For Better, For Worse

by June Francis

  ‘I posted a letter off this morning,’ said Grace, sipping her sherry. ‘But I’ve yet to let my aunt and cousins know.’

  ‘That won’t be easy, given the time you’ve been promised to each other,’ Milly said sympathetically.

  ‘No,’ said Grace, pulling a face. ‘I’m seriously thinking of writing my aunt a letter, but it seems cowardly. Despite her not really being in favour of the match given that we are first cousins, she’ll hate me for rejecting Dougie. Especially when she’s convinced he’s given up his plan to settle in Australia and make something of himself just because of me, although, she never wanted him to go to Australia in the first place.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you to see her?’ Milly suggested. Grace hesitated and then shook her head.

  ‘I’ll speak to Ben about it and see what he thinks.’

  She then told Milly some more of what had taken place last night before checking the time and realising she was late for work. As she rushed off, her head slightly giddy from the sherry, Grace realised cheerfully that she would have to inform her boss of her forthcoming marriage, as it would be expected that she would give up her job once settled, especially as she would have to look in on her father regularly. While she walked along, Grace thought about how there had been times when she had felt a drudge – but earning her own money had come in handy. Her father had been generous with the housekeeping, but she had no idea what Ben would be like. He might be similar to some husbands she had heard about and demand to know where every penny she spent went. However, what must be, must be, and she would be needed in her own home going forward. So, Grace made peace with herself and waited until she had performed all her tasks before she went to break the news to her boss. To her surprise, he took it well, saying that he had expected to lose her to some man sooner rather than later, adding that it was probably time he thought of getting married himself.

  * * *

  That evening Ben and Simon came round, and over celebratory cups of tea and homemade scones with margarine and jam, the talk turned to living arrangements after the wedding. Grace had been dreading this conversation, as she hated the thought of leaving Norman, especially with him not being well. However, once again Ben surprised her, as he suggested straight away that Norman move in with him, Grace and Simon as soon as the couple were married, adding that there was plenty of space, as his house had three bedrooms. Ben quickly justified the idea by saying that it would mean less work for Grace, because otherwise she would be going backwards and forwards between the two homes. Grace caught his eye over the table and she felt a rush of such emotion and wanted to get up and kiss him, thinking what a lovely man he was, understanding how much her father meant to her. She could not help comparing his gracious attitude against Dougie’s uncompromising behaviour about her reluctance to emigrate earlier in the summer.

  ‘I’d like that,’ said Norman. ‘As long as I’m allowed to pay my way.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Ben. ‘You can pay a quarter of the living expenses.’

  ‘A half,’ said Norman, his expression determined.

  ‘No,’ said Ben. ‘I’ll be supporting my wife and son.’

  ‘But you could make more money from a lodger.’

  Ben smiled. ‘But you’re family and I’m not out to make money out of you.’

  Norman let the subject drop, thinking he could always treat the family with a special something now and then. He went over to the sideboard and removed the box of snakes and ladders.

  ‘Who’s for a game?’ he asked.

  Grace cleared the table and Norman set up the game. The four of them pulled chairs up to the table and sat down to play while the wireless played music in the background. When the nine o’clock news came on, Ben stood up and said, ‘Time for bed, son, and no arguments – we have to go.’

  The boy removed his coat from the back of a chair, shrugged the garment on, and removed his cap from a pocket and put that on.

  ‘Thanks for the tea and scones,’ he said.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ said Norman and Grace.

  Grace drew Ben into the lobby. ‘I wanted to tell you that I’ve written to Dougie telling him I won’t be marrying him and that I’ve met someone else,’ she said in a low voice.

  ‘Good,’ said Ben, hugging her. ‘Anything else you want to tell me?’

  She breathed in the scent of him, a combination of wood, wool, a hint of perspiration and soap which she recognised as Wright’s Coal, as her father used it as well. She was still getting used to being so close to him, it made her feel giddy. Yet it also felt so right.

