Daniel nervously cleared his throat. “No, I’m sorry but we can’t afford to take you kids. And there won’t be room for you in Michael’s and Margaret’s small house. You’ll have to stay with Granny and Grampa.”
Crystal and Pearl both appeared near tears.
However, Amber became so excited she almost screamed. “I’ll save up my allowance. I’ll get a paper route. I’ll find the money.”
Daniel sighed and his voice grew stern with finality. It rose above the sound of footsteps on the floor. “No, it’s impossible. Your allowance is too small. You can go when you’re older. I’m sorry.”
Anna touched Amber’s shoulder. “We’ll find you girls something nice in England and maybe something special today besides nail polish. What do you say?”
All three children appeared at least partly placated.
Daniel turned and walked rapidly towards the exit. His footsteps thudding on the floor. He held the door open for Anna and the girls. However, Anna saw some of his characteristic unhappiness return to his face. Thoughts of the war were never far from his mind.
Despite this, she beamed.
* * *
They travelled by train to Montreal. Anna found, in contrast to her trip out to Canada as a war bride, she now enjoyed the journey. She decided this must be because Daniel was much better company than a gaggle of frightened English women embarking on a wild trip to an unknown land.
The train had a berth, which Anna loved. She enjoyed sleeping in the small, cozy room with what seemed like the whole world passing outside their window. And she loved it when the conductor joked with them as he made up their beds.
The dining car produced excellent meals served with fine linens and silverware.
Anna discovered both she and Daniel had a taste for luxury. They particularly enjoyed having their morning coffee, and bacon and eggs served by friendly, solicitous Canadian Pacific staff.
Nonetheless, the journey seemed never ending and the scenery often bleak and boring. There seemed to be nothing but trees in northern Ontario and they all looked alike.
Daniel told Anna she’d enjoy travelling to Vancouver by train, the journey through the mountains apparently beautiful. She made him promise to take her soon.
They made friends with several other couples and one of these couples reminded them of Reg and Julie, their long-time friends from when Anna and Daniel first dated.
This new, friendly, good-looking couple, Allan and Sylvia, loved to go to the bar car where they happily consumed good scotch whiskey. Not surprisingly, Allan’s ancestry traced back to Scotland. Sylvia, a tall blonde from the Yorkshire countryside, had also been a war bride. They’d gotten on the train in Moose Jaw. The two women exchanged addresses and Anna promised to write.
Anna still wrote to Reg and Julie and through the mail they followed each other’s triumphs and tragedies. Julie had miscarried twice but had finally produced a daughter, Luella, who looked much like her mother.
Anna had sent pictures of her three daughters. Julie had written back with her thanks and added both she and Reg enjoyed good health. Their farm prospered.
Anna couldn’t wait to write to them and describe this trip back to London.
* * *
At Montreal, they boarded a grand new ship, The Empress of England.
Anna felt like a princess as she saw the beautiful, luxurious vessel. They had only booked tourist class cabins, but had access to the delightful Empress Room where they enjoyed entertainment and the best of food and drink. All a flagrant contrast to the crowded Aquitania she had travelled on before when she journeyed to Canada.
She now enjoyed a small yet extremely comfortable state room. There was a complimentary bowl of fruit. Maids cleaned and made their bed. Anna felt extremely pampered.
She had many occasions to wear the black dress she’d purchased for Easter. Each time she wore it Daniel told her how sexy she looked.
Fortunately, Anna managed to escape seasickness because of a calm ocean.
As on her previous journey, the food tasted scrumptious. However, unlike on the journey to Canada, Anna had become used to delicious, plentiful food so she took the fine meals more or less for granted.
Anna felt, throughout this whole journey, as if they’d gone on a honeymoon. A honeymoon without the threat of war or absences. She didn’t have to cook or care for children. It wasn’t she didn’t like these activities, and they actually gave her a reason for existing. Nonetheless, it was wonderful to take a break from them.
She had Daniel all to herself and they had time for sleeping in and lovemaking. Daniel remained handsome and sexy and she enjoyed sex completely. It was wonderful to not have to worry about the children listening in from their nearby bedroom.
Just like on the train, they made friends and once more exchanged addresses. There were stimulating activities and just the right amount of time for rest.
Anna and Daniel talked about everything. They found their values still meshed. Daniel was an ideal husband. Even with his continuing struggle with shell shock, she grew to love him more and more each day.
Daniel told Anna his psychologist, Dr. Mathews, had suggested he take a side trip to nearby Normandy while he vacationed in England. Apparently Dr. Mathews thought it might just exorcize his demons. Daniel had found Dr. Mathews at Anna’s urging. The two men had established a rapport. Anna prayed for Daniel’s recovery, but didn’t feel overly optimistic.
* * *
Mid-morning on a sunlit day, the ship docked at Liverpool. Anna and Daniel soon began the process of disembarking. They had changed into their best clothes. Anna wore her black dress and Daniel his only suit. They looked affluent and stylish.
The ship sounded its horn and its resonance momentarily silenced the din of voices.
Then, Anna once again heard Canadian accents and British accents and even some Irish and Scottish. Together they created an excited cacophony of sound.
