My Darling Love
Chapter 76 – Grandpa Harry's Happily Ever After
"Come live with me, and be my love, and we will all the pleasures prove."
-Christopher Marlowe
So it was that Harold and Mary were married in the spring. It was supposed to be a small ceremony in the church, with only family and a few close friends. Harry preferred it that way. "Nonsense to have everyone gather in the church if the party doesn't start until later in the evening."
Mary and Wendy knew he was fearful to be under the ever-watchful eye of God, especially in His own house, thus they complied with his request. Mary handwrote the announcements of the marriage and extended the invitation to the reception that was to be held later on in the day to everyone else on the guest list.
But, soon enough calls began, asking for details such as the time of the ceremony and location of the church. No one in the house told the other of the calls, and no one outside of the house told the others inside as well, only giving the information in a soft tone ending with, "It was just supposed to be family, but I'm sure if you crept in, no one will notice." The simple arithmetic of the situation was just that, simple. Not only were their calls to the Dunange home, there were calls to Harry's tavern and James' carpenter shop. The grocer heard from the florist, who asked the neighbor living down the street. The butcher told the baker who told the candlestick maker who told his mother, a very old friend of Aunt Millicent's who told everyone else, of course.
A small ceremony indeed, the church was packed to the rafters when John led Mary down the aisle to the front where Harold Darling waited. She wore a simple dress of antique white, proper and pretty for a woman of her age and station in life. She carried with her red roses in full bloom, Harry's favorite. And the kiss that came at the end, began at the beginning, as John gave Mary's hand to her fiancée. "I've never seen you more beautiful than today, Mary."
The party for the new couple that was to commence in the evening now followed immediately after at H.J.B. Tavern celebrating the marriage of the new Mr. and Mrs. Harold Darling. Masses of family and friends piled in and danced the day and night away. They ate, drank and made merry while family and friends also present in heaven watched down on all the fun and amusement, with smiles at first, George included. But as the hours dragged on and it grew closer to the time when Mary and Harry were to depart for their own adventure, a grand honeymoon across the sea in Ireland, the sadder faces bowed out, leaving only George and Grandpa Joe still on their clouds above. Wendy was suddenly dismayed as well when Mary and Harry waved good-bye and took off in their car.
"No more will my father be my mother's only lover," Wendy said to James as they retired to bed, hoping Captain Hook would correct her mistake. He said nothing except, "I don't think people that age still make love, Wendy, I wouldn't be too concerned."
But people that age did still make love. Although Uncle Harry was not expecting it when he and Mary retired to their private cabin on the ship giving them passage. He dressed in his pajamas and climbed into bed under the blankets and waited as she readied herself behind the curtain in their room giving her privacy. She slipped out from behind it in a lovely white silk gown and robe decorated with layers of ruffles and lace down the front she had purchased herself for this special night. She gingerly slipped the robe from her shoulders and climbed into bed under the covers as well. "I've never slept in the same bed with a woman before," Harry offered as their eyes met.
"It will be lovely, I promise. The warmth next to you in bed will give you the sweetest dreams…" she whispered, leaning into him for a kiss that never came. "I don't think we should … make love Mary … it just doesn't seem right," Harry stuttered, pulling his lips far away from hers.
"You don't want to have me in your bed?" Mary replied with a mildly surprised expression. "You don't want to make love to me? I don't understand."
"No, I do, but I will not force you to. I know you are a good woman, and will be a fine wife, but … if you prefer I can just take a girl on the side or something…so as not to bother you with a man's needs in that way..." Harry lowered his head shamefully and at the same time quite disheartened at his own words as he spoke and anxiously moved to turn off the light.
