by Comfort Me
‘It’s all over now,’ Anna said. ‘We’ll all make a fresh start.’
Anna closed her eyes and Dorrie exclaimed, ‘I’m tiring you. James will kill me. How could I ever have believed that you were only his housekeeper, Anna?’
Anna had no intention of discussing her marriage so she merely smiled with her eyes closed and Dorrie crept away.
Before Dorrie returned to London she and Anna spent hours talking together and it was clear to both of them that the girls they had been had gone, never to return. Life had altered both of them and they had matured in different ways, but enough of the affection and closeness of their young days remained to form the basis of a strong and enduring friendship.
Both had secrets from the other. Anna would never disclose her original marriage arrangement with James, or how Eugene and Dorrie came into it. And although Dorrie spoke of her fear that she would never have a child she said nothing about the reason for it, or the reason for the quarrel with Michael which caused her flight to Liverpool.
It was a supremely happy time for Anna. Matters of state and unrest in the city which would once have disturbed her passed her by as she sat in dreamy contentment, watching her children flourish.
When Frances died they had offered her room to Julia but she had refused. ‘No thanks, I’m grand where I am,’ she had said. ‘Especially now with Melda for company. The room will be grand for the babies, though.’ And so it proved.
The two cots were placed in there and soon replaced with one large cot so that the babies could lie together. Although so tiny, Margaret was quickly established as the dominant character, her hands exploring John’s face or pulling at his clothes while he lay back, smiling placidly.
Anna regained her full strength and the whole household revolved round the two babies, Margaret with blue eyes and straight blonde hair and John with darker eyes and dark curly hair.
Dr and Mrs O’Brien were frequent visitors and Mrs O’Brien told Anna that her illness had done them a good turn. ‘The doctor always did too much and we’re not getting any younger. He was pleased with the way Dr Hogan and the young locum ran things while he was here day and night, so he’s promoted Dr Hogan and taken young Bligh into the practice as junior doctor. He can take things easier now.’
‘I’m glad Father’s decided to leave the sea,’ Anna said. ‘He and Clara went to Hull but they found everything changed so they’ll stay in Westbourne Street.’
‘They wouldn’t want to be far from the babies,’ Mrs O’Brien said, looking fondly at them. ‘And of course Dorrie and Michael are coming to Liverpool,’ she went on. ‘Have you seen the house they’ve chosen?’
‘Not yet, but I believe it’s huge,’ Anna said.
‘A mansion! Not far from the river at Grassendale. Michael must have done very well in London to afford that,’ said Mrs O’Brien. ‘Quite far away, at the south end of the city, but of course they have that motorcar.’
‘James says he’s laying the ground to do well here too,’ said Anna. ‘I’m very fond of Michael.’
‘And so are we, and of Dorrie. She seems to have grown up at last. Did you hear about Maggie Doyle? She’s expecting a baby after all these years.’
Anna smiled. ‘Yes. Mrs Deagan would be delighted, wouldn’t she? I’ll be having another one sometime. Rosa, the gypsy who came to Frances, said I would have three children who would look after me in my old age.’
Mrs O’Brien looked shocked. ‘You shouldn’t be meddling in that sort of stuff, Anna,’ she said.
‘Only joking,’ Anna said and changed the subject by telling her that she was planning a party to celebrate the twins’ birth. ‘About the date of King George’s coronation, June the twenty-third,’ she said. ‘Dorrie and Michael will be in their new house by then. It will be to thank all the people who have been so good to us.’
‘That’s a nice idea,’ Mrs O’Brien said approvingly. ‘And you have a lot to celebrate, with all three of you so healthy.’
Before that happened Rosa came to the house again and Anna gave her the clothes and the small sum of money Frances had left her. She added a substantial sum from herself and James.
‘Your medicine gave Frances many hours free from pain and I’m grateful for that. My husband didn’t know or he would have been grateful too,’ said Anna.
Rosa took her hand and seemed to go into a trance. ‘Dark clouds are gathering,’ she said in a dreamy voice. ‘But you will always know happiness. A generation of young men will die, perhaps by a plague that attacks young men, perhaps by war.’
‘When? Where?’ Anna gasped.
‘All over the world,’ Rosa said, ‘but you and your husband and three children will be safe.’ Then she opened her eyes and sighed. She would say nothing more about her prophecy but she offered to tell Julia’s fortune. She told her she would marry and have two children. Her husband would be a delicate man who died young but Julia herself would be rich and successful.
