Home Fires Page 3

  Annie’s brothers, for their part, took matters into their own hands.

  Annie was walking home from work one day, when she came across Jim on the walkway. He was staggering and grasping his sides. She ran to him. “What happened?” She looked him over frantically. “My God, you’re bleeding!”

  “Ah’m fine, Annie,” he slurred through swollen lips. “I had a bad fall in the shipyard and jus’ need to lie down for a bit.”

  She put her hands on her hips and cried, “This is more than a fall, Jim! Just look at you!”

  Jim leaned against a brick wall and gasped with pain. He forced a grin and said, “Dinna fash, Annie. It’s no matter and was worth it.”

  Annie frowned as the realization dawned on her. “This was my brothers’ doing, wasn’t it? The bloody idiots were likely drinking again, weren’t they?” She seethed with anger. “I ought to report them to the police. Here, lean on me a bit.”

  When they reached her house, she helped him peel off his shirt. As she wrapped a bandage - improvised from an old, clean sheet torn to strips - around his ribs, she discreetly admired his muscular build, marvelling at how white and smooth his skin was. When she was done, she rested her hands for a moment on his shoulders and gently kissed a corner of his lacerated mouth.

  Annie learned the full story from Jim’s sister Maggie. George and James had waited for Jim after his shift at the shipyard, after quaffing several drinks the local pub. Jim had been warned that Annie’s brothers were planning to ambush him, but he offered little resistance to their kicks and blows. Annie knew that most onlookers must have known the beating had to do with her pregnancy, but thankfully a couple of older, more level-headed men had stepped up to stop it. Jim was fortunate to have suffered just a few bruises, a black eye and a cracked rib, but Annie was so angry at her brothers that she did not speak to them for a week.

  On April thirtieth, she and Jim were quietly married at St. Michael and All Angels Church in South Westhoe in the presence of Maggie and Alfie. Jim had found a flat for them to rent; it was dark and dreary with just two rooms and a shared water tap in the back lane, but it was affordable. He bought a new mattress and a second-hand bed, dresser, couch and chair. Against Charles’ wishes, Jane gave them a sturdy wooden kitchen table and two matching chairs. Annie’s mother gave them her good set of dishes from her own wedding and helped sew new curtains and bed linens.

  Annie was pleased that, at first, her figure hardly changed with her pregnancy. People said that from the back she did not appear to be expecting at all, and that the little, round bump that soon had replaced her once-flat stomach was endearingly small. As the months passed though, she began to feel heavy and uncomfortable. She was lonely while Jim was at work and frightened of giving birth. As her time approached, she told Jim that she had made a decision.

  “I’m so frightened. I want to be with Mother when the baby comes.” She sniffled and wiped away her tears. “I want to move back home until our baby arrives. You could come after work and have your dinner with us each evening.”

  Jim kissed away her tears, then tenderly touched Annie’s distended belly. “I’m worried meself if ye should go into labour while I’m at work,” he admitted. “I would be relieved to know your mother was takin’ care of ye.” He placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her.

  Annie moved to her mother’s house the following day. Her mother was happy to be useful and soon found an experienced midwife with a good reputation. Jane and her daughters were often over and they busily collected or knitted everything the baby could need, while Annie anxiously awaited the arrival of her child.

  On a warm July morning, Annie complained of an uncomfortable pain in her back, which then radiated down her legs. By early afternoon she noticed her abdomen tightening regularly and she felt an increasingly painful cramping. Her mother remained calm and stayed by her side throughout the day. By dinner time Annie’s contractions were becoming more intense, so as soon as Jim arrived, her mother asked him to fetch the midwife, Mrs. Mitchell. Jim froze for a moment then bolted out the door.

  When he returned ten minutes later, with the short, plump midwife who bustled into the bedroom, Annie caught a brief glimpse of how anxious and bewildered Jim looked as the bedroom door was closed, leaving him standing alone in the kitchen. She wished he was allowed in, but knew it would be scandalous to suggest it.

  At eleven o’clock that evening Annie gave birth to a tiny baby girl. Exhausted but ecstatic, she watched from the bed as her mother handed Jim the little swaddled bundle.

