‘I can’t understand Sadie. I was pleased when she said she wanted to come back to see her mother and she never gave me any hint that she was planning to leave me.’ He gave a mirthless laugh. ‘It just goes to show I’ll never understand women.’
Albert felt sorry for the young man sitting opposite him. Ed was quite a good-looking man, slim with a tanned face and rough hard-working hands. ‘It can’t be easy for you and Eddie as you both love the lives you’ve got, but I’ve known Sadie since she was a young girl and she’s headstrong and stubborn. Maryanne did her best by her but she was hard work when she was growing up.’
‘I know we live in a rural area and Sadie loves company which we don’t have as we’re simple farmers, Albert, but she knew that before we married as I didn’t pretend I was anything else. She said as long as we were together we could live on the moon and she would be happy but now she’s changed and I don’t know what to do. I was in the US navy when we docked in Dundee and I was as blown over when I first met her as she was with me and we couldn’t wait to get married. Then when Eddie was born I thought our lives were so happy and perfect.’
Albert went to the cupboard and brought out more beer. Ed laughed. ‘That’s fine, let’s just get drunk.’
Albert laughed along with him but he wasn’t sure how he could help. ‘When Sadie came back she did tell Eliza next door that she wanted to get a job but you didn’t agree to that.’
Ed seemed surprised that his wife had confided in another woman. ‘It wasn’t that I disagreed with her but the nearest town is over twenty miles away and as she didn’t learn to drive I couldn’t leave the farm to transport her back and forwards every day. I did offer to teach her to drive but she said she didn’t feel comfortable with our old station wagon so we had to leave things the way they were. I did take her into town on a Saturday and she did her shopping and then went to the movie house to see a film but the movie house has closed down and she was terribly disappointed at that.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that, Ed, but what’s going to happen now?’
Ed didn’t hesitate. ‘Eddie wants to come back with me and I want Sadie to come as well. I just want to be a family again.’ He put his empty glass on the small table and stood up. ‘Thanks, Albert, for the beer and also for listening to my troubles.’
Albert went to the door with him. ‘I wish you all the luck.’
It was after nine o’clock when he left but he had enjoyed having another man to talk to.
When he got back to the house he found Eddie and his granny sitting playing a game of snakes and ladders and his son smiled when he saw him. ‘Where’s your mom, Eddie?’
The boy pointed to the bedroom and Ed went over to open the door but it didn’t budge. There was something blocking it but he didn’t want to make a fuss so he said, ‘I’ll let her get her beauty sleep.’
Maryanne gave him a knowing look and shook her head slightly when Eddie whooped with joy as he landed on a ladder and went straight to ninety-nine on the board. Later Ed slept with his son as he had done since arriving but he didn’t sleep. It would appear that his wife wasn’t planning on having him in the marital bed and he felt so depressed.
He hoped things would work out with her before he left with his son but he didn’t hold out much hope for it. He suddenly had a desire to be back at the farm with his father Joel and Esther busy in the kitchen making jams and pies. He should have known a girl like Sadie wasn’t cut out to be a farmer’s wife. When they met that was the last thing they considered but with hindsight it had all been horribly clear from the start.
When he awoke the next morning, Sadie and Maryanne had both left for work and he relished the thought of having a day with his son. After breakfast he asked him what he wanted to do and Eddie said he wanted to go on the ferry across the river to Fife. He also asked if Evie and Tommy could join them and although surprised by this request, Ed said that was okay.
He remembered the ferry from his days during the last weeks of the war and they made their way down to Craig Pier with the three children all chatting excitedly.
Tommy said to Ed, ‘We call this boat the Fifie.’
Eddie told them his dad had been a sailor in the navy and the two girls seemed impressed by this. They were also so pleased that Eddie wasn’t unhappy like before. The sun shone as they stood in a large queue to get on board but soon they were sailing out on the river and the city slowly receded in the distance as the shores of Fife beckoned.
