by Ellie Thomas
“That’s all right then,” was all Alf said, but nothing more was needed.
The evening was carefully companionable. They decided to eat in town since they were already in the vicinity. They talked lightly since the confessions of earlier made them both wary of any subjects that veered towards the emotional. They walked up to Clifton Village for a nightcap, but this time, when walking through the narrow street leading to Victoria Square, Alf’s arm was looped through Adam’s.
In the flat, once Alf had put down his overnight bag, Adam was about to suggest a cup of tea or another drink, when he noticed how white and tired Alf was looking in the bright overhead light.
“Why don’t you get yourself settled?” he suggested. “I’ll be through shortly.”
When he eventually went into the bedroom, Alf was already asleep. Adam undressed quietly and joined him under the blankets, embracing him and feeling like he had come home at last.
Adam awoke to find himself alone in bed and a pleasant aroma of toast coming from the kitchen. He stretched lazily, feeling at peace with the world before getting up and dressed to join Alf.
Breakfast was cosily domestic, but when Alf’s hand touched Adam’s accidentally over the narrow kitchen table, he blushed. Adam had to repress an urge to kiss him right there and then. But he sensed Alf’s skittishness and resisted the impulse.
The tension between them was palpable as they washed up and chatted idly about where to go and what to do with their day. Adam was almost relieved when the doorbell rang and he stuck his head out of the window to see Cat waving up at him. “We’ll come down!” he shouted.
Adam was surprised but pleased that his normally reserved cousin greeted Alf with a welcoming hug as if he was a member of their family. Which he is really, Adam thought with gladness.
They walked through the village and up to the Downs so Alf could take another closer look at the mighty suspension bridge. Having seen that sight at least a hundred times before, the two cousins walked to their usual spot and sat down together while Alf walked to the bridge.
“You seem happy,” Cat said smilingly.
“I am,” Adam agreed. “Alf says,” he hesitated. “He wants to give things another go.”
“That’s the best news,” Cat said with warmth. “I’m so glad for you, Adam.” She continued, “I also have some news of my own.”
“Oh?” Adam asked.
“I have a job,” Cat said.
Adam sat up, “That’s wonderful, Cat. What is it?”
Cat explained, “It’s a position at Cheltenham Ladies College. A friend of mine teaches there and let me know there was a vacancy and I decided to apply on a whim. Well, I got an interview and they seemed to like me. Mary has a spare room in her house and I can live there during the week and come home at weekends, so it would be stupid not to agree.”
Adam said, “It’s a great opportunity, but only if that’s what you want?”
Cat hugged her knees. “It is. I had to do something. I got fed up with frowsting about the place, not using my brain. I think some part of me thought that if I carried on waiting, Chris would return to me.” Her voice cracked and Adam put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“But nothing will bring him back, I know that now. And I’ve got past feeling disloyal to his memory by getting on with my life. I know he’d not have wanted me to sit at home and be a burden to my parents.”
“They would never think that,” Adam said, truthfully. “But they’ll be glad for you.”
“They are,” Cat said. “They couldn’t be more encouraging.” She turned to him almost fiercely, unshed tears shining in her eyes. “I would give anything to have a second chance with Chris. But I know it’s not to be and nothing can help that. But you have been granted this precious opportunity with Alf and you must grab it with both hands. Promise me that.”
“I promise,” Adam said and put his arm around her.
Chapter 11
Alf eventually rejoined them and they walked Cat home where she was expected for lunch. Adam dawdled behind a little as Alf and Cat were in deep discussion. When they reached the house, she hugged them both so the three of them were included in the embrace.
The men started to walk back the way they came.
“I hope I didn’t say the wrong thing, but I told her how sorry I was about Christopher. He was a fine man,” Alf said.
“Cat would be glad you took the trouble to say that,” Adam replied. “She’s been through a bleak time of things and at one point, I doubted she would get through her grief.”
“She seemed to be doing well today,” Alf remarked.
“That’s a very recent change and I’m more than glad to see it,” Adam said and since the appointment was not a secret, he told Alf about Cat’s offer of a teaching job.
“She’s a clever and competent woman and they’ll be lucky to have her,” was Alf’s comment. Adam warmed to him and wondered at the contrast with his own mother’s reaction when she heard this announcement. No doubt she would see this turn of events as disastrous for Cat’s social rehabilitation.
The men ate lunch in a pub in Clifton Village and when coming out into the street again, Adam asked, “What would you like to do this afternoon?”
Alf hesitated, then said quietly, “I rather hoped we could go to bed.”
