Brides of War (19 page)

To say that Gracie’s parents were surprised to meet Rick would be an understatement, but they made him more than welcome. Gracie’s mother was secretly pleased for her daughter. She knew there was a lot more to her daughter’s return than Gracie was ever going to explain, and she’d seen how happy she was whenever she’d received a letter from Jeff’s brother. Now she’d met him, she understood why. But she and her husband were both shocked when Gracie told them her news.

‘You are going back to the States?’

‘Yes Mum, but first Rick and I are getting married here in Southampton.’

‘That’s if you’ll allow me to marry your daughter?’ Rick looked at Gracie’s father.

‘My boy, I don’t think I could stop her! I’ve not seen Gracie look this happy for some time. Welcome to the family!’ he shook him warmly by the hand. His wife came over and hugged him, then produced a bottle of sherry, poured four glasses and they all drank to celebrate.

Rick sipped his sherry then he looked at Margaret Brown.
‘I’ve promised Gracie that we’ll come visit you every other year, that way we’ll still be in touch. I know just how much it means to Gracie to leave you again but I promise to make her real happy. You have my word.’

The following two weeks were a mad rush, as a civil wedding was arranged at the local Register’s Office and passages booked on the
Queen Mary
for the couple to return to New York, where they planned to stay for a week with Valerie and Max before returning to Barton.

On the day of the wedding, Gracie left her parent’s house and Rick left from her apartment, following the tradition that the bride and groom don’t see each other the night before getting married. One of Gracie’s uncles was to be best man and had stayed with Rick to make sure the groom was on time.

As the bride left with Jim, her father, in a beribboned taxi, he took Gracie’s hand.

‘You are sure you’re doing the right thing are you love?’

‘Oh, yes Dad. This time I’ve not made a mistake I promise you. I really love Rick and feel safe with him.’

‘That’s all I need to know,’ he said and relaxed until the car arrived at their destination.

Gracie, wearing a navy suit and hat, with a small posy of flowers and her father, in his best suit, walked into the room where Rick and some of Gracie’s relations waited.

Rick took her hand and kissed it. ‘You look lovely honey,’ he said quietly.

When the ceremony was over, the married couple walked outside to be met with a sea of confetti. Pictures were taken and then they all trooped off to a local hotel for the wedding
breakfast. There were just twenty of Gracie’s closest family and friends at the reception.

As she said to her mother, ‘After all I’ve done this before, I don’t want a big do.’

As they took their places, Rick put his arm around his bride. ‘Hello Mrs Rider, but this time you’re Mrs Rick Rider, I like that!’

‘I like it too,’ she said and kissed him back.

It was a happy day. Rick charmed the guests, most of whom were meeting him for the first time. Speeches were made, telegrams read out and Gracie, sitting listening to the messages, couldn’t help but think how different this wedding was from her first one. Then it had been wartime. Today was filled with joy and it felt right.

The very next day, the two of them embarked on the
Queen
Mary,
accompanied by Gracie’s parents. The steward brought them drinks and sandwiches as they settled in their cabin. Her mother saying how nice it would be to make a trip on this wonderful liner.

‘You would always be welcome in Barton, you know that I hope,’ said Rick.

‘That’s nice of you, son,’ said Jim Brown, ‘we’ll have to start saving.’

They walked around the decks of the liner, chatting, but all too soon they heard the gong and all visitors ashore being called. The four of them walked to the gangway. There were hugs all round, a few tears from the women, then Rick and Gracie stood by the rails until the ship pulled out, waving and blowing kisses.

There was a cool breeze as the ship made its way out to the English Chanel. Rick and Gracie wrapped up in
overcoats, walked around the deck, holding hands, taking in their surroundings and jumping with surprise as the ship’s funnels roared above them. Then they made their way back to the cabin to unpack.

This time Gracie had someone to share the voyage. They danced each evening and swam in the pool during the day. Sat outside on the deck, wrapped up in blankets and enjoyed being waited on with trays of coffee, ate far too much – and made love. Both besotted with one another.

One lunchtime, as they sat in the dining room on a table for two which they’d asked for, wanting to be alone, Gracie looked across at her new husband thinking how very strange life was. After all, she hardly knew Rick, if she sat and analysed it. Yes, he’d found her a job, yes, he’d come to her rescue when Jeff had beaten her and had cared for her, but that had been all. He’d kissed her properly but twice, lastly when she was due to sail home. That’s when he’d told her he loved her … yet it had been enough.