The moon shone through the window as Mary nestled up against him as his body was turned away from her. "Harry, you would never have to force me, and it would be far from a bother. After all, I have needs as well. If you are to be my husband and I am to be your wife until death parts us, then I should be your only lover. If you are asking my permission to commit adultery, then I must tell you this very night, my answer is no. If you are telling me your intention is to commit adultery, then I must ask, why did you ask to marry me in the first place? It's my scar isn't it? I know I am not as beautiful as other women less my age …"
Harry turned to face Mary, as she insulted not only herself, but him also, lessening the idea of her own beauty. "Oh no, you are the most beautiful creature, Mary and there is no one else that I would rather spend the rest of my years with. And your scar, Mary, that never bothered me, not in the least." He took both her hands in his and kissed them. "I want to make love to you very much, but I feel as though I am taking something from you that is not mine to have. That I am unworthy of you … I have been with a lot of women … so many, Mary, I can't even begin to count let alone name… I'm still surprised in all my years and worldly experiences I never caught anything from the type of ladies I spent my time with… Anyway, it would be horrible to make you one of them again … What people will say about you, taking to bed with a man like me."
Mary leaned toward Harry, smiling with her mocking mouth. His last sentiment was so ridiculous she actually had to laugh. "Harry we are married now, and married people make love. And NO ONE will think less of me, being your wife. If others didn't approve of our union -- and it's not like I really care about what others think -- but still, if they didn't, I doubt the church would have been overflowing with family and friends! Really, Harry! There must have been at least a thousand people making merry! They were there for us!" Mary ran her hand down his face, changing her voice to a more sincere and loving tone.
"What I have is mine to give Harold Darling, and I want to give it to you. I don't care that you've been with other women, as long as I am the only woman you are to be with now. I love you. Please do not share yourself with another. I don't only want us to be man and wife. I want us to be lovers as well. Please, Harold, do not take another."
Harry nodded his head very sternly, "After you, Mary, there could never be another."
Mary moved in to steal a kiss, but Harry rolled in his lips, "What of George, Mary?" Harry asked.
Mary pulled back and her and folded her arms in front of her. "Harry, you must allow George to rest in peace. Neither one of us deserves to live in constant comparison with him. I will never tell you how George would act in a certain situation, and I expect you to never tell me how I would act if I were with him. We are husband and wife now, you and I. In order to have a life as one, we must still keep him in our hearts but out of the daily lives we share. And Harry, George must certainly be kept out of our bed. Do you not agree?"
He did agree, therefore, he added just for good measure, "I love you, Mary," before thieving a kiss from her lips before she thought it possible, making her giggle. "I have always loved you, Mary. I am going to make you very happy and treat you like a queen, I promise." He kissed her once more, more passionately than before, and Mary pulled him into her embrace. "I love you too, Harry, and I also promise to make you happy and treat you like a king."
"Do you remember the last time we wanted to make love, Mary?" Harry asked, touching his fingertips to her lips. "Do you remember what I told you before it happened?"
Mary rested down and leaned her head on his arm. "Hmm …" she thought about it and smiled. "The day you took me Christmas shopping that very fateful year long ago. It was that night, after dinner, on the drive home. You kissed me to stop me from crying. You told me you were thankful I met George, and married him, and had his children. You told me you would always be there for me, even if that meant only being my friend. In you, I would always be able to find my strength to go on. And if I remember correctly, we didn't make love that night, for we both agreed we could not betray George in that way. The devil we could betray, but not my darling love. But you did admit that one day, at least once more, you were sure we would make love again. Even if you had to wait forever." Mary sat up and slid off her nightgown leaving herself revealed before him. "Make love to me, Harry. This is the night we've waited for."
He shifted over to her, also removing his pajamas, kissing her neck and shoulders as he did. "You are the only woman I have ever loved and made love to in my life, Mary," he whispered as they embraced and began.
Together in their bed, they consummated their marriage. And as Harry unlocked Mary, his key a perfect fit in her lock, Mary did think of George, but only at two stolen moments. The first came as Harry confessed Mary always had his heart. She thought of George's affair and his reasoning "It is not possible to make love to someone you do not love." All the others Harry had did not matter, for he only loved Mary. The second came at the moment Harry reached his end, and emptied his seed inside of her for the first time in all their encounters. Before, at the time their affair, he removed himself and completed on her belly, habit for him really, but more out of respect to his brother, even if at the time, it was not truly George, but the devil acting in his place. Now, he lingered within her, whispering, "I know you think me silly for saying this, but I wish I could stay inside of you like this forever. I hope you don't mind."
