One Week in August

by Margaret Thornton

  ‘Worse than that,’ muttered Jonathan. ‘It’s Thelma. She’s pregnant.’

  Sam had to control a smile. This was the last thing he had expected to hear. The prim and proper Thelma who looked as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. With her blonde hair worn in a page-boy style and her pale blue eyes she appeared the typical ice-maiden. But you never could tell …

  ‘Oh, I see,’ he answered. ‘And … are you the father?’

  ‘Of course I’m the father!’ said Jonathan irritably. ‘But whatever am I going to do about it? However can I tell Mother?’

  ‘You are asking me?’ said Sam. ‘It’s your problem. What do you expect me to do about it?’

  ‘Just … just be there for me. Support me if you can. There’s going to be a hell of a row. I don’t know how I’m going to face it.’

  ‘Well, you’ll have to, won’t you? What about Thelma? Has she told her parents?’

  ‘She’s says she’s going to tell them tonight. So I’ll have to do the same before the women – her mother and mine – get together in high dudgeon. Listen, Sam … I’m sorry I said all those things about Valerie. I know she’s really a very nice girl.’

  ‘About not wanting any riff-raff at your wedding, you mean?’ Sam gave a sardonic smile although it wasn’t in his nature as a rule to be vindictive.

  ‘Oh well, I didn’t mean it,’ said Jonathan, looking a little discomfited. ‘It was only meant as a joke.’

  ‘It didn’t sound like a joke to me …’

  ‘Well, you know me. I was half joking, then. You know what Mother’s like.’

  ‘And you have no more sense than to go along with her. Why do you kowtow to her, Jon, the way you do?’

  ‘I suppose I know which side my bread is buttered,’ he replied. ‘I admit I’ve tried to keep on the right side of her. But I’ll be in for a real rocket now, you can be sure of that.’

  ‘So what do you have in mind then? A register office do, all hush-hush with nobody knowing till it’s all over?’

  ‘I don’t know. You can’t tell which way Mother will jump. It might be that, because she’s ashamed of us, or, on the other hand she might still want a big do with top hats and morning suits and all that, because that’s what everyone will expect. But whichever it is … I’d like you to be my best man … please, Sam.’

  ‘My goodness. That’s a surprise! You do understand, don’t you, that Valerie will have to be with me?’

  ‘Of course I understand. I didn’t really mean all that I said. I’ve been watching her, quietly like, and I must admit that I’m quite impressed with her. She gets on well with her colleagues, and she’s bright and efficient. Very pretty, too. I reckon you’ve done quite well there, little brother. And, as Father says, her dad’s a damn good worker.’

  ‘Yes, all very true,’ said Sam, biting back any derogative remark about his brother changing his tune, which had come about, he knew, because his brother wanted his support.

  ‘Listen, Sam … You will stick up for me, won’t you, in all this? Oh, what a bloody mess we’ve got ourselves into! But we do love one another, you know. She’s the right girl for me. And I promise that I’ll support you about Valerie. If you want her to be with you at this damned Ladies Evening, then Mother will have to see sense. Or else I won’t go either.’

  Sam smiled at his brother. ‘You’re not such a bad sort, Jon, all told. And there’s only the two of us, you and me. We’ve got to stick together. I suppose I’ve always stuck close to Father, rather than Mother. I don’t know how he puts up with her at times. Anybody would think she’s the Queen Mother, the way she behaves.’

  ‘I suppose it’s anything for a quiet life, with Father,’ said Jonathan. ‘Right, are you ready? Shall we go and brave the lion in its den? Lioness, I should say!’

  ‘Yes, why not?’ Sam grasped his brother’s arm. ‘Let’s go and face the music.’

  Joshua and Beatrice were both in the sitting room watching a documentary on the television. Sam supposed it was better that they were both there. Father could be relied on to keep a clear head and an open mind.

  ‘We’d like to have a word with both of you,’ began Jonathan.

  ‘Dear me! That sounds ominous,’ said Joshua. ‘The two of you together, that’s unusual for a start.’

  ‘Unusual circumstances, Father,’ said Sam. ‘Go on, Jon, it’s over to you.’ He nudged his brother, and they sat down together, side by side, on the large settee.

  ‘This is all very mysterious,’ said Beatrice, smiling at Jonathan rather than at Samuel. ‘Come along now, dear. What do you want to tell us?’

