Towards a Dark Horizon (36 page)

‘What about you, Danny? Do you like it?’

He nodded. ‘Aye, it’s grand.’ He blushed. ‘If Maddie likes it, then so do I. She calls it the love nest.’

His blush deepened and I decided not to tease him. Maddie had taken me to see the flat from the outside as Danny had said. She couldn’t take me inside because the owner was still in residence and in the throes of moving. But we had admired it from the outside. The building was at the lower end of Roseangle and it had a view of the river. The stonework had been repointed recently, giving the building a fresh and almost new look.

Another thing I was amused by at the time was the entrance to the stairs. You went in through a spick-and-span tiled close. For years, the family joke was that Hattie had always longed to live in such a building with a tiled close. To her, it was the epitome of gracious living. Although she had never achieved that dream, it now looked as if it was coming to her in a second-hand way so to speak. From now on, Granny and I would have to listen to her singing the praises of the tiled close and it would drive us both barmy.

Danny was still speaking about the flat. ‘You know it’s on the second landing and the folk moved out a couple of days ago. We’ve been in to see it but I know Maddie wants to show it to you, Ann. She was wondering if tomorrow night would suit you and Lily.’

I knew Lily would be delighted to get a conducted tour around the new house and, to be truthful, so would I.

‘That would be great, Danny. Will we meet Maddie at seven thirty?’

‘I’ll tell her and she’ll meet you outside.’ He turned to go but said, ‘I’ve got another bit of good news. George has got a job in a foundry and seemingly they’re looking for other workers so he’s hoping tae get Belle and Lizzie’s men jobs too. Kit was also saying that Cox’s mill is taking on extra workers so she’s hoping to get a job back there.’

I was pleased for them. After being jobless for so many years, it was marvellous that they might now all get on their feet financially. ‘That
is
good news, Danny. What a difference it’ll make to get a wage packet again.’

I had been thinking about the Ryan women and wondering if they could all afford outfits for the wedding but this good news would certainly help their morale. I had toyed with the idea of offering them some money to help them over the expense but, when I mentioned it to Danny, he shook his head.

‘They’ll not take it, Ann. I’ve also offered to help out but they say they’ll manage and they’ll not show me up. Kit says they’ll be togged up like the other guests.’ He smiled. ‘As if I’m worried about that – it’ll just be good to see them there.’

He went away back to the wedding fever and I waited to tell Lily the news of the house visit the next day. When I told her, she began to jump up and down with excitement. I warned her, ‘It’ll not be furnished yet, Lily. It’ll just be the bare rooms.’ This failed to quell her pleasure and that was the thing I loved about her – the ability to get excited about everything. Big and small things in her life were viewed with this magical mixture of wonder and pleasure and I hoped it would be something that would stay with her all her life.

People became jaded so easily in life but things seen through Lily’s eyes had a freshness and a breathless quality that was so wonderful. I recalled Joy’s sulky behaviour and I was thankful that Lily hadn’t all her good fortune. Too much too early wasn’t a good upbringing for a child, I thought. But then I remembered that it hadn’t harmed Maddie. Perhaps it was just an off day for Joy.

I was hurrying to the Overgate the next day with Lily when we met Kit and her two sisters. I had met Lily at the school gate. She was now back at Rosebank school and the headmistress at Victoria Road School had been most helpful over the transfer – especially as she hadn’t been in her school very long. I still had the niggly feeling that Margot would turn up one afternoon but Lily was well warned not to go off with her. Not that she would willingly go but she might be frightened of the woman. Thankfully, however, it hadn’t happened.

It was Lily who spotted the three women. ‘Hullo, Kit!’ she shouted across the street.

They came over. ‘Hullo, Lily,’ said Kit. ‘Now tell us what you’re wearing for the wedding because we’re looking for our outfits.’

Lily looked important. ‘Well, I’m in a lemon frock and so is Joy …’

I butted in. Lily would hog the entire conversation if I let her. ‘Are you shopping for your outfits now?’ I asked.

Kit said, ‘Aye, we are. The men can wear their suits that they’ve had for years but we want to look smart for Danny and Maddie.’

