Bright guessed this. ‘Well, he’s a lot older than you were,’ she soothed. ‘It’s easier to do the right thing when you’re set up with your own land and a house for your wife.’
He nodded. ‘Maybe – now come on, are we going to get this blasted present or not? It would’ve been easier if you’d asked her what she wanted.’
‘I did.’ His wife steered him into an arcade where a carillon of bells chimed out festive tunes. ‘She just said manchester, but I—’
‘What, the whole of Manchester? I might’ve known that greedy little cat’d ask for summat big.’
Bright thumped him, laughing. ‘I mean manchester as in bedding and towels! I must admit I’ve only just found out that that’s what it means. Did you know?’ she asked her daughter, who nodded as if she had known all along. ‘I just thought there were an awful lot of shopkeepers with the name Manchester.’
‘So we’re getting her a towel?’ asked Nat.
‘Towels! Plural, you stingy devil. Though I wanted to buy her something a bit more special.’
‘Nay, I can’t think of anything handier than a towel,’ said her husband, with new purpose to his stride, ‘specially at moment. The sweat’s dripping off me. Away before I drop.’
* * *
Watching the bride take her wedding vows in a local church Oriel felt deeply envious of her friend, imagining herself in Melinda’s place. She still felt a certain resentment against Daniel for his abandonment of mother and child, but fought to put it aside. After all, if Melinda was happy to take him back it was no concern of hers. Besides, Daniel was far too nice for her to be able to maintain her reproval.
After the ceremony the guests retired to the house that had been suitably decorated for a Christmas wedding, both inside and out, with gum boughs tied to each verandah post, white ribbons and silver bells.
Oriel found herself as maid of honour sitting next to Daniel at the table and as no one else appeared to be making much conversation felt compelled by politeness to say, ‘Mel tells me you’re a bit of a hero.’
His confused eyes looked at her over the waitress’s arm as she reached across to serve him roast potatoes.
Oriel felt silly. ‘Weren’t you wounded in the war?’
He cracked a grin, his whole face lighting up as he did so. ‘Oh yeah, that’s right, but I wasn’t doing anything heroic. I was loading someone on a stretcher and copped a bit of shrapnel. Sorry, I’ve no daring tales to tell.’
‘You were in the medical corps, then?’ Oriel leaned aside to allow the waitress to serve her.
‘Yeah, all of us.’ He indicated his two groomsmen who were as laconic as all the other menfolk seemed to be, leaving any conversation to the women.
‘So was a friend of ours.’ She poured gravy on her meal, then reached for the salt cellar. ‘I always wanted to be a nurse, but I changed my mind.’
‘Good job too. Can’t stand nurses, they’re too bossy.’
Oriel’s lips parted, then at his sudden grin she laughed. ‘Just as well I became a secretary then, isn’t it? Want some salt?’ She jumped at the clatter of metal against china and looked around, clutching her chest. Seated to her right, Jimmy Magee, one of the groomsmen, had dropped his knife and was looking uncomfortable, a spattering of gravy on the white linen.
‘He’ll try and make music out of anything, won’t yer, Jimmy?’ announced Daniel, trying to lighten his friend’s discomfort, explaining to Oriel, ‘He’s in a band. Sorry, Jim, yer failed to impress that time.’
Oriel smiled forgiveness at the man, then noticed that his hands were shaking and was too astonished to tear her eyes away. Earlier, she had seen a young good-looking chap with pointed features, dark hair and eyes, but now those eyes were like black swirling pools.
‘The Two Mugs, that’s what they used to call us in the army!’ Daniel appeared to be putting on a show. Realizing that he was trying to distract attention from his friend, Oriel pulled herself together and turned to listen, though sensed the man trembling beside her, his leg vibrating against that of the table, rattling the crocks. ‘Magee and Maguire! Always getting us mixed up, they were. And if there was any trouble he’d usually caused it and I’d get the blame.’ With grinning face he related a couple of incidents, flicking occasional glances at his friend, who had begun to slide lower and lower in his chair. The day was hot, every face glowed, but this brow was beaded in the sweat of terror.
Despite the patter none of the other guests could fail to notice the man’s head descend beneath the table. Fixed smiles held Daniel’s face, nodding heads forcing laughter, eyes flickering to the empty chair. Only Oriel appeared not to notice, her own attention concentrated on Daniel, who was the life and soul of the party. Not until he paused for breath did she turn and see the vacant seat and began to look around for Jimmy Magee.
