A Time of Peace (40 page)

‘Say what's on your mind, Kate.'

‘Eddie asked me to adopt him when I married and I promised to think about it.'

‘And what would you like to do?'

He was speaking softly, not putting any pressure on her, and she knew that the decision would be hers to make. ‘I'd love him as our son … but if that isn't what you want – '

He stopped her with a kiss, then said, ‘It is what I want.'

‘That's wonderful!' She hugged him in delight, her
happiness complete. ‘I'll get Mum on to the legal part straight away.'

‘She's already set the wheels in motion, but Eddie mustn't be told until it's settled.'

Kate was surprised. ‘You've talked this over with her already?'

‘Of course I have.' He grinned. ‘I'm not brave enough to ask you to marry me without Rose's permission. And she was sure you'd want to adopt Eddie.'

She tipped her head to one side, keeping her expression serious with difficulty. ‘You were sure I'd accept you?'

‘No, but Rose was. She told me to stop wasting time and bloody well get on with it.' He stood up and pulled her to her feet. ‘Now that that's all settled, my self-control is torn to shreds. If you're going to make me wait for our wedding night, then you'd better go now.'

‘I'm not going anywhere,' she said, wrapping her arms around his neck as he swept her up in his arms.

The 28th of April, 1962! Kate slipped out of bed and watched the sun rise in a cloudless sky. It was her wedding day, and it was going to be glorious.

The bedroom door opened, and her mother came in. ‘Thought I heard you moving about. Do you want breakfast in bed?'

‘No, thanks, I'll come downstairs.' When her mother had left, she sat on the edge of the bed and sipped her tea. She was feeling nervous, but couldn't wait to become Mrs Devlin. It had been a real scramble to get everything arranged in time, but neither of them wanted to wait any longer than necessary.

She put on her dressing gown and wandered down to the kitchen. There were two hours yet before anyone began to arrive, so this would give her a chance to have a quiet time with her mother. It had worried Kate that her mother would be living here on her own after today, but Rose had pointed out very firmly that she was quite capable of looking after herself. She hadn't gone soft in her old age!

Kate smiled to herself. Rose Freeman certainly hadn't gone
soft.
Without the gentle restraining hand of her husband, she was back to her old battling self and fast becoming the terror of the local magistrates court.

‘Do you want a cooked breakfast?' her mother asked, ‘or just toast and marmalade?'

‘Toast, please.'

This was soon prepared, and with a fresh pot of tea in front of them they sat down.

‘When are you going to tell Eddie that you've adopted him?' Rose buttered the toast and poured them both a cup of tea.

‘At the reception. We would have liked to tell him sooner, but, as the papers only came through yesterday, we decided to leave it until we were married.'

‘He'll want to come on honeymoon with you.' Her mother laughed.

‘He won't have long to wait; we're only going for two days and we'll collect him as soon as we're back.'

‘He can stay with me for that short time if you like.'

‘Oh, that would be lovely.' Kate was thrilled with the suggestion. Not only would it please Eddie, but it would mean that her mother would have someone with her after the wedding.

‘Reid and Annie want to foster Tom and have asked me to deal with it for them.' Rose poured them both another cup of tea. ‘If things go well, they might consider adopting him.'

Kate stopped with a piece of toast almost at her mouth. ‘That's wonderful! They've kept that quiet.'

‘They didn't want to say anything until they were sure they would be allowed to do it.'

This day was already full of good news. ‘He's a tough little kid, but Reid and Annie are the perfect couple to handle him.'

‘It won't be an easy job, they know that, but they think he deserves a chance in life. They would have liked more children, but they left it rather late to start their family. I
hope you and Jon will soon have a brother or sister for Eddie.'

‘We intend to, Mum. This will be the first time in their lives that both of them have had a family of their own.'

‘I can't imagine what that's like.' Rose shook her head sadly. ‘Even when I lived in Bermondsey, fighting and struggling to exist, there was always the family. That was a good idea of yours, not to segregate the bride and groom's guests in the church. It would have been insensitive to have our side full to overflowing and only a sprinkling on Jon's side. It's much better to mix everyone up.' Rose smiled. ‘We're all one family now, and I've gained a grandson already.'

