Happiness for Hazel

by Pearl A Gardner

  “Oh, I didn’t expect to see you this evening,” Audrey said when she answered the door. “I thought your young man was visiting.”

  “He’s just left, Aunty Audrey. Is Eunice at home?”

  Audrey opened the door wider to let Hazel in. “She’s in her room, but don’t stay too long. It’s work for you both tomorrow.”

  Eunice was waiting at the top of the stairs. “I’m glad you came. I was worried when we didn’t see you again last night. What happened? I saw Glenn arriving this afternoon at yours. How did it go? Are you getting married?”

  Hazel grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her into the bedroom. “Yes, yes, yes and yes again!” She threw her arms around Eunice and hugged her tightly. “Mam is going to see the vicar tomorrow to arrange a date.”

  “That’s nice. I’m happy for you.” Eunice extricated herself and sat on her bed.

  The room seemed larger now without her brother’s things. The empty mattress on the spare bed looked uninviting without sheets and blankets.

  “I suppose your Hugh has moved in with his brothers now Ray has gone.”

  “Yes. It’s heaven to have a room of my own.”

  “Bet you all miss Ray, though.” Hazel felt a guilty pang and realised she missed him too.

  “We do, but he’s settled in down there at the plane making factory. Mam got a letter on Friday. He’s happy as a pig in muck, by the sound of it.”

  “I hope he is.” Hazel felt sad that she had been the cause of so much misery for Raymond. “He deserves to find a nice lass, too.”

  “It might be a while before he’s ready to look for romance.” Eunice looked warily at Hazel. “You know how he felt about you.”

  Hazel dropped her head. “I know. I wish I could have felt the same way about him, but then, look where that might have got us!”

  “Well, it’s all turned out for the best. Tell me about Glenn. How did he take it when you told him about the baby?”

  “He’s happy about it.” Hazel smiled as she remembered the enthusiasm he showed earlier that afternoon. “He wants to marry me, and he even told my mam how much he loves me!”

  “Bet your mam is relieved, eh?”

  Hazel nodded and perched on the bare mattress. “He wanted a big wedding, but we persuaded him we should keep it small because of losing my dad.”

  “Mam said your mam is still upset and cries all the time.”

  “Does she?” Hazel was surprised. She hadn’t witnessed her mother’s sorrow in days. “She must be putting on a brave face for us, then, because I haven’t seen many tears since the funeral. I was beginning to think she didn’t care that dad was gone. All she talks about is moving Grandma in with us as soon as she can arrange it.”

  “Well, that’s not how my mam sees things. She says Aunty Martha is heartbroken and she can’t talk to you about it because you have enough to worry about.”

  “But I had no idea!”

  Eunice looked down her nose at Hazel. “I’m shocked you’re not still upset about your dad, but perhaps you have more important things to think about, now you’re getting married.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Hazel was surprised by her friend’s sharp tone. “Are you saying I’m heartless?”

  “Well, if the cap fits, as they say.” Eunice folded her arms across her chest. “All you can talk about these days is Glenn and that baby.” She pointed at Hazel’s tummy. “Not once have you asked about my family. Not once! We were close to your dad too, in case you hadn’t noticed. My mam and dad are just as upset as your mam. Our Hugh still cries himself to sleep at night because he can’t see his Uncle Donald again.”

  “I’m sorry, Eunice.” Hazel couldn’t understand where her friend’s anger was coming from. “I do understand, and I miss my dad too.” She felt tears welling and blinked fast to keep them from flowing. “But with everything else that’s going on, I can’t seem to think beyond my own problems.”

  “Well it might do you good to start thinking of other people for a change, don’t you think?”

  “Why are you so upset, Eunice?” Hazel still couldn’t understand what had got into her friend. “Have I done something to offend you? I wouldn’t hurt you for the world, and I’m sorry that I haven’t been around for you these last few weeks, but you know how it’s been for me.”

  “Me, me, me, me, me! Change your bloody tune, will you!”