Mary didn't think Harry silly, nor did she mind. That is what again made her think of George. For George had left himself inside of her and made three babies, the real roses of her life in full bloom that were seeded long ago in the garden of her womanhood. As they later rested, cuddled together, drifting off into their slumber, Mary shed one tear for her George. In her mind she saw him leave the shadows and walk into the moonlight away from her bed and her life, taking with him a piece of her heart.
Only once since Mary made her promise to be with him in heaven and confess her sins did George cry, and that was the day Mary married another, and took his brother in his place. The night of her wedding, as Harry and Mary went to bed to make love, Wendy cried as well, knowing just like Queen Mary and the Peasant George in reverse, although her mother was her father's first, last and only love, he would never receive the same honor. And that in the eyes of God was fair play. George felt the same but got an unexpected relief of his tears when Mary dreamt.
George's heart that still beat within his soul out of the blue became much lighter, yet filled with more emotion than he ever had experienced in his life. "That's the piece of Mary's heart, the piece that holds some of your love for her. She gave it back to you, to make room for Harry's love. You will have to give it back to her, though, it's just to tide you over until her time comes," Grandpa Joe informed George as he began to unknowingly drift off his cloud in heaven.
"Can I go get her now?" George shouted, as he was air born floating away.
"Not yet, George, but soon."
Mary and Harry spent a month in Ireland, and returned to begin their life together anew. And as a belated wedding present to the newlywed couple, later that same year, on Christmas morning, there came a baby girl her parents named Georgeanne. Different from Wendy's other three precious babies, who had dark cascades of curls and eyes as blue as forget-me-nots, her newborn, fathered by James Dunange, would be the only one of her children with glorious strawberry golden locks, straight as an arrow, and hazel eyes.
"Georgeanne is my mother's -- I mean, your wife's favorite name," Wendy informed her Uncle Harry, as he held his newest granddaughter in his arms, closest to his heart. "I know, Wendy, it is mine as well."
George Frederick Darling
Beloved Father & Loving Husband
If ever two were one, then surely we
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
Mary knelt down at George's grave with Jane, now a girl of twelve, and her twin brothers a year younger than she. "This is Grandpa George's favorite flower," Mary said, placing pink roses in full bloom on the earth above where his body rested in peace below. All three children knelt before his headstone and said a little prayer, then took to their feet, starting for home with their grandmother in tow.
They raced up the stairs and into the house knocking "Grandpa Harry," as he was called, off his feet and onto the sofa. "Tell us a story, Grandpa," they gleefully exclaimed, and he pulled them close into his chest, and began, "There was once a pretty princess named Jane who had twin brothers, both princes named Oscar and Larry…"
James and Wendy's two sons jerked their heads up and shouted the clarification of, "Our names are William and Christopher!" Grandpa Harry nodded his mistake, "Oh I'm sorry boys. I thought this was my story."
"Me too, me too!!!!" Georgeanne shouted running from the kitchen where Wendy was baking cookies, brushing past Mary, who was heading up the stairs to be alone in her room. Even now married to another, she still set aside an hour a day just for George. She made her way to her bedroom, the nursery as it once had been; now her and Harry's bedchamber, and took a seat on her very own favorite rocking chair which James, her son-in-law had crafted for her. There she sat and talked to George's painting in privacy. Footsteps above her head let her know Wendy and James' children were up in the attic, the new nursery, a room transformed just for them by their father.
A knock on the door told her of the time, and four heads peeking in meant George's hour of company with his wife were up. George smiled down to her in her aged splendor, and took his leave as Mary allowed them in to join her. "Tell us a story, Grandma." Mary smiled, and rested her head back. "Did not your grandfather just tell you one?"