‘Eddie's going to love that.' Kate joined in with her mother's laughter.

‘You won't be able to stay in that small flat for long, Kate. Eddie will need a garden to kick about in.'

‘We've decided to look for a house as soon as we come back from Bournemouth.'

‘I was talking to Mrs Ellis yesterday, and she told me she's going to live with her daughter and is selling up.'

‘That's perfect!' Kate leapt to her feet. ‘It's next to Will and that means we would have three houses in a row. I'll go and see her now.'

‘It's only eight o'clock and she won't be up yet. I've already told her you might be interested. She said that she won't sell to anyone until she's spoken to you. I said you'd come and see her towards the end of next week.'

‘Wonderful, you think of everything.' Kate sat down again and reached for the teapot.

At that moment, Reid, Annie and the boys, Paul and David, arrived. Annie immediately took charge.

‘Have you had your bath yet, Kate? Time's getting on.'

She smiled at her mother and gave an amused shrug. Their quiet time was over, but she was pleased they'd had this precious hour together.

The kitchen door opened and the family poured in, all dressed in new clothes and ready early for this big day. The room filled quickly with Will and Dora, Charlie, Madge, and teenagers, all jostling for space and looking at Kate and her mother in disbelief. Right behind them were James, Sam and his family, who were staying with her brother in Richmond, quickly followed by Beth and Steve. Beth was going to be her bridesmaid, and it was a cause of amazement to Kate that she was marrying before her friend. Beth's wedding was set for July and would be another celebration.

‘Kate, Rose!' Dora exclaimed. ‘What the devil are you doing still in your dressing gowns?'

‘There's plenty of time – ' Rose was cut off with howls of protest.

Annie and Madge took charge of Kate, hustling her towards the stairs, leaving Dora to deal with Rose.

Half an hour later Kate was being eased into her dress. She had insisted that it be kept simple, and Annie had done a wonderful job with the design. It was in oyster satin, with a wide neckline to emphasize her lovely shoulders, tapering to a point at the waist, with the skirt falling almost straight to the floor. Long slender sleeves added to the elegant dress. Her mother's veil was attached to a crown of apple blossom, and satin shoes completed the outfit.

‘Oh my,' Dora sighed as she came into the bedroom,
‘Jon isn't going to know what's hit him when he sees you.'

Annie laughed as she smoothed the skirt down. ‘Terry's best man, so I hope he keeps a tight hold on the groom. We don't want him collapsing with ecstasy at the altar.'

The thought of Jon being so overcome made Kate chuckle, though he had revealed a very passionate nature over the last few weeks …

Rose came in looking wonderful in a royal-blue dress and jacket and holding an old velvet case in her hands. ‘This is for you. I'd like you to wear it today, Kate.'

Inside was a beautiful string of pearls with a diamond clasp. ‘Great Grandma Gresham's necklace,' Kate gasped. She'd only ever seen it once and that had been on Annie when she'd married Reid just after the war.

‘I wore it on my wedding day and so did Annie.' Rose fastened it around her neck and then stood back to admire the effect. ‘Perfect. It's yours now, Kate, but I'd like your promise that you'll keep it to hand on to one of your own children.'

‘I'll never sell it, Mum.' She ran her fingers over the pearls, knowing how much they meant to her mother. Rose was the illegitimate daughter of Sir George Gresham, and had lived all of her young life in the slums of London with her mother, Marj. Marj had been in service when she'd been seduced by the man of the house, only to be thrown out on the street when she became pregnant. Rose had finally met George when she was sixteen, and, both being of a fiery nature, they'd fought. George's mother, Lavinia Gresham, had been a dear, though, and eventually they'd all become friends.
After Lavinia's death, George had become a part of the Freeman family, and Kate had loved him so much. It had been a terrible shock when he'd been killed by a flying bomb just as the war was coming to a close …

Beth floated in wearing a long pale lilac bridesmaid's dress, with a circlet of white roses in her hair, and spun round for Kate to see the finished effect. ‘Will I do?' she asked.