Ed bought ice creams and lemonade as they sat on the grass before having a walk around the area. Ed went to sit on a bench as the three children amused themselves by going down to the water’s edge and trying to skim stones over the waves. Tommy was hopeless at this but Evie and Eddie managed to make their stones skim over the surface. No one had mentioned the incident of Eddie’s disappearance as the girls both knew he had received a stern talk from the police on the dangers he could have found himself in. His parents and granny had also been annoyed and had given him a good talking to so they had remained silent.
Suddenly, he stopped throwing stones and said, ‘I’ll be leaving very soon as I’m going back with my dad.’
Evie knew this as she overheard her mum and dad discussing it but it came as news to Tommy who started to cry. ‘Can you not stay here, Eddie, as we all like you.’
Eddie said he liked everyone in the lane but that didn’t make up for being away from his home in America. ‘Dad is hoping Mum will come back with us and I’m hoping the same as it won’t be the same without her.’ He sounded sad.
Evie said she would go back with them. ‘Your mum won’t want to stay here without you.’
He stayed quiet but he didn’t look too sure about this. They ran back to the bench and Ed said did they all want some fish and chips before going back on the boat. They stood in a queue then carried them to the pier and ate them on the deck with the sound of seagulls wheeling overhead. They were all tired when they got back to the lane and Grace met them with an offer of tea.
The children sat down to watch television while Grace asked if they had had a good day. Ed smiled and she was again struck by what a lovely handsome man he was. Sadie must be off her head to chuck this great man away, she thought.
‘We all had a great day and there’s nothing like the sea air for giving one an appetite,’ he said. ‘We don’t have that back home as it’s miles and miles of farmland. There is a river but nothing like the sea.’
Grace had never thought of that before but now she realised they were indeed lucky to have such a lovely waterfront on their doorstep.
After his tea, Ed said he better get back but Eddie was engrossed in the television so Grace said she would send him home after the programme finished. When he opened the door of Maryanne’s house he was immediately struck how different it was from the Gows’ place.
Maryanne had arrived home but there was no sign of Sadie. He looked at the clock and wondered where she was. Maryanne noticed this and said, ‘She doesn’t always come home at the same time, Ed, but she won’t be long.’
As it turned out Eddie was in bed when she came home at nine o’clock, and she said as she was tired she was going straight to bed. Ed had gone along to see Albert and when he got back he was annoyed that she hadn’t waited up to talk to him about the journey back to America. He walked over and knocked loudly on her bedroom door. ‘Sadie, come out here as I want to talk to you about going back home.’
Her voice sounded muffled as if she was half asleep. ‘Not now, Ed. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.’
Maryanne looked embarrassed and buried her head in a newspaper. Ed was furious and he went into the lane and walked along the streets still busy with people enjoying the summer evening. His mood was black and he knew she wouldn’t go back with him yet he had no idea why she was acting like this.
He realised it had been a culture shock for her when she first came to the farm but that was eleven years ago. Eddie was born in the local hospital and he thought she was happy.
He knew she wanted to work in the town which just wasn’t feasible but he now knew he would give in to this request when they got back home. His ticket for the return sea journey was just three days away and he was planning on buying two tickets for his wife and son tomorrow or the next day.
He got back and the house was quiet as Maryanne had gone to bed, so he went into Eddie’s room and made himself as comfortable as possible in the large easy chair. This wasn’t the welcome he thought he would get. He had imagined his wife would be overjoyed to see him and, as his mother-in-law was obviously recovered from her operation, would be ready to go back with him. He had no idea what Sadie was playing at but he was becoming increasingly perplexed by her cold attitude towards him. Before falling asleep he made up his mind to tackle her tomorrow. She was either coming back with them or she was staying. He was suddenly awake when he realised he didn’t care what she did and he was immediately filled with guilt.
The next morning he was up and waiting for her before she left for her work. That was another annoyance with him as he thought her job at a pub was hardly a reason to stay in Dundee. He had heard from Martha that she had told everyone she had a high flying job as a secretary in a big office in town and it had been a source of shock when the policemen let this out in their questioning, but as far as Martha was concerned it was a great source of amusement.