  “Eunice! What is it?” Hazel was beginning to worry. It was so unlike her friend to be angry with her. “Tell me what I’ve done!”

  “You let our Ray think you wanted to marry him and when his back is turned, you’re arranging to marry that Glenn Bradshaw and you know he’s no good for you!”

  “But I can’t marry Ray! You know that. He’s my half-brother, for the Lord’s sake, how were we supposed to know that? As for marrying Glenn, well, what else am I supposed to do?”

  Eunice dropped her head and looked deflated. She glanced at Hazel from beneath her lowered lashes. “Do you love him?”

  Hazel shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “Of course, it does!” Eunice came to sit beside Hazel on the bare mattress. “You can’t tie yourself to a man you don’t love. Think what your life would be like!”

  “I’ve thought of nothing else since I found out I was expecting.”

  “Then you haven’t been thinking properly. You can’t marry someone you don’t love.”

  “Yes, I can.” Hazel began to see why her friend was upset. She was worried about her. “I’ll be fine, Eunice. Your mam did it, and look how happy she is with your dad.”

  “That’s different. My dad loves my mam and always has. Mam grew to love him because he loved her and treated her well. Can you honestly say Glenn will make you love him in the same way?”

  “Glenn and me could be just like your mam and dad, Eunice. Glenn loves me. He said so. I know he’ll look after the baby and me. That’s all that counts, really.”

  “Will he make you happy, though?”

  “I’ll be happy enough.”

  “Oh, Hazel! I can’t help thinking you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life and I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t point it out to you.”

  “Well, I’ll consider myself warned, and you can clear your conscience.”

  “Oh, Hazel. Everything is changing, and I don’t like it one bit.”

  “We’re growing up, Eunice. It was bound to happen. You have Kenny now, and before long, you’ll be getting married too, I bet.”

  Eunice smiled shyly. “He’s already asked me, but I said I’m too young.”

  “How old is Kenny?”

  “He’s twenty-three.”

  “How long will you make him wait?”

  “My mam said I shouldn’t get married until I’m twenty-one, so that’ll be two more years, but I don’t know whether I can hold out that long.”

  “Is he asking you to do things with him that you don’t want to do?”

  “Well, that’s the trouble isn’t it?” Eunice giggled. “I do want to do things with Kenny, but seeing what’s happened to you has made me think better of it.”

  “If I had my time again, I think I would have made Glenn wait too, but what’s done is done and can’t be undone.”

  “What’s it like?” Eunice blushed to the roots of her dark-brown hair. “You know. When it happens.”

  “Have you let Kenny touch you yet?”

  “A little. Up here.” She touched her rounded breasts. “It feels exciting, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, it feels even better when they touch you down below.” Hazel chuckled and nudged her friend. “And by the time you get all of a dither and out of breath with the excitement of it all, well, I can only say, I’m glad I don’t have to wait any longer. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

  “Really?”

  “God’s honest truth?” Hazel nodded emphatically. “Really!”

  Eunice blew out a long breath. “It isn’t fair. I wish I could get married to Kenny
, so I didn’t have to wait to find out what all the fuss is about.”

  “Well, if you’re careful, you could still do it.” Hazel remembered the advice of her model friend. “You could use a French letter.”

  “Kenny wouldn’t hear of it. He wants me to wait until we’re married.”

  “But I thought he’d already tried to touch you.”

  “Only up top. He said he couldn’t trust himself to go further and he wants me to be a virgin on our wedding night.”

  “Being a virgin is overrated in my opinion, but I have to respect your Kenny. He has more restraint than most men, according to what you’ve always said.”

  “It was our Ray who told me all lads want the same thing. I wish he was here so I could ask him about Kenny.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Is it normal for a lad to keep his distance, so to speak? If he loves me, as he says he does, how can he keep his hands off me?”

  “Because he respects you. Isn’t it obvious?”

  “I thought it might be because he doesn’t find me attractive enough.”

