Chapter 12: Summer of Love
Finding herself in a house of god the day after finding herself in a mansion of sinful pleasure, Erin could barely keep her eyes off of James throughout mass. He was much the same, glancing across to look at her every few seconds because he simply could not stop. It took them a long time to submit to the feelings of love that were held between them, but now they had, it completely overwhelmed them. Glances were all they could manage without attracting any further suspicion from either the family or the rest of Derry's nosy populace though. They'd done a surprisingly good job of it too… at least they thought they had.
David though… David could see between the lines.
He was James's friend, and it wasn't his place to say anything, but the little looks that his friend and his wife's cousin continued to exchange during the church service were far from innocent. He'd been there before, darting his eyes to his Orla and back again the summer before during one particular Sunday morning at the church. Likewise, she couldn't keep her eyes off of him. The significant difference was they weren't trying to hide what they had at time; the whole family already knew about it and warmly approved of it. There was nothing approved by Erin's parents when it came to her having a relationship with the Englishman, a clear fact to David, so to find them exchanging those looks brought a wave of amusement to him.
The Englishman was not the only thing on Erin's mind for once though, having another person to consider that morning.
Clare.
They'd hidden their tension well around Michelle once she'd returned from the bank, but no words of reconciliation passed either of their lips by the time Sunday morning came around. After the mass was over, they would often gather in the little hall for tea and biscuits, which was where Erin planned to quietly take her smaller blonde friend to one side to apologise. The Erin Quinn of old would never have backed down quite so willingly in front of such animosity, determined to come out on top no matter how much the fault was hers. But a new Erin emerged from the prior afternoon's coming of age, one more open to accept her own faults. Finding the young Devlin alone standing around for her parents to bring back a cup of tea, she took her chance.
"Clare…". She tapped her on the shoulder from behind.
"Jesus!" Clare replied, leaping out of her skin. "Ye scared me Erin".
"Sorry… can we talk?"
"That depends on if ye have anythin' nice to say or whether ye'll just insult our friend again".
The urge to scream that he was more than a friend to her bubbled for a brief second, but only just a brief one, as the need to put things right with Clare was more important than even James.
"Please Clare, can we talk in private?" Erin whispered.
"Fine".
The two sneaked off whilst everyone else's attention was on the small kitchen in the hall where the tea was being made. The rain's decision not to return was a blessing, enabling them to stand outside in the warm, fresh air of a July day. Most of the churchgoers were already off on their way home, leaving the two of them in perfect isolation to be able to smooth things over.
"What's up Erin?" Clare asked once they'd stopped.
"I wanted to apologise for what happened on Friday… I was wrong to say what I said about James and be so snappy with ye… can ye forgive me?"
"Of course I can forgive ye!"
The ice thawed immediately as the two came together in a cuddle, Erin squeezing Clare closely into her body, in thanks for not bearing a grudge towards her. It ended up rather sucking the air out of the diminutive blonde, who tapped Erin on the elbow to stop her holding on any tighter.
"Thank ye". Erin mumbled quietly as she released her hold.
"Ye… ye haven't been worried about that since Friday have ye?" A nervous Clare enquired.
"Yeah… sort of". The partial truth was told in return.
"There was no need Erin. I've not really thought about it that much to be honest…".
Slightly taken aback, she couldn't believe that the Clare who would always worry unnecessarily, hadn't even thought about it. The most minor problems would leave her on edge. To hold choice words with her and her forget it so easily was most unusual.
"Ach… right".
"I just don't get why ye had to be so horrible about James, that's all". Clare indicated with a softer tone that perhaps she'd thought about it a little. "He's such a nice fella".
He was more than a nice fella. He was her fella… but Clare, of course, couldn't know that.
"I know. He's cracker!"
"He is". Clare smiled in agreement.
The two stood and chatted for another couple of minutes until Clare's mother Geraldine found the two outside, beckoning her daughter in to drink the cup of tea. Clare obeyed her mother without question, leaving Erin standing alone outside to enjoy another couple of minutes in the fresh air before heading back in herself.
Except she wasn't alone.
They hadn't been the whole time that they were outside. Around the back corner of the church, a lone figure stood with their back to the wall listening in to the whole reconciliation between the two friends.
A lone figure who crept up on the unsuspecting young Quinn, their familiar hands coming to wrap themselves around her.