"Yes, but he told us to ask you for the happy ending …"
Mary did as George asked, she loved, and she was happy in her life and lived long enough to see their children's children's children, almost all of them, in fact. John and his wife had six boys total, two of Caroline's from her deceased husband, whose names had been changed to Darling when they were adopted. Two sons John had fathered with Margaret, and two more sons they shared together. Each son grew up, got married and had sons of the their own, three in fact, each. George's father never need worry that the fine name of Darling would die away, for it would live on in eighteen youngsters running about, creating their own havoc.
Wendy and James had two girls: Jane the eldest and Georgeanne the youngest. Let's not forget their identical twin boys they named William and Christopher, bound by the vocation of priest since birth. Jane and Georgeanne grew up, living in George's house with their brothers, experiencing all the magic and love found within. They too, Jane and Georgeanne, married, and Mary sat alongside both the man who replaced Captain Hook on earth for Wendy, and her own husband Harold. James walked his daughters down the aisle and gave them away to men who were employed, oddly enough, as a bank clerks. Jane and Georgeanne both chose a different path than their mother and grandmother before them, they both wore white on their wedding days and deservedly so.
Mary and Harry shared many years as husband and wife, and they had days that were filled with contentment and love. A perfect replacement and fair trade for George, Harry took his place beside Mary and made God proud each and every day. Mary had a true companion and lover that loved her with all his heart, and dedicated the rest of his life to her. He never strayed to another, and stayed with her through good times and bad, sickness and health, richer and poorer, intending to keep on that way until death parted them. Mary felt the same, and was thankful that God always kept her in the corner of His eye, so she did her best to make enough room in her heart for its new resident. There was plenty of room and then some, and all involved were sure neither Harry nor Mary would ever die alone and unloved.
Georgeanne's first wedding anniversary was a day of celebration, her family not only toasting their first year of wedded bliss, but also the birth of her first and only child she named Susan. It was an arduous delivery, and her husband decided one child would be plenty for them to handle on his meager salary, not to mention the difficulty she had giving the baby life. He said it and meant and there were to be no more. Mary Elizabeth Baker Darling-Darling sat with her family in their formal parlor, Georgeanne and husband living in George's house, saving for their own, and raised their glasses to thank God for all his love and guidance throughout the years. If George were still alive, he and Mary would have celebrated their anniversary that same day, but alas, he wasn't, he was waiting in heaven for his beloved.
Mary was never at a loss for admirers while on earth, and it seems it was to be no different in heaven. Harry Darling died after battling a horrible cold that left him sick in bed for weeks. Quite peculiar indeed, it was the only time in his life he was ever sick. And through it all, Mary never left his side, reciting to him at least one thousand times on his final day, "I love you."
It was difficult to bury George, and remembering what it is was like for their mother, her children feared her mourning for Grandpa Harry, especially after helplessly watching him suffer his illness. Mary dressed in black and buried her husband as he asked, right beside her father, Joseph Baker.
Although she did cry many tears before his funeral mass, she stood tall and full of pride just for him, and held up others who faltered as his coffin was lowered, just like he asked her to. She graciously declined an invitation from Biggins Fisher, now too a recent widower, who asked her out to dinner after Harry rested peacefully beneath the ground. She returned to her home where she had spent her entire life, retiring to her room alone.
The promises she made to George, she kept and would continue to keep. She wept for her Harry, but it was not the same loss she felt for her George. She knelt down as best she could, now being well over eighty, and prayed, "Dearest Lord, please have mercy on Harry, he was a good husband to me and a good father and grandfather and great-grandfather to my children. I love him so much, and I am thankful for our time together. Forgive me for saying this, but I do mean it, I do hope to see him in heaven, but my George, and my George alone, is whom I want to spend my eternity with."
Mary felt guilty and selfish, she worried that Harry deserved better than the best that she had given him, and so she stayed in her room and cried. For what, even God did not know, he thought she did a fine job as Harry's wife. Thus, He sent her a message from a messenger He knew to be her favorite, reminding her of all the unknowns in life and in death, and that they were to remain unknown, at least for now.