  “You and Annie have a bonny daughter. Congratulations! What will you name your wee one?”

  Jim’s eyes moistened as he kissed his daughter’s forehead. “Annie and ah decided that she’ll be Margaret Mary Jane,” he said in a broken voice. “Mary Jane is fo’ the two grannies. And don’t tell me other sisters, but Maggie’s me favourite.”

  Annie had never known that she could love a child more than life itself. Maggie was a small miracle, a tiny version of Annie herself, but with her father’s blue eyes and hints of blond fuzz on her head. As Annie and Jim had both grown up with younger siblings, they were confident young parents. Little Maggie thrived. The tiny baby healed all wounds, imagined and real, in both the Kidd and Larsen families.

  Annie’s mother and Jane loved their new granddaughter before she was born. Charles’ anger dissolved the second he held her in his arms. And little Maggie’s many aunts and uncles cherished her and spoiled her with little gifts. This unexpected baby was blessed.

  Annie took Maggie out every day, proudly pushing the pram, a gift from her brothers, down the cobbled walkways. She would pick up a few items at the greengrocer’s shop, stop in at her mother’s, and then at the Kidd’s. Annie was often delayed by neighbours, who fussed over her happy baby. Maggie always rewarded everyone with a toothless smile. Annie could not believe how her life had changed so, over just a few months.

  Jim stepped through their doorway, and greeted Annie as he usually did with a hug as she was preparing their meal. Maggie was in a basket on the floor, playing with her toes and cooing sweetly. Jim picked her up and nuzzled her neck until she giggled.

  “Who’s this bonny bairn here?” he teased and tickled, making her giggle.

  Annie turned from her work and said, “If you get her any more excited, she’ll not go down to sleep.”

  Jim kissed Annie’s cheek and said, “Divvint worry, I’ll have her fast asleep afore dinner’s ready.”

  He carried his squirming daughter to the bedroom. While Annie was filling their plates, she heard Jim singing.

  Go to sleep my baby, close your big blue eyes.

  The Lady Moon is watching, from out beneath the skies.

  The little stars are peeping, to see if you are sleeping.

  So, go to sleep my baby, go to sleep, good night.

  When Jim came back to the kitchen, having laid the sleeping Maggie in her crib, Annie said, “That lullaby was lovely. How do you know it?”

  “Ma used to sing it to my younger sisters and brother, every night at bedtime. Ah even remember her singing it to me.”

  “Well, it certainly did the trick for Maggie. Sing it again so I can learn it.”

  As Jim sang, Annie laid her head on the table and pretended to snore. He groaned at her silliness.

  “Ah have somethin’ grand to tell you!” he said as they started to eat. “First of all, ah got the job at the copper works and start next week.” When Annie jumped up from her chair to congratulate him, he held up his hand. “And … ah’ve found us a bonny new flat on Catherine Street!”

  “Ah, Jim! A good job and a new home! I’m a lucky woman.”

  His timing could not have been better, as Annie had some news, too. She was expecting their second child.

  Chapter Six

  Jim was thrilled that they were expecting another baby. Annie’s easy pregnancy seemed to fly by quickly as she was busy with Maggie, packing up their old flat and settling into their new one. This t
ime, when Annie was near her time, her mother moved in with them to help out.

  It was lucky she did, because the baby arrived quickly one day while Jim was at work. When he came home that night, he was surprised to see Annie sitting comfortably in bed with a small swaddled bundle resting on her chest. Tears came to his eyes and he stammered, “You should have sent someone to get me! I’d ah come home.”

  Annie’s mother patted his arm. “Ah, Jim, this baby was in a hurry to come into the world. Annie and I managed on our own.”

  “Where’s Maggie?” he asked, looking around for her.

  “I ran her over to the neighbours’,” said Annie’s mother. “I’ll just go now and bring her home. Poor little girl doesn’t know what the fuss was all about.” As she was about to slip out the door, she turned to Jim and said, “You have a wee son, by the way.”

  Jim crushed his mother-in-law to in a tight embrace. “Thank you!” he whispered.

  He knelt by the bed and gently stroked Annie’s forehead. She unfolded the blanket to show Jim their baby boy. He gathered his new son into his arms.