His hands
"So I am a cracker fella, am I?"
Leaping through the hold in his arms, Erin turned around and jumped back into them a second later, finding a warm pair of lips ready to meet hers. Not even bothering to check their surroundings, they were lucky no one else was passing as if they had been, there would have been no innocent explanation that could be given to reason what they were doing.
"So… so cracker…". She breathily spoke between kisses.
Time was not on their side though and they quickly pulled apart again, with his hands remaining on her waist even if their lips were now apart.
"What did you say about me then?"
Erin tensed up. He must have heard her whole conversation with Clare, and now knew that she'd said something about him that upset the other blonde. Unfiltered panic ran through her veins. Not even twenty four hours and you've lost him already…
"I…".
She was cut off by his lips finding hers again, smothering the half-baked explanation that was about to drop from them. Lost in the same world she'd vanished into in his bedroom the day before, bodily control ceased for Erin, only stopped from going any further by James retaining his.
"I love you". He whispered into her ear, having stopped kissing her.
"I love ye too". She replied with a whisper in reply.
Her head soon came to rest on his chest, right into his precious grasp where she wished she could stay for an eternity. Safely tucked up away from the fears of the world. A utopia that was sadly locked away in her dreams, reality dictating that they would need to part so she could return to the hall and not arouse any suspicions of her whereabouts.
"I… I have to go back inside". The dejected Erin mumbled.
"We'll have to get used to this…". He warned her in reply. "… taking advantage of the precious few moments we will have together".
"I know…".
If only things were different and she could parade him like a prize animal, in the same vein that Orla could have David around. He was a local boy, a local boy that was well thought of by the rest of the family and although James may have had the family's regards, he was not a local boy. He was an Englishman… her devilishly handsome lover that she would have to keep locked away as if he were the most grotesque of monsters.
"When can we see each other again?"
"I might need some help clearing the garden next Saturday afternoon…". His voice was husky and seductive. "… might I find myself an assistant?"
"Well…". She put on a voice to sound just as sexy in return whilst moving out of his grasp. "… you may, but she comes with a list of demands".
"Pray tell these… extensive demands".
"She requires feeding and a wee trip in the skies would be most welcome".
She tried to match his usual eloquent delivery, though it was such a poor attempt, he couldn't help but laugh. Soon enough, she was giggling too, though regained her composure a second or two later to finish detailing her requirements.
"And to finish the day, she wants ye to take her to that special place…". Her cheeks burned at the lustful thought. "… ye know the one".
James might have been a gentleman, but he was a damned savvy fella when he needed to be, his eyes betraying his own wishes for a repeat of the previous afternoon's activities.
"I think that could all be arranged".
He reached out for her hand, sending a wave of shivered passion up her arm when his lips rested upon her knuckles.
"But how about this… why don't I come to your house first and help your dad with the vegetable patch. Then we have an excuse for me to borrow you for the afternoon".
"Borrow?" She snorted. "That implies you'll be giving me back…".
"It will be most difficult…". He took a step closer to her, cupping her cheek with his right hand. "… but sadly necessary for us".
James pulled her in for a final kiss. It was a slow and passionate one, a farewell kiss until their next meet the following week, which was painfully far away. Still, they had their Friday lunchtime meeting to look forward to, one which she certainly wouldn't be feigning an ankle injury to miss for a second week in a row.
"I shall see you on Friday". He spoke first after letting her go.
"Aye. Love ye".
"Love you too".
Their bodies screamed at them to fulfil their urges, but they were ignored until a more convenient time. James watched her walk off back around to the front of the church, his heart dancing to a merry tune from the knowledge of a perfect summer to come.
One he would spend with her.
Weeks later, 25th August 1939…
It couldn't be stopped.
The truth was that they all knew that anyway, from the operatives to the handlers, to the commander… and to the Government.
War was inevitable.
Nazi Germany was never going to stop attempting to expand and a promise that had been covered so heavily to Poland, needed to be honoured on the world stage. It was just a question of when.