Anna raced ahead of Daniel who carried the large, heavy suitcase. She became a part of the throngs of people at the docks. She was so excited her heart raced. She told herself to slow down. There was high blood pressure on her father’s side of the family.
Eventually, she realized she’d left Daniel behind. There would be no going back. All momentum was forward.
Anna heard a pleasant, familiar, female voice calling out her name. She pushed through the crowd as rapidly as possible. She must reach the voice. She felt almost suffocated in the process.
Finally, she saw her mother. She almost failed to recognize Margaret. Her hair had turned white and she’d gained weight. A lot of weight. Her face looked puffy and her eyes and mouth were almost lost within the flab. However, her blue eyes looked the same. Happy and warm as a summer day.
She also spotted her father. Michael didn’t have white hair because he had lost it all. He walked with a cane. His warm smile revealed a good fitting pair of false teeth. His eyes had filled with tears of joy.
The obvious aging of her parents reminded Anna of her own mortality. Someday she would be old. Someday she would die. She must live in the present as she’d done during the war years, despite her present happiness.
Both Margaret and Michael held out their arms to Anna and she ran into them. They became a tight threesome. They hugged and cried and laughed. Anna looked around and saw many other people reacting the same way. Lovers kissed and wives and children met husbands and fathers. Mothers wept with happiness.
Anna sensed Daniel by her side. “I’m so sorry, darling. In my excitement, I forgot all about you and that heavy suitcase.” She was so excited she was almost breathless.
Daniel smiled. “It’s not so bad. It’s just difficult to navigate through these hordes of people. Daniel rubbed his damaged shoulder.
Margaret reached out to Daniel, grabbed his right hand and held it between her own. “My goodness, you’re handsomer than ever. And a welcome sight. Thank you for bringing her back to us. You’re a good man.” Tears filled Margaret’s
pretty blue eyes.
Michael transferred his cane to his left hand and shook Daniel’s with his right. “Anna is looking terrific. It’s obvious she’s happy with you.”
Anna reached out and put her arm around Daniel’s waist. “And I’m happy with him. I’m sure I couldn’t find a better husband.” However, she grew concerned. She feared Daniel might have one of his nightmares and awaken her parents. She’d never told them about these evil dreams. This deception by omission only partly due to the fact she didn’t want to embarrass her husband.
Daniel reached for a cigarette and expertly lit it. He took a long puff. “I’ve wanted to make this trip for years. Now it’s finally happening.”
Michael motioned for his daughter and son-in-law to move away from the centre of the crowds. There was entirely too much confusion. He also feared pick pockets. Anna and Margaret were too excited to guard their purses.
They found comparative privacy on the fringes of the crowds. Michael took control. He glanced at his watch. “We’ve at least a three hour drive ahead of us. I suggest we stop for tea. I spotted what looked like a good place just a few blocks away. Perhaps we could walk.”
Anna eyed her father’s cane but didn’t say anything, although she feared he would have difficulty trekking any distance. Yet the man obviously wanted to walk, as did she and Daniel. It would be great to get some exercise after their long journey.
Anna clapped her hands in excitement. Her cheeks looked uncharacteristically rosy. “That would be great. It’s so good to be here. To see you. I’ve waited for this moment as long as I’ve been in Canada and it’s here. It’s finally here.”
Daniel and Michael stashed the luggage in the boot of the car. Anna and her mother hugged each other over and over. They kept repeating how happy they were to see each other.
The four of them began their walk. They moved slowly because of Michael’s limp. They talked and talked. However, Anna found herself unable to say anything of consequence. Shyness overtook her. She realized how little letters had done to assuage her loneliness.
Margaret also seemed destined to talk about nothing more significant than the weather. “The sun is shining today and it’s a welcome sight. This past week we saw nothing save rain and I’m sick of it.”
Anna momentarily lost her inhibition because her mother presented her with an opportunity to tell about Canada. “It hardly ever rains in Lethbridge. The farmers are usually delighted anytime it does. We’re on an irrigated farm, yet it’s still nice when it rains.”
Anna tripped over a crack in the sidewalk, recovered without falling and continued without missing a breath. “Talk of the weather is frequent in Lethbridge and I’ve often seen the farmers looking up at the sky.” This last statement reminded her of the terrible hailstorm.
Anna savoured the beauty of England and the warm companionship of her parents, a dream come true.
However, despite her happiness and the fact the sun shone, she was aware of a dampness that seemed to pervade her. In many ways Canada had the more desirable climate.
* * *
The tearoom proved delightful. It was prettily decorated with blue floral tablecloths over white tables and filmy, pale, blue curtains on the windows. The place appeared quintessentially English, just as Anna wanted.
They seated themselves at a comfortable table and the men lit cigarettes. They ordered a large pot of English breakfast tea. Anna wondered when her parents had stopped drinking Earl Grey. They also ordered scones with apricot jam. Margaret wanted two.
Their tea and scones arrived. Anna’s scone tasted so delicious she almost wished she’d ordered two like her mother. Glancing at her mother’s increased girth she was glad she hadn’t.