  ‘I told Milly we were getting married and asked her to be my matron of honour.’

  ‘That’s fitting, seeing as how I have spoken to Jimmy today about being my best man.’ He paused. ‘What about your female cousins, will they be put out?’

  ‘Well, one of them is getting married herself next year, so I don’t think she’ll be bothered, as for her older sister, Marion, I don’t care what she thinks. It’s my aunt who I’m bothered about. She’ll take it as a slight. I was wondering if you’d come with me, when I break the news. I mean you’re going to have to meet them sooner or later.’

  ‘If you need moral support, then I’ll come,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘Although, don’t you think it’ll be easier if you and your father invite them to yours for Sunday tea and Simon and I will be there, as well?’

  Her spirits lifted. ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that! I can ask my uncle, as well.’

  The kitchen door opened at that moment and Simon appeared. ‘Are we going then, Dad?’

  ‘Sure, son! Grace and I had something to discuss,’ said Ben, moving apart from Grace and taking his son by the shoulder and directing him towards the front door. She followed them, intending to wave them off. As they reached the pavement Ben turned and said, ‘Do you fancy going the flickers on Friday if your dad can put up with Simon, Grace?’

  ‘I’d like that,’ she replied. ‘I’m sure Dad will be delighted to have Simon’s company.’

  She waved again and then went inside and found her father sitting in an easy chair with his eyes closed. She gazed down at him, noticing the fresh deep lines on his face and the sallow colour of his skin. She wondered if the new lines had been brought on by pain. She knew something of the distress the disease could cause as her hairdresser had succumbed to it. Yet she had heard of others who had survived and gone on to live for at least ten years more due to the new forms of treatment. She touched her father’s shoulder gently.

  ‘Cup of cocoa, Dad?’ His eyelids fluttered and then closed before opening wider.

  ‘Yes, thanks, love.’

  Grace ran water into the kettle and put it on to boil before making the cocoa paste. Then she sat down by the fire with him. ‘I need to talk to you, Dad.’

  ‘Go ahead,’ he urged, sitting up straighter.

  She cleared her throat.

  ‘I need to tell Aunt Polly and the girls I won’t be marrying Dougie. Ben’s suggested I invite them here for Sunday tea and he and Simon will be here, as well, to break the news together. What do you think?’

  ‘It’ll be easier for you spilling the beans here than going along to their house.’

  She nodded. ‘I’ll drop the whole family a line and hopefully they’ll all come. I’ve already written to Dougie telling him I won’t be marrying him and that there’s someone else.’

  ‘You’ve made the right decision, lass,’ Norman said.

  ‘There’s one more thing,’ Grace said, getting up and taking the kettle off the heat. ‘Ben wants to take me to the flickers on Friday evening, so could you look after Simon?’

  ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Now hurry up with that cocoa.’

  While she drank her cocoa, Grace perused the Echo for what films were showing on Friday and discovered that Tarzan and his Mate was being released again as it had been so popular when it was first released. She noticed that Maureen O’Sullivan was in it and decided to ask B
en if they could go and see it on Friday.

  Chapter 12

  The following day, Grace wrote and posted her letter off to her aunt and uncle; she caught the first post and then she put it to the back of her mind and thought instead of going to the pictures with Ben to see the Tarzan film. As it happened Simon dropped by after school to see Fergie and she mentioned the film to him.

  ‘Dad and I have seen it,’ he said.

  Grace was disappointed but decided not to mention it to Ben when he called for her on Friday. She had also received a reply to her letter from her aunt that day which was brief, simply saying that the four of them would be there. Grace decided not to mention it to Ben until after their outing to the flickers.

  As it was, Ben asked her did she like Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. She certainly liked Clark Gable and so answered in the affirmative. So, he told her that Jimmy had mentioned going to see a film called It Happened One Night which was fun, so off they went to the Paramount on London Road to see it.