  ‘Er … well … it’s like this, you see, Mother,’ Jonathan began. ‘Thelma and I, we’ve decided that we want to get married soon, and not wait till next year. Actually, it’s what we’ll have to do … because Thelma’s pregnant.’ The last few words came out in a rush before he changed his mind.

  The expression on Beatrice’s face changed in an instant from one of loving interest to one of shock and disbelief. ‘Jonathan, did I hear you correctly? You are saying that Thelma is … expecting a baby?’

  ‘Yes, Mother,’ he muttered. ‘That is exactly what I said.’

  ‘Oh, Jonathan! How could you? Whatever will people say? Oh, I can’t believe that you would do this to us. What a disgrace!’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mother,’ said Jonathan. ‘I knew you wouldn’t be pleased, but that’s the way it is. Thelma and I, we love one another, and that’s what has happened.’

  ‘And what has it to do with you?’ Beatrice turned angrily to Sam. ‘Why are you here, may I ask? Have you some undesirable news to tell us as well?’

  ‘No, Mother,’ answered Sam, ‘I’m here to support my brother. I can understand it even if you don’t. These things happen. And we’ve decided, Jon and I, that it’s about time the two of us stuck together.’

  Joshua hadn’t said a word until that point, now a slow grin spread all over his face. ‘Well, well, well,’ he said. ‘You might say it’s history repeating itself … eh, Beattie? It’s just like you and me twenty-nine years ago. Yes …’ he went on as his two sons looked at him in surprise. ‘Your mother and me we had to get wed because Jonathan was on the way. But we had to keep it a secret, you see, because of what folks might say.’

  Beatrice sprang to her feet. ‘Joshua! How could you? You know what you promised. Oh, I can’t believe this. You’ve let me down, all of you.’ Her face was white with anger and frustration as she fled from the room, then they heard her strangled sobs as she went upstairs.

  The brothers looked at one another, both of them wanting to burst out laughing but not daring to. Their mother was truly upset and they knew that her embarrassment would be acute.

  Joshua spoke first. ‘Aye, that’s what happened to your mother and me. My folks didn’t like it, and neither did hers, but we had to go ahead and have a slap-up wedding, and if people did their sums and realized that it didn’t add up, well, they said nowt about it. Folks forget in time, you know, it’s a nine days’ wonder. But your mother insisted on saying that we got wed a year earlier and, fool that I am, I went along with it. But I saw red just now, her being so shocked and self-righteous about it. I really think she’d forgotten what happened to us …’ He shook his head. ‘I’m blessed if I can understand the way her mind works, But it’s you and Thelma that we’ve got to think about now, isn’t it?’ He smiled understandingly at Jonathan. ‘This is a right mess you’ve got us into, isn’t it?’

  ‘Sorry, Father,’ said Jonathan. ‘And I’m sorry that I’ve upset Mother. Actually, I did wonder … She’s so secretive about all sorts of things, isn’t she? Her family that we never see, for one thing.’

  ‘Yes, I know. This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. She’ll have to come down off her high horse and wake up to reality. I dare say you know, don’t you, that she once worked in the mill herself? Not ours, but that was what she was doing when I met her. She worked in the office, same as Sam’s young lady does. So
… what about you and Thelma? What have you got in mind? When’s the baby due?’

  ‘Not for ages. She’s only just found out. But it’s definite. She’s been to the doctor, and she’s starting to feel sick in the morning. She’s telling her parents tonight. And Sam here …’ He turned to his brother. ‘We’ve decided to support one another.’

  ‘Yes, all for one and one for all,’ replied Sam as they grasped one another’s hands.

  ‘He’s going to be my best man,’ said Jonathan, ‘and we must start to include Valerie in our family occasions, just the same as Thelma.’

  Joshua nodded. ‘That’s fine with me, and I’ll make sure your mother agrees an’ all. It’s time Beatrice and I had a serious chat.’

  FIFTEEN

  It was during the second week of October when Cissie realized that what she had feared, had, in fact, happened. She was pregnant, there could be little doubt about it now. She had missed two periods, as she had occasionally done before, but this time it was different. She had started to feel queazy in the mornings, and she had actually been sick that morning following her breakfast. Her breasts felt tight and a little swollen which, so she had heard, was another symptom.

