by Joan Jonker
Molly closed the living-room door so no sound would go up the stairs to waken Jill who was a very light sleeper. ‘Thank goodness it’s summer and no grate to clean out,’ Molly said aloud as she made for the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. ‘A quick dust around and the place will do.’ Once again she smiled, but this time it wasn’t for any particular reason, it was for all the good things that were happening in the lives of her family. Jill and Doreen settled down with fine husbands who had never given her one moment’s doubt, and whom she loved dearly. And today her only son was marrying Rosie, a beautiful girl who would make him a perfect wife. It only left Ruthie at home now, and it would be quite a few years before she wed, so Molly and Jack would have a breathing space. They might even save up and go to Ireland for a holiday, she’d like that. Monica and Mick had invited them, and apparently when they were in the pub, Mick had invited Corker and George as well! How Jack had laughed when he told her the Irishman had said, with a straight face, that they’d have to sleep in the pig-sty, but sure they weren’t to worry because although the pigs might smell a little, they were very friendly.
Molly poured milk into her cup, stirred it, then carried it through to the living room and plonked herself down on a fireside chair. How quiet and peaceful it was now, but in a couple of hours it would be like a mad-house. The cup was to her lips when the door opened quietly and Jill crept in. ‘I thought I heard yer, Mam, and I knew there’d be a pot of tea on the go.’
‘Pour yerself a cup while it’s still fresh, sunshine, and come and relax for a while. It might be the only chance yer get, so make the most of it.’
But Jill had disturbed Ruthie when she’d got out of bed, and the youngster couldn’t settle. After all, she was going to be a bridesmaid today, and both Gordon and Jeffrey would see her all dolled up. She opened the door with a big grin on her face. ‘Today’s the day, Mam! Are yer all geared up for it?’
Molly couldn’t help but smile. What it was to be young and without a care in the world. ‘I’m as geared up as I’ll ever be, sunshine. But you should have stayed in bed for another hour, it’s only seven o’clock.’
‘I opened the curtains, Mam, and the sun’s coming up. So I thought to meself, if the sun can get up early, then so can I.’
‘Get yerself a cup of tea, then, and try not to talk too much, there’s a good girl. I want to give me head a rest while I can.’
Ruthie had no sooner squatted on the floor with her cup of tea, than Jack popped his head around the door, his eyes bleary and his hair standing on end. ‘You’re all crazy, getting up at this time when there’s no need for it.’
‘Then what are you doing up, sunshine?’ Molly asked. ‘Nobody asked yer to.’
He came into the room rubbing his eyes. ‘I knew there’d be a pot on the go, and me throat is dry. Be an angel, Ruthie, and pour yer dad a drink.’
‘I hope yer didn’t wake our Tommy up? He needs all the sleep he can get to be nice and fresh for his big day.’
‘I didn’t make a sound, love, I was as quiet as a mouse.’
‘It wasn’t you what woke me, Dad, it was the creaking stair.’ Tommy stood there, a broad grin covering his handsome face from ear to ear. ‘I’m going to miss that stair, it’s always been like a warning system.’
Molly tried not to think about it but she couldn’t blank it from her mind. This was the last time she’d see her son’s face in the morning, the last time he’d be having breakfast and leaving with his dad. When she could feel herself filling up, she pushed herself out of the chair. This was no time to be going all sentimental. ‘I’ll make us some toast and a fresh pot of tea. Then at eleven we can have some sandwiches to tide us over. I don’t want to hear rumbling tummies in the church.’
Nellie gave Molly a dig in the ribs. ‘Ay, girl, our side of the church is filling up.’ As she turned her head, the ostrich feather on the side of her hat tickled Molly’s nose making her sneeze. But her mate was so excited she didn’t even notice. ‘I feel sorry for Monica, though, ’cos on her side there’s only Bridie and Bob.’
‘Not to worry, sunshine, it’s all in hand. The Corkhills and the Watsons are going to sit over there, to even things up a bit.’
‘Oh, that’s a good idea, girl.’ Nellie couldn’t keep still and kept swivelling in her seat. Every time she did, the feather tickled part of Molly’s face. ‘Ay, the bridesmaids are here, I can see them standing outside.’
