Under the July Sun (36 page)

Cat went to Peggy and put an arm around her shoulders.

‘There, pet. None of us know when the Good Lord will call us, and we have to comfort ourselves that she didn't suffer. A lingerin' death is painful for all to endure.'

Peggy hugged Cat.

‘Sorry Cat, I know ye've had yer own troubles, sure ye have, 'tis just that we'd no warning. She never complained of feelin' ill or anythin'.'

‘Well, thanks be to God for that then, it means she's left this world as she came into it, free from worry and pain.'

‘'Tis a good way of lookin' at it, that's for sure,' Breda said, poking Marie in the arm.

‘Go give yer mother a kiss now Marie, as she's away back to England.'

Marie went to Cat and raised lips for Cat to kiss.

‘And ye'll write to me more Marie, won't ye?' Cat asked before kissing her.

‘I will Ma. Though I've a lot of work to be doin' at present as I'm studyin' for my music exams and then there's the dancin' and horse ridin' competitions too─' She broke off, aware that Cat had stiffened at the mention of her horse riding.

‘And where are ye gettin' the horse ridin' lessons from, Marie?' Cat questioned

Breda came to Marie's rescue.

‘She's still goin' up to Hogan's, Cat. Paddy's been awful kind to her and doesn't charge for the lessons and all, not to mention takin' her to all the competitions in his new motor car.'

Cat turned to Marie.

‘Marie, will ye go downstairs and look out in the street to see if Billy is comin' up the hill from Auntie Nellie's please? He's late.'

Marie obediently left the room and Cat immediately took up the topic of Paddy's involvement with her daughter.

‘Look, I know he's been doin' a lot for Marie and maybe he has changed but I can't help feelin' uneasy about him.'

Cat looked from Peggy to Breda, trying to gauge whether she had an ally.

Peggy kept her head bent studying her tea cup as though she'd only just noticed the pattern on it for the first time. It was Breda who took up the challenge.

‘Listen, Cat, ye've nothin' to be worryin' about. Paddy's a different person now to the wild young thing he used to be, and Marie is really havin' such a good time competin' on the horses. I think it would break her heart if ye forbade her to continue.'

Forbidding her to continue was exactly what Cat had in mind, but she felt she was treading on shaky ground with her two sisters.

In her heart Cat knew that they had given Marie everything she and Louis were unable to, and that their intentions were for Marie's benefit. Cat knew that she would be forever in their debt.

But she was now aware that in accepting their generosity throughout the years, she had relinquished her right to direct Marie's life.

Cat entered the cottage and found Ned sitting before the empty fire.

‘Dada, have ye no fire? 'Tis a cold day, will I light it for ye?'

Ned looked up, perplexed at her presence.

‘Well hello there, Cat. I didn't expect to see ye. Sit ye down and I'll get ye a cup of tea.'

He rose slowly and plodded over to the dresser, lifting down one of the best cups, a residue of his and Maeve's wedding present. Never used, the tea set had adorned the dresser for more than half a century, but Ned was going to use it now. He realised there was no point hanging on to the china, not without Maeve, though in his head he heard her moan at him for using it.

‘Dada, ye know 'tis time for us to go today don't ye?'

Ned spun round, puzzled. ‘Is it? Ye didn't say ye were leavin'.'

Tears filled Cat's eyes, and she battled to overcome the intense emotion that was rising inside her, making it difficult to answer Ned. She too was in such pain. The pain of losing her mother and now of leaving her father to return to London.

‘I expect ye've forgotten, Dada, but I have to get back now, I've left the children alone in England.'

‘But ye've got Billy and Elizabeth with ye.'

‘I know Dada, but there's also Eileen and Anna at home on their own. I've been gone longer than I expected already.'

‘Oh,' he said, and then became silent. After a while Ned put the cup and saucer on the table and gazed at the kettle. ‘I've forgotten to light the fire, so I can't boil the water for tea. I'm sorry.'

Cat went to him and put her arms around him, nuzzling into his chest, smelling his familiar scent.

