Kilbirnie Scotland: The Night Dusty Played (Loving Blue in Red States, #1)
Page 2
Patty
I can’t wait to get rid of Mags. As usual we arrive at the Hall together. It’s Gerry and the Pacemakers tonight and Mags is so excited. She’ll plonk herself at the front of that stage and I won’t see her for dust. This has been the longest week of my life. I haven’t seen Frankie since she got the bus home on Sunday morning last week. Her staying over has become a regular thing. Mum likes her and the kids love having another adult to torment. She takes it all in her stride. I live for the times I see her and it’s getting harder and harder to say goodbye each time. After next week my Dad will be home again at the weekends – and he’s going to be asking questions. I doubt it’ll even occur to him to wonder why I want to spend all my time with this woman. But he will want to know about her family and where she comes from. And from that he’ll work out her religion. But I’ve had an idea. I don’t know if she’ll go for it. It’s asking a lot, but if she loves me as much as she says she does, maybe, just maybe, she’ll think about it. Because it’s the only way I can see through this. There’s only one way to find out.
Patty
I asked Frankie if we could leave a bit early as I need to talk to her about something. She looks worried. Maybe she thinks I don’t want to see her anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. The night is still warm as we walk up towards home. I love being able to feel her skin against mine as we walk arm-in-arm and will miss it when the cooler weather takes over. I think of the night ahead of us. All alone in my bed. The first few times we didn’t do anything, but it became impossible not to touch. First of all, we just kissed for hours and hours into the night. It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. Then as the weeks wore on we needed more. I had no idea what we would do, but I have learned that making love to a woman is the most magical experience. She knows exactly what I need and takes me there over and over again. Keeping quiet has been the hardest thing. The walls are paper thin, and I can hear every cough and sneeze from my siblings. I have to bury my face in a pillow to drown out my screams. But I’ve come to realise that sleeping together once a week will never be enough. I want to be with her every night and for the rest of my life. And if she agrees to my proposition, we might just be able to do that.
Frankie
We’ve agreed to meet outside the chapel at 6.55pm. I must admit to being slightly terrified. When Patty suggested this to me, I was flabbergasted, but I see that it’s the only way. I’ve never spoken to a Catholic priest in my entire life. Why would I? Catholics and Protestants don’t mix for the most part – and their clergy certainly don’t. There’s nothing ecumenical about this town. As I step off the bus, I can see Patty waiting on the bottom step. She waves to me, an enormous smile on her face. We need this to work. It’s our only chance to be together, and I’m willing to do anything it takes.
We greet each other with a peck on the cheek. There’s no-one around so I hold onto her just a little bit longer than is strictly needed.
“C’mon inside. We don’t want to keep Father Boyle waiting. He’s not known for his patience.”
That puts me a bit on edge. I’m nervous enough as it is, without incurring the wrath of the priest. As we walk up the steps to the heavy wooden door, I hesitate. I need to take a moment. This is a big deal, and there’s no going back. While I’m composing myself, Patty reaches into her handbag and takes out a black piece of lace. She puts it on her head and then turns towards what looks like a small, stone baptismal font. She explains it contains holy water and I should dip my fingers in it and make the sign of the cross. I copy what she does and realise that there will be a lot of new things to learn. This is just the start.
The first thing that hits me as we walk into the main part of the chapel is the smell. I’ve no idea what it is, it’s not something I’ve ever come across before. Spicy. She sees me sniffing,
“That’s incense. They wave it about during the mass. You’ll get used to it”.
She seems excited to show me everything. The walls are painted a pale blue and the tall stained-glass windows are stunning. Alabaster statues sit in front of some of the windows, and pictures of Jesus on the way to Calvary are hung around the whole area. It’s beautiful. I would never have imagined something so ornate existed in Kilbirnie. A woman arranging flowers nods in recognition to Patty and she pulls me over to introduce me.
“Mary, this is my friend Frankie. We’re here to see the Father. Frankie wants to take instruction and become a Catholic.”
The woman beams at me,
“Wonderful, so pleased to meet you. The Father is expecting you. Go through to the sacristy.”
My knees are shaking now, and I just want to get it over with. The old man who greets us is nothing like I expected. He doesn’t look like the grumpy tyrant Patty has led me to believe. In fact, he goes out of his way to welcome me. Maybe he only does that to prospective converts. Once I’m in his clutches he might not be so nice. And with that I start six months of instruction in the Catholic faith, with Patty as my sponsor. At the end I will be acceptable to her family, and we can drop the bombshell that we’re moving into a flat together. As good friends of course. What else would we be?
