Meadow Lane

by Maureen Reynolds

  ‘I’ll sit in the back,’ Grace said, as she pushed aside pipes and wrenches and squeezed in beside the case.

  Bill was driving out the lane when Morag gave a sudden shout as the pains became intense. Bill was torn between driving as fast as he could to get her to the infirmary or taking his time when he saw a rough part of the road. He didn’t want to jolt her and the baby.

  Thankfully the infirmary wasn’t that far away and they reached it within five minutes. Grace clambered out and opened the passenger door. Morag’s face was covered with sweat and they were happy when she was quickly taken away to the maternity ward by a nurse. Before she was wheeled away, Morag said, ‘Tell Rory I’m fine and he’s not to worry.’

  Grace said she would pass the message on but she knew Rory would be a mass of nerves, especially as he had been absent when his wife went into labour.

  Because the clocks had gone forward for British summer time, it was still light by the time they got back. Eliza was hovering in her doorway and Grace told her that Morag was now in good hands. ‘I’ll probably not see her husband when he comes home from work but can you give him the news and tell him to come to the house, Eliza?’

  Eliza felt important to be included in this dramatic happening and said she would look out for him. She went back inside to give all this news to Martha who was fidgeting on her chair and wondering what was going on.

  Back in the Gow house, Grace finally got the meal on the table and she said, ‘I hope everything goes well and that the baby is born today. What a day it’s been.’

  After tea, Tommy arrived and Evie gave her all the news as they settled down to watch television. At six o’clock the television usually closed down and the interval appeared. It was sometimes a potter who was making a bowl on a turntable which was strangely soothing but by now the evening viewing had started. Tommy had asked why there was an interval and Bill said it was to allow young children to go to bed and not sit up until late at night watching the black and white picture.

  It was eight o’clock when Rory appeared and he was distraught. ‘Morag said she was fine this morning and I told her I didn’t want to work but she insisted. I’m so sorry you’ve been put to all this extra work but thank you. I’ll go right up to the infirmary now and try to see her.’

  Grace said to Bill, ‘Morag might not have the baby for hours but the nursing staff will tell Rory to go home if that’s the case. Do you remember when I had Evie you sat in the waiting room for five hours until she decided to make her appearance?’

  Bill said he remembered it as if it was yesterday and not ten years ago.

  Morag was in the alien world of the delivery room and it was almost midnight. The smell of disinfectant and the strange sounds made her feel sick and the pain was unbearable. She wished Rory could be with her to hold her hand but that wasn’t possible, although the midwife had told her he was in the waiting room which made her feel a bit happier. He might not be in the same room as her but he was in the same building.

  The midwife was a quietly spoken older woman and she kept reassuring her that all was going well but Morag thought she was going to die. With every spasm of pain she thought she would pass out, but the woman told her with every spasm the baby was coming closer to being born.

  The clock was on the wall opposite and she saw it had moved to two o’clock. She wanted to tell the midwife to give Rory the message to go home but she couldn’t get the energy and she hoped he had the sense to leave. Then at two-thirty the midwife said, ‘When the next pain comes I want you to give a big push.’

  Morag did as she was told and she felt as if she was going to burst a blood vessel with the effort. Suddenly the baby was born and it gave a wail as it faced the world for the first time. Morag thought this was as much an alien world for the tiny mite as it was to her.

  The midwife looked at her. ‘Congratulations, you’ve got a wee girl.’

  Morag felt the tears forming in her eyes at this momentous statement and later, when the baby who was wrapped in a warm blanket was placed in her arms, she became so emotional that she did cry.

  The midwife smiled. ‘Enjoy your new baby lass while I go and get you a cup of tea and some toast.’

  ‘Will someone tell my husband the good news?’

  ‘We’ll send a message to him and he’ll be able to visit in the afternoon,’ she said as Morag was wheeled away back to the ward where the baby was put in a cot at the foot of the bed.

  Rory was still in the waiting room when he heard the news and he was almost delirious with joy as he walked away into the darkness. A baby girl, he thought, what a blessing for them both. He would see them both later and he would send the news to Morag’s parents, his brother Murdo and his parents afterwards. They would be as delighted as he was.