Banter exhausted, Daniel muttered from the side of his mouth, ‘He’s under the table. Don’t make a deal of it.’ He smiled for the other guests.
The incident made Bright feel uncomfortable herself, and she took up where Daniel had left off, exhorting the guests to embark on the feast and eat as much as they liked.
‘Had we better slip him something under the table?’ Used to seeing this kind of behaviour from her own mother Oriel did not share the harassed looks of others.
Daniel shook his head. ‘Nah, he’ll be right in a minute. Just knock that fork on the floor, help him save face.’ He ate a mouthful, then studied her. ‘Yer don’t seem too put out by it.’
As unobtrusively as she could, Oriel knocked the piece of cutlery off the table, then inclined towards him, murmuring, ‘I’m just relieved it isn’t Mother under there.’
Daniel gave an acknowledging smile. Melinda had told him about Mrs Prince’s funny turns. All at once he seemed to remember that he had a wife and looked away from Oriel to check if Melinda was feeling neglected, but she seemed happy enough. Catching his eyes on her, she grinned affectionately and shared a few words as both continued to eat. When the person on her other side solicited her attention, Daniel turned back to glance at Oriel, and then at Jimmy, who had just emerged with the fork as if nothing had happened – though his face was drained.
Oriel tried to pretend as if Jimmy’s behaviour were normal, happy to continue her conversation with his friend. ‘It’s a pity your parents couldn’t come, but it’s nice to meet your brothers and sister.’
‘Yes, three out of eight isn’t bad.’ Daniel smiled. ‘I come from a family of eleven. Ten boys, one girl.’ When Oriel expressed amazement he laughed, then was in turn subdued. ‘Three o’ me brothers was killed in the war.’ He brushed aside her sympathy. ‘I expect me Mum ’n’ Dad’s written me off too. Oh well.’
After a brief shrug, he fell silent to finish his meal, Oriel enjoying the occasional contact with him as their elbows brushed.
During the toasts and the brief halting speech from the other groomsman, Norm, it was agreed that the young couple had been most generously served by Mr and Mrs Prince. To finish, Norman lifted his glass to Oriel and said that she was the best-looking bridesmaid he had ever seen, at which everyone called, ‘Hear, hear!’
It was then the groom’s turn to make his speech. Oriel lowered her blue eyes to the tablecloth and, wearing a little smile, listened whilst Daniel made his address.
‘Ladies and gentlemen – and Norm.’ He grinned at the other who, after the effort of speaking, was now guzzling a pot of beer. ‘I’ll bet some of you thought this day’d never come.’ A glance at his grim-faced brother-in-law caused him to wince. ‘Well, I’d just like to say I regret all the trouble I’ve caused, but now I’m here to take care of Melinda and Alice, I’ve got a good home for them, and I hope you can let bygones be bygones. It’s a pity some folk chose to stay away, but there y’are, yer can’t please everybody.’
Oriel listened in fascination to the pitch of his voice, as soothing and pleasant as linctus.
‘I want to say thanks to Mel’s mum and dad for being so reasonable. Don�
��t you worry, I’ll take good care of her. And there’s just one or two other people to thank. Mr and Mrs Prince for giving us this bonzer spread. I haven’t eaten this good since I was in the army. Yes, that was a joke. And a special thanks to Melly’s friend Oriel for giving her the support that really should’ve come from me. So, will yer lift your glasses – to Oriel and Mr and Mrs Prince!’
After the toasts, the male guests retired with refilled tumblers and gathered together in the next room for serious drinking, leaving the women behind. Oriel would have much preferred to integrate and, though ostensibly listening to the bride’s chatter, her eyes wavered through the open doorway to where Daniel and his fellows exchanged the odd cryptic comment between supping from their glasses. For once, with no conversation expected of him – the other men as laconic as he was – her father did not appear out of place, and sat in happy ponderance. From time to time Daniel would take the stage and, with just one brief inaudible sentence, induce a loud burst of appreciation, causing Oriel’s lips to turn up at the corners though she had not caught the joke.
