Young May Moon (18 page)

S
ATURDAY DAWNED, DAMP
and cold. The garden was rimed with frost. May decided to wear her fawn mackintosh, unbelted, over her skirt and blouse. She tied a kerchief over her hair, turned her collar up, and carried her umbrella. She thought: I look drab, and I’m almost twenty-seven. I’m far removed from Young May Moon and even from the attractive girl in the peacock-blue dress. Was that really only three months ago?

‘You can always bring them back here you know,’ Henry said. ‘I can make myself scarce. Are you sure you don’t want me to run you into London in the car?’

‘Thanks, but I’m used to the train now.’

‘I hope all goes well.’

‘I think it will: I shall follow your advice.’

Paddy was waiting outside the museum, with his hands in his pockets and rain dripping off his hair on to his collar. The wind whipped a discarded scrap of torn paper along the pavement, which clung to his trouser leg. He bent to brush it off and when he
straightened
up, she was standing there, shaking her umbrella before closing it. He didn’t appear to recognize her immediately.

‘Sorry if I’m late,’ she said breathlessly.

‘You aren’t – I was early. Shall we go inside? It’s perishing out here, no-one would think it was May.’

Does he mean, he didn’t realize it was
me
– May? she wondered, asking belatedly: ‘Where’s Cluny?’

‘She came out yesterday in some blisters, which Mum says is chickenpox. She insisted I should meet you as arranged, and I’ve
promised Cluny we’ll go round the museum and buy some
postcards
, so she can see what she’s missed.’

May wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or not that Cluny had been unable to come, but it would be easier to talk later, she thought.

He took her arm, guided her up the steps. He said in her ear, ‘I had a shock when I looked up and saw you. Why on earth didn’t you tell me, May?’ The flapping mackintosh had revealed her secret.

‘We can’t talk about it now, not here.’ I should have been aware he would guess I was pregnant, she thought; after all, it’s happened to him before.

The gigantic mammoth skeleton was amazing. ‘I think Cluny might well have been overawed by it,’ Paddy observed. ‘She became interested in dinosaurs when she looked at a couple of my old books. Dad told her a lot about them; he’s immersed in ancient history.’

They went from gallery to gallery, where the displays amazed them both. ‘The dodo! What a pity it is extinct.’ May stumbled, and his arm went firmly round her shoulders, supporting her. ‘You’ve had enough, I can tell. Let’s buy the cards, then find somewhere to eat.’

‘I want to choose a birthday gift for Cluny, too,’ she said, ‘but I have to sit down first, I … feel faint. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s me who should apologize. I had no idea, and I should have had. It’s all my fault, and I feel awful about it.’

‘
Don’t
. It was – just as much me as you.’

After she had chosen a mug with an illustration of the museum building, for Cluny, a chair was provided for May to rest upon, while Paddy selected a batch of cards for his daughter. ‘The mammoth doesn’t look so formidable cut down to size.’

She looked around her and upwards at the vaulted ceiling. ‘What a wonderful place this is. You must bring Cluny here later; she’ll love it.’

‘If you say you’ll come too. I’m glad you took to each other.’

‘Little Dog Toby helped, in that respect!’

Later, they sat in a crowded café at a small table for two in a corner. They ordered soup and rolls. ‘Not quite what I had in mind,’ Paddy said, ‘but it was far enough for you to walk. I didn’t come by car. Cluny was looking forward to travelling on the train, and I’d booked our seats.

‘Everything other than the soup seems to smell of onion and be swimming in grease. This, at least is hot and the rolls are fresh. Eat up, then we’ll choose our dessert. What would you like to drink?’

‘Tea, I think. Not yet though – I don’t fancy coffee.’

‘May, why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I – I thought you’d feel you had to marry me. I believed you regretted what happened, because we hadn’t had time to get to know each other properly again. I though that you didn’t want to rush into another relationship because of Cluny.’

‘I’m ashamed to admit I got cold feet,’ he told her humbly. ‘I’ve regretted letting you go ever since, hence the invitation today. I thought you’d come because of Cluny, not me. I can remember you ignoring me when we first met, because you considered I was brash. Mum said we were made for each other, and that this time I mustn’t let you go.’

‘Dear Brigid.’ Her voice was husky. She cleared her throat. ‘But you didn’t expect this, did you? Nothing has changed, has it, with your situation? I know you can’t afford to set up home on your own, especially with Cluny to consider. You mustn’t unsettle her.’