He saw her thoughtful expression and asked, ‘What is it honey?’

‘I was just thinking how little time we spent together before you came looking for me and now we’re married. How crazy is that?’

‘I guess that’s one way of looking at it, but I fell for you the first day I saw you. Shortly after, I told you that you had married the wrong brother. You thought I was joking – I wasn’t. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would be possible for us to get together. The fact that we are is the crazy thing to me and I’m a happy man.’

‘I can’t wait to see Milly and Chuck,’ she said, thinking of the only friends she’d made during her stay.

‘They know we got married, I sent them a cable the first day we came on board. They were the only people, apart from my man at the garage, who knew I was coming over. Milly did say if ever you came back, your job would be waiting if you wanted it.’

‘Really? That’s wonderful. I loved working in her shop, the people were so nice.’

‘Well according to Milly, you’ve been missed. How about that?’

Gracie laughed with delight, knowing that to be able to meet her old friends and customers would go a long way to help her settle.

Before they knew it, the journey was over and they packed their bags and left them outside the cabin door on the final evening, to be collected by the baggage master and his crew.

Gracie had insisted that she and Rick take a cab to Valerie’s place after docking, remembering just how long it took to clear the ship and collect the baggage from her previous trip. As they walked down the gangway, she felt her heart beating faster. Never ever did she envisage returning to this country and, although she was deliriously happy, deep down she felt nervous. She had felt she had no choice, due to Rick having built up his business, nevertheless, there was just a small doubt in her mind as to whether she would really be able to settle here again. But she didn’t voice this fear to her new husband.

At last they were settled in a cab heading for the Village and her dear friend. This Gracie was really looking forward to and when the cab pulled up in front of the apartment, both Valerie and Max rushed down the steps to greet them.

The two women embraced and then Max gave Gracie
a hug and shook hands with Rick. ‘Come on inside,’ said Max, grabbing one of the cases.

Both of the girls couldn’t stop talking they were so excited. Max and Rick looked at one another. ‘Women!’ they said in unison.

The two men got along so well, it was as if they already knew each other and so the first evening was a celebration – of meeting with old and new friends and a marriage to drink to. Copious amounts of champagne were drunk and a sumptuous meal had been prepared.

After, Gracie insisted that Max and Valerie take them into the studio to see their work. Rick was really impressed and said so.

‘I don’t understand art at all, to be honest,’ he admitted, ‘but even I can see how good these paintings are.’ He wandered around taking in every detail of each picture. ‘Gracie told me about your work,’ he said, ‘but I didn’t expect anything like this! No wonder you’re so successful.’

Max grinned across at Gracie. ‘You have married a man of great taste.’ Turning to Rick, he asked, ‘Have you been to New York before?’

‘No, I’m just a guy from the sticks,’ he laughed. ‘I’ve only been out and around Colorado. Mind you, Denver is a pretty cool city.’

‘Well, we’ll take you around a few of the sights before you go home,’ promised Valerie.

‘That would be great,’ said Rick. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to the Empire State Building and Times Square.’

And they did, as well as other favourite tourists sights. Rick was delighted.

‘I feel just like a kid again,’ he laughed as he bought a
small flag with
I love New York
printed on it. ‘I’m going to hang this in my garage to remind me of this trip, and you two must come to Barton and stay.’

Neither of them said they’d been before when Gracie was married to Jeff, it would have been inappropriate.

Valerie and Gracie had taken off together one day to shop and spend time alone to catch up with each other’s news. Valerie shared with her friend the hardship of losing her baby and Gracie was able to tell her how happy she was with Rick, but was secretly concerned about settling back in Barton.

‘You’ll be fine,’ Valerie said. ‘I met Jeff and, believe me, Rick couldn’t be more different. I like him and it’s obvious that he adores you.’

Gracie asked Valerie how she felt about trying for another child.

‘I’ve been to see my doctor who said there was no specific reason for the miscarriage, which was a relief, so later in the year, we’ll try again.’