Anna asked Margaret if she would like to see the newest pictures of the girls. “We just had this studio picture taken of the three of them and it’s quite lovely.” Anna fished in her purse without waiting for Margaret’s reply.
Margaret put down the teacup. “Oh my, yes, I sure would.” Margaret smiled as she intently examined the photograph.
In it, all three girls wore white satin dresses and white stockings and black, patent-leather shoes. The dresses had been purchased on sale at Eaton’s and were almost identical. Amber sat in the middle, Crystal to her right, and Pearl to her left. All three looked especially attractive.
Margaret sighed with pleasure. “The girls are beautiful. One of these days we’ll come to Canada and meet them. We hope to make it sometime in the next two years. Wouldn’t that be grand?” Margaret beamed.
Anna gave a loud whoop of joy. It caused the other patrons of the tea house to turn in her direction. Anna failed to notice. “Mum, that’s wonderful. You’ll see the girls and Canada. It’s greatly different from England though I’m sure you’ll like it.”
Anna became aware of her complete happiness. The perfect, beautiful present felt wonderful. She had her parents and England to enjoy. Upon her return home, she had her husband and her children. Life didn’t get any better than that.
Margaret reluctantly began to return the picture to her daughter.
Anna said, “No, you keep it. It’s yours. We had several made.”
Margaret radiated happiness. And with a gesture that reminded Anna of why she adored her mother so much, Margaret clutched it to her heart. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t know how we’d have survived without Amber’s and Crystal’s school pictures. But this is the first I’ve seen of Pearl since her christening picture. I don’t see anything of Daniel in her, but she looks just like you did at that age, except she’s dark.”
Margaret continued to gaze at the picture. “All three of my granddaughters are beautiful.”
* * *
Their tea consumed, the four individuals walked back to the car. The light exercise left Anna relaxed and happy.
She enjoyed herself so much she almost felt sorry when they reached the car. It was a gray Austin Michael and Margaret had recently purchased. This was the first time in their lives they’d owned a car. Obviously the hardware business prospered.
Michael said, “It’s a small car and we may need a shoe horn to help us all fit. It does well in the damp, and we have a great deal of damp in England.”
Daniel laughed. ”It looks like a fine, sturdy, little car. Much more suitable for the small English roads than the big Chevrolet we drive in Canada.”
Daniel sat up front with Michael and they soon began talking about farming and hardware, topics that interested them both.
Eventually the conversation halted, and Daniel rested his head on the top of the passenger seat. Soon he was asleep. Anna prayed he wouldn’t have one of his nightmares.
Anna, too, grew fatigued. However, she was too excited to sleep and she and her mother kept up a constant, if rather boring, conversation.
Suddenly, Anna’s reticence left her and she couldn’t stop talking to her mother. They talked about their homes, their husbands, and world events. And, of course, the differences between Canada and England.
Suddenly, Margaret said words that struck terror in Anna. “I believe I told you in a letter, Charles Harding has married. He still asks after you, so I’ve invited him and his wife, Dora, to tea tomorrow.”
Anna clapped her hands over her mouth and swallowed to quell the nausea roiling in her gut. Her voice shook, hard and defiant. “Mum, I have no wish to see Charles. Tell him I’m sick. Tell him anything. I won’t sit at a table with him. ” Charles was manipulative and narcissistic. She hated him.
Margaret’s brows knitted with alarm. “It’s not like you to be so unsociable. You turned Charles down and he’s finally gotten over it. He’s an asset to the business and a fine man.”
Margaret pointed her index finger at Anna. “Not that I don’t like Daniel. He’s a wonderful person. I just can’t help thinking if you’d married Charles you wouldn’t be living so far away and I would know my granddaughters.”
Anna’s tone sharpened. “Trust me, Mum. I made the right decision.
” She clamped her jaws together and pressed her lips into a hard, thin line.
Margaret was obviously hurt. However, her words suggested a truce. “Yes, I understand. I love you and I know a girl has to follow her heart.”
* * *
They arrived in London and Anna’s heart swelled at the sight of the Thames River glistening in the sunshine. She was nearly overwhelmed by its beauty. However, London didn’t all look as beautiful as the Thames. There were still many bombed-out buildings. And, as London derived its heat from coal, dirt clung to the old buildings and left the air foul. She’d never noticed it when she lived in London.
Flowers bloomed profusely and the city was so green it almost hurt her eyes. The sight of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey created sheer delight. She saw red, double-decker buses and Rolls Royce taxicabs; beautiful things she only remembered in her dreams.
Margaret told Anna she’d have to go the butcher’s and the grocer’s tomorrow. They apparently had enough baking on hand. Then they could go to the park. How Anna longed to see the park again! The waiting would be hard.
Anna remembered supermarkets didn’t exist in England. She realized as well she missed Safeway. She liked only having to shop for groceries once a week. Anna wondered if she couldn’t be missing Canada as she’d so often missed England.
She saw with relief the rubble was gone from around the movie theatre where she and Daniel had been trapped.
She shivered as they passed, although now it was a new, well-kept building. She remembered the choking dust and claustrophobic surroundings. However, she also remembered the reassuring voice of the man who’d become her husband.
Till The Wind Blows Silent Page 19
