"What is the matter with you two?" Ada hissed, looking from Polly to Tommy. "You're supposed to make him feel welcome, not attack him."
"Attack him? Ada, don't be melodramatic," Polly retorted, sliding the dishes closer together and rising from the table. The two of them had barely touched any of the food, which was incredibly wasteful in Ada's opinion.
"I didn't know he was Jewish,' Ada cut her off defensively. "Honestly, I didn't think that would be an issue."
She came from family where her brothers were part of a criminal organization and now they were going to lament about a man's faith? They were all hypocrites anyway, why were they objecting now?"
"Ada, the name.." Polly went on.
"He's a hardworking good man who comes from that faith. Just like we're hardworking Catholics. It doesn't matter. You accepted Freddie and he was an atheist."
"I don't think Alfie's religious inclinations are the problem Ada," Tommy said dryly.
Ada turned to face him as he spoke up for the first time.
"And you…. ribbing him for being a baker and sitting there all smug. Since when are you so high and mighty? He's working his way up, just like you. He's even expanding his business."
"I'm sure he is."
Ada glared at him, hearing the dig in that.
"I don't have time for this. Karl's waiting and so if Alfie. I'm disappointed in both of you."
For the first time since Freddie died, she was happy and the two of them were acting peculiar. No, they were acting downright rude to a good man who had been through a terrible ordeal. She stormed out of the room, down the hall, grabbed her coat, and met Alfie on the doorstep.
"All set?" he asked, giving her a searching, worried look.
Poor thing.
He had done a good job not letting his insecurities get to him, but it must have been difficult being emasculated by her aunt and brother.
"I am so sorry," she said to him, linking her arm with his as they made their way to the car. "They can be so insufferable, but I expected them to behave better than that."
"No harm done I always say," he said, pulling her close. "How about we pick up the little lad and we all go to the park eh?"
"That sounds lovely," she said, resting her head on his shoulder and shrugging off her anger towards her family.
What do they know about anything? What do they know about happiness?
Aunt Polly was always going on about something and Tommy, who was supposed to be celebrating his honeymoon, looked miserable.
"I'm alright love," Alfie said, kissing her on the cheek. "We're alright."
She looked at him.
We're alright.
"Better than alright," she said. "We're splendid."
He laughed at the reference and rubbed a hand across his beard. As promised, she had given him a shave, just enough to look presentable.
"Are you feeling alright?" she asked, noticing that he was gripping his cane and he looked pale. "Are you sure a walk…"
"It'll do me good," he said, "fresh air, sunshine, flowers… we could have a picnic, let the little fellow fly a kite. He's got a kite doesn't he?"
"No… he's never flown a kite before," Ada said and she felt sad then as she thought of Karl not having a real childhood and never getting to know his own father.
"Well we have to change that. It's settled then. To the park we go! For the little lad's sake."
Ada smiled. Alfie was fond of Karl, she could tell and she felt relief run through her. She couldn't think of many men that she knew who would be so accepting of a child who wasn't their own.
"There's that pretty smile. Lights up your whole face."
"Stop it," she said, feeling her face flush.
"You're an angel from heaven."
"You're a tease," she shot back, linking his arm more tightly in her own.
"Right right. You're always right," he said, bobbing his head up and down in an exaggerated motion that made her laugh.
"Don't you forget it," Ada said, shrugging off her irritation and disappointment so that she could enjoy this beautiful day with her son and the man she was falling for.