  “Welcome, my little man. You were in a rush to meet the world, weren’t you? Imagine surprisin’ yer Da. What a wee bonny boy ye are.”

  He carefully wrapped the blanket around the baby and placed him back in Annie’s arms, then lay down beside her. He put his forehead against hers and her cheeks soon grew wet with his tears. After a minute, he wiped his face with his shirt sleeve, and got up before Maggie and Annie’s mother returned.

  “I love ye, Annie Kidd. We are so wealthy with a daughter and a son!”

  Maggie, now almost two years old, pouted at first when her mother’s attention strayed from her, but she soon discovered that her baby brother, Bobby, couldn’t walk, dance or sing as she could. Playing to her rapidly growing reputation for heart-warming quips, she said, “Baby jus’ seep and thit!”

  “Maggie!” Annie scolded. “That’s not a nice word to say.”

  The little girl hung her head. “Da thays thit,” she replied, then quickly added, “I won’t thay thit anymore, Mummy. Thit ith a bad word.”

  Annie had to bite her cheek so she wouldn’t laugh.

  Later, while Annie was nursing Bobby in the rocking chair, Maggie ran into the bedroom and returned with her dolly. She sat down on the floor, lifted her top and put her dolly to her chest. “I’m feeding my baby, too, Mummy.”

  Annie smiled and shook her head at the little girl’s antics. She couldn’t wait to tell Jim and Mother.

  In April, Annie and Jim celebrated their second anniversary with a night out at the pub, while Mary watched the children. They walked hand in hand in the warm spring air. A couple of neighbours on the street called out that they looked like they were courting and not the old married couple that they really were. Jim guffawed and opened the pub door for Annie. The overheated room was crowded and noisy with loud conversation. They jostled their way to a small table and Annie sat down while Jim pushed his way up to the bar to order two pints of ale and their fish and chips. It was a lovely time. They agreed they pitied everyone else who couldn’t possibly be as happy as they were.

  After Bobby’s baptismal service, Annie and Jim waited for Jane, Charles, and Annie’s mother outside the church. Her mother promptly took the crying infant from Annie’s arms and gently soothed him. Charles reached down and scooped up a giggling Maggie.

  Jane laughed and said, “We filled the church wi’ all the Larsens an’ Kidds. And what a lovely service even though Bobby bawled through th’ whole thing!”

  Jim’s parents’ little house was soon overflowing with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. The men sat outside to enjoy the warm spring weather and to escape the chaos inside. Maggie entertained her aunts and uncles, twirling in her new frock. She was thrilled to be the centre of attention once her baby brother had fallen asleep. Annie picked up her daughter and hugged her. “Aren’t we lucky to have both a boy and a girl in our family? I love you, poppet.”

  Maggie put her arms around Annie’s neck and gave her a wet kiss on the cheek, then squirmed to get down. The little girl ran back into the kitchen and called out, “Granny Jane, I want another lolly.”

  “Maggie! That’s not polite,” Annie scolded.

  Maggie looked at Annie, then ran to hug her grandmother. She asked, “Granny, I want another lolly, please?”

  Annie caught her mother-in-law’s eye and had to smile.

  A few hours later, Maggie was sound asleep on her grandfather’s lap and everyone was saying their goodbyes to Jane and Charles. Jim gathered his daughter into his arms as Annie got her sleeping son from the bedroom. They walked home slowly in the mild evening breeze, neither of them wanting the evening to end.

  Jim wiped his daughter’s red, flushed forehead with his fingers. “Our Maggie’s danced herself inta a sweat! She’s fast asleep.”

  At their new rented house on Catherine Street, Jim tucked Maggie into her bed while Annie fed and changed the baby. After Annie put Bobby in his crib, she returned to the kitchen and sank into chair. Jim placed a cup of hot tea in front of her and sat down with his own mug.

  Just as they were finishing their tea, they heard Maggie crying in her sleep. They both rushed into the bedroom to calm her and prevent her cries from waking the baby. Jim reached Maggie first and as he placed his hand on her forehead, he gasped. “She’s burnin’ up!” Annie looked at Jim in alarm. He gently picked up Maggie’s hot little body, carried the little girl to the kitchen and sat down with her in the rocking chair. She was limp and listless.

