CHAPTER 37
With the preparations for the fete virtually complete, Grace and Roland boost Mary's confidence, after nearly upsetting the metaphorical apple cart!
Roland sat, somewhat impatiently, on the edge of the bed waiting for Grace to emerge from the dressing room. He smiled as he thought about her face as the realisation had dawned that the beautiful garment, which she had just unwrapped, was indeed hers. It had been worth the subterfuge, albeit brought to a somewhat untimely end by her obvious distress at ostensibly having nothing suitable to wear for the fete; an unforeseen and most unwelcome circumstance. The door creaked behind him and he turned to see her emerge. She looked at him expectantly, seeking affirmation of that which she already knew; the dress was perfect and accentuated all her best features. He did not disappoint.
"My darling, you look so beautiful."
"Thank you; it's because of you," Grace answered, still unable to believe her good fortune.
"Well, I might have paid for it, but someone else made it possible." He returned her gaze with a knowing smile.
"Mary? Really? Oh, my goodness. How can I ever thank you both?"
"Oh, I have some ideas up my sleeve from my perspective, but you'll have to sort out something else for Mary." His eyes sparkled as he watched a delicate blush flood Grace's cheeks.
"Indeed, I shall. Mary…!" Grace called downstairs.
"Yes. Did you want me?" Mary replied.
"Please come up, Mary."
A few seconds later and Mary stood at the door seeking tacit permission to enter.
"Come in, please, Mary."
"You look as pretty as a picture, Grace," Mary said with more than a hint of satisfaction creeping into her voice.
"Oh, Mary, it's so lovely. However did you find the time? And it fits perfectly."
"I have my ways, don't I, Roland? And he's not above playing little games if he wants to surprise you either."
"You two are the most wonderful people I know. I felt so drab and now I feel like the luckiest woman in the world." Grace's face reflected her gratitude.
"No one could call you drab, my love; could they, Mary?"
Mary smiled with pride and genuine affection at Grace. "Not a chance. You're too happy inside to ever be called drab. He makes that part happen, so I can take no credit for that. Those appliqued pansies, though, are another matter. Those I do take credit for and the embroidery in-between."
"Mary, it's so beautiful. I love everything about it."
"Good, I hoped you would. I'll help you with your hair as well. Your cream shoes will do nicely but we'll need to pin up your hair, and dress it, in the absence of a suitable hat."
Roland shot Mary a quick look. There would still be a surprise for Grace as he had planned; the hat and shoes.
"Oh, that's most kind, Mary. I'm so much better off than I expected to be and you can work on my hair; goodness knows, there's enough of it," Grace replied.
"Well, give us a twirl, my dear. I've been waiting to see how that chiffon moves."
Grace duly obliged and felt the delicate fabric swirl about her legs as she extended her arms and turned full circle.
"Lovely, even though I say so myself and ought not to praise my own handiwork, but it is lovely and so are you, my dear girl."
Grace felt so overwhelmed by the love shown her and threw her arms around her friend. Then, turning to Roland, who had been watching quietly, she placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him chastely, but with a hint of more to come. She felt his mouth curve against hers and drawing back, she looked at him with such love that he cared not a jot that he had an audience, but pulled her back into his arms and kissed her with barely disguised passion. Mary looked the other way, smiling, and after a few seconds coughed lightly to regain their attention.
"Loathe as I am to interrupt, there is lunch downstairs and you two need to be getting back to work."
"Forgive me, Mary. I don't know what came over me."
"I do, now please put her down and follow me for lunch."
Grace laughed and returned to the dressing room.
Once downstairs, Roland said,
"I can never thank you enough, Mary. You have made her so happy."
"Not I, Roland; it's you who does that. She's just got what she deserves, a time to shine, and I'm glad I could make it happen. Be proud of her….always. There's many would not have done what she has for you. That's love for you, though, and I should know."
"I am proud of Grace, every single moment of our days together, and I have been for a long time prior to this, only I could never tell her. I tried to show her, promotions and the like, but it wasn't what she really wanted, was it?"
"No, she wanted to be with you because she truly loves you and I can see that you do her in return. Now don't dilly dally anymore. Seize the chance you've been given. You did the hard part in getting her here in the first place and telling her what she needed to know. I've every confidence that you two will make it work, but you need to sort out your situation, don't you? I've already told you not to drag your heels; that girl upstairs needs a ring on her finger and possibly a little something else, in due course, but you've got to sort yourself out first. I'm here whenever you need me. I know it'll be hard, but you've done nothing wrong. The wrong was done to you long before you met Grace. Am I right?"