She left carrying a basketful of Julia’s cooking and James returned a little later. They told him about Rosa’s forecasts. ‘I nearly laughed in her face,’ Julia said. ‘Where would I find a man who would give me half as good a life as I have now? I’d be mad to settle for a little house and a child every year and having to do what my husband told me to. Never!’
‘But what about love, Julia?’ James teased her and sang, ‘There is nothing half so sweet in life as Love’s young dream.’
But Julia said scornfully, ‘Sure I don’t believe in all that. It’s all just a con. I’ll not be tricked by that into getting married.’
‘Oh, Julia, you’re too young to be so cynical,’ Anna said. ‘I’m sure you’ll change your mind.’
James looked at Anna and smiled. ‘We had odd ideas too, Julia,’ he said. ‘But we found out we were wrong. Believe me, there’s nothing to beat a happy marriage. I hope you’ll find that out too – but not just yet,’ he added with a grin and Julia smiled at him.
‘Ah, sure we none of us know what’s in store for us, as Miss O’Neill used to say, Lord rest her.’
Neither Anna nor Julia spoke again about Rosa’s other forecast of plague or war, considering it too fanciful.
Dorrie and Michael’s new house was soon ready and they came to stay at Westbourne Street while the final preparations for moving in were made. Dorrie must have scarcely paused to greet her father and her aunt before she came rushing to see Anna, accompanied by Michael.
‘Anna!’ she cried, bursting into the room where Anna was just putting Margaret into the cot. ‘I couldn’t wait to tell you. I want you to be the first to know. I’m going to have a baby!’
‘Oh, Dorrie, I’m so thrilled!’ Anna exclaimed, flinging her arms round her sister, then as she saw Michael’s beaming smile and shining eyes, she included him in the hug. ‘Oh, isn’t this lovely news? When?’
‘January or February. I’m not sure,’ Dorrie said. ‘Could even be on the twins’ birthday. Wouldn’t that be lovely?’
‘They’ll be able to play together!’ Anna exclaimed. ‘Isn’t it wonderful? I can’t wait to tell James.’
‘I’ll be able to tell people now too,’ Michael said, laughing. ‘I didn’t dare say anything before Dorrie told you or she’d have murdered me.’
Dorrie and Michael had been in their new house for two weeks and most people had heard of the coming baby before Anna’s party took place. It was held on a lovely sunny day. Captain Furlong and Clara came early and made a beeline for the twins and then Dr and Mrs O’Brien arrived with Dorrie and Michael and Michael’s parents, who were staying with them.
‘You don’t mind me bringing Mammy and Daddy?’ Michael asked. ‘Sure I couldn’t keep Mammy away from a look at the twins. I think she’s hoping they run in the family!’
‘Could happen,’ James said and Anna added quickly, ‘And the birth doesn’t have to be like mine. That was just unfortunate but don’t let’s talk about it. The babies are here and healthy, that’s all that matters.’
�
��And most importantly, you’re here,’ James said, looking at his wife with love.
Henry and Margaret Mortimer arrived and Anna’s midwife and her husband were soon followed by most of the Deagan family. Winnie and Gerald with their little daughter, Luke and Jim with Norah and Maggie and Walter, who seemed to glow with quiet happiness.
‘I was so delighted to hear your news from Mrs O’Brien,’ Anna said softly to Maggie as she kissed her. ‘How pleased your ma would be. Congratulations, Walter.’
‘Thank you,’ they both said and Maggie added shyly, ‘We’re not saying too much about it yet.’
‘I understand,’ said Anna. She looked over to where Dorrie was talking excitedly, the centre of a small group. ‘Dorrie’s telling the world about hers,’ she added laughing.
‘Everybody’s different,’ Walter said tolerantly.
More people were arriving and Anna and James went to greet them. Anna had originally planned the party as a thank you for the people who had helped them at the time of the twins’ birth, but it had grown to include many friends from the church and then a wider and more mixed group of people, from all walks of life, whom she and James had met through their many interests. Friends, old and new, mingled happily.
Anna took the babies indoors to be fed, then Julia laid them at either end of the large twin pram on the path outside the windows. James arrived beside them immediately, closely followed by Dr and Mrs O’Brien and Isabel and John who had just arrived.
Baby John lay calmly, examining his hands, but Margaret, although so tiny, was twisting about, clutching at the pillow, seeming to try to pull herself up.