  She confided in Val, as she did over most things, as they walked home from work one evening. ‘It’s a good job we got engaged, Walter and me,’ she said. ‘What I really mean is it’s a good job that I decided to let him – you know – go the whole way because I think I’m having a baby. Well, I don’t just think, I’m pretty sure. I’ve been sick and I’m sort of tight up here.’ She fingered her breasts. ‘And I’m more than two months overdue.’

  ‘Oh … well, I can’t really say congratulations, can I?’ replied Val. ‘As you say, it’s a good job you and Walter got together. What does he say about it?’

  ‘I haven’t told him yet,’ said Cissie, ‘nor my mam and dad. They’ll hit the roof – at least Mam will – but it might have been worse. At least I can say it was Walter, and he doesn’t know any different, does he? I know it’s awful to make use of him, but what else could I do?’

  It didn’t seem to have occurred to Cissie that it might well be Walter’s baby that she was expecting and not Jack’s, but Val didn’t remind her of that. ‘Then you’d better hurry up and tell him, hadn’t you?’ she said. ‘Walter, and your parents. Perhaps your parents won’t say too much. At least you’re engaged to him.’

  ‘I know, but I can’t see that she’ll take it lying down, not me mam. She’ll say I’m a disgrace and no better than I ought to be an’ all that. I’m dreading telling her.’

  ‘Take Walter with you then. She might not go on so much if he’s there. He thinks the world of you, you know, Cissie. You’re very lucky in a lot of ways. Like you say, it could have been a lot worse.’

  ‘Yes, I know. He’s more possessive than ever now we’re engaged. But he’s OK.’ She shrugged. ‘He’s got a good job, and he’s not afraid of spending a bob or two. He said he was saving up to get a car of his own, but I can’t see that happening now. We’ll have to think about getting somewhere to live. I don’t fancy living with his parents, and certainly not with mine.’

  ‘Just tell him then. Tell him tonight.’

  ‘OK. Yes I will,’ Cissie agreed as they said goodbye. ‘Think of me, won’t you?’

  This was the second forthcoming marriage she had heard of in a very short time, thought Val, as she parted from her friend. Sam had told her that his brother and his fiancée, Thelma, would be getting married quite soon. He had said earlier that they would be married next spring. He had not explained the reason for the change of plan, but Val thought she might have an idea why it had been brought forward. Sam had also told her that he was to be his brother’s best man.

  ‘He couldn’t do any other really,’ he said, ‘I’m his only brother. Actually we’ve been getting on a lot better recently.’ Sam also said that his mother was proving much easier to get along with now. ‘It turns out that she worked in a mill office before she and my father got married,’ he told her, ‘just like you do, so she can’t pretend that she’s always been a grand lady. You mustn’t worry about meeting her. It will be OK, I assure you.’

  Plans were soon going ahead for the marriage of Jonathan and Thelma to take place in mid-December. A Christmas wedding instead of a spring one, but just as lavish as had originally been planned. Sam assured Val that she would be receiving an invitation before long. She had also been invited to something called a Masonic Ladies’ Evening in a couple of weeks’ time.

  She had not yet met Sam’s mother, but Jonathan was now much friendlier towards her when they met during working hours. She had been asked to go for afternoon tea on Sunday, an occasion she was anticipating with very mixed feelings.

  ‘You’re as good as her any day of the week,’ Val’s mother had told her. ‘Just be yourself, nice and friendly, like, and don’t bow and scrape to her. She’s not the Queen Mother. Anyroad, Mr Joshua’ll be there, won’t he? And you get on well with him.’

  ‘Aye, he’s a grand chap,’ said her father. ‘Just hold your head up high, that’s my girl. Young Samuel’s a grand lad an’ all. You can trust him to stick up for you.’

  Cissie knew that she must tell Walter straight away. He called for her that evening. They had intended going to the cinema but she told him she had changed her mind. Could they just go for a walk, she suggested, and maybe stop somewhere for a drink? There was something she needed to tell him.

  ‘Fine with me,’ he agreed. It had become something of a ritual, as it was with many couples, to go to the cinema once or twice a week irrespective of what films were being shown. ‘There’s nothing much on at the moment, and we’ll have to start saving up soon, won’t we, for the big day?’

