Darkest Before Dawn Episode 06
Doctor Kirby was a tall, handsome chap in a slightly crumpled suit.
He smiled at her.
“Would you like a cup of tea, Doctor Kirby?”
“You must be Maud,” James Kirby said. “I’ve heard so much about you.
“All of you. Rose’s family mean the world to her, and I see why. I’m James.”
He followed her through to the kitchen.
“Sit yourself down, Doctor Kirby,” Maud told him.
“I’ve been sitting all the way from London.” He filled the kettle and put it on to boil while Maud got out clean cups. “How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know,” Maud said, rolling her eyes. “A bit of pre-wedding nerves.”
“The bride?”
“Me,” she said, then laughed.
“We’ll just have time to drink our tea, then Rose and I will set off.
“Give us a head start if you’re bringing Tilly.”
“We’ll all fit in the car,” he said, and Maud knew she was twinkling as she took two cups upstairs.
The doctor really was quite charming.
The next few hours passed in a blur.
The church was nearly full for the service, and Maud struggled throughout not to give way to tears, failing miserably when Edward said the words, “Till death us do part.”
She felt Alf’s arm around her and knew without doubt that he was fighting a battle of his own. This wasn’t going to be easy for any of them.
She glanced at Isobel, her face so bright and full of the hope and expectation of youth, and almost started to cry again.
After the ceremony, they gathered with friends and family in the Fisherman’s Inn, where the landlord had given Edward and Tilly a room for the night.
It was the nearest thing to a honeymoon they’d have.
“Chin up, Maud,” Rose said as she pushed a drink into Maud’s hand.
“Is it that obvious?” Maud asked.
“Only to me,” Rose said.
Maud caught sight of Isobel leaving the pub holding John’s hand and shivered. They were just kids.
Things had been different when Maud had married Alf.
They’d lived through that awful war and she’d been absolutely besotted with him, just as Tilly and Edward were besotted with each other.
She’d never picked up on that with Isobel and John.
They’d been more like good friends and had been since school.
“Alf told me about that,” Rose said with a nod towards the door. “I think he was right to refuse.
“Isobel’s not ready for marriage and she shouldn’t feel pressured into it.”
Maud nodded, then handed her glass back to Rose.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said, and followed Isobel and John outside.
Isobel was standing alone and John was hurrying down the road with his hands in his pockets.
Maud slipped her arm around her daughter’s waist.
“All right, love?” She could see Isobel had been crying.
“I promised to wait for him, Mum,” Isobel said, her voice cracking. “What else could I do?
“I couldn’t let him go off to war thinking I didn’t love him.”
“Oh, love.” Maud rubbed her back like she used to when she was a baby.
It was her fault Isobel was so unworldly.
She’d been too strict with her in her efforts to protect her, and now look what had happened.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she went on. “I understand why you did, but you’re so young.”
“I know,” Isobel said softly.
“Are you coming back in? I think Aunt Rose is going to play the piano and your dad is planning on singing.”
She laughed ruefully when she saw Isobel’s smile.
Alf had a fine voice, but you only ever heard it when he’d had a few too many.
“I’ll be in soon, Mum,” Isobel promised. “I want to be on my own for a while.”
Maud nodded.
“Don’t be too long, love,” she said. “I think the rain is setting in.”
She opened the door and the smell of smoke and beer wafted out along with the babble of voices and the occasional burst of laughter.
Then silence fell as Rose began to play the piano.
Maud looked back at Isobel and sighed.
Today was for celebrating, and who knew what tomorrow might bring?
She looked up at the darkening sky. All she knew was that it wasn’t going to be good.