They weren't ready and neither were the French. The Great War was not so long ago, the fatigue still felt in some quarters, none more so than those men who'd came back from that war. No one wanted to see another conflict sparking off in Europe and spreading throughout the globe, death following as a permanent, ghostly shadow. No Dukes would need to be killed this time though, merely a border required violating to start off the viciously hostile actions that were long brewed between the nations. The Russians could not be counted on either, intelligence arriving via agents that they'd signed their own pact with the Nazi's. No doubt to have a slice of the Polish pie themselves, although the exact details of the arrangement were unknown.
The free city of Danzig and Poland would be where everything would kick off. Tensions had not gone away on either of the thorny issues over the summer, with the situation already hinting towards imminent war. Intelligence on matters pertaining to Danzig were provided by the consul within the free city, whose reports grew ever more worrying by the day. However, they were not as concerning as the ones that came from the British Government's most well-informed person in Berlin.
Emerald One.
Lyla Walsh.
A summer of subterfuge was hers, stringing the haplessly in love Doctor Van Der Heijden along whilst all the while reporting back on anything she found from him, to Captain Smithers. It was the report that she delivered on the twenty third of the month that became the most startling of them all. The invasion was to begin in the middle of the night of the twenty fifth to twenty sixth, an order she'd seen evidence of from Hitler. Kurt was made aware of it for his research, and though the project was not fully ready for use, some elements would be able to be used upon the Polish population. If a Doctor with no front-line requirements was aware of the invasion details, then it was well past the point of trying to stop it.
However, allied dillydallying and political posturing was preventing anything being done quickly to counter the threat. There was still hope for diplomacy in some eyes, eyes desperate for another war to be avoided, but from the backbenches of Westminster it was hard to grasp the atmosphere on the continent and especially in Berlin. Lyla was certain of war and her messages, whilst hidden within layers of complex code, were sure to inform Smithers of her opinion. War left her position exposed to the highest degree, counting on her relationship with the Doctor to at the very least ease suspicions that she may not be the anti-British Irishwoman that she was in Berlin. Irish neutrality was of some comfort in that regard too.
In a dire situation such as the one facing Europe and potentially the world that August, the last ally they'd expected was one of the nation's set to be pitted against them.
The Italians.
Mussolini's Italy was a key ally to Hitler's Germany, a fascist friend to throw against the allied nations and one that sat right next door to the French too. They were not ready for such a task though, which was what Il Duce decided to make very clear to his partner in crime. The Pact of Steel, the agreement between their two nations, would not be honoured should the German military begin hostilities with the Polish. Unwilling to take any violent action without the full support of such a vital friend, it left the Germans in a quandary. They needed an ally in the Mediterranean to counter allied influence in the region, even if only as a threat and not as an active participant.
That's was why Hitler postponed the plan that was due to commence in the early hours of the very next morning.
Hitler who was supposed to have been dead that evening.
Lyla and Kurt were to have dinner with him, an arrangement made a week or so in advance, the details being passed back to Smithers whilst he nodded off to sleep one night. That dinner was to be Hitler's last. But that plan was scuttled in Smithers' reply. It no longer mattered whether Hitler was in charge or not; British intelligence formed the conclusion that Germany were going to go to war regardless of who their leader was and killing him would do nothing to stop them. There were others who could take his place, others who were frighteningly more capable in the minds of the allies, so he would be allowed to continue as Führer into the conflict. Dinner would be a low-key affair too, with the gracious Führer passing to focus on the more pressing matters in hand.
Pressing matters that aimed to destroy the Polish people.
With the Nazi's on one side and the Soviet's on the other, there was little hope.
"Frau Walsh!"
("Miss Walsh!")
Lieutenant Hartmann's voice filled her ears and snapped her back to her attention. Another dinner to sit through ahead of offering her body in service to the British Crown awaited but she knew it would be one of the last to occur in peace.
Dark clouds gathered over Europe.
Whilst the cauldron of political and diplomatic tension was hitting boiling point throughout the continent, two young people in Derry were enjoying a bubbling romance. A summer of love descended upon the city for the two of them, and for many others too, who were quite unaware of just how close things were to breaking down all around them. James and Erin didn't care about that though, for in the moment, their love for each other brushed aside concerns of Nazi Germany's ambitions. An Anglo-Irish relationship that had formed out of friendship, blossomed into the two knowing that the other was the love of their life. Even if they refused to divulge that to anyone. And they'd done it well too; nobody had caught them or raised any suspicion about them being anything more than good friends.