‘I suppose I was hoping for a proper courtship and, in time, earning enough to become independent. The depression seems at last to be lifting, but what with the unrest here, civil wars in countries like Spain, and the threat of Nazi Germany, another world war seems inevitable. Will small businesses like mine be viable then?’

‘I wish we could go back to West Wick. It was an unexpectedly good summer, after the sadness of losing my father. It was when I grew up, I suppose.’

‘And fell in love with me, as I did with you.’

She took a spoonful of vanilla ice cream. He’d already finished his spotted dick pudding and custard. ‘This is nice.’ She came to a sudden decision. ‘I don’t think either of us wants a hasty marriage, Paddy. Courtship sounds good to me. I can stay on at work, and live at Henry’s until I have to give up, when the baby is due. I will save all I can from my wages, and you can concentrate on building up your business. We’ll keep in close touch, and I shall need you by my side in November.
Then
, we can be married. What d’you think?’

‘If you think it will work … then I agree.’ His relief at her decision
was palpable. ‘May, I have to catch the train back at five o’clock. There’s not much point going to a park in the rain. How about seeing a film?’ He grinned and she was reminded of the young Paddy. ‘We can have a crafty cuddle in the dark,’ he added.

‘As long as you don’t squeeze me too tight.’ She looked ruefully at her slight bulge.

Henry didn’t question her on her return home. He waited until she was ready to talk.

‘We’re going to be married, Henry, but not yet. I hope I can stay on here with you, work with Tatiana, and get to know my mother better.

‘He is pleased about the baby, I think, although he didn’t actually say, but he wants us to be together, when the time is right.’

‘It must have been a shock to him,’ Henry said charitably. ‘Of course you can stay on here, I’ve become accustomed to the company. No strings attached, I assure you. I rang my mother, by the way.’

‘I hope she wasn’t too shocked!’

‘My dear, she wants to help all she can. They all send their love and best wishes. Perhaps, tomorrow, you will feel like contacting Bea?’

‘It’s a relief to have this out in the open. I hope Paddy’s family will feel the same.’

‘I’m sure they will. Oh, Carmen rang. She said she wanted to talk to you. I told her where you were.’

‘I hope nothing’s wrong. She was pleased about her move.’

Ramon, that dapper dancer with snake hips and good looks, was fourteen years younger than Carmen, but he knew how to flatter a mature woman. Carmen had been bowled over instantly by his charm. She had certainly not taken in the fact that, while he flattered the female pupils, he was more interested in their male partners.

The room she now occupied was up a flight of stairs; it was small, under the eaves and rather airless. He advised her that she should not open the window because of the noise from the traffic outside. There was a list of rules taped to the wall.

1. USE OF THE KITCHEN PERMITTED ONLY BY ARRANGEMENT, ONE HOUR
   a.m. and
   ONE HOUR
   p.m.
   
2. OBSERVE ROTA FOR BATHS.
   
3. CLOTHES AND LINEN TO LAUNDRY.
   
4. OTHER ROOMS STRICTLY PRIVATE.
   
5. DAILY SWEEPING OF STAIRS REQUIRED.
   

To one who had never concerned herself with housework, let alone sweeping stairs, this was outrageous. She soon became aware of why the rest of the flat was out of bounds; because Ramon invited his friends home after he had finished his stint at the dance studio.

Carmen decided to return to Henry’s house, where she could bath as often as she liked and cook what she fancied in the kitchen. Henry or May were always on hand to deal with the washing up.

‘Henry,’ May said apologetically, ‘Mum wants to come back.’

‘Perhaps it’s a good thing. We could be, with our unusual set-up, the subject of unwelcome gossip. Carmen would soon put a stop to that, I think! I imagine you said she can return here?’

‘I wouldn’t presume to do that without asking you first. I did say that now she’s working she would be able to contribute to the
household
expenses. I feel we should do the same when Pom is here.’

‘That’s a different matter,’ he said immediately. ‘She needs a home base, and I am happy for this to be it. When would Carmen hope to move back?’

‘She’ll give a week’s notice, she says. I have to ring her back.’

He smiled. ‘Shall we draw up our own set of rules, eh?’

‘Oh Henry, you’re far too tolerant for that!’