‘I think she’ll be a handful,’ Isabel said laughing, ‘but John won’t give you any trouble.’
‘He has his moments,’ Anna said. ‘He’s not placid all the time, is he, James?’
‘No, but they’re both very advanced for their age,’ James said proudly.
Isabel hid a smile. ‘It’s wonderful to see how their characters are already forming, isn’t it?’
‘“In our beginning is our end”,’ Anna said. ‘I think that’s probably truer than “Give me a child until he is seven.” I think the real character shows through eventually.’ She linked her arm in James’s and said quietly, ‘Certainly true of you, love.’
They had drawn back a little as the others hung over the pram and James said, ‘Frances always said there was nothing of my mother or uncle in me. I was just like my father. I hope she was right.’
‘She was,’ Anna said with conviction. ‘Aunt Clara says I inherited nothing from my mother, all from my father. So that’s good news for our children, isn’t it?’
Before James could answer, Dr O’Brien was asking if he could take a baby and was picking up John Patrick. Mrs O’Brien followed him, shaking her head as he bore the child to a group nearby.
James bent over the pram. ‘We can’t leave you on your own can we, sweetheart?’ he said dotingly to Margaret as he lifted her up. ‘Would you like to come and meet the Deagans? They’re splendid fellows.’ He set off carrying his daughter and Anna and Isabel were left by the empty pram and moved to sit on a garden seat.
‘The proud father,’ Isabel said smiling. ‘He idolises them, doesn’t he? I’ll bet he’ll spoil them.’
‘Yes. I’ll have to be the one to be firm with them,’ Anna said. ‘But I understand why. After the childhood he had, James could never strike a child. I won’t either but I’ll set limits, let them know how far they can go. I think children need that. We’ll give them as happy a childhood as we can but we have to prepare them for anything life throws at them.’
Isabel kissed her impulsively. ‘How wise you are, Anna. I understand what you mean about James. He’ll want to give them the childhood he never had.’
‘Yes, and I’ll see that Margaret has the freedom I didn’t have,’ Anna said.
John Holland returned to ask Isabel to come to meet someone and Anna went into the house to confer with Julia. When she came out she stood for a moment at the French windows, looking at her guests thronging the garden. The ladies in their pretty dresses and the young men mostly wearing light summer suits and straw hats and all apparently enjoying themselves.
Suddenly she thought of Rosa’s words, ‘a generation of young men will die’ and felt that a cloud came over the sun, but she dismissed the words immediately as nonsense. How could a plague attack only young men? And war was fought between two countries, not all over the world. She shook herself and went out to join her friends.
Isabel was talking to Agnes Carr, with whom Anna had attended Eleanor Rathbone’s meetings, and Anna joined them. ‘My life has been filled with the babies lately,’ she said. ‘But I will soon start attending the meetings again.’
‘There’s so much still to be done,’ Agnes Carr said. ‘Life is good for people like you who have understanding husbands but so many women are still dominated by the men in their lives. Their situations haven’t changed.’
‘Life hasn’t altered much for the poor, either,’ Anna said. ‘And it won’t until we get the vote. Get the power to change things for people who can’t fight for themselves.’
‘I agree,’ Isabel said. ‘I can see how much of a difference the Old Age Pension, “the Lloyd George” as they call it, has made to the elderly people in the village. It’s only a few shillings but it’s independence for them.’
A friend claimed Agnes Carr’s attention and Dorrie approached Anna and Isabel and linked her arms though theirs. ‘Isn’t this a lovely day and a lovely party?’ she said. ‘I feel so happy, don’t you? It’s like old times, the three of us together.’
‘A lot has happened to us since then, Dorrie,’ Isabel said, winking at Anna, ‘but Anna and I have decided we’re not to blame for any of it. It was all decided before we were born.’
She laughed but Dorrie looked at her wide-eyed. ‘I don’t understand that. I’m not clever like you and Anna but I think we’ve all been very lucky.’
Anna smiled down at her. ‘We have indeed,’ she said fondly. ‘Now, where are the babies?’
‘Dr O’Brien has John Patrick,’ Isabel said. ‘And James has just joined him with Margaret.’ As she spoke there was a burst of laughter from the group.
‘Let’s go and join them,’ Anna said. They smiled and moved towards the merry group surrounding James and the doctor.
First published in the United Kingdom in 1999 by Headline
This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
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Copyright © Elizabeth Murphy, 1999
The moral right of Elizabeth Murphy to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788634793
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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