The House by the Liffey

by Niki Phillips

  ‘Actually, I’ve realized I love you too, Harry. Sam and I are no longer engaged. But I’m so confused I need time to sort myself out.’

  He folded his arms around her and almost squeezed the breath out of her. His smile seemed to light up the whole departure area. He didn’t embarrass her by kissing her passionately in public even though he ached to do so.

  ‘You’ve no idea what a happy man you’ve made me. I’ll be waiting but not patiently. Don’t make it too long. And don’t forget, Johnny will miss you too!’

  Now the sunny smile was hers.

  ‘I promise I’ll come back.’

  * * * * *

  Harry’s elation was obvious for all to see. As soon as he arrived back home from the airport he hurried down to the dock at the riverbank with a new spring in his step. Although it was mid November, the weather was mild enough for the family to gather there for tea. Johnny spotted him before anyone else and ran to meet him. Harry swung him up in his arms.

  ‘How about a row in a boat, Johnny, before it gets too dark?’

  ‘Yes please, Dad, and Grandpa and Sarah too?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Milo, Noola and Maggie were grinning from ear to ear. They exchanged knowing looks with each other. At long last things had turned the corner for Harry.

  ‘He’s a real sucker for punishment, Harry. He’s already been out with his grandpa.’

  ‘Yes, but I want to go out with you too, Dad. And I want to do some rowing. I want to row in The Liffey Descent with you and Grandpa and Sarah next year.’

  ‘Good for you, boy!’ Milo was so delighted to have such strong evidence of his grandson’s love of the river.

  ‘But you don’t know how to row yet.’

  ‘Yes I do, Dad. Grandpa and Sarah showed me how.’

  ‘Let’s all go then and we’ll see what you can do.’

  Sarah was smiling happily but declined the invitation to go out in the boat again.

  ‘I think I’ll pass this time, Harry. Uncle Paddy has warned me not to overdo it.’

  He looked at her in surprise and noticed there was a special glow of happiness about her.

  ‘Is there something I don’t know about?’

  ‘I’ve only just had it confirmed. I’m expecting a baby in about seven months’ time, around next June. Dai and I are so excited. But I’ve been told by all the medics I must be very careful.’

  He put Johnny down and gave her a big hug and thumped Dai on the back.

  ‘I’m so happy for you both. We must all look out for you now, Sarah. Hey, that means two of my sisters are pregnant. I wonder what Mageen’s up to – perhaps it’s catching!’

  Later that evening Milo commented to Noola:

  ‘For once in a way we’re free of crises. At long last all members of our family seem to be happy. I’m almost afraid to say it in case I’m tempting providence.’

  ‘I know what you mean but let’s just enjoy it while we have it. I haven’t seen Harry so happy for some time, even happier than after the trial ended so well for him. Clearly something happened when he was saying goodbye to Cathy.’

  ‘It looks like that. Your manipulation of her departure arrangements obviously worked.’

  Chapter 44

  Harry survived less than a month without Cathy and couldn’t stand it any longer. He just had to see her and hear her tell him again that she loved him. He had begun to wonder if he had imagined it. He had written to her and had an answer but both had steered away from anything very personal, other than telling her how much he missed her. He decided he would go to Boston without telling her in advance. He could go first for a quick visit to see Izzy in Minneapolis, for he had missed her too. He realized that her first Christmas away from home would be quite tough for her.

  He asked his father if he could spare him for a week or so and Milo agreed without asking any questions. However, later that evening, having their pre-dinner drinks, he decided to come clean and tell his parents the story.

  ‘So I’m going over unannounced to try and persuade Cathy to come back with me. Apparently she’s been doing occasional relief work at the local children’s home, as a volunteer, so she wouldn’t be letting anyone down.’

  ‘I don’t think either of us would try to dissuade you, Harry, and may I say I would be thrilled to bits to have Cathy as a daughter-in-law.’

  ‘Hear, hear. And what a good idea to start off with a visit to Izzy. She’ll be so excited at the thought of seeing a member of the family. Would you take a few Christmas presents for her?’

