“As painful as it is for you, my dear, you need to know the details and the character of the man you married.”
“I shall leave and the two of you can talk this over,” Harry offered, as he rose from the chair.
“Sit down. You’re not going anywhere at the moment.”
“Kate, the mother of this child, is employed. Her husband and she own the cottage she and the child live in. When Mr. Connelly, the solicitor, paid her a call, she told him she had no intention of giving up her son, she had engaged a lawyer, and would fight the case. After what Harry told Connelly, and after Connelly’s evaluation of the woman, he investigated further and found she did indeed have a lawyer, one of the best, from the law firm of Gilmartin, Rowan, and O’Toole, who believe she has a good case. The ugly publicity will smell worse than a fresh cartload of manure if this goes to court.”
“She’s bluffing. Neither she or Francis Egan have any money,” Harry interjected.
Ignoring Harry’s outburst, Brian Fitzgerald continued.
“After checking into the woman’s background, the solicitor also discovered she was living where she lived from choice. Her father, now deceased, was a well-known dental surgeon who left a lucrative practice in Dublin, and settled in a small town in Wexford shortly after his daughter was born. One son has taken over the father’s practice; the other son is a university professor married to another professor. This young mother comes into a nice sum of money when she turns twenty-five years old.”
Harry was dumbfounded. After the initial shock, he became angry. That deceitful whore made me think she was a poor working girl. I should have asked about her background. But damn it, she acted like she was destitute. Stupid like a fox was she.
“Ah yes, nothing shabby about this young woman,” Brian continued.” Also, in order to drop the case, a sum of money, the amount to be decided on by her, must be donated to a local orphanage.”
Kit sobbed.
“In time, love, you’ll realize you’re well rid of him.”
“Pack your belongings, Harry. Pack only your personal belongings, and be out of this house before midnight. If you take as much as a paperclip that’s not yours, I’ll have you arrested. I’ve taken the liberty of closing all bank accounts, clothing shop accounts, and anything else with your name on it. My lawyer will let you know the sum of money to be donated to the orphanage, which you will pay over a set period of time.”
Harry, who wished to leave earlier, could now hardly rise from the chair.
Slowly he arose and walked out of the room, glancing back just briefly to get Kit’s reaction. Kit sat with her head in her hands, oblivious to his leaving.
Harry could hardly believe what he had heard. Kate had an inheritance! Harry heard the words repeat themselves in his head. Money! And there wouldn’t have been a damn father-in-law to make life difficult for him. How could he have so badly misjudged that affair? And to think he could have had it all!
I thank my lucky stars, Harry sighed, that I had the foresight to open up a bank account in my own name outside of Dublin where I’ve been depositing all the ‘pocket money, and ‘hand-outs’ from the Fitzgeralds’, plus the money I had been diverting from Kit’s and my joint account. I now have plenty of well-tailored clothes, the finest shoes, shirts and accessories to become acquainted with a better class of ladies. Now, where should I go from here?
Kate was happy that this nightmare turned out to be just a fairy tale. The case was won in her favor, and she was delighted that the children leaving the orphanage would benefit from what had happened. Yet, lingering in the back of her mind was the unpleasant feeling that Harry Browne would, at some point in the future, enter her life again.
CHAPTER 8
The summer before Eoin’s fourth birthday, Kate decided to take him by train to the small town where she had grown up. Excited by the sight of the huge steam engine, which bellowed dark misty clouds onto the platform, and intermittently hissed steam, the boy was held spellbound.
“A live dragon,” Kate laughed, as she boarded the train after Eoin who took a window seat. As her son watched the activity on the platform, Kate remembered her train rides to and from secondary school with friends.
As the train pulled into yet another well-maintained station on its way south, Eoin eagerly asked, “Is this it?”
“No, Eoin.”
As they ate sandwiches Kate had prepared, she told the eager child, “Seven train stops from this stop, we will arrive at our destination.” The boy held up seven fingers and at each stop he diligently counted each stop until they finally came to Gory.
“Yes, Eoin this is it,” Kate answered, as she looked out at the station, the last and the first part of what she saw of her hometown when leaving from and returning to boarding school. “See, there is its name displayed in flowers.”
“Do you think it won this year’s award for most beautiful station?” he asked, remembering that she had told him that each station’s name was beautifully displayed in colorful plants and flowers and decorated with sea shells, as each station competed for the award as ‘most beautifully displayed and maintained railway station.’
“We’ll have to ask the stationmaster,” she smiled at his eagerness. Not wanting to concern her young son with her own apprehensions about going home again, she concentrated on his needs. They alighted from the train with their small suitcase in tow, the suitcase she carried when she first entered the lane nearly five years earlier. So much had happened since that day when she carried Eoin in her womb, not knowing what the future held for either her or for the child. Now, on returning to her hometown, she felt as vulnerable as she did that first day in the lane.
What kind of reception would she receive from her mother and brothers? More importantly, how would they receive her son, a child whose existence they were as yet unaware of?