They were standing outside Style and Mantle, a shop at the foot of the Wellgate, and they had been scrutinising the windows which held an assortment of ladies’ wear.

‘We’ve got ourselves a Provie check each but we’re not sure if this shop accepts them.’

Lizzie snorted. ‘Even if they do, Kit, it’s too pricey for us. Let’s look for something a bit cheaper.’

But Kit refused to be sidetracked. ‘No I’m going in here and asking if their shop is on the Provident line list.’

At that moment if I had my hands on Miss Hood’s money I would gladly have given it to them. They were always having to struggle and I knew Kit would want to be especially nicely dressed for her favourite nephew’s wedding. But, as it was, I didn’t have this money and I didn’t know whether I should offer to help them out. I drew Kit aside as her sisters glanced at the window again.

As I didn’t even want Lily to overhear, I whispered quietly, ‘Let me help you out with the outfits, Kit.’

She shook her head. ‘Och, no, Ann. Honestly we’re having good fun deciding on something to wear and we’ve got the rest of the afternoon to find something.’

Still, as we said goodbye to them, I was pleased I had offered.

At seven thirty, Lily and I arrived at the close in Roseangle to find Maddie was waiting for us. She looked tired but I thought it was all the arrangements for the wedding that was making her face look white and strained.

She gave us a cheery wave, however, and we climbed the spotlessly clean stairs to the imposing looking wooden door with its shiny brass handle. She was a bit out of breath as she inserted the key in the lock. We stepped into a fair-sized lobby which had four doors – two on the right wall and two on the left – but the outstanding feature was a gigantic stag’s head which seemed to be part of the wall. Lily jumped in alarm and I also got a fright.

Maddie burst out laughing and we joined in. ‘Meet Hamish,’ she said.

The stag had a large pair of antlers and his eyes seemed to be alive. ‘Are you going to keep him, Maddie?’ I wasn’t sure if I would had I been in her shoes.

‘We haven’t made up our minds yet but I suppose he could always act as a coat hanger.’

Lily shivered. ‘Well, I don’t like the beastie, Maddie. He keeps looking at you as if he’d like to jump off the wall.’

Maddie opened the first door on the left and we stepped into a square shaped room which overlooked the back of the building and had a wonderful view of the river. It was a lovely room, full of light, and I loved it.

‘This is great, Maddie, and what a lovely view!’

Lily ran over to gaze out of the window while Maddie opened a door on the far wall. This was a tiny scullery just big enough for the sink and the gas cooker. We then looked at the small bedroom which faced the road and the bathroom which also faced the river.

She then opened the fourth door in the lobby to reveal a large cupboard then our tour of the house was over.

‘We’re hoping to get the carpets laid and the curtains up next week and the furniture will be delivered in a couple of weeks. The last owners decorated it not so long ago and we quite like the paper so we won’t bother about that just yet.’

We were back in the living room. I gazed around me and said, ‘It’s a lovely flat, Maddie, and I hope you’ll both be very happy in it.’

‘It won’t be long now till the wedding and I’m counting the days.’

The time had certainly flown in and we were now in September.

‘You’ll be hoping for good weather for your wedding day, Maddie?’

She smiled but the tension was still visible. ‘I hope nothing goes wrong before then.’

‘Nothing will go wrong, Maddie,’ I said, trying to reassure her.

‘It’s just that everyone is saying there’s going to be another war and the more times I hear it the more worried I become.’

I was worried myself because Connie was also sure that we would soon be at war with Germany. That would mean that Danny and Greg and boys like Sammy would all be called away to fight but I had to cheer her up.

‘Don’t worry about it, Maddie. Just you look forward to your wedding and leave your worries behind you – after all, it’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life, isn’t it?’

She smiled again. ‘I know and I’m just being daft.’

As we set off down the stairs she said, ‘Mum wants us to go to the church for a wedding rehearsal. It will be on the Friday night prior to the wedding day and she wondered if Lily and you could stay overnight with us. That way the cars could all leave from the one address.’

When my face lit up, she said, ‘I’m looking forward to having a good chat and you’ll be a big help when I get nervous about my big commitment.’

I pretended to look shocked. ‘Och, you’ll not be nervous, Maddie – you’ll carry it off with your usual panache.’

