by Lorna Peel
“Expecting visitors?” Mr Gibson asked as he put everything into a box.
“Kate’s staying with me for a bit.”
“Oh? How is she?”
“She’s very well, thank you.” Charlie picked up the box and left the shop before he could be asked any more awkward questions.
“Have you got enough there?” Kate came into the kitchen as he was unpacking.
“I thought fresh vegetables would be good for you.”
“They will. Thank you, Charlie.”
“Have you..?”
She nodded. “I’m just going to the post office.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” he offered.
“If you want.”
“I told Mr Gibson you were here. I had to, the amount I bought.”
“You didn’t tell him?” She touched her bump.
“No. I thought I’d leave it up to you.”
“Thank you.”
So he walked back up the village street with her. With her heavy winter coat, no-one could see her bump, but emerging from the post office, she was pale.
“Daddy’s going to go berserk, but at least he won’t come over. I told him I’d telephone to tell him when I was coming.”
Charlie only just managed to hide a grimace. If only she wouldn’t go. “Let’s go home. You can have a rest.”
She smiled a knowing smile, and he curled his lip. Maybe he should let her make her own decisions.
She lay down on the sofa all the same and closed her eyes.
He tried to read the newspaper but kept stealing glances at her while she slept. Curled up, she looked so young. His gaze moved down to the bump, hidden under her hands. A baby.
Should he feel guilty or ashamed at being excited? He had made her pregnant. But a baby? With Clive and Toby making their own way in the world now, maybe this was what he needed – a new family. If only she would allow him to be involved. He couldn’t blame her for being so wary of him and he didn’t help matters one bit that evening.
Leaving the bathroom on his way to bed, he automatically went into his old bedroom. Opening the door, he saw Kate standing naked beside the bed. She gasped and grabbed her nightdress. Despite trying to cover herself, she was shaking so much the nightdress wasn’t enough, and her breasts and bump seemed huge.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “My mistake. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
He closed the door and swore. That look of fright. Would she ever be able to trust him again?
In the morning, he was up early and had a bath. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he shaved at the bathroom mirror, then prepared to put his prosthetic eye in. He had cleaned it and put it on the shelf when he heard a sharp intake of breath. He’d left the door open and Kate, still in her nightdress, was staring at him in horrified fascination. He quickly covered the right side of his face with a hand and, oh, no, he could feel the towel beginning to slide.
“I’m sorry,” he said, grabbing the towel and holding it in front of him. God, he must look ridiculous but she was just standing there. “I left the door open. Habit. Sorry.”
“Are you not going to let me see?” she asked and he stared at her in consternation.
“But it’s horrible.”
“Can’t I judge that for myself?”
He sighed, lowering his hand, and reached for the towel but his hands were shaking so much he couldn’t keep hold of it and it fell to the floor. She’s going to think you did this on purpose, he scolded himself as Kate walked into the bathroom, stopping so close to him he was touching her bump. Control yourself, Charlie, don’t go having an erection now and ruin it all.
Reaching up, she gently tilted his face downwards. She had to be disgusted but, to his relief, she remained calm.
“It’s not horrible, Charlie,” she whispered. “Are you going to put the prosthetic eye in now?” He nodded, waiting for her to go, but she stayed where she was. “Can I watch you?”
“I’ll d-drop it,” he stammered.
“No, you won’t. But I’ll go if you want?”
“No, stay.” He turned to the mirror, picked up the prosthetic eye, and inserted it. When he turned back to her, she was smiling.
“You didn’t drop it.”
“No.” Bending down, he picked up the towel, seeing her eyes take in the scars on his right leg. “They’re from the operation,” he told her. “They’re fading.”
“Does it hurt? Your limp?”
“It aches now and then, especially in cold weather. I’m sorry about last night. Force of habit.”
“I know.” She smiled. “I don’t know why I hid myself. It’s not as if you’ve never seen me naked before. You just gave me a fright.”
“I’m sorry.”
She gave a dismissive shake of her head. “You’ve never seen Bump, though. I call it Bump. Really seen, I mean. I want you to see and touch. Bump might like it too. Do you want to?”
He nodded, and securing the towel firmly around his waist, he watched as she took her nightdress off.
“Touch Bump,” she invited.
He ran both hands over the bump. It was the most extraordinary feeling. His hands were only inches away from their baby. Raising his head, he sighed with relief. She was smiling.
“How does it feel?” he whispered.
“I like it, and I think Bump does, too. Do you like it?”
“Oh, yes. You’re beautiful.”
She lowered her gaze for a moment and he froze. Had he put his foot in it?
“Charlie, I won’t be in Ireland long, maybe a month. When I come back, can I come back here?”
His heart leapt. “Of course you can. This is your home, Kate.”
“Thank you. I want us to be friends. I don’t know if it can ever be anything more, but I think we owe it to the baby. It needs two parents.” She bit her bottom lip and he nodded. Was it a roundabout way of saying she needed him?
“I’ll help you in any way I can, Kate,” he promised. “You and Bump.”