"You know, Madam, a wise man once said, heaven will be no heaven if I do not meet my wife there." Captain James Hook, as much of a dread pirate as he had always been offered to Mary as she knelt nearest her bedside, he in her rocking chair. "What would it have been, Madam, almost seventy years with George?"
Mary nodded her head, but would not turn to see him only joking, "You know how old that makes me?"
Captain Hook extended his lower lip and raised his brow, moving from his relaxed position forward onto the chair, "Not as old as I," he retorted causing her to giggle.
She finally rose to greet him and brushed her lips to his cheek with tears in her eyes, "George will not recognize me when he sees me in heaven, probably flirting with all the young ladies up there lying around of puffy clouds in their pretty dresses. He's probably angry I was so happy with Harry. I hope they shook hands like gentlemen when they met and did not raise fists."
"Why would he by angry, Madam? You did all that he asked of you," Captain Hook replied gazing adoringly at her aged yet youthful appearance.
"Until death parts us, that is what the vows said, and now there are two that have been parted from me. But it was the first that has always been the hardest to bear."
Captain Hook wiped the tear that ran down her cheek, and smiled tenderly to her, like he once had when sent to protect her, "There are vows made, Madam, that not even death, devil or God himself can break. And if I am correct, the last time I saw George earlier in the day, he was waiting with his face pressed to the pearly gates for the time when St. Peter calls for him to retrieve you."
"And what of Harry?"
"Madam," James spoke softly leaning into her, "God sends those who have completed all that is asked of them fairly and with honor, onward to another place not even I am aware of. Do not worry after him; it was you that aided him in accomplishing all his tasks and lessons on earth, and now God is surely granting him his greatest reward. And I have it from the highest authority, he will not be lonely in heaven, apparently there was a young maiden named Lorraine awaiting him there. And don't be jealous, Madam, the poor girl has been waiting forever."
"And Gwendolyn …" as Mary spoke her name Captain Hook lowered his head, he too not without his tears. "She never forgave herself for the loss of you on this earth."
Captain Hook took Mary's hand in his own and kissed it. In a kind and loving voice he offered, "I am here with her always, Madam. She has here, on this earth, my spirit living on in my children who are real. I'm not sure you've noticed, Madam, in your old age, but only three of her four children, Jane, Christopher and William, are mine. Georgeanne belongs to her husband and still, she loves all four of them the same. That proves she has forgiven herself, she has just yet to forget. Soon we will be together again, but not too soon."
He stepped away from her and bowed. "You have more tasks to complete before you are released of this burden called life on earth. You must help my Gwendolyn live her life here on earth … so she may live on in the afterlife."
Mary suddenly stood alone in her bedroom. Captain Hook had gone as if he had never been there in the first place. Mary wanted to see George at that very moment, and so she turned on her heel and ran to her bedroom door, throwing it open. "Wendy!" Mary called out, and fearing her mother's sorrow had made her suicidal, Wendy came running.
"Yes, Mother!" she shouted as she dashed into the room, knocking Mary off her feet. Wendy pulled her mother up and fell into Mary's embrace. Now that she had her daughter's undivided attention and not wanting to waste another second away from George, she simple asked, "Wendy, do you love your husband James?"
Wendy pulled back with a curious expression, "Of course I do, why do you ask?"
"I just think sometimes you don't," Mary replied, giving her famous mocking mouth an upturned grin.
Wendy began shaking her head quickly, "No, Mother, I love him so much. I am thankful that we are together and have beautiful children, and now grandchildren. Can you believe it, Mother? Me, a grandmother! Oh Mother, our adventures together, I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world." Her voice was sincere, but still something was amiss.
"Not even for Captain Hook?"
Wendy stuttered, not knowing how to respond. She rocked on her toes and heels, and shifted about uncomfortably on her feet. Mary still smiled and opened her arms again for a weepy Wendy to step into for comfort. She did and whispered into Mary's ear, "Not here on Earth, but in heaven…" Wendy had tears in her eyes, but Mary stopped the downpour with one sentiment she herself had just been informed of, "You will be with him in heaven, not yet, but soon.
