Under the July Sun (25 page)

Mary patted her hand, ‘So, off ye go now and get that letter in the post today.'

Louis was wheeling his bicycle out of the front gate as the postman arrived with Cat's letter. He leaned his bicycle against the gatepost, took the letter from the postman and lit up a cigarette before tearing the envelope open. His hand trembled slightly as he held the paper and read Cat's letter.

My Dearest Louis,

I am writing to say I have thought over what has happened and decided I was partly in the wrong - and I am sorry
.

I won't lead ye to believe I came to this decision alone, because that would be a deception, which was the basis of our problem in the first place
.

I went to see Mary today, and she guessed that something was the matter between us. I have not told Mummy and Dada or anyone else we have quarreled, nobody knows - only Mary
.

We had a chat and she made me realise that what ye did was not just a matter of deceiving me for the sake of it, but was a way of trying to earn money to feed us and keep the roof over our heads, while retaining your sense of pride
.

I don't know why I couldn't see it that way at the time, but I do now, and I want ye to forgive my hastiness in running away like that. I did not give ye the opportunity to explain, and I know I would not listen to anything ye tried to say, but I hope ye can find it in your heart to forgive a foolish woman
.

Louis, I hate us being apart. It was awful when ye were away during the war and I always expected that once it was over, we would never be apart again. This is not what I want, so won't ye please come on over and join us?

Dada and Tom will be getting the harvest in soon, and could use another pair of helping hands as a lot of the local lads
have either gone to England or America looking for work. I think we've enough in the tin to pay for a ticket, especially with the money ye made playing the violin - so please come
.

If ye send a telegram to the Post Office here, I will collect it.
Just say either, ye can come over or ye cannot. No more than that, otherwise old Niamh McNamara will spread gossip; she has a nose as long as an elephant's trunk
.

One thing I have come to realise is that good marriages are not achieved by chance; they have to be worked at. So, Louis, this leaves me wishing for the entire world I was there with ye and could let ye see that I am truly sorry
.

Your loving wife

Cat xx

He folded the letter, put it in his jacket pocket, mounted his bicycle and rode off towards Woolwich.

Smiling to himself as he turned the corner of the road, he freewheeled down the hill, promising himself a lovely day busking in the market place.

Louis was no stranger to the scythe and glad of the work, threw himself into it wholeheartedly. Ned and Tom were relieved as they were up against it trying to get the hay in on their own before rain spoiled it.

The fields looked glorious to Louis' eyes after the drabness of Eltham. Though busking meant he was out in the fresh air all day, he felt so much better working on the land.

He managed to discuss things about his busking and Cat finally agreed to him continuing with it. Louis' convincing argument came in the form of an example when they sat talking following his arrival in Fethard.

‘After all,' he had said, ‘you would make a dress for a sister and wouldn't charge her, but you would charge someone else. I play for nothing entertaining friends and family, but charge strangers for listening – it's the same principle.'

Louis convinced her and they agreed not to quarrel over it any more. He would carry on doing it for as long as it took until he managed to gain permanent work.

Louis saw a change in Ned. He thought he looked older; his movements seemed slower and he was inclined to stop what he was doing and stand about daydreaming.

Tom didn't stop telling Louis how grateful he was for his help as he said he was finding it impossible to cope under the circumstances. Most of the local youths had drifted overseas looking for work and those that were left behind were unable to help themselves, let alone others. The price of produce had dropped and they were working harder for less.

After the long days gathering the crops, Louis, Cat and the children usually ate a meal with Maeve, Ned and Tom and his wife Norah at Monroe, then strolled slowly back to O'Connell's hotel where they were staying with her Auntie Nellie.

One evening, just before the children went to bed, Louis was relaxing in the hotel bar with Mary's husband Daniel, and Cat brought the children to him to say goodnight. As the children were kissing Louis, the lounge door burst open and Peggy rushed in.

‘Daniel!' she said breathlessly, ‘Mary went into labour a while back. I couldn't find ye, so I've sent for Mrs. Morrisey, she's with her now.'

