Brides of War

by June Tate

They were married three weeks later. Carl Blackmore and his wife were the witnesses and after the ceremony, they all dined at the Waldorf Astoria. It was a quiet but joyous occasion.

  Valerie wore an ivory coloured dress and matching hat and shoes and an orchid. Max and Carl were in smart suits, sporting buttonholes to match. Jane Blackmore was elegantly attired in a pale green dress and hat. The party enjoyed their meal and the chef had made a small one-tier wedding cake for the occasion.

  Max had been given strict orders by Valerie not to make a speech, but he picked up a glass of champagne that the waiter had just poured and remaining seated he spoke.

  ‘I wish to propose a toast to the wonderful woman who walked into my life and today made it complete!’

  They all raised their glasses and drank. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered and kissed her husband.

  The following morning, Max and Valerie took a flight to Jamaica for a two week honeymoon. As he had said, ‘You need a break now because when the baby is born, things will be different. These two weeks are just for us.’

  Despite the fact that it was October, the time when storms could sweep through the islands in the West Indies, the weather was kind to them. They lay on the beach beneath palm trees, relaxed, swam to keep cool and, of course, took their paints and the opportunity to capture the tropical scene before them. They took a cab into Kingston, the capital, and shopped: buying straw hats, linen trousers and local necklaces made out of beads, sold at the roadside by West Indian women trying to earn a living from the tourists. Valerie was delighted by the custom of the shopkeepers offering small glasses of rum as soon as you entered their premises. She allowed herself just one.

  Laughing she turned to Max. ‘One could finish shopping and be legless here, if you accepted all that was on offer!’

  ‘They figure if you’ve drunk enough, you’ll buy even more is my guess,’ he said.

  They sat outside a café and had a cold drink as they took out their sketchbooks and drew the colourful locals, capturing the vibrancy of the Caribbean, knowing that on their return, the paintings in oils would bring onto the canvas Jamaica in all its glory.

  Another day they were driven to Montego Bay, a favourite spot for tourists, but the beach was big enough to still be comfortable and when Max hired a glass-bottomed boat, Valerie was thrilled to be able to see the world deep beneath them, full of fish swimming in the sea that was an unbelievable shade of turquoise.

  They dined that night at a restaurant outside, beneath palm trees with fairy lights threaded through them, moving and sparkling in a soft breeze as they danced to the captivating music of a steel band.

  ‘Oh Max, you couldn’t have picked a more romantic place to spend a honeymoon,’ she whispered as he held her close.

  ‘I’m so pleased you like it darling. This is just the beginning of our life together and the baby will make it just perfect. I’m a lucky man.’

  They returned to New York and put away their summer finery. There was now a chill in the air as winter approached. But in the studio, all the vibrancy of the Caribbean was being composed on canvas as they worked. Inside it was still summer, with palm trees and a turquoise sea in the background and on another, the streets of Jamaica came alive.

  It seemed no time at all before Christmas was looming. Valerie loved New York at Christmas. She thought the London shops were superb during this time, but the shop windows of New York were magnificent. At the Rockefeller Center stood a tall conifer tree, decorated with fairy lights, which reminded Valerie of the one in Trafalgar Square. There was an outside skating rink and they sat inside the restaurant watching the skaters through the window as they drank their coffee. On each corner of the streets stood a man dressed as Father Christmas with a tin, collecting for charity, and the smell of chestnuts roasting from various stands filled the air. Christmas in New York was unbeatable!

  Max and Valerie had invited several friends to spend Christmas Day with them and ten of them sat down to eat turkey and all the trimmings. They pulled crackers, read the mottos and had a high old time. There was no King’s speech of course, but it was only a passing thought as Valerie cared for her guests.

  There had been heavy snowfalls and while the streets were cleared, Central Park was still covered and she and Max went for a short walk there on Boxing day, to try and walk off the food they had eaten the previous day. On their return he insisted she rest on the settee.