‘Oh Dada, I wish I could stay here. I want to look after ye. Nothin' would give me more pleasure, especially with Mummy gone, but I have to go.'

‘Can't ye come back home now, Cat?' he murmured into her hair. C'mon home now.'

‘I
can't
Dada.
Please
don't ask me to. I've the children in school over there and Billy is hopin' to go on with his studies, he'd never be able to do that here; I wouldn't have the work to pay for him.'

Ned didn't answer but she could see his shoulders shaking as he cried silently following her reply.

‘Dada. If I could stay I would, believe me. I'd love to come home and look after ye, but I can't.

The girls are gettin' big and take every penny I can earn to feed them. I can't be dependent on the family, there are too many of us.'

As though realising it was useless to continue the request, Ned sighed and held Cat out at arm's length, studying her face.

‘Ah mo chuisla, I know ye've a big burden yerself, and I don't mean to add to it, I shouldn't have asked. Forget it.'

‘I feel awful, Dada, but ye do see don't ye, that I can never come home, not permanently, not ever again.'

‘I know, Pet, I just thought there's no harm in askin'.' He lifted the empty kettle. ‘I'm just a silly old fool, can't even remember to light the fire and we've no hot water.' He set the kettle back over the empty fire.

‘Never mind the tea Dada, why don't we go into Norah's? She'll have hot water boilin' and she's lookin' after the children for me.'

‘Sounds like a good idea to me. But before we go Cat, I want to give ye somethin'. Just wait there will ye?'

He went into the bedroom and she could hear him rummaging in a drawer and muttering to himself. After a while he returned with something wrapped in tissue paper.

‘Here,' he said pressing the little package into her hand. ‘I bought this for yer mummy when I first decided to marry her.'

‘Oh, no Dada, I can't take it.'

‘Course ye can, 'tis for ye. And when I'm gone, I intend to leave ye this little cottage, so's ye'll always have somewhere to come back to.'

‘Oh Dada, I can't take this, or the cottage. What about the others?'

‘They're all set up, don't ye worry. Peggy and Breda have that little business which gives them a good life, and Tom and Norah have the farm now, so ye see 'tis only right ye have a little slice o' the cake. Open that now before we go into Norah's, I want ye to see it while we're alone.'

Cat unfolded the tissue paper and revealed a silver brooch designed in a circle with a bar across the centre on which were three little green shamrocks. She'd never seen it before and was deeply moved by the gift.

‘Mummy always said that I was to give it to ye, I just never believed 'twould be so soon.' His eyes filled with tears and his bottom lip quivered.

‘Oh Dada, 'tis lovely and I'll treasure it, thank ye. Ye know Dada, I've never thanked ye and Mummy for the wonderful life I had with ye as a child. 'T'as been the one thing that's kept me goin' ye know, the thoughts of home.'

Ned looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. He nodded and then surprised Cat.

‘Ye know, in all the years I was married to yer mummy, I don't think I ever told her I loved her. I wish I had.'

Paddy rode ahead of Marie, opened the gate to the stable yard, and she followed on her pony. It had started to rain; slowly drizzling initially which was refreshing after a strenuous cross-country ride. Then the downpour increased and with their slower pace nearing the stables, Paddy and Marie found they were becoming chilled.

‘C'mon, let's get these animals in for a quick rub-down then we can dry ourselves,' Paddy said looking back at Marie. ‘Ye're lookin' cold and we don't want ye catching pneumonia.'

‘Ah I'm all right, Paddy, but glad to be back now. The rain looks to be really settin' in.'

They stabled the horses and then set about rubbing them down.

‘I don't think we'll make too much of a job of it today, Marie 'twill be gettin' dark soon and ye need to be goin' home,' he said briskly brushing his horse. When she did not answer he turned and saw she was drinking from a bottle. Astonished, he asked her. ‘What's that ye have there?'

She giggled and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘'Tis wine from home.'

‘And what in the world are ye doin' with it here?'

‘Ah gettaway Paddy, 'twill not do any harm. C'mon, have a sip. 'Tis real nice.'

‘I will not, young lady! And you put that bottle down at once!'

‘Or what?' she leered at him.