‘But, she's not due yet,' Daniel replied looking puzzled.

‘Well any fool can tell that! G'w'on off with ye,' Peggy said flopping down onto a chair.

Louis and Cat looked at each other, and then at Daniel, who finished his drink then gathered his jacket and bag together.

Cat stood up. ‘Daniel, shall I come with ye?'

He nodded, ‘Maybe come along in a little while once ye've put the children to bed, Cat.' He stooped to kiss the children standing before him. ‘Yes,' he added, ‘that'll be a good idea, thanks.'

After Daniel left, Peggy, Louis and Cat fell silent for a while before Cat spoke.

‘Are ye thinkin' what I'm thinking?'

Louis sighed. ‘Yes, probably. Sounds like history repeating itself doesn't it?' He picked up his glass and finished his drink. ‘Better get the children settled down before ye go, Cat. It could be a long night.'

Peggy looked worried. ‘I hope she doesn't go through what ye went through Cat. Though she has Mrs. Morrisey over there with her which is more than ye had at the time. I had better get back to the shop as I have to put Marie to bed. Let me know later how things are won't ye Cat?'

‘Sure I will, but it won't be for a while yet I suppose.'

‘No, I suppose not. Anyway, ye know where I am; just call me if ye need me, any time.'

After Peggy left, Cat and Louis went upstairs to put the children to bed, though Cat wanted to be away as quickly as possible.

Louis felt it would be better if she did not go because he was worried about her having the memory of her last birth resurrected, but she brushed aside the suggestion. He watched her prepare to leave.

‘Cat?'

‘Yes?'

‘Last night was pretty special to me. I just hope you do not become pregnant again as a result.'

‘Ah, Louis, 'tis not a worry of mine ye know.' She was pinning her hair up and turned to face him.

‘But it would not be wise to have another baby, now or later.'

‘Perhaps we should have thought of that before last night, my love.' She smiled at him, put the hairbrush down and crossed the room to fold her arms around his neck. ‘Louis, c'mon now quit worrying. We can't stay celibate forever, 'tis just not possible. Ye only have to look at me and, well, ye know!'

‘Cat. Cat. I don't want anything to happen to you, I was so frightened that night.'

‘Nothin's goin' to happen to me. Nothin' at all.'

Louis looked down at her thinking how mischievous she seemed. He gave her a squeeze, and then playfully slapped her on the backside as she turned to finish her hair.

As she stood before the dressing table mirror, she watched him. He looked worried.

‘I'll be here long after ye're pushin' up the daisies,' she laughed.

‘Oh don't say that. I hate thinking about that sort of thing Cat. Maybe I saw too much of it in the war, but I can't bear to imagine us being parted by death, it's horrible.'

‘C'mon then let's not think about it. 'Twon't happen.' She straightened her blouse and tucked it into the waistband of her skirt.

After checking the children were asleep, Cat told Louis she was ready to leave for Mary's house.

He was sitting by the window in the bedroom reading a book and she went over to him and from behind, put her arms around his neck, kissing the crown of his head.

‘Don't wait up, I may be some time.'

He caught hold of her wrist and kissed the palm of her hand before she slipped quietly from the room and ran downstairs, emerging on to Main Street just as Breda arrived.

‘Hello there Breda, where are ye off to?'

‘I'm walkin' out to tell Mummy Mary's in labour. Ye're goin' over to Mary's, aren't ye?

‘Yes.'

‘Good. I hoped I'd catch ye before ye left. I'll walk part of the way with ye.' They fell into step walking a little quicker than normal, each anxious to get to their destinations.

Dusk diminished into nightfall, the country sounds subdued, so that church bell striking every half hour was all that could be heard. Midnight came and went followed by the early hours preceding dawn. Mary made little progress and was showing signs of exhaustion, so Daniel had to send for Dr. Murray as he was unable to tend to her himself.

Daniel and Cat slipped outside the house and strolled in the garden at around three in the morning leaving ‘Old Murray' to minister to Mary.