‘Like yer frock, love.’ Mrs Elliot had to speak twice before Oriel heard her. The recipient of the compliment looked startled, then smiled her thanks and was forced to attend the countrywoman’s slow delivery. ‘Yer mum looks a picture too, doesn’t she?’ The feminine circle murmured accord, some sipping sherry, others beer, but all bestowing admiration upon Bright. ‘Never think you were mother and daughter. Lovely slim figure.’ She herself was well padded.
Made giddy by compliment and sherry, Bright smoothed her dress and gave self-deprecating comment. ‘Just as well it’s fashionable to look boyish. I don’t know what’s happened to me since I had Vicky. My bosoms seem to have disappeared altogether.’
‘You’ll have to get one o’ them brassieres,’ suggested a rosy-cheeked grandmother.
‘They don’t make them for caraway seeds,’ replied Bright, drawing loud laughter. Oriel laughed too, but as the dialogue became less entertaining, Melinda telling the others of her domestic plans, her eyes and mind were lured back to Daniel, who was no longer holding court but had given the stage to his friend Jimmy and stood laughing at what was obviously a much more interesting speech than was going on in here. Watching that genial face, she could not help a warm little smile from tweaking her own lips – though when his gaze happened to land on her she was quick to look away, reminded that this was her friend’s husband.
Concentration diverted, she allowed her mind to return to where it should be. The bride was still babbling on about how she was going to arrange her new house, and Oriel was able to contribute some comment upon this before going on to ask a more pertinent question. ‘That friend of Daniel’s, Jimmy Magee—’
‘Oh strike, wasn’t he an embarrassment!’ Melinda’s look of apology toured the female circle. ‘But Dan would insist on having him.’ Too late, she remembered Mrs Prince had a slate loose too and tried to inject compassion by lowering her voice. ‘Shell shock. He’s a real wreck. I’d never met him before today, nor the other one, Norm – he’s a good bloke, got a well-paid job too.’
Oriel glanced at Daniel’s other friend whom she had privately dubbed Normie No-nose in accordance with the little button of flesh in the middle of his face, a baby’s nose. He was a pleasant enough fellow, but she felt his charm was just a little artificial. Of course, her aversion could just be due to the fact that he had a large gap between his teeth which, ever since Errol, she had regarded as synonymous with knavery. In contrast, she felt desperately sorry for the other man. Freed from terror, his face showed a keen intelligence.
‘Won’t be seeing much of either of ’em after today, though. Norm lives in Carlton and Jimmy’s at the Anzac Hostel.’ This was the name given to the nearby Red Cross convalescent hospital. ‘Been there over a year apparently, and he’s just getting used to going out on his own. Still gets scared. ’Sa wonder Dan could persuade him to come out today.’ She gave a sound of mild irritation at her husband. ‘He only asks if we can take Jimmy to live with us! I wasn’t having that. Look at ’em there side by side. He’s seen more of Dan today than I have. Anybody’d think they were the married couple.’
Oriel felt a pang of emotion that was almost akin to bereavement. ‘Well, you’ll have him all to yourself after today. Can I refill anyone’s glass?’ Several tumblers were immediately extended.
The drink continued to flow in abundance. Nat might grumble over the expense but he was having no one call him miserly. In consequence the guests became increasingly drunk and as the late afternoon brought relief from the sun, Bright steered the party out into the garden where they would cause less damage.
In the dark confines of the lavatory, Oriel could hear male voices nearby, and sat for a while longer than necessary, knickers round ankles, eavesdropping on their conversation. Unaware that they could be overheard, Daniel and his friends had resorted to low speech.
She recognized Norm’s ponderous drawl. ‘Did yer see the arse on that sheila who dished up the grub?’
A Yorkshire voice offered dour description. ‘Here’s me head, me arse is coming.’
‘Christ, she leaned over to give the next bloke some spuds and stuck it right in me face! I was just gonna tuck in with me knife ’n’ fork – no wonder Jim had one of his funny dos.’
There followed all shades of colourful military phrases and rude language that had Oriel doubled over in silent laughter – until someone knocked on the closet door and enquired, ‘Anyone in?’
After hurried adjustment of her clothes, she handed over possession of the lavatory to an apologetic man and rejoined the party where very soon the mood was to change.