When Sadie came through from her room she looked dismayed to see him. ‘I don’t want to discuss anything, Ed, and I don’t want Eddie upset.’
Ed felt his temper rising. ‘For God’s sake, Sadie, it’s your attitude that’s upsetting our son. I’ve no idea what’s happened between us and I don’t like it.’
Sadie gave him a contemptuous look. ‘Oh, you don’t like it, do you? What about me stagnating on that awful corn farm with no company all day? Well I hated that.’
‘I’ve been thinking about that, Sadie, and if you want to go to work in the town then I’ll drive you in and come back for you afterwards.’
She laughed. ‘As usual, Ed, it’s too little too late. Do I have to spell it out for you that I don’t love you any more? In fact I’ve been wondering if I ever loved you at all.’
Ed looked shocked. After a minute he said, ‘I had no idea you felt like that, Sadie. In two days’ time I’ll be taking Eddie back with me and I hoped you would be with us and I still hope so.’
Sadie was mad. ‘Eddie is staying here with me so you had better go back on your own.’ With that she flounced out. Ed went outside to smoke a cigarette and he noticed his hands were shaking with anger. He had to make up his mind quickly if Eddie was to get away with him. He was upset at the thought of his son leaving his mother behind so he had to make sure that’s what Eddie wanted. When the boy came out of his room Ed decided to ask him.
‘Eddie, do you really want to go back with me?’ Eddie said he did. And his father went on, ‘What if your mum doesn’t want to come with us, how do you feel about that?’
Eddie’s face fell. ‘I want her to come, Dad, but I don’t want to stay here. I love Mum and Granny but I want to go home.’
‘Well, it’s going to be difficult but I think we should leave here earlier than I’d planned. Can you say your goodbyes to Evie and Tommy and leave a letter for your mum and granny?’
Eddie nodded and went back to his room to pack his rucksack while his father packed his suitcase. Eddie wrote his letter and placed it on the mantelpiece then went to say cheerio to his two friends.
Tommy began to cry but Evie wished him all the best on his journey. ‘I’ll write to you,’ she said.
Bill was at work but Grace wished them well before Ed went to see Albert. He told him they were about to leave. ‘Thank you for being such a good friend, Albert.’ Albert nodded but he was sad.
38
Ed and his son set off to the bus station where they caught a bus to Glasgow. They would have to stay overnight in the city so Ed could book a berth for Eddie. They were due to sail early the next morning and as they sat in the bed and breakfast that evening, they were sad and upset.
Eddie couldn’t understand why his mother wouldn’t come with them and although he didn’t want to cry, he was on the verge of tears. Ed tried to make sense of the past week as well but couldn’t. Like his son, he had thought his wife would be coming with them.
‘When we get back I’ll write to Mum and enclose money for her to travel. I’m sure when she sees you’ve made up your mind to leave then she’ll change her mind and we’ll be reunited.’ Although he said the words, he didn’t believe them, but he had to do all he could to become a family again. This seemed to cheer Eddie and they went out to the small café along the road for something to eat.
While they were in Glasgow, Maryanne arrived home to see the letter. She wasn’t surprised when she read it but she dreaded Sadie’s reaction when she came home. Grace came in and told her about Ed having to leave a couple of days early. ‘Evie and Tommy are upset about Eddie leaving but Ed had no choice. Eddie had hinted that he would run away again if he didn’t get back to America.’
Maryanne said it was all in the letter and she pointed to the other one addressed to Sadie. ‘I think this will make her ill, Grace, but she’s her own worst enemy. Ed’s passport has Eddie’s name on it so there’s no problem about his leaving. He is after all an American citizen as he was born there.’
Maryanne considered leaving the house and going to see her friend Dorothy as she knew there were going to be ructions and tears, but she then decided she was being a coward so she waited patiently for Sadie to come home. She was so upset she didn’t even make anything to eat or drink except a cup of tea which she held in her hand until it grew cold. Throwing it away, she sat in silence.