  The film was enjoyable, romantic as well as witty, but Grace enjoyed Ben holding her hand throughout the film even more. On the tram home she told him that her aunt, uncle and two cousins were all coming to tea on Sunday.

  ‘I’d best get baking,’ she said.

  ‘So, I can look forward to having some more of your delicious scones,’ he said, squeezing her hand.

  ‘And cake and sandwiches,’ she said, gratified by the compliment.

  * * *

  The following day she withdrew some money from her post office saving account to buy the extras she would need, such as the best boiled ham and a tin of Canadian salmon, as well as extra eggs and mayonnaise for the sandwiches, not forgetting the sugar, butter and dried fruit for the scones and cake. On the way home she realised she was looking forward to the feast and showing her relatives that she was capable of plotting out her own life, whatever came her way. She just prayed that the oven would behave itself. She would have to make sure it did not get too hot, but she would bake that evening, so that if anything went wrong, she could make some more scones on Sunday morning.

  Her father thought it would be a good idea if he lit a fire in the parlour and everyone could sit in there until Grace was ready to serve tea in the kitchen. ‘What about using up the coal?’ she fretted. ‘We could run short before the next delivery and we can’t afford to buy extra from the coal yard, not at their prices.’

  ‘Stop worrying,’ he said. ‘We can keep our coats and hats on or go to bed early.’

  With that settled Grace set about making scones having decided to bake a dozen fruit ones and a dozen plain. As for cake, she would make a fruit cake and two dozen fairy cakes. Hopefully, that would be enough with the sandwiches as well. She would have to make sure everything was put safely away out of reach of Fergie whose curiosity might lead him into mischief. Could be best if she took him for a quick walk before bedtime and then have his basket in her bedroom overnight.

  * * *

  Happily, everything went to plan that evening, and the following morning Grace was able to do a quick tidy around before having a lunch of sausages and mash and taking Fergie for a run in the park after which he curled up in his basket and fell asleep. She then boiled some eggs and mixed them with mayonnaise, mashed the salmon with salt and pepper, and made the sandwiches and placed them into greaseproof bags. The boiled ham sandwiches she decorated with slices of tomatoes and put them on plates on the table covered by an embroidered Irish linen tablecloth. She asked her father to place everything else on the table, as she took Fergie with her upstairs and changed into her best tweed skirt. It had a lovely green, beige, and red pattern, which she matched with a pine-green sweater. Grace brushed her hair and fastened it back with two slides, before applying a light rose lipstick and face powder. She took a final look in the mirror at herself and then left the room followed by Fergie.

  The first thing Grace did on entering the kitchen was to check the time on the clock on the mantelshelf and saw that it was three o’clock. She had an hour to check everything was in place before Ben and Simon made an appearance.

  Ben did not come empty-handed, but brought three bottles of beer, one of sherry and a bottle of dandelion and burdock. She thanked him and drew him and Simon inside and led them into the parlour and invited them to sit down. The bottles she placed on the sideboard and then she took glasses out of the cupboard beneath and a bottle opener out of a drawer.

  The door knocker sounded, and she excused herself and went to answer its summons, leaving her father to see to drinks. As she expected, her aunt, uncle and cousins stood on the step along with Beryl’s fiancé, Davy.

  ‘Come on in,’ said Grace, stepping aside and holding the door wide open. ‘Go into the parlour.’

  Polly led the way with her husband Douglas close behind, followed by their daughters and Davy. Grace closed the front door and followed them into the parlour. The three men were on their feet while Simon was on the rug playing with Fergie.

  Her aunt sniffed. ‘I forgot you had a dog – who’s this young man on the floor?’

  ‘I’m Simon,’ said the boy, uncurling and rising to his feet. ‘My dad is going to marry Grace and they are going to come and live in our house.’

  Grace stared at her aunt, whose mouth had fallen open, and waited for the explosion. But it was Marion who said, ‘That’s a right turn up for the book! You’re a right secretive bitch.’