  Although they were engaged they had not talked about a date for their marriage. Cissie knew that Walter would like it to be soon, whereas she had been content to wait a while. Now the circumstances had changed and she knew it would have to be as soon as possible.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, in answer to his remark about saving up. ‘We will need to save up. That’s partly what I wanted to talk about.’

  ‘Now, that’s what I was waiting to hear,’ he said, pulling her closer to him as they walked down to the town centre. ‘I can’t wait for us to get married, Cissie.’

  They went into a pub near the Market Hall which was not too busy at that time in the early evening. She asked for a small shandy, and Walter returned to their secluded table with her drink and a pint of bitter for himself,

  ‘Now, what do you want to tell me?’ he said. ‘Is it that you want us to get married soon? It can’t be soon enough for me, Cissie, love.’

  ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I want to say, Walter,’ she replied. ‘Not that I really want to get married soon. Well … what I mean is, that I want to, but I thought we could wait a while.’ She found she was tying herself in knots and decided to come straight to the point. ‘The thing is, we’ll have to get married soon, because … I’ve discovered I’m having a baby.’

  ‘What?’ He stared at her in amazement. ‘But … you can’t be! It only happened once. You haven’t let me get anywhere near you since then. You said we had to wait, and that’s driving me mad, Cissie. Are you sure? Is it possible … the first time?’

  ‘It seems like it,’ she said. ‘I was surprised an’ all, but there it is. I’ve been feeling sick, and I’ve missed twice, so I must be … pregnant.’ Cissie had been brought up to believe that it was not seemly to talk about personal matters with other people, certainly not with a man, so she felt rather embarrassed at mentioning periods. ‘So now I’ve got to tell my parents,’ she went on. ‘I must tell them tonight, but I wanted you to know first.’

  He shook his head unbelievingly, then he took hold of her and kissed her. ‘So it means we can fix a date straight away? That can’t be bad, Cissie. I’d got it into my head that you’d keep putting it off, but now it’s the sooner the better, isn’t it?’

  ‘Only because we’ve no c
hoice,’ said Cissie. ‘I mean … what will our parents say, mine and yours? They’re not going to be over the moon, are they? I’m dreading telling my mam. She’ll tear me limb from limb! She’ll say I’ve let her down, she’s ashamed of me an’ all that.’

  Walter smiled at her. ‘You didn’t do it on your own, Cissie, love. It takes two to tango, as they say. Look … I’ll be there with you. We’ll go and tell them now, then perhaps I’ll break the news to my parents on my own. Come on now; sup up, and we’ll go and face the music.’

  ‘Thank you, Walter,’ said Cissie. ‘That’s what I hoped you’d say.’

  ‘So, the baby’s due in June?’ he asked as they left the pub.

  ‘Yes …’ she replied evasively. ‘I haven’t been to see a doctor yet. With my … er … periods being irregular it’s hard to be sure. It could be earlier … or later.’

  Walter had not even hinted or suggested that he might not be the father, such was his trust in her. And for that Cissie was truly thankful.

  ‘You’re back early,’ said her mother as they walked through the door.

  ‘We decided not to go to the pictures after all,’ said Cissie.

  ‘Oh, I see, you’ll be wanting some supper then, I suppose,’ Mrs Foster said grudgingly, but she smiled at Walter. ‘Come on in, Walter lad. Take your coat off and come and get warm. I’ll get the kettle on, though it’s sooner than I expected.’

  ‘No, it’s alright, Mrs Foster,’ said Walter. ‘We’ll happen have a cup of tea later. Cissie and me, we’ve got something to tell you.’

  ‘Oh … summat nice, I hope?’ said Hannah Foster. She beamed at Walter. ‘Here, Joe,’ she shouted at her husband. ‘Put that damned paper down and take a bit of notice, can’t you? They’ve got summat to tell us, our Cissie and Walter. And I bet I can guess what it is an’ all.’

  The living room was overcrowded with large items of furniture that the Fosters had had since their marriage, a mish-mash of styles. There was a sturdy oak table which let down when it was not in use, and four chairs to match, a cumbersome three-piece suite in brown velour, worn with age, and an oversize Victorian sideboard with a mirror at the back. Cissie and Walter perched on the edge of the sofa, and Hannah sat in the large easy chair opposite her husband, who meekly put down his newspaper.