Mary had spoken with total conviction and her words hit home. Roland was amazed. No one had ever spoken to him like that before and made him feel that everything was possible, but he saw that it was. Mary was right; time was ticking away and he did not want to waste more of it.
"You're right, Mary….as usual! You will bring the hat and shoes across, won't you?"
"Of course, and I've taken the liberty of running up a light shawl to go with the dress but it needs to be seen with the other accessories because it'll match that silvery green. She'll look a picture. Quick, here she comes."
Grace was blissfully unaware of the plotting occurring behind her back and reached for Roland's hand as she entered the kitchen, attired once more in her uniform. He took it with a gentle squeeze, drawing her into his side. Her eyes captured his and he felt he could have drowned in the depth of emotion he saw reflected there. As Mary turned to the range, he bent his head and whispered,
"I'd buy you a million dresses if you'd promise to look at me like that every time."
"I don't need the dresses; I love you."
His voice caught in his throat as he held her tight and said, "Lunch, Mary?"
They sat down together to eat but soon found themselves revisiting the arrangements, once more, as Roland and Grace discovered that Mary was a stickler for detail. If this fete was not a success, it would certainly not be for a failure to plan for every eventuality. Roland surreptitiously nudged Grace's thigh beneath the cover of the table as Mary launched into another minute by minute recount of who would do what, where, at what time, and with whom. Grace nudged him back and soon they were trying hard to stifle laughter, which threatened to overspill. Roland looked down at his sandwich, as if studying it very hard, and Grace fixed her gaze on the rim of her plate. As Mary came up for breath, she realised she was addressing her comments to the twin crowns of a pair of heads; one, balding, and the other, golden. What was more, the shoulders beneath the balding one were heaving with barely suppressed amusement.
"Are you two listening to me? You're worse than a pair of kids. And as for you, Roland, just what is so funny? This is a serious business, you know."
Roland guffawed with laughter and almost choked on his sandwich.
"Well, I'm waiting for an explanation." Mary's tone was exasperated.
Grace spoke to diffuse the situation, realising that Mary's feelings might have been hurt.
"Mary, forgive us. We meant no disrespect, far from it, but over the years we have become accustomed to taking instruction without the luxury of having it repeated for our benefit. You simply reminded us of our former commander at the Front. He had a tendency to think we couldn't be trusted to get things right. We would never let you down so what you've told us has gone straight in, we promise, don't we Roland."
Roland was still laughing and trying to clear his throat but, one look from Grace was enough to bring him to his senses.
"I apologise, Mary, and absolutely will not let you down. You are our dearest friend and we want to show you how much that friendship means. Forgive any insensitivity; we would never willingly upset you," he said, suddenly serious.
Realising that she had been a tad brusque, Mary replied, "Oh, I know you wouldn't but, truth to tell, I'm starting to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew."
"You haven't, Mary, not at all. Roland will tell you that I am somewhat obsessed with administrative detail on occasions, so I am the last person to sit back when a big venture is underway, and yet that is exactly what I have been able to do because I trust your dedication to duty completely. Forgive us, please. You have done so much for us and, especially me with your wonderful gift of friendship, and we should hate you to feel that we do not appreciate your kindness," said Grace.
"Grace is right, as always, Mary."
Looking somewhat taken aback at the force of their sentiments, Mary smiled at them both and answered,
"If I have helped you, it's only a reflection of what I find in you both. You, too, must forgive my tendency to take over. I forget that you've fought a war together whilst I was just at home."
Grace was up from her seat in a trice and knelt beside her friend, taking her hands and saying,
"There was no 'just' about it, Mary. You kept your family going and you faced far greater uncertainty and sense of dislocation. What we are doing tomorrow honours those we lost, those who came home and those who kept homes functioning. You will always have Roland's, and my, respect and love for all that you gave up so that our way of life might be preserved and protected. We shall prove that to you by doing everything you've asked of us without stinting on the detail."
Mary looked up at Grace and her eyes were filled with tears.
"You read people well, my dear. I have felt my loss keenly and this fete has brought it home once more, but I wanted to do this for so many reasons and this will be a fitting memorial to my husband. Now you'd better eat up and be getting back. No slacking!"
When their meal was finished, Roland got up from his place and went to Mary. Reaching down he took her hand and raised it to his lips. No words were necessary; his gesture said everything he needed it to. Grace waited for him, smiling approvingly, before they took their leave. Suddenly, Mary called out,
"I am proud of you both, you know."
Grace looked back over her shoulder,
"We do and we reciprocate."
I do hope that you have enjoyed this chapter. Now for the final run up to the fete! Your thoughts are, as always, gratefully received. XX