  ‘Language, girl,’ rebuked her father. ‘Remember you’re a guest in this house.’

  ‘Yes, Marion,’ said her mother. ‘Keep a civil tongue in your head.’ She looked across at Ben. ‘I take it I’m right in believing you are this young man’s father?’

  ‘You are, missus. I’m Ben Evans.’ He proffered his hand.

  She hesitated and stared at it before taking it and shaking it. ‘I presume you do know that Grace was supposed to be marrying my son?’

  ‘Yes, and that they are cousins, and that you and her father were not in favour of the match.’

  Grace could not doubt that Ben’s words had taken the wind out of her aunt’s sail. The next minute her uncle was shaking Ben’s hand and congratulating him and welcoming him to the family. Then Beryl and Davy stepped up and shook Ben’s hand and had a conversation with him that Grace could not hear. Marion held back and looked on with a disapproving expression as the rest made friends with Ben and his son. Grace asked her father to pour out some drinks. She was relieved that this first meeting between Ben and her relatives had passed with little unpleasantness.

  Suddenly her aunt was at her side. Polly made a point of saying to her, ‘Have you been in touch with Dougie telling him of your plan to marry someone else?’

  Grace smiled and handed Polly a glass of sherry. ‘I sent a letter to the address in London that he sent me a couple of days ago. Although, whether he’s in London yet I don’t know. I also told him that Dad was ill, and I couldn’t possibly leave him right now.’

  ‘I see,’ said Polly. ‘Norman is obviously in favour of you marrying this Ben Evans.’

  ‘Yes, he and Ben and Simon get on like a house on fire.’

  ‘They must if he’s prepared to have Norman living with you after your wedding,’ said Polly. ‘But if Norman is seriously ill, it won’t be for long will it?’ Her aunt’s words and her tone infuriated Grace.

  ‘Well, he’ll have the best care we can provide and a good Christmas. The wedding is planned for Sunday 9th December at one o’clock in St Margaret’s Church.’

  ‘So soon! You’re not pregnant, are you?’

  ‘Certainly not! Dad didn’t want us to wait and we thought it would be lovely to spend Christmas Eve under the same roof, so we can watch Simon empty his stocking and open his presents. Unlike Dougie, Ben has a sense of family. Anyway, I’d best go and put the kettle on,’ she excused herself. ‘Food’s ready in the other room, I just need to make a pot of tea.’

  As Grace made to leave the room, she was aware that Marion had hurried across to
her mother and the four men were in a group talking avidly about the political situation in Germany. The British press were taking a great interest in what was going on in Italy and Germany as the aged German president, Hindenburg, had died a short while ago and it looked likely that the fascist Chancellor, Adolph Hitler, was likely to take over that powerful role. In Italy, fascist Mussolini was in power and it was said that Hitler was a great admirer of the dictator.

  ‘Hitler is a fanatic – he is growing too big for his boots,’ she heard Ben say. ‘He needs to be stopped. Chamberlain has done his best to bring peace to Europe, but even he agrees there’s a lot of dissatisfaction in Germany since the last war and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.’

  ‘You don’t think there’ll be another war, do you?’ Grace asked, alarmed, from the doorway.

  ‘I bloody hope not,’ Ben said vehemently. ‘Nobody wants another war, even the Germans, I should imagine. There’s no use in worrying about it. We can only leave it to the government and the diplomats and hope for the best.’

  ‘If there is another war,’ said Norman. ‘It’ll be very different to the last one.’

  ‘I wish we hadn’t started this conversation,’ wailed Grace, worried about losing Ben just as they were about to get married.

  ‘Go put the kettle on for tea,’ interrupted Ben, and Grace left the room determined not to worry about such rumours, especially on such an important day like today. She believed that the British government would do anything to prevent another war, so she set aside her fears and got on with making a pot of tea and removing the food from the greaseproof bags. That done she returned to the parlour and told everyone to come through into the kitchen.