’ll show yer what I’ve found fer us!”

  Chapter 20

  Katie felt really cross with her sister as she walked down Bull Hill’s leafy lane to get to Burton Road. Poor Ernie. He’d never been able to stand up to Annie. She’d been selfish and mean to treat him that way. Katie opened the top button of her long-sleeved blouse, realising she was sweating profusely. No wonder Annie hadn’t wanted to stir out of the coolness of the terrace; it was the hottest day they’d had that summer. It was a good thing she’d remembered to put her boater on her head.

  “Aunt Katie! Up here, Aunt Katie.”

  A disembodied voice came shouting from the trees above.

  “What are you doing up there, our Lukey? Do yer want to end up in my hospital with a broken leg?”

  “No fear,” called back Katie’s nephew, as he swung from the lower branch like a monkey.

  “Where yer going? Can I come with yer? Or do yer know if Mam has got any grub?”

  “Well, she hadn’t been cooking when I left home, but I think she’s waiting fer your granny. Why don’t you come with me to Uncle Ernie’s? Then we’ll come back together and have some tea.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that, Auntie. It’s Sunday anyway and he’ll be out in his punt. I’ll go and see if Freddie Jones is playing. His mother makes him go to Sunday school, but he should be back by now.”

  “Oh, go on, Lukey. It’ll be company for me and besides I don’t see yer very often now that I’m working away.”

  “No, I’m not comin’ with yer. I’ll see yer later,” her nephew said firmly and ran very quickly to the top of Bull Hill.

  I wonder what’s got into him? Katie thought, as she carried on walking. He’d been like this when he’d brought a message to the hospital. It was strange how he’d taken a dislike to her brother that way. Still, being on her own gave her chance to think about the letter she’d had from Michael. And wasn’t that his house she was passing? She was sure that house on the corner was called Selwyn Lodge. It looked deserted, but what a pleasant-looking place to live.

  Katie came to the site entrance of the new development. There were a lot more dwellings now than the last time she had been this way. A row of four substantial houses lined the perimeter and she could see the footings ready for another three. Each house was set on a half acre, with a sweeping stone-chipped drive and extensive gardens enclosed by walls and impressive gates. Unfortunately for Katie, these gardens were blocking her journey down to Lilac Cottage. The developer must have forgotten to leave a right of way.

  She gazed for a moment at the half-timbered, gabled residences, wondering how she was going to get through, unless she went back along the road to Briggs’s farmhouse which she could see in the distance through a gap in the trees. But her skirt was clinging damply and her shoes felt very tight. She turned in disappointment; she’d best be starting back.

  But first she would think on Michael’s letter, while there was no nosy sister or a house full of kids. She savoured the pleasure of receiving it as she sat for a moment on a fallen log. She could feel her senses stirring with his memory inside her head. He must have felt the same towards her if he had taken the trouble to write.

  She sighed; there was no point in weaving happy fantasies. She knew her place in the scheme of things, she would be wasting her love on a man like him.

  “So, did yer see him? How’s he coping?” Annie asked as Katie let herself into the house, which smelled appetisingly of roasted chicken. “I don’t know how yer did it, walking all that way in this heat.”

  “I didn’t get that far, Annie. They’ve blocked the way with those new houses. You were right, it’s far too hot today to be out walking, so I’ll have ano
ther go tomorrow. But this time I’ll walk down past Briggs’s farm.”

  “Did yer see any sight of the kids while you were down there, Katie? Luke and Matthew went out together this morning, said they were going fer a paddle, but I suppose their bellies will bring them home.”

  “I saw Luke, not Matthew. He was hiding in the trees at the bottom of Bull Hill, but he said he was off to Freddie Jones’. He didn’t want to come with me. Why is that, Annie? Why doesn’t Lukey like his uncle any more?”

  Her sister laughed and lowered her voice so that Mrs. Piper couldn’t hear her in the kitchen.

  “He’s suffering with what I think is embarrassment. He was spying through Ernie’s bedroom window and got a bit of a shock. Ernie was doing what Sam said was called “wanking”. Our Lukey’s never been back to the cottage since then!”

  Eddie drove the carriage quickly along the Chester High Road, intent on getting his wife to their destination before she could change her mind. As much as Eddie loved her, he knew that it would be hard to convince her that they should leave Selwyn Lodge. Hannah could be stubborn once she had set her mind to something. But the visit from Alice might just have swung her towards thinking his way; a new start in a new place and leave all that silly feuding behind.

  Hannah felt hot and sweaty sitting with her little boy in the confines of the sultry carriage. Johnny’s clothes were sticking to his small damp body and his hair lay in slicks about his head. He nodded on her lap from the lull of the carriage’s motion, sucking at the bottle she’d remembered to bring.

  Where was Eddie taking her? Hannah wondered, as they passed through the village of Heswall and trotted alongside the acres of farmland that undulated down to the sea. She hoped it wasn’t where people could see her, because she hadn’t changed out of her morning clothes.

  The air became fresher and cooler as a breeze came off the estuary and Hannah looked over with interest, past the stooks of yellow corn in the fields and across, to the church spire at Thurstaston as it appeared above the trees.