Every Saturday for them was perfect. With her visit to the bank to pay in the Factory's money every week ongoing through July and August, the two would make their plans outside in the park for the next day. A couple of times, James had gone over to the Quinn house first to help with the various chores that needed doing on a Saturday morning. He often drew a crowd to, with Mary and Sarah never taking their eyes off the handsome young Englishman as he worked away in the garden. Gerry wasn't too fond of his wife's continual falling under James' spell, but the lad helped him immensely so he couldn't complain either. On the two occasions he'd done so, he was allowed to borrow Erin in return to help him with jobs at the cottage. Not that those jobs ever got done whilst she was there. It was the perfect cover…
The rest of the time, Erin would simply announce that she was going for a long walk that would last for hours out into the country. With Orla's pregnancy progressing, she didn't want to be out in the heat that long which ensured David and Sarah wouldn't offer to join her on the trek. Mary was never one for long walks either, and Anna would get too tired with the distance they would need to walk, Joe too. It only left her da to fend off from joining her, but Gerry never put himself forward to accompany his daughter. It left everything to fall into place for the young couple to spend many happy hours together.
There was one particular activity that marked every meet up between the two, but their time together extended far beyond the hours spent in his bedroom. Some Saturdays' the biplane would see service, the two of them soaring through the sky without a care in the world. One Saturday he got particularly daring and knowing Michelle and Clare would be outside at some point during the enforced punishment, conducted a very low fly-by of the school field. He timed it to perfection, scaring the living daylights out of the two on the ground, who leapt for cover, Erin shouting their names to give away her and James as the culprits. Michelle was raging the following morning at church although found herself quickly outgunned when everyone, including even Clare who'd been with her, found it hilarious. They would sometimes complete a crossword together in the newspaper as well or read her latest poetic writings that would make the journey with her. Friendship was still everything to them.
They lay together in bed on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, recovering their energy after a passionate session of love making. Erin's head lay on his chest, his arm around her to tuck her in closer to him. Wide smiles adorned both of their faces in the comfortable silence, only broken by the occasional call of the birds that perched in the trees of his back garden. It was not the first time they'd just lay there that summer, enjoying the feel of each other. Sometimes she'd go to sleep on his chest, James then being able to enjoy the adorable little snores that she vehemently denied making whenever he brought it up in conversation. On other occasions they would talk. That afternoon was going to be one of those such times.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" James asked her sweetly, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
"Frequently…". She replied lovingly, tracing her finger in a circle over his stomach. "… though I'm no match for the Charlene's of this world…".
"No… you are not".
She paused the circling at his answer, moving back so that she could look him in the eye to discover why he'd agreed with her. He wasn't supposed to agree with her… the sparks of fury already flickering in her chest as her irises locked onto his.
"You are levels above".
He was teasing her.
Not for the first time either. She fell for all of his teases, as he knew she would, each time resulting in them coming together to kiss again, with an accompanying bout of giggles most often welcomed too.
"This is perfect…". She hummed. "… the two of us out here, the sun shinin' down on us and the birds tweetin'. Aye it's dreamy, that's what it is".
"Except it's not a dream is it". He whispered into her ear, squeezing her a little tighter.
"No… it's our reality. Our life".
They kissed again after her words. Every kiss was perfect to them, even if an observer like Michelle could have told them they were rubbish at it, should she be there to judge them. At his cottage in the countryside there were no judges to rule over them. They were the champions of their own destiny, a destiny which they both wanted to lead to more afternoons of love making and snuggling up.
"It could be better though… couldn't it?"
Pausing again, this time Erin knew he was being serious. That was why she proceeded to sit up a second later, recognising the tone that his voice conveyed, fearing what he was going to say. The arrangement worked well over the summer, all the while not being discussed as to when it would move on from sneaking around behind their families backs. To when they could hold hands in front of their friends and family as more than just friends like they all thought they were. She could only sigh.
"I… no, we can't".
Erin remained resolute in her beliefs. They could not compromise what they had. It would be far better not having to keep it a closely guarded secret, but if it was not approved, they would be banned from seeing one and other. She could not be without him completely… it would break her.
"Erin…".
"No James". She cut him off more fiercely, getting out of bed. "We… no".