‘Perfect.' Kate grinned at her friend. ‘This will be a rehearsal for your own wedding.'

Reid peered in the room. ‘Everyone out. The bridal car will be here in twenty minutes.'

There was a stampede as they headed for the cars to take them to the church in Putney.

When they'd all gone, Reid came and took her hands in his, smiling down at her. ‘This is a very proud day for me, to be giving away my pretend daughter to such a fine man. And it's a day for happiness – not sadness, isn't it?'

She squeezed his hands and leant forward to kiss his cheek, knowing that he was talking about her father not being here. ‘No sadness, I promise.'

‘Good.' He handed her the bouquet of white roses. ‘That sounds like the car.'

The church was packed, and, as she stood in the doorway waiting for the organ to play the wedding march, Pete gave her a thumbs-up sign. Gerhard was there, so were Mike, Robert, Andrew Stevenson and Joel Perkins from the
World Explorer
, also Mrs Green, the helpers and children from Wilkins House. Eddie was down the front, firmly under her mother's control.

Kate paused for a moment in the doorway to remember those who wouldn't be with them. Her dear father, Grandpa George, Grandma Marj and Grandpa Wally. Each one very dear, and she knew that all the family would remember them this day.

The organ burst into life and Reid urged her forward, smiling affectionately at her. How glad she was to have his strong support and love. After a few steps she fixed her gaze on Jon and everything else faded into the background. For a brief moment it looked as if he were going to dash up to meet her, but Terry held him back.

Jon didn't take his eyes off her the whole way through the ceremony, and as soon as they'd signed the register he gave an audible sigh of relief. As they began to walk up the aisle, she smiled at him. ‘Was the service an ordeal?'

‘Oh, no. I was just terrified you were going to change your mind at the last minute. I didn't feel it had really happened until we'd signed the register.'

‘What on earth made you think I wouldn't marry you?'

‘Well, I couldn't come up with one reason why you would want to be my wife.'

She stopped, reached up and kissed him. ‘There's a very good reason why I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you.'

They stepped out into the sunshine, both smiling, and patiently obeyed as Pete and Terry ordered everyone around so they could get the pictures they wanted.

The reception was being held in a local hotel where they had taken over the large dining room. After speeches and
the cutting of the cake, Kate and Jon took Eddie out into the garden.

She sat on a bench and pulled the child towards her. ‘Do you remember the promise I made you when we first met?'

Eddie nodded, his eyes flitting from one to the other, saying nothing. Kate suspected that he was expecting a rejection.

Jon took some papers out of his inside pocket and held them out for Eddie to see. ‘It says here that from today you are our son.'

The boy still didn't speak, waiting for a moment to let this momentous news sink in, then he threw himself at them, trying to hug them both together. There were great sobs of joy coming from his little body, making him shake in their arms.

They left him to get it out of his system, and when he hiccuped and gave them a watery smile, she wiped his face. ‘Does this mean you're happy about it?'

He nodded and the tears vanished, his eyes now clear with happiness. ‘I knew you wouldn't forget. Tom said you would and I mustn't say anything to you. You're my two most favourite people in the whole world. Where are we going to live? I must pack my things.'

‘Mrs Green's already done that for you.' Jon knelt down in front of him. ‘Your Mum and I are going away for two days on what's called a honeymoon, but while we're away you're going to stay with your Grandma Rose. When we get back we'll be together for always. We'll be living in the flat until we can buy a house.'

Eddie was wide-eyed. ‘Can I call you Mum and Dad?'

‘Of course,' Kate said. ‘That's what we are now.'

‘Is it all right to call your mum Grandma?' He didn't seem at all sure about that.

‘She would love you to.' Kate was so happy it was difficult to keep her own tears at bay. ‘And you don't mind staying with her for two days?'

‘No, I like her.' He jiggled about a bit, far too excited to be able to stand still. ‘Two days isn't long, but you won't be more than that, will you?'

‘We promise.' Jon ruffled his hair. ‘Why don't you go and tell Grandma Rose how happy you are to be her grandson?'

They both got trampled on as he kissed and hugged them. Then he tore off to find his new grandma.