* * * *
The next morning, bright and early, Adam walked Alf down to the station and they shook hands on the platform. Then he waved Alf off, in a way that would seem usual between good friends. Alf had not been away from his family since his return so he wanted to be home for Sunday lunch, he had explained regretfully.
Once he had joined the family on their way to church, rather than thinking holy thoughts, Adam’s mind was concentrated wholly on the remarkable events of the previous afternoon.
They had gone back to his flat and without any words had started to undress each other in the living room, the disrobing punctuated with kisses and caresses. It reminded Adam of that first magical time in Paris, but this occasion was full of the joy of familiarity and rediscovery.
When they were both naked, clothes scattered all over the floor, Alf had taken the lead, and drew Adam to the couch, as he knelt between his parted thighs.
“You don’t have to…” Adam began.
Alf smiled up at him, “Oh yes, I do.” He stroked Adam’s thighs, bestowing teasing kisses. “Such an Adonis,” he said almost dreamily before licking and sucking on Adam in such a way that his hips nearly rose clear from the sofa. That first time, after so long, was short and so ecstatic Adam nearly blacked out with pleasure.
Then, after recovering, he made his lover stand before him, worshipping him in turn with his mouth. Alf’s loving response and whispered words of encouragement erased any memory of his brusque manner the time before.
They eventually ended up in bed together, entwined, kissing and stroking until pleasure overcame them both, individually and together, pledging their love for each other until the light faded and the room grew dim.
Both waking very early and, after more loving, they talked. Alf then explained how he was expected home. They made plans for the next meeting, as though regular weekends together would be a definite part of their future and Adam could not believe his good fortune.
Thinking about it as he stood for the second hymn, he could not let Alf go this time, he vowed to whatever God there might be. No one and nothing would take him away from him. After all, he had promised Cat, and avenging angels had nothing on her when crossed.
So, the weeks turned into months and Adam’s life was gradually transformed for the better. The course he had enrolled in was absorbing. He was inspired to work hard in the evenings after a full day in the office, especially in those weeks when Alf was due down for the weekend. Then he wanted to clear the decks so he could spend all his time with his love. Adam had the excuse of his coursework to withdraw as much as he could from his mother’s social arrangements, so as not to encourage any particular young
lady of her choice.
Apart from Cat, he did not talk about Alf to his family, just occasionally mentioning an ‘army pal’ visiting to allay any further enquiries. Life was settled and on an even keel and he thought he was keeping a balance between the pressures and family and life and the office and his precious time with Alf. Until the inevitable day of reckoning arrived.
It was an ordinary Sunday lunch with the family and Adam was in the mundane act of passing the horseradish sauce when his mother addressed him.
“Will you be joining us at the Hutchinsons dinner party next weekend, Adam?”
“If I can, Mother,” he replied automatically.
She continued as if he had not spoken, “Because that would be the ideal time to pop the question to Isabel. Her mother will be so pleased. A spring wedding would be lovely and then you can both move in here.” She turned to her husband. “I thought the suite on the second-floor front would do nicely.”
Adam froze, the dish of sauce still in his hand. He put it down carefully and looked at his parent. “No, thank you, Mother,” he said.
His mother dismissed this with a laugh. “Now, don’t be silly, Adam,” she said as if to a recalcitrant child refusing a treat. “It’s more than time enough you were settled. Isabel is a lovely girl and this get-together would be the ideal opportunity to get engaged.” She gave a brisk nod of her head to close the subject and turned to her daughter, opening her mouth to speak.
Adam repeated, “I said no, Mother,” with a definite edge in his voice that made any other dilatory dining table chatter fizzle out. “I’m sure Isabel is a nice person, but I’m not interested in marrying her, or anyone else for that matter. Nor do I need anyone to make such life-changing decisions for me.”
His mother turned to him impatiently. “You are being ridiculous Adam. There’s no need to make such a silly fuss in front of everyone about something that we all know is a fait accompli. Now, you will do as you are told and everyone will be happy.”
Everyone apart from me and Alf, Adam thought bitterly. He rose from the table, his plate only half empty, dropping the napkin onto the tablecloth. “I have told you clearly that this is against my wishes, Mother. If you’re not prepared to listen, then I will be forced to leave the conversation.”
He walked out of the dining room and then the house, bareheaded, only just remembering to snatch his coat from the hallstand. He headed to the Downs automatically and walked for hours in his rage and frustration. How dare she? he thought over and over again.
Eventually, wearing himself out, he sat in Cat’s and his usual spot, his thoughts bleak. If only his mother had left it another few months. Once he got his qualification, he could get a bookkeeping or even accountancy placement somewhere. He did not want to leave Bristol anytime soon, let alone be forced out of his comfortable flat and a job he was enjoying, when at long last he was starting to feel that he was a genuine part of the family business.