  When he reached the lane, all the houses were in darkness and to be honest he felt exhausted but he planned to rise early and let his neighbours know the good news. He also planned to thank Grace and Bill for all their help. He was grateful they were able to get Morag to the infirmary as she must have been worried by his absence at this crucial time.

  As it turned out, Grace was still awake so she decided to get up and make a cup of tea. She didn’t want to wake Bill up but he heard her and joined her in the kitchen. The fire was still glowing and the room was warm.

  ‘What a day it’s turned out to be,’ she said as she stirred her tea. ‘I hope all the drama is over. I wonder if Morag has given birth yet.’

  Bill nodded. ‘Thank goodness it’s Sunday so we’ll have a restful day later.’

  ‘I would like to visit Morag in the afternoon but I’ll see what Rory has to say. I don’t know if they have any other relatives in Dundee apart from his brother. I wouldn’t like to visit if there is family as it’s only two visitors for each patient and I wouldn’t like to impose.’

  Bill said that was the best thing to do. He rose and put his cup on the table. ‘I think we better get back to bed now and try to get some sleep.’

  He managed to fall over almost right away but Grace’s mind was still turning over all the drama of the past few hours. Maryanne was due to come home in a few days but Grace wondered how she would manage. On her last visit Maryanne had confided to her that although she felt stronger she was still a bit sore after her operation.

  ‘I have to take it easy for about six weeks,’ she had said, which was easy if there was someone at home to look after her and do the chores but this was something she didn’t have.

  An hour later, in spite of her worries, Grace managed to get some sleep but by eight o’clock when she woke up she still felt tired. However, as Bill said, as it was a Sunday they would have a restful day. Perhaps after a cooked breakfast they would read the Sunday papers and later watch the television or maybe go for a walk to the park for some fresh air with Evie and Tommy if they wanted to come.

  However, as it turned out, the best laid plans were due to go astray. They had just finished breakfast when Rory appeared. He was carrying two bunches of flowers wrapped in newspaper. ‘I just want to say a huge thank you to both of you for all your help,’ he said, handing over one of the bunches to Grace. ‘Morag had a girl early this morning and I’ve got these for when I go up to see them.’ He held up the remaining bunch. ‘I got these from a friend who has an allotment on the Law.’

  Grace was so pleased she almost burst with pleasure. ‘That’s wonderful, Rory, we’re so pleased for you all.’

  Bill stood up and shook his hand. ‘Congratulations, Daddy. It’ll be midnight feeds from now on.’

  Rory laughed. ‘I won’t mind doing that.’

  Grace looked at her husband in amusement. ‘Will you listen to him, Rory, he never got up for one night feed in his life.’

  Bill looked sheepish. ‘Well I had work to go to in the morning. There was always someone’s plumbing work needing done.’

  Evie was listening to all this banter and when they all laughed she joined in. She would go next door and tell Tommy the good news la
ter.

  After Rory departed, the door opened and Eliza appeared. ‘What’s the news, Grace? I saw Rory walking away along the lane early this morning but by the time I got dressed he was gone.’ She sounded aggrieved at not catching him.

  ‘Morag’s had a baby girl early this morning,’ Grace told her.

  Eliza was amazed. ‘Early this morning, I thought she was about to give birth when she got in the van.’

  ‘First time babies have a habit of not coming quickly. Although I had the same notion as you did, Eliza.’

  Eliza said she better get back to tell her mother the good news. ‘I’ll also pass on the news to Albert and Bella.’ She departed looking very important which made Bill laugh when the door closed.

  ‘She thinks she’s the town crier. Oyez, Oyez, all you townspeople, Meadow Lane has a new resident.’

  Grace didn’t answer but she sat down with the newspaper and put her feet up on a footstool. ‘I’ll wash up later after my second cup of tea.’

  Evie had gone next door and Bill sat in the opposite chair with another paper. ‘It’s great to be back to normal and have a mundane Sunday with no more drama.’ Suddenly there was a knock on the door and he grunted, ‘For goodness sake, who’s this now?’