  “Are you mad! Just look at yourself, Eunice. You’ve blossomed in the last few months. You don’t get many spots these days, and I love your new hairstyle. The short bob really sets off your best features. Even Glenn said he noticed how nice you looked with your new style.”

  “Did he?” Eunice touched her new short waves.

  “You have a figure that would drive most men wild, so I don’t know why you’re worried. Kenny worships the ground you walk on, and he’s a lucky lad to have you.”

  “I’m sorry I was cross with you. I don’t think you’re heartless.”

  “Well, I’m glad you told me how you feel because I’m going to try to consider others more from now on. Especially you.”

  Eunice leant against Hazel, and the two girls rested their heads together.

  “Nothing will change, Eunice. I’ll always be your best friend, no matter what.”

  “Even after you’re married?”

  “I’ll need a friend, even more, when I’m married to Glenn Bradshaw, don’t you think?” Hazel tried to make light of her reservations. “He’s no saint, is he?”

  “Can I ask you something?” Eunice said quietly.

  “Of course, you can.”

  Eunice hesitated, cleared her throat, and blurted, “Did Glenn have anything to do with what happened to Ray that night he got beat up?”

  “What makes you think that?” Hazel’s heart leapt in her chest. Glenn had almost convinced her he had nothing to do with the attack, but she still had a small nagging doubt.

  “Something Kenny said about Glenn’s pals. They were watching you closely at the Parish dance when our Ray was teaching you to do the lindy-hop. He said they were whispering together.”

  “Well, that doesn’t mean anything, does it?” Hazel searched for some explanation to give her friend. “It’s a long stretch of the imagination from whispering to beating someone’s head in.”

  “Even so, Kenny said they didn’t look happy about you dancing with Ray.”

  “Why didn’t Kenny go to the police with this information, then, if he’s so convinced they had something to do with it?” Hazel was beginning to sound defensive, and she didn’t like the way Eunice was putting her on the spot. “Glenn wouldn’t hurt Ray. If his pals did do it, and I’m not convinced they did, then they took it upon themselves. It was nothing to do with Glenn.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Eunice jumped to her feet and faced Hazel. “If Glenn Bradshaw had anything to do with what happened to Ray, you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking about marrying him!”

  Hazel bounced from the bed and glared at her friend. “He had nothing to do with it! I asked him!”

  Eunice narrowed her eyes. “You asked him? Well, that means you were thinking along the same lines. What did he have to say for himself?”

  “He said he had nothing to do with the attack, and I believe him!” Hazel couldn’t think about Glenn being involved in something so horrible. She had to believe him.

  “I hope you’re right to put your trust in him, Hazel. Personally, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, and that wouldn’t be very far.”

  “You don’t know him as I do, Eunice. He’s thoughtful and loving, and he has a sensitive side to him.”

  “If you say so.” Eunice huffed but then gave a small smile. “Well, I suppose I should trust your judgement, but I can’t help worrying that you might be making a mistake. I mean, you haven’t met his family yet, and I remember what our Ray said about them.”

  “I’m not marrying his family, Eunice. I’m marrying Glenn. Can’t you be happy for me? Just a little bit? If you let yourself get to know him, you’d see what a good man he is.”

  Eunice calmed down and gave another wry smile. “Well, I suppose I’ll know him well enough soon. Once you two are married, I’ll be seeing a lot more of him, won’t I?”

  “I hope so.” Hazel sighed with relief. It seemed her friend was prepared to give Glenn a chance. “I hope you and Kenny will visit us often.”

  “Well, you’ll only be across the road, won’t you?”

  “No!” Hazel realised she hadn’t told her friend about the proposed move to Ossett. “Glenn said he’d look into getting us a pit cottage near to where he works.”

  “But that’s miles away!”

  “It’s only a bus ride away, and I’ll be coming back to visit my mam all the time.”

  “Oh, Hazel! I’m sorry. I hate to fall out with you.” Eunice came to put her arms around Hazel again. “Let’s make a promise not to let our grown-up lives spoil our friendship.”