A week later, the four of them made their way to Grand Central Station for the trip back to Barton. Valerie and Max promising to come and visit in the fall. They stayed to wave their friends goodbye as the train pulled out.

As they walked to the exit, Max said, ‘This time I think Gracie has made the right choice. I’m sure she’ll be happy.’

‘I think so too,’ Valerie agreed, ‘and I’m really happy for her.’

But as Gracie sat on the train watching the passing scenery, she wondered what sort of greeting she’d get from her mother-in-law? She couldn’t bear it if Velda was still a bitch. Not after all that had happened.

It was a long and tiring journey and when they arrived in Denver, they booked for an overnight stay in a hotel so they could shower and rest. Gracie put to the back of her mind that this was how her first visit had started, but this time, the two of them went out for a meal, then climbed into bed, curled up in each other’s arms and slept, to prepare for the final trip to Barton.

The following morning they travelled by Greyhound bus to their destination and as the journey neared its end, Gracie felt a tightening in her stomach. Barton held nothing but bad memories for her and she felt tense.

Rick seemed to sense her misgivings and took her hand in his. He looked lovingly at her. ‘This time it’ll be different, you’ll see.’

The apartment above the garage was roomy, with a large living room, a kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. There was a fire burning in the grate and groceries in a box on the kitchen table.

Rick looked pleased. ‘Gus, my man in the garage did
this when he knew we were coming home. He’s a great guy, you’ll like him.’

Gracie wandered around the flat, trying not to recall the reason for her last visit. The furniture was comfortable, there was a dining table and chairs against one wall and, to her surprise, cushions adorned the settee and easy chairs. She looked at Rick.

‘There is definitely a woman’s touch in this place, what have you been up to?’

He laughed uproariously. ‘Nothing honey, honest! Milly helped me when she knew I was coming to kidnap you. She said the place needed some refinements, so I let her do her thing.’

‘Well, she made a great job of it,’ Gracie said and sat in an armchair. ‘I really like it.’

Rick came and knelt beside her. ‘You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you sitting there. I know how you feel about coming back here.’ She made to argue. ‘No honey, I’m not blind, I saw your expression as we neared home and it’s normal to be worried after your last experience in Barton. But Jeff’s gone and with him everything that made you unhappy. I love you and I will make sure you never ever regret your decision to return. Do you trust me, Gracie?’

As she looked into his face and the concern mirrored in his eyes, she put out her hand and caressed his cheek. ‘Yes, totally!’ How could she not? He had crossed the Atlantic to win her. He’d left his business behind to do so and had been prepared to move to England, if she’d insisted on staying there – of course she trusted him.

‘Come on downstairs and meet Gus.’

Gracie liked Gus immediately. He was a big guy, with
shoulders like a football player, but he had a gentle manner and greeted her warmly.

‘Howdy, Gracie, I’ve been curious to meet the woman who has tamed this wild man,’ he laughed. ‘I hope you found everything upstairs to your liking?’

‘Yes, thanks Gus and thank you for the groceries and for lighting the fire, that was very kind of you.’

He looked at Rick and grinned. ‘Don’t you just love the way she talks?’

Then Rick showed her round the garage. It was sizable, with tools and machinery neatly placed. Gus was working on a car, which was raised from the floor, and outside another waited in line.

Whilst Gracie looked around the office, the two men caught up with business news until Rick was ready to return to the apartment, looking very pleased.

Upstairs he said that Gus had managed everything just fine and more business was waiting for the two of them. ‘I may have to hire another mechanic,’ Rick told her. ‘Business is good, so my being away hasn’t been a problem.’

The next day was Sunday and they went to eat with Milly and Chuck. The two women were delighted to be reunited and in the kitchen Milly was able to talk to Gracie alone, leaving the men to chat over a beer.

‘I can’t tell you how happy I am that you decided to come back and marry Rick. My God that man missed you so much, he was so depressed. But look at him now, he’s glowing! Are you happy Gracie?’

‘Yes I am, but I was worried about coming back here. I have really mixed emotions about that if I’m honest.’

‘You’ll be fine, you’ll see. In time you’ll settle because you’re with the right man and eventually all the horrors of the past will fade.’ Then she said, ‘The one thing I want to know is, are you coming back to work?’

‘Oh, yes please! I want to meet up with all the customers again. I so loved being in the shop. The only thing I’m not looking forward to is meeting up with Velda, Rick’s mother.’