  Grace went to the door and was met by a woman, a young boy and four large suitcases. The woman was very good-looking while the boy looked shy. ‘I’m sorry to bother you but my mother isn’t in and I wondered if you have a key.’

  Grace must have stood open mouthed because the woman added, ‘I’m Sadie, Maryanne’s daughter, and this is my son Eddie. We’ve come from America.’

  It took Grace a moment to take all this in but she said, ‘Come in for a moment while I get the key.’ Sadie said she would leave the cases on the doorstep and they both entered the kitchen while Bill looked astonished.

  Grace told him this was Maryanne’s daughter and her son. ‘I’m afraid your mother is still recovering from her operation, Sadie. She’s in a convalescent home in Auchterhouse but she is due out in a few days.’ She got the key from the hook and handed it over. ‘If I’d known you were coming so soon I would have put a fire on and got some groceries in.’

  Sadie seemed put out by this news. ‘I thought she would be home by now as her operation was ages ago.’

  ‘She has been really unwell, Sadie, and it’s taken her some time to recover, especially as she was suffering from gallstones for ages before she saw a doctor.’

  Sadie’s lips thinned. ‘How like Mum to be like that.’

  Grace was taken aback. ‘Well, it all boiled down to her being frightened to give up her work.’

  While all this was going on, the young lad sat and said nothing and when Evie and Tommy hurried in, he looked down at his hands.

  Grace decided introductions were called for. ‘Evie, Tommy, please say hello to Sadie and Eddie, they are Maryanne’s daughter and grandson from America.’

  Eddie looked at them briefly and returned his gaze to his hands. Tommy said, ‘You’re from America? That’s super.’ Evie stayed silent but she felt the same way as Tommy. Grace walked to the door. ‘I’ll help you with your cases,’ she said and mother and son followed her to the empty house.

  18

  When Grace opened the door they entered the house, which had a musty, unlived-in smell and that empty look that comes from being unoccupied for a while. Although Grace had tidied it up, she hadn’t wanted to poke about too much so it had only been a case of setting the fire and going around with the sweeping brush and a duster. Sadie gazed around the room as if remembering it from her youth. ‘I see it hasn’t changed a bit and is still as frumpy as I recall it.’

  Grace was annoyed but she remained silent. This was the first time she had seen Sadie as she was already married by the time the Gows had moved to the lane but she didn’t really approve of her overbearing manner. Maryanne had worked hard to keep a roof over her head and now Sadie was being critical of her old home.

  While this scrutiny was going on, Eddie stood at the door along with the suitcases. Sadie called out to him, ‘Bring the luggage in, Eddie, and put it in the back bedroom.’ She looked at the settee then turned to Grace. ‘I’ll have to work out the sleeping arrangements. I expect one of us will have to sleep on that.’

  Grace almost said it better not be her mother, but as it was none of her business she said nothing. As Eddie was pulling one of the suitcases into the kitchen, the door suddenly opened and Anna appeared. She stared at Sadie and Eddie but addressed Grace. ‘I saw you passing the window. Is everything all right?’

  Grace did the introductions. ‘Anna is your mother’s next-door neighbor, Sadie, and Anna, this is Maryanne’s daughter and grandson from America.’

  Anna scrutinised the newcomer and she was bemused by the beautiful woman with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She noticed the black pencil skirt that fitted snugly around her slender hips, the blue short jacket and the black high-heeled shoes.

  ‘Hello Sadie, I’m pleased to meet you.’ Anna felt guilty as she wasn’t the least bit pleased to see her as she had once noticed Maryanne in tears after reading one of her letters.

  Sadie gazed at her. ‘You’re from Ireland, aren’t you?’

  Anna said she was, as was her husband Thomas.

  Grace was worried about Eddie as he hadn’t spoken one word and he now sat down on a chair and looked out of the window at the patch of mud that now had some scrubby patches of grass. She went and sat beside him. ‘Did you have a good journey, Eddie?’ He nodded but still remained silent.