  Valerie, stretched out, relieved to be quiet. During their walk in the park, she’d felt twinges of pain in her stomach and wondered what the child she was carrying was doing to her, but as she lay, the pains increased and when she went to the toilet, she was horrified to find she was passing blood. When she told Max, he immediately called an ambulance.

  Max sat with her, holding her hand tightly, as they sped through the streets to the hospital. Neither said a word, both too worried about the consequences, not wanting the other to know their fears.

  When they reached the hospital, Valerie was taken into a room to be examined and Max was sent to the waiting room. He walked up and down, unable to relax until the doctor came and found him.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mr Brennen, but I think your wife is going to lose the baby, she’s going into labour. I’m afraid she’s having a miscarriage. It sometimes happens with a first baby, which I know is no comfort to you, but later you can both try again.’

  ‘Oh my God! Is she in any danger?’

  ‘No, she’ll be fine, but I’m sure she would like to see you now.’

  Max hurried to the room where Valerie had been taken. He rushed over to the bed and held her hand.

  ‘Darling, are you alright?’

  Tears sprang into her eyes. ‘Oh Max, I’m so sorry. I’m going to lose our baby!’

  ‘Ssh, don’t fret. It can’t be helped and it’s not your fault. The doctor says it often happens with a first baby.’

  She was suddenly convulsed in pain and Max called the nurse, who sent him off to the waiting room again, whilst she summoned the doctor.

  Valerie was distraught. The nurse and doctor tried to comfort her but as the pains increased she knew that she was definitely miscarrying.

  Two hours later it was all over. Max sat with his wife who was desolate and weak. Eventually she slept as the doctor came to see Max.

  ‘We’ll keep her in for a few days to make sure she’s fine. Your wife lost a lot of blood so we need to build her up. When you take her home, let her rest until she feels stronger. Mentally as I’m sure you know, will take longer to heal … for both of you, but there is no reason she can’t have another child, in time. I suggest you go home and come back this evening.’ He patted Max on the shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’

  Max let himself into the apartment, sat on the settee and, burying his head in his hands, cried for his lost child. Eventually he wiped away his tears and walked into the room that he and Valerie had turned into a nursery. The cot stood in the corner, soft toys on the mattress. He dismantled everything, packed them in boxes and stored them away. The last thing Valerie needed to see when she came home, were these things. If they were lucky one day in the future, they could be brought out again. He went into his own bedroom, set the alarm clock for two hours later, lay on the bed and slept from sheer exhaustion.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Three days later, Valerie was allowed home. Max collected her in a cab and held her close as they drove back to the apartment. He made sure it was warm inside and in the oven was a casserole he’d cooked for them to eat later.

  Once inside the door, he held her close and kissed her gently. ‘It’s so good to have you home,’ he said.

  Tears welled in her eyes and she clung to him sobbing. ‘I wanted that baby so much.’

  ‘I know darling, but we can still have children later when you’re ready. Now we must build up your strength. Come along, curl up on the settee and I’ll make you a pot of tea. I’m told it’s what the Brits do in times of stress.’

  She smiled
through her tears. ‘Oh Max, I do love you!’

  It was now early February. When Valerie was recovering and felt able, she wrote to Gracie and told her of her miscarriage, but that she was now all but recovered and back to her painting once again.

  Gracie was naturally upset for her friend and wrote back at once, saying how sorry she was, then she brought her up to date with her own news. She was able to tell her that now she’d a flat of her own and was once again her own woman. As she wrote to Valerie,

  It was lovely to be at home with my parents, but after being married, I wanted to have my own place again. Rick and I are still in contact. He writes often and tells me his parents are at last recovering from Jeff’s death.

  Who would have known in those days in Tidworth Camp when we were waiting to sail to America, what lay ahead for both of us.