Somehow, the men’s talk had come round to the recent election for the House of Representatives. Having registered too late on the electoral roll Nat had forfeited his franchise this year but, unfamiliar with the political parties and the complicated nature of government he was happy to wait until properly educated. One of the others provided explanation. The end of the war had brought new beginnings for everyone, the old divisions between city and bush, the sense of injustice felt by those who produced the wealth against those who made use of it, had led to the formation of the Country Party led by Earle Page. Conservative in outlook, it had supported the Nationalists, who had recently been returned to government.
Melinda’s father had given his vote to the new party. ‘I’m sick o’ Billy Hughes. He takes the piss out o’ the Page bloke but accepts his help when it suits him.’
‘Needs all the help he can get,’ slurred his son. ‘Too busy kowtowing to the army.’
His father made some other comment which inspired drunken retort from Norm. ‘Yer don’t know what yer talkin’ about, yer silly old galah!’
Melinda’s brother, who had been waiting for an excuse to punish Daniel for his abandonment of her, started pushing and shoving Norm, then picked on those who came to help, landing such a blow that sent the groom flying across Bright’s prized flowerbed, and with that the rest of the Elliot clan pitched in.
‘Oh, my kangaroo paws!’ Bright wailed. She pushed her way through the scrummage and helped to haul Daniel to his feet, gasping at the flattened border he left behind. ‘On your wedding day too. You should be ashamed of yourself!’
‘Yes, you should, showing me up!’ Melinda was furious.
Oriel tried to calm the situation as the victim mopped at his grazed cheekbone. ‘It’s not Daniel’s fault!’ She glared at Melinda’s brother, who was being held back by others.
The bride was quick to defend. ‘He was only sticking up for his family!’
Oriel tried to gauge how Daniel felt at this lack of loyalty but his face gave nothing away.
‘Aye well, I reckon it’s time you were off on your travels before it gets dark.’ Nat gave an exaggerated look at his watch, bringing the wedding party to an abrupt end.
The bride, the groom and their child were escorted to their old car that Daniel had purchased with money borrowed from the G
overnment and which was laden with gifts and belongings. Before climbing in, Melinda, now all smiles again, clutched Oriel’s hand and thanked her for all she had done.
Teary-eyed, Oriel replied with, ‘Write soon!’ then took a last look at Daniel, who leaned over to murmur: ‘Will yer do us a favour? Keep an eye on Jimmy for me. He’s a good mate.’
‘I will.’ She smiled into his eyes, he patted her, then after vociferous farewells and kisses drove out of her life to the clatter of tin cans, leaving behind a mob of waving relatives who very soon departed too.
‘What dreadful people!’ Bright felt safe to say of the bride’s family after all were gone. ‘I’ve never seen such violence.’
‘They remind me of your lot.’ Nat relaxed with his feet up, cigarette in mouth.
At first offended, Bright was forced to admit with a laugh, ‘I suppose they are – but at least they took Melinda back.’ She turned to her daughter. ‘You’re going to miss her aren’t ye?’ There was no response ‘Oriel!’
Her thoughts concentrated on the newly married couple in their marriage bed, Oriel blushed and jumped as if caught in the act. ‘Oh sorry, yes. Yes, I am.’ Yet it was not Melinda who inspired her wistful air. Try as she might not to covet her friend’s husband, she found it impossible to erase Daniel’s laughing image from her mind.
* * *
Having not seen Dorothy since before Melinda’s surprise visitor had called, Oriel had plenty to tell her when they met up for a New Year’s Eve jaunt to the city.
‘He sounds like he’s a real rough diamond,’ opined the taller girl as she sat and watched her friend apply a line of pencil to her heavily plucked eyebrows.
Oriel’s reflection smiled at her from the mirror. ‘One might get that impression from the way he’s behaved but he didn’t offer any retaliation towards Mel’s brother – now he is a rough one. No, Daniel’s really kind and friendly and good to talk to. I feel as if I’ve known him all my life. Not to mention he’s got the most beautiful eyes.’ Her speech was distorted by her efforts to apply crimson lipstick. ‘I can see why Mel’s attracted to him – and he was very taken with little Alice. I was a bit short with him at first, because of the way he walked out on her – well, you know my circumstances. But he doesn’t seem the heartless type at all, and at least he decided to accept his responsibilities before Alice is old enough to be affected by his absence.’
A Complicated Woman Page 25