“There’s the stationmaster, Mr. Tierney, up ahead.” They moved towards the uniformed gray-haired man with his whistle at the ready. Standing before him, Eoin spoke.
“Sir, did your station win the beautiful flower award this year?” A smile of pride immediately rose across the man’s face.
“Yes, we did. You see, it’s not my station exclusively. A lot of people make and help keep this station beautiful. Third year in a row we won! Would you like to see the award ribbon?”
“Yes,” the little boy happily responded.
Kate was glad that Eoin’s first moments in her hometown began with a good impression. She hoped that their stay here would continue in like manner.
Mr. Tierney beckoned them to follow him into the front office. Pointing to a row of large blue ribbons with round white centers and the words “1st Prize” written on them, he said, “These ribbons speak for themselves.” On a less prominent wall were smaller ribbons that denoted second place and honorable-mention ribbons. “Here is a photograph of the people who work hard to keep up appearances.” Eoin had no interest in the smiling people in the photograph.
“So, young man, you like our station display?”
“Yes, sir. It is very beautiful.”
“Is this your mother here?” he asked the child while looking at Kate, and before the boy could answer, the stationmaster said, “Kate McCormack, as I live and breathe! Home on holidays, is it?”
“Yes, Mr. Tierney, and this is my son Eoin.”
“And a fine young man he is indeed.” Turning to the boy, the stationmaster held out his hand and shook the child’s hand. “I knew your grandfather well. If you grow up to be half the man he was, you’ll do your mother proud. Your grandfather was one of the finest men I ever set eyes on. And you, young man, have the honor of carrying his name. Don’t ever dishonor that trust.”
Noticing a couple of passengers standing by waiting to have a word with him, Mr. Tierney ended the interlude by saying, “It’s good to see you home again, Kate, and to have met this young man of yours.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tierney,” she answered as she and Eoin left the building.
“McCormack’s place?” he said in recognition. She nodded.
Riding through town, it appeared as though it had been suspended in time, oblivious to the world outside. The driver did not hurry the horse which trotted along at its own slow pace, while Kate gave Eoin a brief history of the places they passed. As they drove past Nancy’s house, Kate offered a silent prayer for her.
Have I given too much information to a child so young, she wondered as he gazed at this place, fresh and new to his eyes? She had taken him to the library from the time he first began to learn nursery rhymes. She read to him, and he soon read to her from his books after supper each night as the written word became familiar to him. He bade her goodnight each evening knowing that his bedtime was his mother’s time to enjoy reading from her books. When they picked up the morning newspaper, he would try to read the headlines and would question the photographs, wishing to know who the people were, why people walked with banners, and what was written on them. Kate found herself explaining strikes, unions, protests, buildings, politicians, soccer players, actor, plays being shown and anything he wished to know about as she read the newspaper.
“Look, Momma, at the boys playing soccer on the road,” Eoin said with great excitement, as Kate inwardly regretted the lack of children in the lane. The teenage boys occasionally kicked a ball with him, but there were none his age to play with. In autumn he will begin school, Kate thought, and the problem of not having children of his own age with whom to interact will be resolved.
There was no time to think further on the matter as her childhood home had come into view. “We’re here,” she said as she brushed Eoin’s hair in place with her gloved hand, gloves she had not worn since the day she arrived in the lane.
The slow moving horse moved slower and came to a stop in front of the house.
“Momma, this is a beautiful house. It has lots and lots of pretty flowers in the garden. Would you not like to live here?”
“Your grandfather planted those roses and all the plants when I was about your age.”
“Is he inside the house?”
“No, he died before you were born.”
Kate had wanted to tell Eoin about her beloved father, but knew if she had told him about his grandfather and her family, she would have had to explain why she never took him to see his grandmother and uncles.
Opening the garden gate, they walked hand-in-hand to the main entrance. After a moment’s hesitation, Kate raised the fox head doorknocker with resolve and firmly hit the brass stud underneath producing a resounding noise throughout the house. They waited.
The maid, a local girl, opened the door surprised at seeing Kate standing there.
“Come in, Miss McCormack,” she addressed Kate, wanting to say more but afraid of committing the sin of being too familiar with her mistress’ daughter. Only her facial expression attested to her joy of seeing Kate and the child. Kate waited in the drawing room while the maid went to announce the visitors.
On returning from school, Kate would drop all her belongings in the hall and rush to her father’s study to experience his embrace and his joy on seeing her.
What would her mother say in discovering she had a young son? With Francis by her side, they would be a family. With a child and no husband, she would be an embarrassment to her mother. If things went well, they would stay a few days, if not, they would take the late train back to Dublin.
Mrs. McCormack entered the drawing room and was impeccably dressed as usual. Kate, with the help of the lane women, who made it possible for her to work nights in a local hospital since shortly before Eoin had turned two years, was glad she had bought them new clothes for this occasion. Eoin, precious child, Kate thought, looked very handsome in his navy blue blazer, gray short pants, knee-high socks, and well polished shoes.