He sighed. With his mathematics degree, he could get a teaching job in the Birmingham direction, even if Cat would laugh at the thought of him being a schoolmaster. It did not appeal, but if he was forced to make the break, then so be it.
Adam sat there until he was stiff with cold and it was growing dark. He got to his feet awkwardly and headed for the nearest pub to warm up, ordering a whisky with his usual pint to blot out his troubles.
After a rotten night of tossing, turning, and worrying, he arrived at the office a little early and light-headed with lack of sleep.
Before he could reach the safety of his office, Mr. Briggs intercepted him.
“Ah, Mr. Adam,” he said. “Mr. Merryweather is looking for you and said to go straight to his room.”
Adam’s heart sank. He obeyed the summons with a heavy heart. When he reached his father’s office, his father was standing facing the window, his hands behind his back.
“Dad, I’m sor—” he began.
His father turned and walked to his desk, sitting down behind it and gesturing for Adam to take the seat opposite him.
“No, I’m sorry, son,” he said quietly and Adam paused. “It is we who should apologise to you. Your mother should not have behaved in that way and you are perfectly correct, who you marry and if you marry is entirely your decision. I can only thank you for leaving the room when you did to avoid a serious and unpleasant row.”
Adam was dumbstruck. “As you know,” Mr. Merryweather continued. “In our family, I take care of business outside the home and your mother has the household domain and I have always given her free rein with that. Perhaps a bit too much free rein, in retrospect.”
He gave a tight smile before carrying on, “I had a serious talk with her yesterday evening. I warned her that if she pushed you too far, rather than falling in with her designs, we would drive you away altogether. Am I right?”
His father looked at him shrewdly and Adam nodded, thinking of all the despairing half-made plans he had made over a sleepless night.
“I neither want to lose you here, now you have become such a credit to the company and progressed so well, nor to force you to leave your home.”
He smiled wearily. “I have, for once, put my foot down with your mother and informed her that this prospective alliance or any other she has in mind is off the cards and she is to leave you alone. I don’t want to mislay my star employee after all.”
“I don’t know what to say, Dad,” Adam began.
“There is nothing to say,” his father said simply. Just carry on doing what you are doing so well and hopefully, still at Merryweather’s. If that’s what you want?”
“Definitely,” Adam replied, “It’s just that…”
“…You don’t want to be married off willy-nilly?”
“Exactly.”
“You needn’t worry about that,” Adam’s father said firmly. “I’ve told your mother that we already have a healthy brood of grandchildren and Cecily’s wedding is almost upon us, so she can concentrate her considerable energies on that. If you do eventually decide to get married, then we will be delighted, but if not, then what does it matter? As long as you are happy.”
Adam’s palpable relief came out in a sigh.
His father put out his hand, “No more forced engagements?” he asked.
Adam took his hand in his and they shook in agreement as if on the Nail, the traditional way of doing business on Corn Street.
“No more forced engagements,” he agreed thankfully.
So dismissed, he started to leave the room when his father called after him. “Oh, and Adam, we’d better give you leeway for Sunday lunch for the next few weeks. Just to let your mama know you mean business.”
* * * *
By the time the morning was over, Adam was nearly asleep and had to drag himself through the remainder of the day on sheer willpower. He was only grateful that this was not one of his class nights as he tried to wake up a little in the fresh air when he emerged outside.
Instead of going straight home, he turned off Park Street into Brandon Hill and climbed up to Cabot Tower, with a fine vista over the centre of Bristol. The despair of the day before had dissipated entirely. He was exhausted and he felt like he had been put through the wringer but was hugely glad to be out of the other side.
His papa had spoken and his rule was law. Adam could stay at Merryweather’s, could finish his course, could continue his career uninterrupted. These were all things to be glad for.
But most of all, he was thankful at how much he had changed in the past few years. Unlike with Delia, where he had caved in with his mother’s wishes unthinkingly, this time he had championed his cause. He had defended what he had with Alf and their gradually evolving life together. Although their relationship was entirely private, he felt he had made a public declaration of intent. He could not wait for the next weekend to tell Alf and to share his victory with Cat.
In the meantime, a nearby hostelry and a celebratory pint were calling him, he smiled to himself. He would certainly drink to a
happy future with his love.
THE END
ABOUT ELLIE THOMAS
Ellie Thomas lives by the sea, usually in a state of complete chaos. She has an unhealthy obsession with history and loves to both read and write about many historical periods. She comes from a teaching background and as well as writing, she bakes on demand for next door’s children. When she manages to wrestle herself away from her computer and her kitchen, she loves to dance.
Ellie Thomas mainly writes historical romances.
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