There was a shoal of letters the following week for May, all pledging their support. May felt so much happier now that her two families, as she thought of the O’Flahertys and the Wrights, were behind her.

It would soon be her birthday, and she was invited to spend it with Paddy and his family. ‘Cluny will be over the chickenpox by then,’ Brigid wrote. ‘We can’t wait to see you again!’

‘N
OT MUCH USE
bolting the stable door,’ Brigid remarked, as she showed May into Paddy’s room. ‘You two need some quiet time to find out more about each other, that’s what Brendan said. Anyway, we already think of you as our daughter-in-law, and Cluny is just as excited as we are about the baby … We’ll sing Happy Birthday to You, dear Young May Moon tomorrow. Cluny and I have baked you a cake! Welcome to the family.’

‘Oh, I’d love to hear you singing again, I have such happy
memories
of that,’ May said.

She noted with relief that the two single beds were set apart by a chest of drawers. Of course, this was the room Paddy shared with his brother when he came home.

Brigid patted her arm: ‘Paddy doesn’t want to rush things either. But you could always push the beds together. You must be tired after the journey – take the bed by the window, pull the curtains across and have a rest before dinner at half past six. You’ll be undisturbed until then. Paddy promised to take Cluny out with the dog.’

May removed her shoes, blouse and skirt and lay under the coverlet on top of the bed. She thought, I’ll wear something more comfortable this evening, that skirt is becoming too tight. Tatiana’s artists’ smocks were specially made for her by a local seamstress, and she’d kindly ordered a couple of these roomy frocks for May. The material was serviceable cotton, one in pale blue, one in green, with two buttons at the neck and loose three-quarter-length sleeves. May had embroidered a daisy-chain along the yoke seams, white looped petals with yellow French knot centres. This livened up what was essentially a workaday garment.

There was a jug of flowers on her side of the chest, which included
large white daisies. Brigid, pausing by the door, said: ‘Cluny picked those for you.’

May didn’t expect to go to sleep, but she did. She awoke to a strange sensation, a fluttering in her abdomen. Then she realized that the baby was making its first discernible movements. She placed her hands on the spot where the upheaval had occurred. There it was again … she was trembling with excitement. She looked up and saw Paddy sitting on the other bed, regarding her with a pensive look.

‘You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you up, but Mum said to tell you the meal will be on the table in ten minutes.’ He rose. ‘I’ll see you downstairs, eh?’

May sat up. ‘Paddy – wait a moment, I’ve something exciting to tell you. The baby just kicked for the first time! Oh, there it goes again!’

‘Can I feel it, too?’ he asked diffidently. He moved towards her.

She nodded. ‘Hurry, before it stops!’ His warm hand covered hers and through the rayon petticoat she was wearing, they shared the special moment. Paddy gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head. ‘Thank you for sharing that with me,’ he said.

‘I know it was a shock when you found out about the baby, but you’re happy about it now, aren’t you?’

‘I can honestly say that I am. Well, get dressed, let your hair down, and I’ll tell Mum she can dish up!’

It was a birthday that May would never forget. It began after
breakfast
on Sunday morning, when she opened her presents from the family. Grandpa had carved her a perfect apple from walnut, complete with stalk and curled leaf, which sat by her plate; Brigid and Brendan gave her a record, and she was thrilled to see it was labelled:
Young May Moon, a popular tune
. ‘We’ll wind up the gramophone later,’ they promised.

Cluny said: ‘I picked you the flowers and iced the cake.’ Then Paddy felt in his pocket and produced a little polished heart-shaped box that he had made in the workshop. He’d lined it with a scrap of red velvet over a raised pad. ‘It’s for a ring, but I want you to choose
that
.’ May glanced at the friendship ring on her right hand, given her by Henry, which Paddy hadn’t commented on. There would be more presents to open when she arrived home; it wouldn’t have been
tactful to bring them with her. The O’Flahertys’ modest gifts were all she wished for today.

Cluny had chosen the birthday tea menu, which included wobbling orange and green jellies, pineapple chunks, tinned salmon sandwiches, shortbread, cheesy scones and a chocolate cake with icing smothered in hundreds-and-thousands, plus a fingerprint or two bestowed by an enthusiastic small chef.

After a slice of the cake Cluny was whisked away to wash her face and hands by her grandma. Brendan cleared the table, Grandpa offered to help wash up, Toby cleared up the crumbs under the table, while May and Paddy were told to retire to the sitting room to await the entertainment.