Walking over to the open window, she turned her back on him so that he would not have to see her tears. If only they lived somewhere where they wouldn't be judged, where scrutiny would not be applied so harshly as it was in Derry. Somewhere where Michelle wouldn't spend every minute around him wanting to beat him to death and where his accent, nor hers, would be seen as a problem. Lost in her own utopian fantasy, she hadn't heard him rise from the bed behind her, but soon felt his body wrapped around her. Unable to resist sinking back into it, his hands came to rest on her stomach, whilst he nipped away at her neck. He was, quite frankly, irresistible.
"One day we must be honest with our friends and family…". He mumbled whilst he pecked at her. "… would you not rather have them find out the way we want them too".
"B…". She stopped before she could utter a single word, distracted by the waves of arousal that constantly battered her thanks to his lips. "… but what happens if my parents say we can't be together… I can't lose ye".
"Why would they?"
"Because J-James…".
He was being most distracting with where he was placing his hands, forcing her to playfully slap them away in order to be able to continue on rationally.
"In case ye've forgotten, ye have that English accent".
"True. But that has not bothered you, why would it bother them?" He asked.
"It's not… we aren't supposed to see each other, ye know… society says we can't!" She rebuked him.
"I hate to disagree with you, but I think your parents will approve of us as a couple. I get on well with them and is your mum not always saying how lucky a girl would be to have me?"
That part Erin couldn't deny. It always brought a scowl to her face when Mary would say that to James, even more so now that she was the lucky girl but couldn't tell her Mammy.
Perhaps he was right.
James passed Granda Joe's handshake test the first time, the only time in family history that a fella joining the family sphere had accomplished the achievement and Aunt Sarah seemed quite taken with him too. He did the odd job for her sometimes, refusing any offer of payment from her, with James insisting she spent the money on either herself or Orla. Her Da also appeared to like James, despite harbouring feelings of anger whenever his wife would get all flushed around the Englishman, mostly due to the help he would receive from him. Having always considered his country of birth as being the impediment to a long-term relationship with him, she'd forgotten how his gentlemanly nature was appreciated by all. But the fear greater than them all came from his side and not hers.
Michelle.
Erin's friendship with her spanned years. Years of seeing each other at best and at worst, of tempering their wildness at the heights and picking the other up from the lowest of lows. She remained as against James' stay in the city as ever during the summer. Her reaction to the knowledge of their relationship being dropped on her, truly terrified Erin. Although she didn't know it, James was fearless in the face of his cousin's opinion. He wouldn't be ruled over by her and her vicious tongue. He was ready to take the next step in his life, whether she approved of it or not.
To meet his stride, Erin was once again going to have to be brave.
"Alright…". She finally conceded.
"Alright?" He enquired rather jokingly.
"We'll tell everyone tomorrow, after church".
Overjoyed at the answer he wanted, James suddenly picked her up and spun her round to face him, their chests pressing together whilst he held her firmly within his grasp. Their noses were together too, lips separated by the thinnest of pockets of air. The grins were as they always were… from ear to ear.
"Tomorrow". He whispered.
"Aye…". She confirmed softly to him.
"But that's tomorrow… and we still have some time today".
They both knew where it was going…
"What are ye planning to do with that time?" She bit down on her lip, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm not sure… I have my best friend and lover, naked in my arms and my bed behind me… why I thought I'd make us a cup of tea".
A most unladylike snort fell from her, quickly covered by their lips smashing together. He carried her back to bed, laying her down onto her back whilst they continued to be locked at the lips. His hands were invading areas that had previously distracted her, though they were only adding to her pleasure the second time around. Likewise, her hands were making journeys of their own which kept him more than happy.
"JAMES!"
He was almost thrown to the floor when she leapt up in fear.
The voice that the shout belonged to was unmistakable.
"David!?" She asked, her voice conveying how scared she was. "What's he doing here?!"
"I… he is not meant to be here". James nervously replied.
They stared at each other in silence for a couple of seconds, hoping that he might go away, believing James to be out. The Morgan on the driveway didn't help their cause, but he knew it wasn't unusual for James to go for a walk out in the country.
"James!" He called again.
Erin's eyes were frenzied as she looked around, desperate for an escape but wary of causing too much noise to attract David's suspicion.
"Maybe we should get dressed and come clean". James put his thoughts across to her.
"Absolutely not!" She hissed with feral rage. "We said tomorrow!"