  “It’s a deal. I don’t want to lose your friendship just because I’m moving a few miles down the road.”

  “I’ll try to get to know Glenn, for your sake. I hope me and Kenny can be friends with him too.”

  Chapter 25 – Wedding Bells

  The Saturday of the last weekend in July was sunny and warm as Hazel slipped into her wedding dress. She and her mother had made it from some white, lacy, curtain fabric and they lined it with soft and silky rayon. The hemline skimmed her ankles, and the dress felt as light as a feather. It was the perfect gown for the warm summer day. They had fashioned a matching veil from the curtain lace and stitched it to a tiara of fake pearls that Mrs Wilson had let Hazel borrow for the day.

  Her mother fastened the buttons at the back of the gown and stood back to survey the results. “You look a picture!”

  “Are you sure you can’t see the bump, Mam?” Hazel turned sideways to her mirror to check.

  They’d made the dress in the empire style, with soft folds falling from under the bust-line to disguise the baby bump.

  “Your secret is safe for today, love, but it won’t be long before tongues start wagging.”

  “Well, at least I’ll be married by then, and living in Ossett will mean I don’t have to face the folks around here, who know me, every day.”

  “I wish your dad could see you today.” Martha’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “He’d be so proud to walk you down the aisle.”

  “I don’t know about that, Mam. In a way, I’m glad he’s not here. I’d feel more ashamed than proud if he were giving me away.”

  “He loved you, Hazel. All this with Glenn and the baby wouldn’t have changed that. At least Glenn is standing by you. Your dad would have seen the good in your young man, I’m sure of it.”

  “Thanks, Mam. That makes me feel better. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

  “Well, we can put all that behind us, and I can look forward to becoming a grandmother.”

  “Grandma’s not too happy about me making her a great-grandmother, is she?” Hazel smiled.

  “She’ll get used to it.”

  Hazel felt a flutter in her tummy and gasped.

  “What is it, love?”

  “Nothing.” She touched her small rounded bump. “I think it’s nerves. Butterflies in my t
ummy, you know?”

  “It might be the baby moving. You’re over four months now, aren’t you?”

  “How can you tell it’s the baby?”

  “You can’t tell at first. If you feel it again, you’ll know. It’s just like butterflies, or some women say it feels like wind bubbling in your tummy.”

  “It’s stopped now.” Hazel wished she could feel it again.

  “We’d better get a move on.”

  “Will Grandma change her mind and come to church, do you think?”

  “I doubt it, love. You know what she’s like.”

  “I wish she didn’t make me feel like a strumpet every time she looks at me. I feel guilty enough without her trying to make me feel worse.”

  “Ignore her. She’s from a different generation and doesn’t understand young love. Let’s go show her what you look like, eh?”

  Hazel took one last look in the mirror before following her mother to the bedroom door.

  Martha looked out the window. “Eunice is on her way over. Are you ready to face everyone?”

  “I’m ready, Mam.”

  She followed her mother down the narrow staircase to meet Eunice in the kitchen. Norman was polishing his shoes near the door.

  “Don’t get any dubbing on that good suit!” Martha warned.

  “Grandma has already given me the Scarborough warning, Mam.” He glanced at the older woman sitting by the empty fire-grate.

  “I’m keeping an eye on the little rascal.”

  “Thanks, Mam.” Martha went to open the door. “Come in Eunice. We’re almost ready.”

  “Oh, my!” Eunice stopped in the doorway with her mouth open. “You look like a model from a magazine, Hazel!”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself, Eunice Simpson.” Hazel grinned at her friend. “The red polka dot dress looks good on you. Wait until Kenny sees you in that. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you!”

  “Hazel Harris!” The old woman snapped. “Mind how you speak. You might have sunk to the gutter with that belly showing your shame, but don’t tar young Eunice with the same brush. I’m sure she has more sense.”

  “Sorry, Grandma.” Hazel felt like a small child under her grandmother’s stern expression. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”