  Sadie then said she had better get sorted out with her arrangements, which sounded like a dismissal, but Grace wanted to give her the latest news of her mother. ‘When you go to visit your mother, Sadie, I’ll come with you and show you where to get the bus to the convalescent home.’

  Sadie looked displeased by this. ‘I thought you said she was due to come home in a few days so I’ll see her then. I have to get Eddie enrolled in a school and look for a job for myself so that will take a few days.’

  Grace and Anna looked at one another wordlessly but Sadie had turned her back on them to open one of the cases before carrying a pile of clothing towards the bedroom. ‘I hope my mother has enough drawers and wardrobe space for all this,’ she said as she disappeared into the room.

  When they were outside, Anna was furious. ‘What kind of daughter is she that she’ll wait a few days to see her mother?’

  Grace agreed but she was puzzled. If Sadie and Eddie were here on a holiday why was she enrolling the boy in a school and looking for a job. How long was she expecting to stay? ‘I wasn’t going to see Maryanne today, Anna, but I had better go and tell her that Sadie has arrived. She is expecting her as she got a telegram from her yesterday.’

  Anna nodded. ‘I’ve only just met her and I don’t like her but I feel sorry for that boy. Have you noticed he’s never said one word? I hope Tommy and Evie will bring him out of his shell.’

  When Grace entered her own house, Evie and Tommy were full of meeting the Americans, as Tommy put it. Bill raised an eyebrow when she told him of her plans to go and see Maryanne and he resumed reading his paper. When she was leaving, he remarked, ‘That Sadie is quite a good looker, isn’t she?’ For some reason Grace was annoyed by this and she was quite curt as she said her goodbyes. Walking down to Courthouse Square, she soon felt better as the sun appeared from under a dark cloud but she knew Maryanne was going to be upset by not being at home when her family arrived.

  As it turned out, Maryanne burst into tears, much to Grace’s amazement. After a few minutes she dried her eyes and apologised. ‘I’m sorry, Grace, but I wish she had stayed in America. I’m looking forward to seeing Eddie of course but Sadie has always had the knack of upsetting everybody and I think she won’t have changed.’

  Grace was going to ask her how long Sadie was planning to stay but she didn’t as she suspected Maryanne would be as mystified as she was. Instead they spoke about Maryanne’s release which
was within the next few days.

  ‘Sadie was sorting out the sleeping arrangements when I left.’

  Maryanne suddenly looked fierce. ‘She’ll be taking over my bedroom but she’ll bloody well sleep on the settee when I come back.’

  As she waited for the bus to take her back, Grace was pleased by Maryanne’s reaction and hoped she would keep to her decision not to give up her own bed but she didn’t think this would suit Sadie.

  Meanwhile, back at the house, Sadie had sorted out the clothes and the sleeping arrangements. ‘You can have the wee box room, Eddie, and I’ll sleep in the back room.’

  Eddie went into the room without a word and sat down on the single bed with its yellow candlewick cover that looked a bit grubby. He pulled it aside and saw a couple of grey blankets and a striped flannelette sheet with a matching pillow. He began to cry silently, large tears dropping down his cheeks as he looked around him.

  This room looked identical to his bedroom back in America but whereas that room was warm, this one was freezing. The view from the small window overlooked the lane and the patch of scrubby land. Back in Nebraska he could gaze over miles of cornfields with the sun shining in an endless sky. Even in winter when it was very cold, the fields could sparkle with frost or snow, the view was great, not like this poky, dark house in this narrow lane surrounded by buildings. He had never met his grandmother, although there was a photograph of her in the living room back home, and he had no idea of what she liked or disliked.

  His mother popped her head around the door. ‘Do you like your room, Eddie?’ When he shook his head, she muttered, ‘Oh you’ll soon get used to it. I’m making a cup of coffee, do you want one?’

  He stood up and went back into the kitchen and sat down at the wooden table with its oilcloth cover that had a garish pattern on it. Sadie noticed this as well. ‘This is a horrible cover, I’ll have to get rid of it. If a plate of food is put down on it you won’t be able to see it against that background.’ She picked up a small jug. ‘I need to borrow some milk. I won’t be a minute as I’ll ask next door if they can spare some.’