“Kate!” her mother said in surprise. Apparently the maid had not mentioned who the visitors in the drawing room were. Genevieve McCormack walked towards her daughter and embraced her. Kate could not recall ever being embraced in childhood by her mother. “It’s good to see you. You are looking well.”
“And you too, Mother.”
“How did you get here?”
“We took a sidecar from the station.”
“Good gracious, one of those dirty old things! Kieran could have picked you up if you had let us know you were coming.”
Noticing the maid standing awkwardly at the door waiting for instructions, Genevieve McCormack addressed her.
“Bring some tea, sandwiches and an assortment of those small cakes from the bakery.” After the maid left, Kate was about to introduce her son when Kieran knocked and entered the room.
“Kate,” he exclaimed on seeing his sister. “What a marvelous surprise, isn’t it, Mother? You’re looking well. You look better than well, as fantastic as ever.”
Kieran’s exuberance always made her feel good. As she turned to her mother, she noticed her mother looking at Eoin.
“This is my son, Eoin Francis Egan.” Kate announced, suddenly eager to get these make or break details settled.
“You are married!” Kieran said in a voice of congratulations.
“Yes.”
“This child is about four or five years old. Yet we have never met your husband, and I gather he is not with you now?” her mother questioned.
“No, Francis is not with us. He works in England.”
“How convenient!”
Kate was embarrassed by her mother’s observation. She felt like a small child again being reprimanded by her aloof mother. What am I doing here? Mother believes I’m lying about being married, and with Francis out of my life, that’s understandable. I hate this house. After Daddy’s death, it was no longer home to me. I should not have returned.
“Would you like to see my marriage certificate?”
“Kate, what Mom is saying is you never told us you married, or invited us to your wedding. We’ve never met this man, and now you bring home a child!”
“Not a child. My child.” Kate defiantly answered, emboldened by the rejection of her son.
“You named him after Father?” Kieran accused.
“Yes, Daddy would have loved him.”
Eoin who had found a child’s storybook belonging to one of Kieran’s daughters, was sitting in an armchair reading.
“You dishonor his name,” her mother told her.
“Momma,” the child called out, “can I read this story to you?”
“Not at the moment, Eoin.”
“That’s Deirdre’s book. You cannot read at that level!” Kieran insisted.
“He probably can. Just as Daddy taught me to read, I have taught my son.”
“Father thought so highly of you. He would be greatly disappointed by your actions.”
“Disappointed, Kieran, maybe, but I believe, unlike you and Momma, he would have accepted his namesake as his grandson.”
“You know very little about your father,” her mother stated in a flat, tired manner.
The maid arrived with the tea tray, and placed it on the small table. Genevieve immediately poured the tea. Kieran pulled out a chair for Kate, who sat down wishing she were far away from this drawing room with its glazed chintz sofa, armchairs, and drapes. Just tea and then we’ll leave, she decided.
“Would you like me to read to you?” Eoin asked Kieran.
“No. We’re having our tea now.”
The boy sat down beside his mother. Oh, Eoin, love, if there ever was a time to be on your best behavior, it’s now. Please don’t spill the tea on the linen tablecloth or drops crumbs on the carpet, and above all, I pray, do not chip or break the teacup.
Her mother and brother
ignored Eoin’s presence. Before arriving at this house, Kate had requested Eoin remain silent unless spoken to, and he sat wondering who these people were that knew his mother, yet he had never before seen.
“Where do you live?”
“In Dublin, where I’ve been living all along!”
“I meant,” her mother, said with irritation in her voice, “What kind of accommodation do you have? A flat, or a house?”
“A cottage.”
“A cottage! One of those little places with thatched roofs? Surely they don’t have those in Dublin?”
“No thatched roof.” Kate was relieved that her mother did not pursue this conversation any further.
When they had had their tea, Kate mentioned they would take the next train back to Dublin. Her mother seemed sad to see Kate leave yet did not invite her and Eoin to stay, not even overnight. Although Kate did not wish to stay, she was hurt that an invitation to do so was not extended to them. Her mother and brother insisted that Kieran drive them to the train station.
“You need not worry, Momma. I will not walk down Main Street with my scarlet letter walking beside me for all to see, but rather take the old back road past the National School where it is unlikely we’ll meet anyone. It is a nice evening for a walk. We did, however, speak with the stationmaster, who brought us into the ticket office to show us the station’s first prize ribbon.”
“It’s blue,” Eoin added, since his mother spoke of their joint venture.
Kate and Eoin walked an old dirt road back to the station.
“My shoes are not shiny anymore.”
“That’s true. This dirt road will make us look less presentable but it doesn’t matter now, love. We’re going home.”
“Do the people in grandfather’s house not like us?”
Before Kate could answer, to Kate’s relief and Eoin’s delight, a dog came running up to them, and jumped up on Eoin causing him to laugh in delight. A man in the distance called to the dog, which turned and ran back, but halfway there, turned again and ran towards Eoin and again jumped up on the boy. The man who had called to the dog, on coming closer to them, suddenly ran towards them and exclaimed, “Kate?”
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