  ‘Of course, Dad.’

  Within a couple of days he was off. He did tell Izzy that he was on the way. She was very excited, but curious as to his real reason for a sudden visit to the States so close to Christmas. He was delighted to meet Jed at last, whose true identity he didn’t know, since this had been kept strictly within a closed circle. He had a wonderful few days with them and was sorry his visit had been so short. Jed had a heavy cold and chest infection but didn’t let that prevent him from giving Harry a warm welcome and being an excellent host. To Izzy’s delight the two men got along famously and she was equally pleased when she heard the reason for his visit to Boston. He told her the whole story.

  ‘Oh, Harry, I’m delighted! I love Cathy and to have her as a sister-in-law would be wonderful.’

  ‘Thanks, Izzy. I hope she’s open to persuasion to come back to Riverside with me. But when are you and Jed coming over to see us? Everyone’s dying to meet Jed and I know they’ll like him too.’

  ‘We hope to go across after the baby is born and then everyone can meet both new members of the family. You really like Jed?’

  ‘Yes, I do, Izzy. I find him a really sympathetic kind of person: there’s nothing about him not to like!’

  ‘That means a lot to me, Harry.’

  * * * * *

  Harry moved across to Boston. He had booked into a hotel quite close to where Cathy’s brother lived. Then he called her.

  ‘Harry! How lovely to hear you. Is everything all right?’

  ‘Yes. I was calling to invite you out to dinner.’

  ‘I’d love it but it would be rather a long way to go just for dinner.’

  ‘It’s only a few steps around the block.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m just around the corner in the Hilton Hotel.’

  ‘Harry! How?’

  ‘Oh, the usual sort of way these days. I flew across.’

  ‘I’m so surprised. I almost don’t know what to say!’

  ‘Well, you could say yes, or I could come over there and abduct you!’

  They had an evening together that neither would ever forget. Harry had made prior arrangements with the hotel staff, telling them it would be a special occasion. A table had been prepared in a quiet corner, where the lighting was subdued and the atmosphere romantic. The pianist had been asked to play some of his favourite songs such as “In the Still of the Night”, “I Get No Kick From Champagne” and “The Way You Look Tonight”, songs particularly appropriate from Harry’s point of view and he knew Cathy would get the message.

  At the end of the meal, little of which either of them ate, by prior arrangement a bottle of Moët & Chandon Champagne was brought to the table in an ice bucket. After it had been poured and they had toasted each other Harry produced a small box and handed it to Cathy. She opened it to find a beautiful sapphire ring, set in diamonds. It was impressively large without being vulgar. She raised eyes to him that rivalled the champagne in their sparkle. He came around the table and knelt down on one knee beside her.

  ‘My darling Cathy. This time I trust I’m not embarrassing you by saying if you’ve nothing else in mind for the next fifty or so years will you marry me?’

  ‘Thank you, Harry. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do for the rest of my life than be married to you. The answer is yes.’

  He slipped the ring onto her engagement finger, then took her in his arms and kissed her while the delighted st
aff in the restaurant applauded enthusiastically. They had waited in anticipation and were not disappointed.

  ‘It fits as if it had been made specially for me!’

  ‘Of course. It was made specially for you.’

  ‘But how did you know the size of my finger?’

  ‘Ah, I’ve ways of finding these things out. The important thing is do you like it? I took a bit of a risk and wondered if I should have allowed you to choose your own ring.’

  ‘I love it and it is very much the kind of ring I would have chosen, although I would never have dreamt of being given one so beautiful. Sapphire is my favourite stone. Now you’ll tell me you knew that too!’

  ‘As I said, I’ve ways of finding out and I was correct in guessing that you would wear a blue dress this evening, not unlike the one I saw you in that famous evening – the time I discovered you were such an attractive woman!’