"Alright… okay… under the bed then".
Grabbing her clothes, Erin got dressed quicker than she'd ever done before, James matching in total synchronisation with her as he got dressed himself. Expecting another shout or a knock from David, none came, and by the time both were fully clothed it appeared like he'd gone. Not wishing to take any chances though, she was under the bed following a final kiss with her fella.
James walked out from his bedroom trying to act as naturally as he could, a plan already in his head to explain the delay in answering the door. Pausing by the mirror, he quickly adjusted his hair back to looking somewhat closer to how it was usually presented, leaving no trace of where Erin had run her hands through it less than five minutes before.
"David". He greeted his friend once the front door was open.
"Alright James mate, I was beginnin' to think ye weren't in".
"No, sorry… I was rather preoccupied".
"Ach, workin' in the garden, yer really takin' good care of it aye".
The Englishman shifted so awkwardly that he nearly tripped and fell over the doorstep, a development which set about turning David's face into one beset with a frown. So much for the plan…
"Not… Not exactly".
"Right. What?"
Left mightily confused by James suddenly not being the unflappable man that he usually was, he could only ask further questions. Questions which his friend could have done without.
"I have… erm…". James stuttered, scratching the back of his neck. "… company".
The frown quickly lifted to be replaced by a smirk when David cottoned on. It didn't really surprise him that the smooth Englishman was inviting girls to his place on a Saturday afternoon. Very unsurprising in fact; three quarters of the women in Derry probably wanted to ride him.
"Oh shite! I should be off…".
David chuckled to himself as he turned on his heel. James breathed a slight sigh of relief, though raised a frown of his own when David stopped on the gravel and turned back to face him.
"James…".
He gestured with his finger for the Englishman to walk over to him, James complying without another thought, eager to find out what he had to say.
"Tell Erin I said hello".
Eyes wide open, James' face dropped.
"What?" David laughed. "I told ye she thought a lot of ye, don't act so surprised".
"We… we've been that… that obvious?" James could barely get the words out.
"Me and Orls aren't thick ye know. Erin disappearing off every Saturday afternoon for her… long walks in the country… hardly too much of a stretch is it ye dose".
Placing his head into his hands, he could only laugh too. It was a good job that they were a little way from the front door and speaking quietly, as he could be truthful in his emotions without upsetting Erin. David laughed along with him for a minute, admiring his mate's reaction to being utterly caught out when he thought he was acting so cleverly.
"Please do not say anything to anyone, for Erin's sake". James begged him.
"I'm sayin' nothin'". David agreed, holding his hands up in an act of surrender.
"We… we have this plan to tell everyone tomorrow… after church".
"After? Ye sure ye can hold it that long fella?"
"I will have to, won't I?"
James was scratching his neck, nerves gone to pot, but upon seeing his distress, David gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.
"I'm happy for you's, honestly, Orls too".
Dipping his head in thanks, James was relieved to at least have David and Orla onside in case of any ructions that were caused by them revealing their relationship.
"What's with the Orls?" The curious Englishman pressed him to explain.
"I called it her the other night and she enjoyed it". David explained as requested. "But ye know, I'd appreciate ye not sayin' anything either".
"Deal".
The two shook hands to confirm the agreement like the gentleman that they were.
"Do you fancy coming over for a beer later?" James enquired with him.
"I don't see why not. I think I'll be let out for the evening".
"Great. Shall we say eight?"
"Aye. And if I don't show, ye'll know I've been shackled aye!"
Having amused themselves with the free-flowing banter, David departed shortly after, leaving James grinning as he strolled back into the cottage.
"You can come out now Erin!" He called out once the front door shut behind him.
He arrived back in his bedroom to find her scrambling back onto the bed, eyes wide with fearful fright of whatever he might have to say. Telling her the truth would be a ridiculous idea, and that was underestimating it heavily. Erin almost certainly would flip were she to know. Although he didn't want to lie to her, he was left with little choice.
"All sorted". He smiled, perching on the bed himself.
"He's gone!?" She frantically questioned.
"Yes". He rolled his eyes, moving his hands onto her cheeks to cup them. "There is nothing for you to worry about".
Leaning forward with her arms out ready, she hugged him quite ferociously. The wind was taken out of him she did it that hard, leaving him briefly contemplating whether or not she was trying to kill him by squeezing the air out of him.