“Thank you. I think Bump likes you.” She bent forward. “Well, Bump, do you like Daddy?” Straightening up, she smiled. “Bump likes Daddy.”
Daddy. It sounded strange but so very nice.
“I’m glad,” he whispered. “And if Mummy could like Daddy even a little bit, then he’d be so happy.”
“I can only try,” she replied, squeezing his hands. “Are you finished in here?”
“Yes. I’ll cook breakfast.”
He got dressed and went to the kitchen. That could have been awful but he grinned to himself in relief and whistled loudly as he prepared some porridge.
“What are you going to do work-wise?” Kate asked as they did the washing up.
“I’ve talked it over with Billy; I’m keen on going back to the RAF.”
“A desk job? Would you like that?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. But the RAF is the only thing I know about. What about you?”
“Oh, I think I’m going to be busy enough.” She gave a little laugh and stroked Bump. “I’ll have to get used to being a mother first. Do you want to go for a walk and see if John and Lucy are about?”
“Yes, I haven’t seen them for a while.”
“What have you told them?”
“Just that you and I weren’t together anymore.”
“Shall we go and confuse them, then?” She smiled.
The vicarage door was opened by John himself and he beamed at them in delight.
“Charlie. And Kate. Come in, let me take your hats and coats.”
How long would it take John to notice Bump? Bloody hell, he was calling it Bump now. He followed Kate into the drawing room where Lucy jumped up from an armchair to hug Kate, then drew back in surprise.
“Kate?” she squealed and Kate laughed.
“Meet Bump.”
“A baby?” John exclaimed, and turned to Charlie with a you-dark-horse expression.
Charlie opened his mouth, but closed it again and looked around
for Kate.
“Charlie said he told you we weren’t seeing each other anymore. Well, I found out I was pregnant. Charlie only found out recently. I had a bit of a scare, but Baby Bump and I are fine. I’m going to Ireland for a month to see my parents and grandmother, but I’ll be back.”
“So are you and Charlie..?” John asked.
“Charlie and I are going to try and be friends.”
“How many months gone are you?” Lucy asked.
“Five, so it’ll be February.”
“All I can say,” John laughed, “is that you’re lucky that Mrs Hodges is only looking down on you.”
“Or up,” Lucy added drolly. “Congratulations. Though it must have been a shock.”
“It was,” Kate agreed. “But I think Charlie had a big shock, too, when he found out.”
“So you’re out of the WAAF?”
“Yes, I am.” Kate sat next to Charlie on the sofa and squeezed his hand.
“Do you know what you’re going to do for work, Charlie?” John asked.
“I’m not sure. Bump here,” he laid a hand carefully on it, “has thrown things a bit askew. I’ll have to wait and see when the Medical Board call me.”
“When are you going to Ireland, Kate?”
“Next week,” she replied and Charlie only just stopped himself from gasping. So soon? “I have to give Daddy a chance to go berserk. There’s nothing he can do, though, and that’ll anger him even more.”
Three days later, Kate got up from the dinner table and went out to the hall for her hat and coat.
“I’m going to telephone Mummy, Daddy and Granny Norah,” she announced. “Daddy will be home from work. I won’t be long.”
“Kate?” He called after her. “When are you going?”
“On Monday.”
Monday was only two days away. He sighed and rose to go and do the washing up.
Twenty minutes later, as he was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper, he heard the front door close. There was silence for a moment followed by a sniff then another silence and another sniff. He frowned, putting the newspaper down and went out to the hall. Kate was leaning back against the front door. Her hands were on Bump and she was crying as quietly as she could.
“Kate?”
“Oh.” She quickly tried to wipe her tears away. “I’m all right.”
“No, you’re not,” he said, helping her to take off her hat and coat. He hung them up and turned back to her. She was fumbling with a handkerchief. “What did your father say?”
“He—” She swallowed noisily and blew her nose. “He called me a whore, you an—” She rolled her eyes. “An English whoreson and he said he didn’t want a bastard grandchild.” She began sobbing again and he clasped her shoulders so she wouldn’t slide down the wall to the floor.
“You come with me,” he told her, bringing her into the living room. Sitting her down on the sofa, he poured her a small drop of brandy and sat beside her. “Drink this.”
She wiped her eyes and focused on the glass. “It’s alcohol,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“It’s only a tiny bit. Drink it, Kate, it’ll calm you.”
Holding the glass to her lips, she drank the contents then cried again. “He was so angry.”
“You can’t go now.” He tried to keep the hope out of his voice. “Kate?”
“I’m going,” she sobbed angrily. “I’m his daughter and he’s going to see me.”
Charlie sighed. “Did you speak to your mother?”
“She answered the telephone but once Daddy knew it was me he grabbed the phone from her.”
What an awful, awful man. Putting his arms around her, Charlie held her as she wept before falling fast asleep. Sod her father. Mr Sheridan could say what he liked about him, but to call Kate a whore and Bump a bastard…
Picking her up, he carried her into her bedroom and pulled down the bedcovers. He laid her in the bed and took off her shoes before covering her. She moved without waking to find a comfortable position and sighed. Kissing her forehead, he left her to sleep.