As it turned out Sadie didn’t come back till seven o’clock which made Maryanne furious so she was in a bad mood when her daughter came through the door. Maryanne noticed she had been drinking again and that was another worry. She held her temper but it was just one worry after another since Sadie had come back to Dundee. Sadie sat down with a tired sigh. ‘What a day I’ve had. I could do with a cup of coffee.’
Maryanne ignored this request. Sadie asked where Eddie was. ‘I expect he’s with Evie, he seems to spend more time with them than he does with me.’
This remark was the last thing her mother wanted to hear. ‘Well it’s just as well he gets looking after because you’re never home to make his meals or be here for him.’ She handed over the letter. ‘Anyway you don’t have to worry about your husband and son from now on.’ Sadie asked her what she was talking about but Maryanne told her to read her letter. ‘That will explain it all.’
She tore the letter open and after reading it she became hysterical and screamed loudly, leaping to her feet and making for the door. Maryanne tried to calm her down but there were no words that could stop Sadie from shouting. All this noise was heard by most of the residents but they didn’t want to interfere, although Grace and Anna wanted to help.
‘When did Ed and Eddie go? I’m going after them to stop him, he can’t take my son away from me.’
Maryanne stopped her. ‘It’s too late, they will have sailed by now.’ This was a lie as she had no idea when they planned to leave but she couldn’t have Sadie run off and try to find them.
‘You should have agreed to go back with your husband and son, that’s what marriage is all about, It’s not all roses and feather beds but sometimes you have to make hard choices.’
Sadie rounded on her. ‘What side are you on? It seems to me you’ve all been against me ever since I came back to this dump to stay.’ She waved her arm around the house. ‘I mean, look at it, everything is either old or decrepit, just like you and most of the people in the lane.’
Maryanne stood quite still at this insult then said quietly, ‘If that’s what you think why didn’t you leave with your family?’
‘Well, I’m not planning on staying here for long as I’m looking for a house of my own and then I’ll make Ed’s life so miserable
that he’ll send my son back to me.’
‘Eddie wanted to go with his dad, why can’t you see that? That’s why he ran away and you were lucky to get him back quickly or who knows where he would have ended up.’
Sadie picked up her bag and went out and although Maryanne followed her to the door, Sadie had run to the far end of the lane. Albert and Bella saw her as she rushed past the window but Martha missed it as she was fussing with Eliza, who was trying to heave her mother towards the door so they could see what was going on.
Albert had been in Bella’s kitchen and they both were shocked by the noise coming from Maryanne’s house. Bella was worried. ‘Do you think someone should go after her and try and calm her down?’
Albert said he didn’t have the speed to run after her. ‘The only ones able to do that are Rory or Thomas and I saw the MacCallums pushing the pram out for a walk and Thomas will be at work.’
‘That girl was always a handful and I feel sorry for her mother,’ said Bella and although Albert agreed he still felt sorry for her.
Back in the house, Maryanne sat down and wished all this trouble would somehow go away. There was a knock on the door and Grace and Anna came in. When she saw them, she burst into tears and the two women said the best thing for her was to get out of the house.
‘Come with me and I’ll make you something to eat,’ said Grace, but Maryanne said she was fine.
‘I think I’ll go and see Dorothy but thanks for the offer.’ She tried to smile at them but her eyes filled with tears again. ‘Why couldn’t Sadie go back with her family?’ she said plaintively but Grace and Anna didn’t have the answer to that.
Sadie reached the Hilltown and she stopped. Where on earth could she possibly go? Then she remembered Thomas was a barman in the Windmill Bar and she also knew there was a small snug bar that often had some women in it so she made her way there.
The snug was empty when she opened the door and she was relieved when another barman served her. Thomas was busy further up the bar so she ordered her gin and tonic and sat down on the worn bench that was situated against the window.
Meadow Lane Page 21