  She didn’t take too much persuading to go home with him. Her brother and his wife were disappointed that they weren’t going to have her with them for Christmas after all, but were very excited to be the first to be told the news of the engagement. Even better, they took a genuine liking to Harry who exerted all his charm to make himself seem a worthy husband for Cathy. Like Izzy, they were sworn to secrecy. Harry and Cathy both wanted to be the first to tell the rest of their families the news.

  * * * * *

  Harry had carefully planned their return to Riverside to coincide with pre-lunch drinks on Sunday. He and Cathy had already made a quick visit to her sister to tell her and the rest of her family there the news, but had asked them not to tell anyone else just yet and explained why. Both were concerned at having any publicity about their engagement, since they wanted to avoid, at all costs, any leak to the press that they were going to get married. They didn’t want speculation as to whether or not a romantic liaison had started before his trial, which could raise questions about Cathy’s evidence, despite the fact that the whole false accusation had blown up in Tim Kelly’s face. Now the O’Donovans, but especially Noreen, were jubilant at the news and they all had a celebratory drink together before Harry and Cathy moved on to Riverside.

  By tradition Sunday lunch was the main meal of the day at Riverside to leave the staff free for the rest of the day, and also by tradition as many members of the family as were anywhere around the house joined one another for this unfailingly special occasion. As often as not there were additional visitors, friends who would otherwise have had a lonely Sunday. On this particular occasion, as well as Milo and Noola, Maggie, a frail but sparky Aunt May, Sarah, Dai and Johnny, had all gathered in the elegant sitting room, where a roaring fire had been lit, brightening up a rather dull December day.

  Harry and Cathy arrived, unannounced, holding hands and radiating a happiness that seemed to add further warmth to the atmosphere. Everyone became aware of their presence at the same moment, but Johnny got to them first. He hurtled across the room.

  ‘Dad, Cathy! You’re home, you’re home,’ and he promptly burst into tears. Harry gathered him up into his arms where he buried his head in his father’s broad shoulder.

  ‘Hey, I thought you’d be pleased to see us, but here you are crying!’

  ‘Don’t tease him, Harry. Come and give me a big hug, Johnny. I’m so excited to see you too.’

  He wriggled down and ran into her outstretched arms beaming through the tears.

  ‘I was lonely for you, Cathy. I’m glad you’re home.’ From early on she had asked that he wouldn’t call her Nanny and he was comfortable with calling her Cathy.

  As she hugged the child, the engagement ring became highly visible and everyone in the room spotted it. All of them were now smiling broadly and the atmosphere became positively festive.

  ‘What a wonderful surprise! Welcome home you two. And by the looks on your faces and that ring on Cathy’s finger I’d say you’ve got something wonderful to tell us!’

  ‘We have, Mum. I’ve proposed to Cathy and she’s accepted. Hey, Johnny, how would you like to have Cathy as your mum?’

  ‘Oh yes please. Can you fix that, Dad?’

  ‘Thanks to Cathy I can. She and I are going to be married. Are you really pleased?’

  To their consternation fresh tears started to flow.

  ‘So you won’t go away and leave me again, Cathy?’

  ‘No, little one. I promise that if I go away it will be only for a short time. Trust me, Johnny.’

  ‘But now at bedtime will you sing to me like Sarah and Dai?’

  ‘I’ll try! What have they been singing to you?’

  ‘The song about all the angels around my bed and sometimes Dad joins in too.’

  ‘I don’t know this song. Could you sing it for me?’

  The tears were rapidly replaced by a broad smile.

  ‘Yes, but Sarah and Dai must start and then Dad and I can join in like we usually do.’

  Dai willingly gave the lead with Sarah and Harry quick to join in. Then the child’s voice was raised, and he sang the wonderful words set to Humperdinck’s haunting music, absolutely in tune and without faltering:

  ‘When at night I go to sleep Fourteen angels watch do keep Two my head are guarding Two my feet are guiding Two are on my right hand Two are on my left hand Two who warmly cover Two who o’er me hover Two to whom ‘tis given To guide my steps to Heaven’

  It brought lumps to the throats of the other adults and was a scene that Johnny would remember until he was an old man.

