So Far From I Expected

22

‘Boys! School now! Mrs McNamara and her girls are waiting outside!! Put that puppy down! Scoot!’ I ranted at the boys getting stressed having been up late trying to soothe Tommy with his teething.

Mama left early to go to St Frances’ and Papa was long gone, I pottered around tidying the cottage and making note of things Mama needed for the next few days.

Around 11, Tommy stirred for food. I carried him around on my hip while his food heated by the fire. I heard footsteps outside the door, and moved to open it when I heard Theodore’s voice. Catching a glimpse of myself in the small mirror I noticed I had coal dust on my cheek and my hair was piled on top of my head.

The door opened before I had the chance to put the bolt across and fix myself. ‘Caireann!’ I was hidden behind the door, Theodore looked confused as he walked into the cottage calling my name. Tommy giggled at the stranger; drawing his attention to us and I rolled my eyes as Theodore’s gaze landed on me.

Much to my surprise, Theodore whisked Tommy out of my arms and tickled his belly, extracting squeals of delight out of my baby brother. I couldn’t help but laugh at the faces and sounds Theodore made to entertain him as I attempted to fix my hair and wash my face.

Satisfied that I looked as well as I could, I lifted the small bowl of mashed spud and gravy for Tommy from the fireplace and sat beside Theodore at the table. I reached out my arms to get him to come to me but Theodore proceeded to feed Tommy himself. The shock I felt must have been evident on my face judging by his laughter. ‘I told you I spend a lot of time with the servants at home didn’t I! Now little man, lets fill you up before we take your sister out for the afternoon!’

He fed Tommy and made him giggle whilst I got together the basket to get groceries. 'So what are we shopping for? Vegetables? Cheese? Bread?’ Theodore asked whilst wiping Tommy’s face. ‘That sort of thing yes! Now are you going to carry the basket or the baby?’

Tommy squealed as he was wrapped in a blanket to face the cold air and Theodore cuddled him close. ‘I’ll take the baby! Unless the basket will be too heavy for you?’ His sarcastic tone caused me to shoot him a look that made him burst out laughing as he walked out the door.

We walked briskly to the centre of the village as the cold was painful after the fire in the cottage.

People looked and whispered as we walked passed, especially when his put his arm around my waist and kissed me at the veg stall.

On the way back home I wanted to call into Mr Avital’s to let him know how we were getting on. We called into the small pub and bought him a bottle of whiskey courtesy of Theodore and set off to the small, smoky cottage.

I knocked on the door and opened it slowly, Mr Avital was sitting in his chair by the fire reading his little bible and sucking on his pipe. The room was warm and cosy.

‘Ah child, how are you? Mr Desala, hello! And little Thomas here! Awk aren’t you a sight, a wee family here in front of me!’ I kissed him on the cheek and assured him we were well before putting water over the fire to heat for tea.

‘Caireann, get over here a minute!’ he exclaimed after a short while. ‘Is that a new dress? Look at that give me a twirl! Aw you look lovely pet! And that shawl, that must have cost a pretty penny! Never a more deserving girl! Do an old man a favour and twirl around there for me.’

I twirled in front of him and smiled at the old man I loved as much as I loved my own father. ‘Mr Avital, we brought you a gift to say thank you for helping us out with Papa the other day.’ I handed him the bottle of Bushmill’s and his eyes lit up like a child’s at Christmas.

‘Christ I’ve died and gone to heaven! My wee girl here in love with a worthy man and a decent bottle of whiskey! All I need now is for my Alice to come in and I’m set.’ He smiled sadly at remembering Alice and I occupied myself by making tea.

Tommy saved the mood by laughing at Theodore and making Mr Avital smile through the pipe smoke.

He and Theodore whispered and I couldn’t hear them as I poured the water in the tea pot. When I moved near them their chatter stopped and they talked about Theodore’s plans to return to Junaath, in less than three weeks.

My stomach did flips inside me, I needed to make a decision, and what were they whispering about?