"But James, Mother? I don't want him to be alone in heaven."
Mary gave it some thought, listening to her heart within her. It told her all she needed to know to answer her daughter correctly, "God sends those who have completed all that is asked of them fairly and with honor onward to another place not even you or I am aware of. Do not worry after him; it was you that aided him in accomplishing all his tasks and lessons on earth. When it is his time, God will surely grant him the greatest reward. And a man as handsome as your husband will not be without his admirers in heaven."
Wendy stayed with Mary for some time, enjoying each other's company, sharing stories of all the good years that had past. When night fell, Wendy left Mary alone, and she gazed at the portrait of George that hung above her writing desk. Mary had it moved from above her bed once Harry moved in, out of respect to him and their marriage. It was still in perfect condition, kept that way by Wendy, who, through the years, restored the parts that had aged. She put a single pink rose for their new great-granddaughter, Susan, who was to be baptized in the church the next morning on the desktop. She moved to her vanity, and opened her drawer of dreams. There inside were George's spectacles, pocket watch and wedding band that were held on a gold chain with her matching band.
Mary removed Harry's wedding and engagement rings, and placed only her wedding band from him gently on a chain of its own, leaving the engagement ring resting on the glass top. She did as he asked in death as well, and buried him with his gold wedding ring he wished not to be parted from. "I waited my whole life to be called husband by a woman that loved me, I want the reminder of it with me always, even when I am gone." Mary took back the ring George chose for his wife, still a perfect fit on her finger and followed it with Harry's ring of engagement.
As if George were in the room with her, as she readied for bed she spoke to him. "You would not believe the audacity of Biggins Fishers, George. He tottered up to me, now older than dirt, and asked me out to dinner. I wanted to tell him I was not accepting applications for a third husband, but I did not want to make a scene. Anyway, I hope you were polite to Harry when he arrived in heaven and showed him around. And, George, I'd best find you still up there when I am called. I will be so cross if an angel tells me you were kicked out for fighting! I am not going to worry, I know you were a gentleman and gave Harry a handshake and thanked him for taking care of me and the children."
Mary climbed into bed and pulled up the covers. She glanced over to her desk, and was reminded of the rose and its intention to her. "The rose is for Susan, Georgeanne's baby. She is to be christened tomorrow. It was to be done sooner, but then Harry…got ill…"
Her voice failed her, and she paused, wiping away a few tears before going on, "Anyway George, she is a lovely thing, all wrapped up in a pink blanket. Looks a lot like Wendy did when she was a baby. It's a shame Georgeanne and her husband won't have any more children though. She had a worse time then I did with Michael, thank God medicine is different nowadays. That makes nineteen great-grandchildren, George; well twenty if you count the one Jane carries now."
Mary rolled on her side and stared at George in the portrait, again remembering something else she wanted to tell him. "Oh yes, I almost forgot, George, it is actually to be twenty one great grandchildren for us. George's wife is also pregnant again. You'll think me silly for saying this, but every time John speaks of his youngest, I think he is talking about you. Sometimes he'll say, 'Mother, George will be stopping by later for a visit,' and I'll wait on the front porch hoping that you'll drive up in the car. He's handsome, though, but not as handsome as you. His wife is due in the summer, and if you ask me the way those boys compete with one another, there will be a whole another round of more babies born in the fall. So I won't expect to see you for a while. Well, I'm going to sleep now. Sweet dreams, George, I love you, and I miss you. Good night, my darling love."
Mary closed her eyes opening them a moment later. "If you don't mind, George, I would also like to talk with Harry too, just now and again. It is after all, only fair, my love. If you wouldn't mind giving us a moment of privacy now, George..." Mary asked politely and waited in silence for a few moments.
George in heaven sat next to his brother Harold on a cloud. With Mary's words, George took his leave, giving his brother a smile and a handshake.
And so, they were alone, Harold, in heaven, gazed down adoringly to Mary, tucked snuggly in her bed as she said, "Sweet dreams, dearest Harry, I miss you. I love you. Good night, my darling love."