‘Ah well,’ said Milly quietly, ‘I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Since Jeff’s death, she’s lost her spirit, sad to say. It was such a shock to her and I’m not sure she’ll ever get over it.’

Gracie was able to see for herself how true this assessment was a few days later when she and Rick drove over to his parents’ house.

Ben came to meet them as they pulled in and parked. Gracie got out of the car wondering what sort of greeting she would get. To her surprise, Ben kissed her on the cheek and spoke.

‘Hi Gracie, it’s good to see you again and congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be happy this time around.’

Gracie looked over her shoulder and was shocked to see the now gaunt figure of Velda Rider standing in the doorway. The woman had aged and lost weight, her clothes seemed to hang on her. Her cheeks were sunken and there seemed to be no expression in her eyes. Gracie was filled with compassion at such suffering standing before her. She walked towards the woman, put her arms round her, held her close and said, ‘Hello Velda, I’m so happy to see you.’

Suddenly Velda seemed to crumble in her arms and the sobs coming from deep within her were dreadful to hear.
Gracie sensed Ben walking towards them and she held out her hand to stop him.

‘Come along,’ said Gracie, ‘Let’s go inside.’ She shut the door behind them.

Ben looked at his son and said, ‘That’s astonishing. Your mother hasn’t shed a tear since the funeral. It was as if she shut away any shred of feeling.’

‘Then it will do her good to let it all out, Dad. Come on, we’ll sit a bit and leave them to it.’ They sat in the porch and waited.

Inside, Gracie was sitting on the settee with Velda, whose sobs had subsided, just holding her hand. Eventually Velda was able to speak.

‘I treated you real bad when you were married to Jeff, but I didn’t know he was being cruel to you and I’m sorry for that.’

‘Oh Velda, that’s all in the past. Jeff was a sick man really and neither of us realised that. It must have broken your heart when he was killed and I’m sorry you had to go through that, as his mother. I can’t imagine the pain it caused you.’

‘You too suffered. Rick told me and at first I didn’t believe him, but later I did. Rick is a good boy, I know he’ll look after you.’

‘I know he will, but we have to put the past behind us Velda. You must build yourself up. Jeff wouldn’t like to see you like this, I know he wouldn’t and you have Ben who must be worried sick about you.’

Velda wiped her eyes and blew her nose. ‘You’re right! I’ve been wallowing in self-pity far too long.’ She gave a wistful smile. ‘Thank you Gracie, somehow you’ve managed
to unlock all my emotions in one go! I’m sorry. This was no way to greet you on your return.’

‘Nonsense! Let’s get the men in and we can all have a coffee together.’

When they were driving home later, Rick glanced across at Gracie. ‘I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Ma today, honey. It’s as if she’s been mentally locked away for months, but after talking to you today she seems to be a bit better.’

‘I think she was still in shock and somehow, for whatever reason, today as you heard for yourself, she let go and all her grief came to the fore, which is good. To keep things locked away like that is unhealthy but we all treat grief in different ways. Hopefully now, she’ll be able to deal with it. We’ll spend some time with them, invite them over for a meal when we’re settled in.’

‘You are an extraordinary woman Mrs Rider. After all I know that Ma wasn’t kind to you before.’

‘That was then, Rick, this is now, as you keep saying, those days are behind us. Now I feel I’ll be able to get along with Velda and that’s a bonus.’

It seemed no time at all, before Gracie was back in the swing of things, working with Milly, being greeted warmly by her old customers and the local storekeepers. She was deliriously happy with Rick, more than she could ever have thought possible. He brought fun and affection into her life, something that had been missing when she was married to Jeff and she thrived.

One Sunday they invited Ben and Velda over to lunch and Gracie cooked a roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, which
were unknown to all of them, followed by lemon meringue pie. Velda, who was looking much better, tucked into the food with relish, complimenting Gracie on her cooking.

Another time, she and Gracie made a pilgrimage to Jeff’s grave to lay flowers. Neither of them spoke as they changed the water in the metal vase, threw out the old blooms and arranged the new. They both stood staring down at the grave, lost in their own private thoughts. As they walked away, Gracie took her mother-in-law’s hand and just gave it a squeeze. Words were unnecessary.