"Steady…". He winced out.
"Sorry!" She apologised immediately, releasing her hold so he could breathe. "I'm so lucky to have a fella like you".
"It is I who is the lucky one". He corrected her. "To be able to be the man who gets to spend his days with you, I could ask for no more".
A sweet, chaste kiss was applied to her lips after he finished speaking. They stayed held in each other's arms for another five minutes, wanting nothing more than to simply revel in the warmth of the other's touch. It was Erin who eventually broke the peace.
"That cup of tea ye know… it actually sounds grand now".
"So it does. Shall we?"
Getting up, he held his arm out for her, and they walked out towards his kitchen arm in arm, smiles on their faces.
It might not have been what they had planned originally, but it was a comfort all the same.
Despite their best efforts, fate appeared to dictate a different direction to Sunday after the mass had finished. Hoping to be able to catch everyone in the hall afterwards to be able to tell family and friends when they were all present, James and Erin's plans were scuppered when Mary announced that they were all going back to the Quinn house. It was another lovely day, and she wanted them all to be able to relax in the back garden with a cool, refreshing drink. The problem of not having everyone together would still be negated, but the difference to delivering the message there against delivering it at church was staggering. At church, nobody could react too verbally or physically violent to what they needed to say. They would have to mind themselves in a house of god… not so much in the house of Quinn.
Walking back to the Quinn's, James having left the Morgan at home that morning, the young couple avoided being anywhere near each other. Erin was up front with her Mammy and little sister, with James at the back walking alongside his Aunt and Uncle. She would turn around every so often to search for him, their eyes meeting through the crowd for stolen glances that were few and far between. When they reached the house, they found themselves next to each other, waiting for the right moment to spring their news. David and Orla were watching them intently too, with the former indicating to James that he could provide some form of help to create the moment, though the Englishman declined his offer.
"James…". Erin whispered to him, not looking towards him.
"I know. Just a couple more minutes".
Sarah walked over towards the two with a couple of glasses of lemonade in hand. Opening her mouth to thank her Aunt for the refreshment, Erin was blanked when Sarah placed herself in the gap between her and her fella.
"Thank you Sarah". He said, taking the glass into his right hand.
"That's alright love so it is. I owe ye anyway".
The two shared smiles, taking sips of their drinks. Looking over Sarah's shoulder, he didn't miss the rage in Erin's eyes, directed towards her Aunt for getting in their way. It was very cute.
"I've been meaning to ask ye love if ye'd help me with somethin'". Sarah started the conversation again.
"Of course. What do you need?" He replied courteously.
"The garden needs a bit of work and David… aye he tries but he's just not that good at it".
James chuckled to himself under his breath at her comment. He'd seen David's attempts at gardening before, and Sarah wasn't wrong in her analysis of his aptitude for it.
"I would be glad to help. When would you like me to come round?"
"Ach well, I was thinkin' this afternoon… if ye can?"
"That is fine by me".
"Cracker!" She replied like an excited child. "David's taking Orla out for a bit, so it'll just be the two of us…".
An alarm went off in his head at the way her voice trailed and how a finger circled the top of her glass of lemonade rather suggestively. Sarah was not an unattractive woman by any means, but he was taken for and she was Orla's mother. What she appeared to be suggesting would never happen between them.
"I'll help too Aunt Sarah".
Barely containing the seething rage and contentment she held her Aunt in, Erin came to her fella's aid having deduced her intentions as quickly as he'd done. Her Aunt needed to back off; that was her fella who she didn't appreciate being ogled by an older woman.
"Erin's as good as I am". James spoke up before Sarah could. "She's been helping me with the garden at the cottage and we make a good team when it comes to horticultural pursuits".
"Oh…". A now deflated Sarah responded. "… aye alright, the two of you's… fine".
Mingling with them for another minute, Sarah took her leave once she couldn't get her way. She walked over towards Mary and Anna, who were in the kitchen, little Anna helping her mother with pouring the lemonade into glasses.
"Thanks for that". He muttered quietly to Erin, the two still not making any eye contact.
"I… my Aunt… she was… she wants to ride ye!" She hissed.
"I am just as surprised".