  ‘Where did you learn to sing like that, Johnny?’

  ‘Dai taught me first then Sarah helped. But you can sing too, Cathy, I’ve heard you.’

  ‘Not so well as you but I want you to teach me that song. It’s lovely.’

  ‘Well done everyone, but now I think it’s time to celebrate. When is the great day to be?’

  ‘Neither of us wants a long engagement, Mum, so we hope it will be around Easter time. But it will need to be a quiet one with absolutely no publicity and we don’t need to explain why.’

  ‘Indeed not, but congratulations. May you have many happy years together.’

  Everyone added their good wishes and Milo went and found a bottle of champagne to toast their future. In a whispered aside to Noola he muttered:

  ‘He’s settled at last! Thanks be to the Good Lord.’

  ‘Yes, and with somebody we all like so much. What a wonderful Christmas present!’

  Chapter 45

  1977

  Although Izzy greatly missed her family, she and Eddie were idyllically happy living in a leafy district on the edge of Minneapolis/St Paul, or the “Twin Cities”, in an elegant house her parents had given to them as a wedding present. Fortunately she was kept so busy organizing everything to do with their new home that she didn’t have too much time to dwell on her homesickness. With characteristic American hospitality, her neighbours rallied around and quickly made her feel a part of their community. Izzy’s interest in her music never flagged and this helped too. Eddie’s wedding gift to her had been a baby grand piano and she played happily, both for practice and pleasure, giving an occasional informal concert but carefully keeping out of the limelight. Like her mother before her, her pregnancy wasn’t easy so she had the perfect excuse not to get involved in a programme of either formal or informal engagements. This limit on social activities also helped her to adjust to calling Eddie “Jed” when they were in company.

  As the months passed by she became rather concerned about Eddie. He was looking tired and what her grandmother would have described as “washed out”. Through the severe months of winter weather he seemed to get cold after cold, the infections always sitting on his chest and causing him to cough a great deal. It was one such infection he had been suffering from when Harry had visited them. It was now late February and the baby was due in April. Izzy put it all down to his anxiety over the approaching birth. She kept pressing him to go to the doctor but he had insisted that he didn’t need to, certain that once the warm summer mon
ths came he would be fine again. Then one day, when the home help was off ill, she was sorting their clothes to run through the washing machine and noticed that one of his handkerchiefs had quite a lot of blood on it. Having grown up in Ireland where tuberculosis, although now curable, was still feared, she immediately panicked, for this was one of the dreaded symptoms of that disease. She phoned him at work and insisted that he go immediately to see the doctor. Hearing the panic in her voice he agreed at once.

  Eddie had known all too well what the symptoms could be but was trying to treat himself, refusing to accept that the blood was more than the result of a damaged throat from all the coughing. However, Izzy’s fear had communicated itself and he did go at once to see his doctor, who immediately sent him to a consultant in the famous Mayo Clinic not too far away from Minneapolis. Izzy insisted on going with him and he was glad to have her there. A whole range of tests was run and in due course the news was broken to him. This time he had quite deliberately chosen to be on his own with the doctor, not telling Izzy that the results were through.

  ‘I’m sorry, Jed.’

  ‘It’s all right, Doctor, I’ve a fair idea of what you’re going to tell me. It’s tuberculosis, isn’t it?’

  ‘No, it’s not.’

  ‘Oh! But the symptoms?’

  ‘Yes, they’re the signs of TB but I’m afraid it’s something more serious.’

  ‘I don’t think you need to go on.’

  ‘There’s no easy way to break this to you, Jed. I’m afraid it’s lung cancer and well advanced.’

  ‘Dear God! And my wife’s expecting our first child in less than two months’ time. How long have I got?’

  ‘With luck just a bit more than that. It’s an unusual type, but one we’re seeing more and more. It’s mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos. Did you ever work with asbestos?’

  Eddie thought for a few seconds.

  ‘Yes. I’m pretty sure there was quite a lot in the buildings I was helping to demolish years ago, when I was doing labouring jobs to earn some extra funds.’