They both felt the atmosphere in the bedroom was oppressive. Daniel had become irritated with Doctor Murray who had exchanged several cross words with both Mrs. Morrisey and himself.

‘Why on Earth won't he just retire and let me take over the practice?' Daniel complained to Cat. ‘His methods are antiquated and I feel my more up-to-date training would be far more effective. He's out of touch and would be better as a horse doctor.'

Cat smiled, though she was beginning to feel very anxious. ‘I'm worried she's gettin' awful tired, Daniel.'

‘Yes, that's what I mean. He won't listen and let me give her somethin' to help the birth along. I have some medicine in my bag which would mean it could be all over and done within an hour.'

‘What is it ye have?'

‘Somethin' most girls that get into trouble would pay a lot of money for.'

‘Oh. Not somethin' dangerous is it?'

‘Can be in the wrong hands. It's a derivative of Ergot, not commonly used by all, as it can be disastrous, but I have a little and wouldn't hesitate to use it now if necessary.'

‘What's that when it's at home?'

‘I'll explain some other time, Cat. But if only he'd let me give it to her.'

‘Why don't ye insist?'

‘I can't administer to anyone in my own family. It's against medical ethics.'

‘That seems a bit harsh.'

‘Not really. After all, say I wanted to commit a murder and it was a member of my own family, then it would be easy if I were allowed to treat them. It's there to protect the doctor as well as the members of a family. It stops mal-practice. So ye see I have to let Doctor Murray have his own way, regardless!'

They strolled around the garden several more times, sometimes falling silent, then striking up conversation simultaneously and laughing.

Eventually they decided to go back inside and as they climbed the stairs they could hear a slapping noise coming from the bedroom. They looked at each other and grinned.

‘The baby's been born, Cat, I can hear him slapping its bottom,' Daniel said, and charged up the stairs followed by Cat.

They burst into the bedroom only to find that Mary was lying motionless in the bed and Mrs. Morrisey, kneeling beside her, was sobbing.

Dr. Murray, in a futile attempt at revival was slapping the back of Mary's hand. The doctor turned and bowed his head.

‘I'm sorry,' he said.

Louis opened the front door and could sense bedtime had arrived for the children. Silently he tiptoed to Billy's bedroom and saw Cat was folding up clothes as the little boy knelt before his bed saying his prayers.

She looked up and saw him, so put a finger to her lips as he crept nearer the bedroom door. They listened to Billy.

‘Holy Mary, mother of dog pray for us shinners now and at the hour of our deaf. Army.'

Cat smiled at his mistakes, but he was too young she felt to drum into him the prayers she had to learn by heart at such a young age. And anyway, she was beginning to feel that maybe there was more to life than always praying.

She was angry with God right now because He'd let her down. He'd taken the perfectly good life of her sister, as well as that of her unborn baby, for no reason at all.

Heart failure
, the coroner had put on the death certificate, but Daniel's words resounded in her head and she felt if Doctor Murray had let him administer to Mary, she would be alive today.

Cat wore her grief daily; but it had also had the effect of awakening in her a feeling of living for the moment, for she knew that she had to grab happiness by the throat otherwise it could evade her.

‘He sounds so sweet, doesn't he?' Louis said as Cat closed the bedroom door.

‘Yes, he does. C'mon and sit down now while I get yer meal.'

‘Don't rush, sit down first. I've something to tell you,' he said pulling a chair out for her, and she sat down curious as to what his news would be.

‘What would you wish for most if you could have it?'

Cat thought for a little while.

‘Nothin' material would bring me much comfort, Louis. But if Mary could walk through that door, I would never wish for another thing.'

Louis' shoulders slumped.

‘Ye look disappointed, Pet. Have I said anythin' wrong? I'm only bein' honest ye know.'

‘No. It's not you, my darling. It's my ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I'm sorry I should have just come straight out with it instead of asking you to wish. Of course, you would wish to have Mary here more than anything in the world. I should have thought.'