‘Well, they’ll be waiting for the bride.’ Molly scratched her nose. ‘It’s no good them walking down the aisle without Rosie and her dad.’
‘Your Tommy looks dead handsome, girl, I could fall for him meself.’
‘Nellie, if yer don’t keep that feather to yerself, so help me I’ll snap it off.’
‘Ye’re only jealous, girl, ’cos your hat hasn’t got no feather.’ Then Nellie relented. ‘It looks nice on yer though, girl, dead smart.’
Jack and George, sitting next to their wives, looked across the two women and raised their brows. Would the day ever come when these two ran out of things to say? Then they grinned, both thinking it would be a sad day for all if that happened.
‘Ay, girl, we haven’t half got a lot of family and friends.’ This time it was Molly’s mouth the feather tickled and she pulled a face. ‘I think half the street is here.’
‘I’m glad there’s a good turnout for Rosie’s parents. It’ll be something for them to look back on.’ Molly jerked her head quickly when she saw the deadly feather coming her way again. ‘Nellie, when your Lily gets married, will yer buy another hat, please?’
‘What! Three guineas and only been worn twice! No chance of that, girl, I’ll be wearing this creation for your Ruthie’s wedding.’
The organist began to play and all heads turned towards the door. As Rosie began the walk down the aisle on her father’s arm, everyone was stunned into silence by the sheer beauty of her. Never had a bride looked so lovely, with a face radiating happiness. The dress she’d kept secret from everyone was magnificent with a four-yard train being carried by the bridesmaids. And never had a father looked as proud as Mick O’Grady, who had never in his life walked so tall.
Molly felt for Jack’s hand as the tears ran. ‘My God, have yer ever seen anyone as beautiful? She looks like a fairy princess.’
‘She does that, love, she’s a credit to her parents. And our Tommy is a very lucky lad.’
When Tommy turned around, he thought he was going to faint. Rosie looked so lovely she took his breath away. He’d been nervous sitting in the front pew with Ginger, but when she smiled at him his nerves evaporated. And throughout the whole ceremony the smiles never left their faces. They spoke their vows in voices that could be heard by everyone in the church, never faltering once. Ginger was more nervous than they were. The fingers that handed over the ring were shaking and he swore to himself he’d never be best man again. Looking at Tommy, it wasn’t as nerve-racking being the bridegroom.
When the priest said, ‘You may kiss the bride,’ there wasn’t a dry eye in the church as the couple, beautiful bride and handsome groom, joined their lips together for the first time as man and wife.
‘I don’t know why I bothered borrowing our Jill’s powder and lipstick, I’ve wiped it all off with crying so much,’ Molly said. ‘But only someone with a heart of stone would not be moved by that sight. She looks like a princess and he is Prince Charming.’
Nellie wasn’t easily moved to tears. When she started sniffing she tried to cover it up with a joke. ‘Rosie looks just like I did on the day I got married.’ She gave her husband a dig. ‘Isn’t that right, George?’
He put his arm across her shoulder. People fall in love for different reasons. Perhaps looks, perhaps personality. He’d fallen in love with Nellie because he knew his life would never be dull with her. She was brimming over with personality, was warm, passionate, and had a heart of gold. And no man could ask for more than that. ‘Sweetheart, ye’re just as pretty today as yer were then.’
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sp; ‘Ay, don’t be getting soppy, you two,’ Molly said. ‘Leave that for the young ones today.’
When Nellie winked at George, her eyes were filled with mischief. In a whisper just loud enough to reach her mate’s ears, she said, ‘Yeah, we’ll leave it until we’re in the privacy of our bedroom, love, where no one can see us.’
‘Don’t you dare mention your bedroom in church,’ Molly tutted. ‘Honest, yer’ve got it on the brain.’
Jack tugged on her arm. ‘We’re needed to go through for the signing of the register, love, come on. And we’ll have to take Monica with us, ’cos Mick has gone through with Tommy and Rosie, Jill and the best man.’