  As she sealed the envelope she concluded that despite everything, she wouldn’t have changed a thing. She’d spent time in another country, which had been an experience and she’d met Rick. However, it was a hopeless liaison. He was living thousands of miles away. His letters were a comfort, he still told her he loved her, but what use was that when an ocean was between them? Despite that, she looked for his letters and when they came, read them eagerly over and over before putting them in a drawer.

  It was Valentine’s Day, the shop had been busy and Gracie was relieved when it was time to go home. Once there, she put on the kettle, kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the settee when there was a knock at the door. Muttering beneath her breath at the inconvenience, she got to her feet and opened it. All she could see was a figure whose face was hidden behind a huge bouquet of flowers.

  ‘Yes?’ she said.

  The bouquet was lowered and Rick stood before her, smiling. ‘Happy Valentine’s!’

  She felt the blood drain from her and thought she was going to faint. She grabbed hold of the door frame to steady herself. ‘Oh my God!’ was all she could say.

  ‘I was hoping for a warmer welcome that that, Gracie honey!’

  She flung her arms around him with a cry of joy.

  ‘Now that’s much better,’ he said as he took her into his arms and kissed her until she could hardly breathe. He lifted her off her feet and walked her back into the living room. Somewhat encumbered by the flowers.

  He put her and the flowers down and grinning all over his face said, ‘Jeez, it’s so good to see you.’

  She stared at him hardly able to believe her eyes. She put out a hand and touched him. ‘I think I’m dreaming,’ she said.

  ‘No Gracie, it’s me, honestly and truly.’

  ‘But what on earth are you doing here?’

  ‘I couldn’t stay away any longer. I told you we had unfinished business, didn’t I?’

  ‘You did, I remember.’ She shook her head. ‘You are the last person I expected to find on my doorstep.’

  ‘I hope you’re pleased to see me honey?’

  ‘Oh Rick, how could you doubt it.’ She put her arms around his neck and kissed him longingly. ‘I’ve thought about doing that ever since I left America.’

  She led him to the settee. ‘Now tell me how you came to be here.’

  ‘It’s simple. There was no way we could be together in Barton, I know that was impossible, well when Jeff was alive, so I had no choice. Here I am.’

  ‘How long are you staying?’

  ‘As long as it takes. I’ve got an open return ticket.’

  ‘What? I don’t understand.’

  ‘Well honey, the way I see it is if we want to be together we have to decide where we are going to settle. Here in jolly old England or back in the States. We have a lot of talking to do.’

  ‘You would come here to live?’ She couldn’t believe what he was suggesting.

  Shrugging he said, ‘If that’s what it takes, yes. You know we’re meant to be together, where, is just a matter of choice.’

  She still couldn’t take in what he was suggesting but she suddenly asked, ‘If you’ve come for a while, where’s your luggage?’

  He started laughing. ‘Outside the door. I couldn’t hold that and the flowers!’

  ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, you’d best go and get it before someone removes it.’

  Gracie watched him walk to the door and retrieve his case, still hardly able to believe what had happened. Never in her wildest dreams had she envisaged Rick coming to England to be with her, but as he walked back she was thrilled that he had.

  As he sat back down beside her Gracie asked, ‘What’s happening to your business?’

  ‘It’s going really well. I’ve a guy helping me. I’ve left him in charge, he’s perfectly capable.’

  ‘What would happen to it if you came here to live?’

  ‘I’d sell up of course.’

  ‘You would do that for me?’

  He gazed at her and smiled. ‘If I had to, of course I would.’

  ‘Oh Rick, I couldn’t expect you to do that after you’ve worked so hard to build it up.’

  ‘The only way I could keep it honey is if you came home with me. We could get married here with all your family around you first of all, of course, but I’m not sure how you’d feel about that?’

  ‘I need time to think Rick. I mean this is so sudden, my mind is spinning.’

  ‘Of course I understand. I was wondering, can you take some time off from your job so we can be together?’