Rick’s business was thriving and he’d hired another mechanic and one evening he came home with a secondhand car for Gracie.

‘But I can’t drive!’ she exclaimed.

‘I know that honey, I’m going to teach you.’

She was thrilled but also petrified, which he found amusing.

‘Now don’t you fret, I’ll take you out on quiet roads until you feel safe enough to drive into town. There’s no rush, we’ll just take things easy.’

He was very patient and eventually, after a
great
deal of practising, Gracie felt brave enough to drive in the town. She proved to be very able and soon passed her test, thrilled to be able to go where she pleased. She even took Velda shopping.

When the snows came, Gracie experienced her second winter in Colorado. She’d never seen so much snow as the fall this year. Rick, Gus and Frank, the new mechanic, had to dig out the entrance to the garage and the footpaths outside. She remembered how Milly had once described a really bad
winter here and now she saw it for herself. But she also learnt to enjoy it when Rick took her out with a couple of bobsleighs. They were like children, swishing down hills, tumbling over in the snow. They put chains on the tyres of the car to stop it sliding and, in time, she learnt to cope with it all. In the spring, their happiness was complete when she discovered that she was pregnant. Gracie sat down and wrote to Valerie, telling her the good news.

Valerie Johnson opened the letter from her friend and was overjoyed when she read of Gracie’s pregnancy. She and Max had also been trying for a baby. They felt the time was right, but so far they hadn’t met with success. The doctors assured them that nothing was wrong so they kept trying and after another exhibition they decided to take a visit to see Gracie and Rick, thinking a change of scenery and a break from city life was what they needed.

As Max said, ‘We need to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York. We’ve both been working far too hard, it’s time to take a holiday.’

Spring in the Rockies was a beautiful time of the year. The mountaintops were still covered with snow and the pine trees were verdant, however, storms had been forecast and these could be traumatic. Gracie had been warned but she wasn’t prepared for the downpour that followed. The air was filled with the sounds of thunder, lightning flashed, making her jump, and then hailstones bounced off the sidewalks. She had never experienced anything like it. Some of the roads were flooded, making her journey to work somewhat hazardous and Rick insisted on driving her to
and fro. He was concerned about her driving herself now she was carrying a child.

Business in the shop came to a standstill as no one was coming out unless it was absolutely necessary. Eventually, at the end of another quiet day in the store, Milly told her not to come in until the storms had subsided.

Valerie and Max had flown into Denver just before the storm struck so they stayed in the city. For Valerie it wasn’t such a surprise after living in Singapore, where such weather was part of the tropics. She and Max stayed in the hotel and relaxed. They swam in the pool, ate in the restaurant and rested until several days later the weather begun to clear.

Max hired a car and they drove to Barton, where Gracie was waiting for them in the apartment. The three of them sat chatting, drinking coffee and eating sandwiches, catching up with each other’s news until Rick came home to join them.

That evening, they were all sitting round the dinner table when the phone rang and Rick excused himself to answer it. He came hurrying back carrying his jacket.

‘Ma’s been rushed to hospital’, he said. ‘She’s had a heart attack!’

Gracie looked at Valerie. ‘I’ll have to go and leave you, I’m sorry.’

‘Of course you must go,’ her friend replied. ‘Don’t you worry about us and I hope you come back with good news.’

When they arrived at the hospital they found Ben sitting waiting as the doctors examined his wife. He looked pale and drawn as he greeted them.

‘Thanks for coming,’ he said. ‘We were having a meal when suddenly Velda felt unwell and went to lie down. I
called the doctor and he called an ambulance. He said she’d had a mild heart attack.’

Rick sat on one side of him, Gracie on the other. Until the doctor came to find them.

‘We have to operate,’ he told Ben, ‘but before we prepare her perhaps you’d all like to go and see her. Just keep her quiet and I’m afraid I must ask you to keep your visit short.’

They all walked into the room where Velda lay, looking very pale. She gave a wan smile.

‘I’m sorry to be such a nuisance,’ she said in barely above a whisper.

Ben took her hand. ‘Don’t be silly,’ he said in a choked voice. ‘You are going to be fine.’

She looked at Gracie and held out her other hand, which Gracie took in her own.

‘You take care of my grandchild, you hear?’