Monica’s face was tear-stained, but her eyes were bright with the wonder of it all. The church, the number of people who had come to see the wedding and the fine clothes they were wearing, the likes of which she’d never seen in her life before. But above all it was her daughter, looking like an angel, who had affected her most. ‘Molly, did yer ever in yer life see anything so beautiful? Sure, wasn’t me heart ready to burst with love when I saw her? Yer’d travel far and wide and never see such a foine-looking couple.’ She was being hurried to a room at the back of the side altar, but was so excited she couldn’t stop talking. ‘It’s a day I’ll never forget as long as I live, and that’s a fact, so it is. It’s just sorry I am that her sister and brother couldn’t be here to see it.’
‘There’ll be a photographer outside the church taking photographs,’ Molly said, leading the highly excited woman into a room where the registrar would be waiting to fill in the marriage certificate. ‘I know Rosie will send you some.’
The next few minutes were very emotional as Rosie rushed forward to her mother, and Tommy hugged and kissed Molly before being slapped on the back and congratulated by his father. This was the day they saw their son turn into a man. Then Tommy kissed his new mother-in-law, thanked her for having such a beautiful daughter and promised to take care of her for the rest of her life.
It was Father Kelly who restored order. ‘If those of you who have to sign will do so now, please, as the registrar has another wedding to attend.’
After the documents were signed, Jill handed Rosie her bouquet back before helping to arrange her train. ‘The girls are waiting outside, Rosie, so we walk back as we came in, with them holding the train.’ Then she smiled and kissed her new sister-in-law on the cheek. ‘Yer look lovely, Rosie, and welcome to the Bennett family.’
Although a few people had gone to stand outside so they could throw their rice and confetti, the church was still quite full. And now the ceremony was over, friends and neighbours called out their congratulations, with many saying they’d never seen such a handsome couple. And Rosie, her arm through her new husband’s, had a smile on her face that lit up the dim church.
As they stepped through the church doors, they were greeted by bright sunlight and a photographer with his tripod and camera ready. After taking several photographs of the bridal couple from different angles, the bridesmaids were called over, together with the best man. Ginger was feeling much better now, and was grinning as he stood with his arms across the shoulders of two of the bridesmaids. He wouldn’t allow his mind to dwell on the speech he had to give at the reception because he knew he’d want to turn tail and run. Then he turned to see Tommy looking so happy, and he knew he couldn’t let down the best mate he’d had since childhood. He’d do Tommy and Rosie proud if it was the last thing he ever did.
The photographer cleared the church steps, and after a quick word from Tommy, called on Bridie and Bob to stand by their grandson and his bride. The old people looked so happy, and so proud, Molly mentally thanked the young couple for being so thoughtful.
After that it was the bride’s parents, followed by the groom’s, then the nearest family members. It was a happy occasion with much laughter. But the loudest laugh of the day came when the photographer was arranging people for a group photograph. Nellie insisted she wanted to stand near the front, and when Nellie made up her mind about anything, if you had any sense you would surrender rather than fight a losing battle. ‘I’m not standing there, and that’s that!’ And as her chins were enjoying themselves, they agreed with her. ‘How daft I’d look standing next to Corker when I only come up to his belly button! Nah, I’ll stand in the front next to Ruthie, she’s more my size.’
George very seldom lost his temper with his wife, and he didn’t now. He was chuckling when he said, ‘Come on, love, stand next to me.’
But Nellie folded her arms and stood her ground. ‘There’s more to this than just me, yer know. What about me ruddy hat? No one is going to stick me and me three-guinea hat where we can’t be seen.’
Everyone was howling with laugher, and young Ruthie used her imagination and the opportunity. Pulling her Auntie Nellie over to where she was standing on the front row, she called to the photographer, ‘Quick, take it now!’
So it turned out that Nellie and her ostrich-feathered hat were the cause of everyone on the photograph having huge smiles on their faces.
Edna Hanley had once again done them proud. The tables looked attractive with vases of flowers at intervals, and at the side of every place setting was a paper serviette with wedding bells printed in the corner. In pride of place on the centre table, in front of where the bridal couple were sitting, was the wedding cake. It had been made by Tom Hanley, decorated by Edna, and everyone agreed it was a work of art.