‘Listen Marie, 'tis not nice for a young gel to go about drinkin' especially not in broad daylight.'

‘Well then, I'll wait 'till dark.'

‘Ye know what I mean.'

She tipped the bottle up again and took long gulps before offering him the bottle.

‘Try some, Paddy, 'tis real good.'

He looked at her, seeing her for the first time as a woman, not a child. Her hair was wild and bushy and it had turned frizzy in the rain. There was a blush on her cheeks that lit up her eyes making them appear full of lust. He had never seen her looking lovelier and his heart gained pace in his chest. An old memory of Cat stole into his mind, igniting an angry lust he thought was quenched long ago.

Marie continued to taunt him.

‘C'mon Paddy, take a swig o' this, 'tis lovely.' She moved around the horses and stood before him waving the bottle back and forth. ‘G'w'on, I dare ye. Are ye a man or a mouse?'

'Ye're a wicked gel, Marie, I'll say that.'

‘Sure, we all know that, Paddy. But c'mon now, take a swig. 'Twon't hurt ye, 'twill warm ye up.'

He looked at her. He'd never had the heart to say no to her for just about anything, but this was looking a mite dangerous. Drinking in the stable with a girl, and him a widower! What would folks say?

‘C'mon, nobody will know.'

Tantalised beyond caution he put aside the brush and went towards her.

‘Ah give us the bottle ye little temptress,' he said and took a long drink from the bottle. ‘Ye're right, 'tis pretty good stuff this. Where did ye say ye got it?'

‘Auntie Peggy makes it.'

‘Well then surely, she's goin' to miss it if ye've stolen it.'

‘Oh no. She gave it me for ye.'

‘Seriously?'

‘Sure. She said to me, to give it to ye for all the trouble ye take with me and anyway she has too many to store.' Marie smiled at him and took the bottle, then swallowed another long gulp. ‘So ye see, I'm not so wicked am I?' She handed him the bottle again and he sat down on the straw before taking another long drink.

‘Sure is warmin' after that rain.'

She slumped down beside him, took the bottle back and continued drinking.

‘Slow down, Marie, 'twill make ye dizzy,' he said leaning back on his elbows.

‘Ah, ha,' she said ‘I think it already has.'

‘Stop right there then, Marie. Ye don't want to get sick on it.'

‘Give us a kiss then and I will,' she teased.

‘I'll give ye a smack on the backside.'

‘C'mon then, I dare ye.'

But Paddy just laughed and wrenched the bottle away from her.

‘Give it back now, Paddy, I need some more,' she demanded.

‘I will not, ye little madam, that's enough now,' he said and looked around for the cork. ‘D'ye have the cork?'

‘I do.'

‘Then give it here.'

‘No.'

‘C'mon now Marie, I won't ask again, give me the cork.'

Marie picked up some straw and began tickling Paddy's nose with it and he laughed.

‘Stop that will ye, it tickles.'

But she was feeling very giggly and ran the stalks down his arm and over his hand.

He shuddered; it was rather nice having the light sensation caressing his skin.

She ran it up his arm and over his neck to his face again. Then she positioned herself in front of him, sitting cross-legged on the straw and raising her hand, traced around his lips with her finger.

He pulled back for an instant but she just smiled and shuffled nearer him.

‘Hold still will ye?' she said and kneeled up so that their faces were level. ‘Kiss me, Paddy.'

He hesitated, drawing back from her, but Marie merely leaned toward him. He studied her face. She had her mother's eyes and he could feel her breath on his face. Then her lips were on his and they tasted so sweet, so irresistible his resolve melted away and all thoughts of whether it was right or wrong dissipated.

She lay on the hay next to him and he folded her into his arms, kissing her forehead, nose, lips, and throat.

Marie, thrilled by the experience of her first kiss from a man, was giving him as much encouragement as she could. Sure the boys at the convent school had planted one or two slobbery kisses on her during play time but this was something different and she was hungry for more.

The rain outside intensified, hammering down on the stable roof, as Paddy, drawn irrevocably to the edge of desire, ignored Marie's belated cries of ‘
No
.'