On that note we parted.

The following weeks flew by in a whirl of wedding arrangements which left me bemused by all the things that had to be seen to. To be honest, I had always thought the only thing that had to be done was to turn up on the appointed hour and hope the bridegroom did the same. But, no – it was all a flurry of plans and a frenzied atmosphere.

Our shoes arrived late and Mrs Pringle was becoming quite agitated in case the shop hadn’t dyed them the correct shade to match our dresses. In fact, when they finally arrived, they were superb and Lily was over the moon with hers.

‘Do you think I’ll be allowed to keep then afterwards, Ann?’ she asked when the parcel arrived.

I was doubtful. ‘Well, Mrs Pringle has paid for them but maybe if I offer to buy them after the wedding then she’ll let you have them.’

Then there was the flat. The carpets had been laid and I went with Hattie to give her a hand to hang the curtains. Hattie was in her element as she handled the thick velvet curtains. The living room ones were in shades of wine, deep gold and pale peach and the effect was stunning. I thought of our little flat on the Hilltown and this glorious place made it look drab. I made a mental note to buy some cheery curtains for the coming winter.

Maddie’s parents had bought the living room furniture as a wedding present to the couple and Hattie had done the same with the bedroom furniture. Maddie and Danny had chosen the pieces but both sets of parents picked up the bill.

Maddie rushed in as we were on the last curtain and she began to tell me of their good fortune with the wedding gifts. ‘We’re very lucky with Hattie and my parents’ gifts. Not many young couples get off to such a good start so early in their marriage.’

I agreed with her. I had discovered that the traditional gift from the bridesmaid was china. Hattie had told me this. Either a tea set or a dinner set or, if you were well off, then perhaps both.

‘Lily and I will get you some china, Maddie, so, if you want to pick something for yourself, we’ll buy it,’ I told her.

She tried to protest. ‘Danny and I don’t need any more presents, Ann.’

I shook my head.

‘Thank you, then. Maybe we can go and look at a tea set. We better make it on a Saturday so that Lily can come with us.’

‘Good, that’s settled then.’

Meanwhile Hattie was still in raptures over the new flat and the tiled close. She told Granny later, ‘I always said that Danny would do well for himself. Maddie and her mother have such good taste and the new flat is just a dream come true for me.’

Granny was unimpressed. ‘Don’t tell me you’re going to move in with the young couple, Hattie? Will you give up your house in the Westport?’

Hattie looked at her mother as if she was daft. ‘I’m merely describing the flat. I’m not proposing to move in.’

One thing that almost got overlooked in this frantic frenzy was the fact that Maddie had passed her exams. She was now a fully trained SRN. She seemed quite unconcerned about her achievement and she confessed this to me one day when we were at the flat. ‘When I started to do my training, I thought it was all I wanted to do but, when Danny stopped seeing me, I realised he was the most important thing in my life. I’m just so glad we’re getting married. Oh, I know I’ll always have my training behind me if I ever need it but Danny is far more important to me than that.’

I could well understand her wanting to get married but I felt differently about marriage. I couldn’t envisage a time when I wouldn’t want to work except perhaps if children came on the scene. I kept my views to myself. Maddie knew what she wanted and hopefully it was this.

That day, she also said, ‘Danny has got a letter from Greg and he’ll be delighted to be our best man.’

‘That’s good, Maddie. I expect there will be a letter waiting for me as well. He normally writes three or four times a week.’

I was feeling quite guilty as I said this. I hadn’t written to him for nearly a week now what with all the running around with Lily between the house, the school and the Overgate – not to mention the wedding. I hoped he would understand.

There was a letter waiting for me. It began with the words, ‘Are you still in the land of the living, Ann?’

Full of remorse I sat down and wrote a short note, pleading overwork.

There had been no sight of Dad since the episode with Lily and I was dreading meeting Margot at the wedding. Still, I reckoned there would be lots of guests and hopefully our twain wouldn’t meet.

Connie was full of the wedding as well. Her entire conversations these days hinged on how lovely it was to have been invited and what she would wear when the big day arrived. As it was, I was grateful for all this frivolous talk because most of the customers were full of gloomy predictions of war.