  Maggie woke up and whimpered, “Dada, hot.”

  Annie brought a cool cloth to Maggie’s forehead. “She’s had a bit of a cough these last few days. I’m sure she’ll bounce back in no time,” she said, trying to suppress her growing fears.

  Jim stayed in the rocker with Maggie for a few hours, but Annie finally sent him to bed while she took a turn. Maggie whined and covered her eyes, complaining, “Eyes hurt, Mummy.” Annie patted her back. She leaned over to extinguish the candle and continued to rock her through the night.

  When the full moon shone through the window and lit up the room, Annie covered Maggie’s eyes with a flannel. Examining her daughter in the moonlight, she was shocked to see small, red spots inside the girl’s mouth. She called for Jim. When he saw Maggie’s spots and felt how fevered she still was, he quickly dressed and left to find a doctor. Within a half-hour he returned with Dr. Bootiman.

  After the doctor examined Maggie, he declared, “Margaret has the measles.”

  Annie felt faint with fear. “What does that mean?”

  “Every child goes through this illness,” Dr. Bootiman assured her. “Just keep the room dark and ease her fever with a cool bath.”

  “But what about the baby, can he catch measles, too?” Annie asked, her voice trembling.

  “You must have someone else watch the baby. He’s too young to be exposed to the disease.”

  Annie looked at Jim, “My mother will help. Can you take Bobby to her before you go to work?”

  Dr. Bootiman interrupted, “I can give your message to Mrs. Larsen. It’s on my way.”

  As he left, Annie and Jim held on to each other for a moment in the doorway.

  Even before Jim left for the copper works in the morning, Annie’s mother was at their door. She bustled in, handed Jim a knotted handkerchief of hot scones with a large hunk of cheese for his lunch and reassured them that all children get the measles; little Maggie would be fine in no time, she said. Looking content to be needed, she made a cup of tea for Annie. She gathered her granddaughter into her arms and held her for a while, humming softly. Though her mother was putting on a brave face, Annie could tell she was distressed at how ill Maggie was. She gently placed her sleeping granddaughter back into bed and then carried little Bobby over and set him on Annie’s lap. Annie barely looked at her little son. Her mother whispered, “Give him a good feed as this will be his last. We’ll have to wean him now.”

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bsp; Annie mechanically put the infant to her breast and let him suckle. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Her mother packed up all of the baby’s clothing and supplies, and placed them in the pram.

  “Don’t you worry,” she said to Annie, patting her hand as she took the baby from her. “I’ll take good care of little Bobby.”

  After they left, Annie went to the bedroom. Maggie was still fevered, so Annie brought her to the rocking chair and bathed her with a cool cloth. Annie held her daughter for several hours, whispering stories to her and trying to get her to drink some water. She paced the house, gently bouncing Maggie to try to comfort her. By late afternoon there was an angry rash on the little girl’s head, neck and upper chest.

  When Jim got home from work, Maggie was asleep in Annie’s arms, so he set about frying some eggs and bacon for their dinner – the only thing he knew how to cook. After dinner, he wandered around the small kitchen, rocking Maggie and singing his lullaby. He told her fairy tales and nursery rhymes he remembered from his own childhood. That night, Annie and Jim slept with Maggie between them in their bed.

  The next morning the angry rash covered Maggie from head to toe. There was a rattle in her chest and she was still burning with fever. Jim reluctantly packed his lunch and left for work, his brow furrowed with worry. He ducked back a minute later to give Maggie another kiss. “Feel better soon, poppet. Da loves you.”

  Annie spent the morning bathing Maggie with a cool, damp cloth. At some point, the little girl started to shiver, and then she convulsed. Annie tried to quell her own panic, by rocking her child and repeatedly singing Jim’s lullaby.

  Late that morning, as the midday sun beat down on the little flat, Maggie cried out, “Momma.” She stiffened, and then was still.

  Annie froze. She pulled her daughter closer to her chest, brushed the fine blonde hair off Maggie’s forehead, kissed her eye lids closed and carried her to the bedroom. She wrapped the tiny, cooling body in several blankets, and brought it back to the rocker. Annie’s throat was raw with unshed tears.