Nothing more was said on the matter, Erin soon engaged in conversation with her Granda, leaving James to assess the scene in the house. Everyone was having a good time talking away and they would no doubt be heading outside once they all had a drink and were comfortable.
Michelle was notably absent though. Frowning, he looked around to try to find his foul-mouthed cousin, hoping that she hadn't gone and got herself into some form of trouble as usual. However, unbeknownst to the Englishman, Martin was on the same mission as he was. Spotting James' curious search from his place across the room, he tilted his head in the direction of the back door to indicate where he'd seen her disappear too.
She'd either gone for a smoke or gone to fuss Napoleon.
The former the more likely in his opinion.
Feeling a tug on his wrist, he looked round to find Erin alone again having finished up her conversation with Joe.
"I think it's time". She said to him, a voice mixed with trepidation and excitement.
"Yes. Me or you?"
"I'll do it. It… it is my house after all".
Flickering his eyes around the room to check no one was watching, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, mouthing a declaration of love to her which was reciprocated with the exact same action on her part. It was a squeeze that she needed…
Incredibly terrified, the words were caught at the back of Erin's throat. Silencing the room would be the first task, one that was overwhelmingly frightening alone before even considering the revelation that would come after it.
"MAMMY!" She shouted out to her mother.
The shout was so loud that the silencing became rather easy, with everyone looking at her with concerned eyes. It was the shout of a young woman in trouble, screaming for her mother's assistance. Not the young woman trying to silence the room to introduce her fella to them that was hoped for.
"Erin?" She enquired with a raised brow.
"I… I have something to tell ye all".
David and Orla had to hide their faces from everyone else, as the two were ready to burst out howling with laughter from Erin's awkwardness around the group. James noticed their fight to remain composed, shaking his head at his friend who could only grin wider when he realised that he and his wife were caught.
"If this is yer poetry Erin, can it not wait?" Mary almost sneered at her.
"No Mammy, this is not my poetry… which is brilliant might I add". She sassily replied.
"It's not…". Joe grumbled in the corner.
Taking some deep breaths, a surge of bravery came upon Erin and she grabbed James' hand. He was taken aback by her boldness, recovering quickly to hold her smaller hand firm in his, watching and waiting for the reactions of family and friends. She'd closed her eyes as to avoid the initial reactions following on from the news that she was about to impart on them.
"Me and James are together".
Paralysed by fear, she gradually opened her eyes to an expected tornado of abuse for ridin' an English fella. But to her shock, and his, they all just stared with emotionless expressions. All apart from David and Orla, who were creasing up in their corner. James didn't have to orate the question he wanted an answer for to his friend, his mate shaking his head to reply that he'd said nothing.
"Yes love. We know".
Gerry answered on behalf of the room, who all erupted into laughter at the faces that were pulled by James and Erin. She was about to burst out into tears whereas James saw the funny side of it and joined in with the general amusement. That earned him a slap on the arm from a fuming Erin, who did not enjoy the family keeping their knowledge of the relationship to themselves after all the effort she'd been through to conceal it.
"How did ye!?" She apoplectically requested to know the truth.
"If ye think we couldn't see through James borrowin' ye to help in the garden…". Mary snorted with merriment. "… then ye must think we all came up the Foyle in bubbles".
Shooting her mother an eye roll, Erin was ready to pitch in for an extended argument when she was suddenly lifted off her feet. Reading the situation perfectly, James knew it was time to distract his beloved with a daring kiss in front of all of their friends and family. Placing his lips over hers as he held her in his arms, cheers erupted through the house, the approval that Erin so desperately feared not receiving, confirmed so easily. None more so than by Anna, who was delighted.
"Why's everyone cheerin'?"
There was one who'd missed it all though. One member of their group that didn't suspect a thing when it came to a relationship between them.
Michelle.
Seconds later, when she found one of her best friends locking lips with her… arsehole, dickhead, prick! of an English cousin, unbridled fury took over. She did not like the idea of Erin ridin' an English fella… especially not James… even less so when the idea was now a reality.
"YOU ENGLISH BASTARD!"
Charging across the room at him, James looked up to find her flying through the air, having somehow equipped Mary's wooden spoon along the way.
It was going to be a battle to win her round to accepting that he was in love with Erin. Practice would make perfect though.
And when it came to battles, practice was going to be sorely needed for the months ahead…