Patty
My Dad came home last night after finishing a bridge-building job in Inverness. This is the first time he’ll be here on a Saturday night since I met Frankie. Having someone to stay over isn’t exactly new; we’ve all been doing it for years. It won’t occur to him that there’s more to our relationship than ‘just good friends’. But we’ve never had anyone who’s a Protestant to stay. We’ve got that covered though. Frankie is two months into her religious instruction classes with Father Boyle, so she’s near enough a Catholic. I’ve enjoyed going with her and it’s made me think a lot about what she is doing for me. Her family aren’t exactly pleased that she’s converting, and they are giving her a hard time. But she’s sticking at it. Because at the end of it we can be together.
I take Frankie’s hand in mine and we walk towards my street. There’s no-one around as we’ve gotten into the habit of leaving just before the end of the concert each week. The picture house at the Cross gets out at 10.30, so we time it to avoid that too. That way we get the town to ourselves.
There’s a light on in our living room. I steel myself for the introduction. My Dad’s a good man, but life has made him suspicious of ‘the other’. So, I’m going to lie to him to make him happy – and ultimately make Frankie and I happy. I love her with all my heart and can’t imagine life without her now. We’ve started saving, putting a little away each week from both of our wage packets. There’s a loose floorboard in the cupboard in my room, and I’ve got a tin box hidden under it. We plan to rent somewhere together by the end of the summer, and we’ll need money to furnish it. We can’t buy, as no bank will give two women a mortgage without a male relative signing off on it.
We reach the bright red front door and as I get my key out to open it my Dad appears in front of us.
“Dad, this is my friend Frankie. She’s staying over if that’s OK?”
“Your mother said she might. Pleased to meet you. Come on in”
So far, so good.
“You’re the young lady who’s been keeping our Patty busy, then?”
I can see that Frankie’s not sure what he means. Is that good or bad? She looks over at me.
“Yes, sir. She’s agreed to be my sponsor. Did she tell you?”
“Her mother did. I’m glad to welcome you to our home and to the Church. How are your finding the instruction lessons?”
“Great, thanks. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. And I’ve got Patty to thank for it.”
I can see his eyes light up at that. I think we’ve won him over. I’m sure my mother has paved the way too.
Frankie
It’s the last concert of the summer tonight. Dusty Springfield. And this time we’re not standing at the back of the hall. We are front and centre. The place is packed. I’ve never seen it so busy. Patty and I are squashed together,
holding hands. I can hear the band rustling behind the stage curtain, snippets of music playing as they tune their instruments. Then the first few notes of ‘You don’t have to say you love me’ sound out. All is quiet. The curtain pulls back slowly, and there she is. Smoky, black eyes, pale skin and blonde beehive. Her long baby blue dress is fitted just under the bust. That voice starts singing and I’m mush! I look at Patty and beam. I’m with the woman I love, we are due to move into our own flat next week, and we are here three feet in front of Dusty Springfield. Life doesn’t get any better. Now I’m a Catholic her family are delighted – and it will never occur to them that we are a couple. We’ll keep under the radar, because Kilbirnie isn’t ready, not yet.
Dusty is finishing the song and looks straight at me. I’ve read everything there is to know about this woman. I know she’s short-sighted, but we are literally three feet away, so I know she can see me. And she can see that I’m holding Patty’s hand. She looks right at us, and winks. She knows. And right in that moment I know it’s all going to work out.
About the Author
Kitty McIntosh is a writer and poet living on the west coast of Scotland. She writes romance, mystery, sci-fi and erotica as Kitty McIntosh and Kitty Kat. Her short story ‘The Woman By The River’ went to No.1 in the Amazon Short Reads Chart.
Her short story ‘The Train to Glasgow Central’ was published in the Sapphire Books Anthology ‘A Heart Well Traveled – Tales of International Love Affairs and Unlikely Outcomes’. Her poem ‘On The Way Out’ was published in ‘Our Happy Hours – LGBT Voices for the Gay Bars’ – edited by S Renee Bess and Lee Lynch. The anthology won the Goldie in 2018 at GCLS in Las Vegas.
Find her here:
https://kittymcintosh.home.blog/
KittyAuthor on Facebook:@KittyKatAuthor on Twitter
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