It was an enjoyable, happy meal, with many conversations being conducted at the same time, often from one side of the room to the other. In fact, there was so much going on, nobody noticed how quiet the best man was. The nearer the time drew to his toasting the happy couple and delivering his speech, the more nervous Ginger became. The words that were on the piece of paper in his pocket had seemed funny last night but now he wasn’t so sure everyone would appreciate them. He wished his girlfriend, Josie, was sitting next to him instead of on one of the tables running down from the centre one. She was more outgoing than him and would give him some moral support.
Then suddenly he didn’t have any more time to worry because Steve was whispering in his ear that all the glasses had been filled and he should now stand up, propose a toast to the bride and groom and get that piece of paper out of his pocket. Too late to worry that his jokes might raise more eyebrows than they did laughs. So Ginger pushed his chair back, raised a glass and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to join me now in toasting the happy couple and wishing them a long life and all the luck in the world.’
When everyone but himself was seated, Ginger reached into his pocket for his notes. But as his hand touched the paper, he suddenly thought, Blow it, I don’t need that to talk about me best mate! ‘Tommy, remember the day we started school together and you were whingeing ’cos yer wanted to go home to yer mam? I called yer a cry-baby and yer thumped me one? Well, matey, here’s where I get me own back.’
Tommy’s laugh was the loudest. ‘Lies, lies and more lies!’
‘Okay, yer didn’t whinge, and I didn’t call yer a cry-baby ’cos yer were always bigger than me and I didn’t want me face rearranging. But when we moved up to Miss Dickson’s class, who was it that threw a screwed up piece of paper at her, sat there like an angel and let me take the blame? Oh, yer owned up in the end because yer had to – the piece of paper was out of your exercise book and had your name on it!’ Ginger lifted his glass and drank deeply to whet his thirst. ‘And remember when me mam bought me a football for me birthday? Yer wouldn’t play down in your end of the street in case yer got in trouble, so we were playing footie by our house when the ball bounced on Mrs Corkhill’s window and she came out shaking her fist at us.’ He began to laugh as the memories flooded back. ‘I picked up me ball and the pair of us legged it, hell for leather, down the entry. I don’t think there’s a woman in our street who hasn’t chased us at some time or another. But Mrs Kinsale was the only one who ever chased us with a sweeping brush. She didn’t miss us by much, ei
ther, we were dead lucky that day.’ He noticed Nellie laughing and said, ‘One woman even took the ball off us and wouldn’t give it back until we said we were sorry and that we wouldn’t play by her house again. Her name was Mrs McDonough, do any of yer know her?’
Never one to be outdone, Nellie said, ‘I remember her, lad! She was a lovely-looking woman with a figure like Jean Harlow. She had every man in the street after her.’
Ginger waited for the laughter to die down then went on, ‘Me and Tommy have been best mates all our lives and have never once fallen out. And I hope we will always be best mates and always there for each other. Today he married the only girl he’s ever loved, and I’m happy for him. And Rosie . . . what can I say about Rosie that everybody doesn’t know? She’s really beautiful in looks and nature. Full of warmth and laugher, she’s a wife to be proud of and I know their marriage will be perfect.’ He lifted his glass and faced the couple. ‘To two of me best mates, and a marriage made in heaven.’
His speech was so well received, Ginger sighed with relief when he sat down. And when Josie came across to kiss him, he said, ‘Thank God that’s over, I was scared stiff.’
‘Ginger, yer were brilliant.’ She gave him another quick kiss before returning to her seat for the father of the bride’s speech.
It wasn’t easy for Mick O’Grady because the only two people he knew well in the room were his wife and his daughter. But his Irish lilt and his humour helped him to find the words to describe how much he loved Rosie, what a good daughter she’d always been, and how proud he’d been of her today. And he spoke of how happy he and his wife were that she’d married a foine lad like Tommy, and how heartening it was to see how she’d been taken into the hearts of such good, friendly people. The clapping as he sat down showed how much his words were appreciated.