The two of them hadn’t talked last night, as May had been already asleep when Paddy came upstairs. He’d turned the light off, but lay awake in his bed for some time, thinking over the day’s events, especially the moment when he felt the baby kicking. I mustn’t let her down, he told himself. I wish we’d got married right away, but I must respect her wishes.

They sat on the settee, and Paddy drew her close, so that her head rested on his shoulder. ‘I love you,’ he murmured.

‘I know you do. I love you, too. D’you realize I’m twenty-seven years old today?’

‘You don’t look much older than you did at sixteen. You’ll aways be Young May Moon. I like your party dress! Your favourite green, I see. I’m glad you didn’t bob your hair.’ He twirled a lock of it round his finger.

‘The thing about black hair is it seems to go grey earlier. Mum has to dye her hair, but perhaps I shouldn’t divulge that fact!’

‘
We
’ll likely go grey together – me having dark hair too.’

‘I wish we hadn’t been parted all those years, but I know you wouldn’t be without Cluny.’

‘I’m looking forward to us presenting her with a baby brother or sister.’

‘So am I. Paddy, Brigid is the mother figure in her life, but I believe Cluny and I can be the best of friends.’

‘Of course you can. Listen – did you hear that? I wondered what other surprises they were cooking up!’

‘It sounds like Brigid’s harp!’ May exclaimed.

‘Time to turn the lights low, I reckon, and switch on the standard lamp,’ he said, rising to do just that.

Into the room they came, Brigid and Brendan in their kilts, Cluny in the one worn by her uncle Danny when he was a boy, hoiked up under her armpits and dangling to her ankles. Dog Toby followed behind, wagging his tail, pouncing on the trailing material. Grandpa carried the harp and placed it by a chair for Brigid, then he joined May and Paddy on the settee. ‘Room for a little ’un,’ he boomed, easing in his considerable bulk. ‘Sit on my lap or you’ll get squashed,’ Paddy whispered to May. His arms gently encircled her middle. With perfect timing, the baby began its gymnastics.

‘First,’ Brendan announced, ‘The Singing O’Flahertys will lead the company with their rendition of
Happy Birthday
to Young May Moon!’

They sang all the old songs, with the addition of one or two more modern lyrics. May requested
Tea For Two
, and the middle-aged couple before them seemed transformed into the glamorous pair they had been on stage more than ten years ago.

Then Brendan played his fiddle and young Cluny improvised a dance; more a slipper-shuffle: when she twirled, her kilt dropped round her ankles. May smothered a giggle as she and Paddy recalled her stepping out of the peacock-blue dress, and what had happened next.

Cluny wasn’t embarrassed; she pulled the kilt up, clutched it with both hands, then danced on, to warm applause.

Paddy’s whistling ended in laughter too, when Toby raised his head to howl loudly, drowning him out. ‘I didn’t realize it was that bad,’ he said ruefully.

The entertainers paused for breath, when May requested that her birthday record should be played. ‘I won’t alarm you all by attempting the jig,’ she sighed, with a smile.

Finally, Cluny performed her party trick; she fetched her
hairbrush
and brushed her grandmother’s hair vigorously in the dark. Sparks flew, always brighter when red hair is involved.

‘Almost as good as fireworks,’ Grandpa said cheerfully. They all clapped the display.

May managed to keep awake while she waited for Paddy to come quietly into the bedroom. She closed her eyes as he undressed and switched off the light. Then she said tentatively, ‘Paddy …’

‘Yes, what is it?’ He stumbled over his shoes on his way round to her bed. ‘Are you all right? The excitement hasn’t been too much for you?’

‘No, of course not. It was a lovely evening, just like the End of the Pier Show at West Wick. When you sang
Just a Song at Twilight
, I thought of dear Jenny and Percy, who loved each other all those years, and I wished
we
hadn’t let so much time go by.’

‘I haven’t sung for years, you know. Danny inherited that talent – it’s good he’s still using it. Well, goodnight. We have to make an early start in the morning.’

‘Paddy, I need a cuddle – just that. What about you?’ she said softly.

‘It’s a bit late to shift the beds together now, eh?’ His warm breath fanned her cheek, he was getting nearer.

‘I’ll make room for you with me,’ she said, and she did.