Across the Mersey - Annie Groves [41]
The two women were sitting in Vi’s smart new front room, and so far Alan’s mother hadn’t spoken a single word.
Well, of course Vi could understand that. After all, she must be feeling that ashamed of herself after the way her son had behaved toward Bella, frightening her like that. But as she’d said to Bella on Sunday morning when she’d taken her up a cup of tea, young men could get carried away with their passionate feelings, especially when they were as in love as Alan obviously was with her.
Naturally too she had tried delicately to find out exactly how far things had gone but Bella had been so terribly upset that she hadn’t pursued the matter. Fortunately she had managed to ascertain that whatever had happened had only happened for the ‘first time’ so that even if the unthinkable were to result, no one could possibly raise their eyebrows at a honeymoon baby arriving a couple of weeks or so early.
‘Bella wants to have her cousin Grace as one of her bridesmaids, of course, and, bless her, she’s said that she’d like to ask Trixie to be the other, just to show there’s no hard feelings. She’s such a thoughtful girl like that. I know already that you’re going to love her as though she were your own daughter. It’s such a special bond, I always think, between a mother and a daughter. Such a shame you only have a son, but then, you’ll have my Bella now.
‘I’m afraid that Edwin is still a teeny bit cross with dear Alan for the way he upset Bella. He’s such a protective father, but like I’ve said to him, we knew what was in the wind and that it was only a matter of time before Alan called to ask formally for Bella’s hand.’
Vi saw the murderous look Alan’s mother was giving her but chose to ignore it. After all, if anyone should be giving murderous looks to anyone it should be her. It was their darling Bella whom they had found in hysterics at the Tennis Club after Charlie had telephoned them and insisted they needed to be there. As she’d told Alan’s mother when they had driven round to see his parents, the minute he had realised what that happened Edwin had been all for forbidding Alan to see Bella again but, like any mother, she had wanted to see common sense prevail.
Of course, as she had also told Alan’s parents, thanks to the quick thinking of the Tennis Club President no real harm had been done and everyone knew that Alan and Bella were now engaged, but in view of the circumstances they naturally felt that the sooner the wedding took place the better.
Vi’s mouth hardened as she remembered how Mrs Parker had tried to suggest they call out a doctor to examine Bella to confirm whether or not Alan had a duty to marry her. She had soon put a stop to that.
All in all she was very pleased with the way things had worked out, especially once she had realised just how close to the Parkers Trixie’s family were.
‘Of course, the young couple are going to need somewhere to live, and with your Alan working for his father I dare say you’ll want him close to you. There’s a detached house up for sale five down from you,’ Vi informed the other woman.
‘Mr Parker doesn’t like rushing into things,’ Alan’s mother told her coldly. ‘He says no good ever comes of it. There’s no reason why Alan shouldn’t stay where he is.’
‘Well, personally I think that a young couple should have their own roof over their heads.’
‘It wouldn’t be their own roof, though, would it, Mrs Firth, not with Alan’s father having to pay for it?’ Alan’s mother put down her tea cup and stood up. ‘I really must go. I’ve got a committee meeting this evening.’
‘Bella will be sorry that she missed you, but what with Alan coming round and insisting that he wanted to take her out to buy her her ring … Of course, it’s only natural that he wants to make it up to her for the way he behaved on Saturday. Bella was shocked at how much he’d had to drink.’
‘Drinks bought for him by your son, I believe,’ Alan’s mother told Vi in an arctic voice.
‘Charlie is just so very generous. Too generous really, sometimes.’
Mrs Parker looked pointedly at