  ‘Absolutely! If they say no, I’ll hand in my notice. I’ll show you around Southampton, the New Forest, we can go to London for the day and …’

  ‘Hey slow down,’ he said grinning at her. ‘We have the time, just take it easy.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I’m just so excited.’ She put out her hand and caressed his face. ‘Oh Rick, I thought I’d never see you again.’

  ‘There, you have no faith. I always knew I’d see you. Come here.’

  Inevitably they moved to the bedroom. ‘Now for that unfinished business,’ Rick said as he undressed her.

  Later, as they lay in each other’s arms, Gracie gazed upon the face of her lover. She was overcome with joy. She knew for certain that Rick was the man for her and now he was with her she was not going to lose him again, but that meant making decisions that would affect the rest of her life.

  He smiled at her. ‘Oh my, Gracie honey, that was well worth the journey!’

  She snuggled into him, unable to put her feelings into words.

  They eventually left the bed and dressed. She went into the kitchen and cooked them a meal, grateful that she had a couple of pork chops in the fridge and as they sat at the table eating, she said she would have to go into the store the next morning to tell them she’d be taking time off.

  ‘Great, I’ll come with you and then you can show me round the town. We don’t have to make any decisions right away. I know you’ll need time to think and I can wait until you’re ready.’

  ‘How would your parents feel about us getting together?’ she asked tentatively.

  ‘Well, they do know that Jeff put you in hospital, which made them think differently about you leaving and believe it or not, Ma was upset about the way he treated you and Dad was furious. He took Jeff into the yard and threw a punch at him when he found out.’

  ‘Oh my goodness, did he?’

  ‘He did and he gave Jeff one more chance to try and pull his life together but as we know, the gambling was in his blood.’

  ‘You know, when I met your brother here in England he was a different man, I never would have married him if I knew about his addiction.’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘I know.’

  ‘You must come and meet my parents,’ she suggested.

  ‘Let’s spend some time together first, honey, then when we’ve decided what to do about our future, we’ll go see them. OK?’

  She agreed.

  Having taken two weeks holiday from her job, Gracie and Rick took trips to the New Forest, which he loved, especially seeing the ponies wandering wild and unfettered
by the roadside. They spent three days in London taking in the sights. Rick couldn’t get over the age and history of the place and when they went to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower, he was astonished by their splendour.

  ‘Jeez, we don’t have anything like this is the States,’ he remarked.

  They walked along Embankment in the evening, visited the Whispering Gallery in St Paul’s Cathedral, which amused him greatly as he stood on one side of the gallery and spoke to her, astonished that she could hear every word. They were like a couple of tourists, yet they both knew that, eventually, they would have to sit down and decide their future together.

  They returned to Southampton on Saturday and the next day walked on the Pier, went into a café and ate fish and chips. ‘The stable diet of the Brits,’ he laughed, ‘whereas, ours is burgers.’ He looked across the table at her. ‘These past days have been great, Gracie, but comes the time when we have to talk seriously.’

  ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I have been thinking whilst we were away and I’ve come to a decision.’

  He frowned and with a look of concern asked, ‘What did you decide?’

  ‘I can’t expect you to give up your business. It would mean you trying to find work over here, starting from scratch, it would be unfair of me to ask it of you.’

  ‘What are you saying, honey?’

  ‘I’ll come back to Barton with you.’

  He was stunned. ‘You will? But you wrote and told me how you were happy to be back in your homeland – that America wasn’t for you!’

  ‘I know and it was true, but if I was with you and happy, then I’d feel differently. After all, we’d be together, we’d have Milly and Chuck as friends, the whole scenario would be different.’

  He was choked with emotion. ‘Christ, Gracie! You crossed the Atlantic once already to start a new life but I promise you, you will never regret the second trip. I’ll make sure we will be able to visit your folks maybe every other year. Does that help?’

  ‘More than you’ll ever know. Now I suppose is the time to go and tell my parents.’