In the morning, as Charlie was preparing breakfast, he felt a hand on his arm.
“I didn’t know where I was for a moment when I woke up,” Kate told him. “Thanks for putting me to bed, and I’m sorry for being hysterical.”
“You weren’t hysterical,” he replied. “How could he say those things to you? Did you tell him you’d been in hospital?”
“Yes, but he was so angry.”
“That’s no excuse. Are you and Bump all right?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I have to see Daddy. I can’t leave things the way they ended last night.”
Charlie wanted to kiss her, but it was out of the question so he smiled. “Don’t think about it now. Breakfast is almost ready, madam.”
When they had eaten, he walked with her to the shop, where she bought the necessary bits and pieces for her trip to Ireland.
The following day he sat in the living room while she packed. This time tomorrow he would be alone again and he didn’t fall asleep until the small hours. What else would that bloody idiot of a father say to her? He tossed and turned and it was only through sheer exhaustion he finally dropped off. He woke late as a result and found that Kate had made breakfast.
“You were still snoring when I passed your room,” she told him. “So I thought I’d leave you a bit longer.”
“Thank you. I’ll wash up. You must have a few things to do yet.”
“Thanks, Charlie.”
After breakfast, he took his time washing up. Best leave her to it; she doesn’t want to see your miserable face. Hanging up the tea-towel, he looked at the clock. Another hour and she’d be gone.
“Charlie?” He heard her voice and went out to the hall. “I’m in here.” She was standing in his bedroom beside the bed. On it was his suitcase and on top of it was an envelope. “Open the envelope,” she instructed.
He did as he was told, taking out a bundle of travel documents, including tickets for the boat to and from Ireland.
“Kate?” He frowned.
“I want you to come with me, Charlie. I know I said I had to see Daddy, but I’d like you to be there, too. Will you come?”
He suddenly felt tears welling up. “Are you sure, Kate?”
“I’m sure.”
“But what about Clive and Toby? Your parents?”
“I told Daddy in between shouts on Friday that you were coming. Clive and Toby know, too, so do John and Lucy.”
“What did Toby say?”
“I told him it was what I wanted, so he agreed.” She smiled suddenly. “I’m sorry for the short notice, but I had to be sure. You’re not angry that I’ve arranged it all behind your back?”
He laughed. “No. Oh, Kate, thank you.”
“We have an hour. Is there anything from the shop you need to buy?”
He thought quickly. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Good. I’ll leave you to pack.”
She went to go past him to the door but, taking her hand, he lifted it to his lips and kissed it, watching her face.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“I had to find someone to carry my suitcase,” she joked and left the bedroom.
Taking a bus into London, then another to Euston Station, they had a meal in a nearby café and bought sandwiches for the journey. Finding an empty compartment on the train, Charlie put the two suitcases on the overhead rack before sitting down. To his disappointment, Kate sat down opposite him. As the train pulled out of the station he saw her biting her lips.
“Such a lot has happened since I made this journey.”
Charlie nodded, watching as she opened her coat and stroked Bump.
“Kate.” He leant forward. “Your father is bound to rant and rage. I can understand up to a point, but he is not to upset you again and if he does… You’ve had one scare already and he’s not going to upset you – nothing is going to upset you and—” He stopped. He was shouting
.
“Thank you, Charlie,” she said simply.
He’d never been on a boat before and didn’t know if he should have eaten the sandwiches. He hoped he wouldn’t be seasick, he had to look after Kate, but she was enjoying the crossing from Holyhead to Dublin and they spent most of it up on deck.
It was late evening when they reached Dublin city centre and they booked into the first guest house they found still open.
“Come on, let’s find a restaurant.” Charlie’s stomach was rumbling.
They ate well, roast beef and vegetables, with Kate insisting on impersonating the landlady. Charlie laughed but wondered if it was one way of calming her nerves.
“Breakfast is served between seven and ten sharp,” she mimicked as they went to their rooms. “Don’t be late.”
They weren’t, were tucking into a full Irish breakfast at ten minutes past seven and caught the train to Galway with plenty of time to spare.
“Only three more hours.” Kate smiled at him, snuggling down in her seat. “Wake me when we’re there. You can’t miss it, it’s the end of the line.”
Charlie nodded, settling back in his seat, but knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kate woke with a jump, feeling a hand on her shoulder. Charlie was on his feet, buttoning up his overcoat. Galway already? She felt as though she had only just gone to sleep. She did up her coat and put on her hat, watching as Charlie lifted their suitcases down from the overhead rack.
“Chin up.” He winked at her as they left the train.
Her mother and grandmother were on the platform, but where was her father? Had he refused to come?
“Kate? Charlie?” Kate’s mother hurried towards them.
“Mummy, Granny.” Kate hugged them both, then watched Granny Norah turn to Charlie.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs Sheridan.” Charlie put out a hand, which was reluctantly shaken.
