CHAPTER 57: THE ALTERNATIVE
The next day
Thomas Barrow's Pantry
Downstairs, the Abbey was reverberating with excitement. Novello had revived The Rat in London, and now he was traveling with the touring company. The Abbey staff would be leaving in a few hours to attend a matinee performance in Leeds. Thomas had picked a date the family could not dispute. Lord Grantham would be lunching with his gentlemen's camera club, Lady Grantham would be meeting with the hospital board, and Lady Mary and Henry would be in London visiting Henry's parents.
Thomas was getting a head start on the following week's schedule when Bates knocked and opened the pantry door. "Mrs Hughes said you wanted to see me. What's wrong, Mr Barrow?"
Thomas chuckled. "Nothing's wrong, Mr Bates. Have a seat." Thomas stepped around his desk and closed the door. "Are you excited about the show, John?"
Bates took a seat across from the desk. "Very, and Anna couldn't talk about anything else last night. Why did you want to see me, Pooh?"
Thomas smiled as he leaned against the desk. He liked it when Bates called him Pooh. To Thomas' ear, little brother sounded playful, but Pooh sounded downright affectionate. Bates may as well have said, my darling boy. Thomas was reluctant to open a topic that he knew Bates was going to find objectionable, but he had to move forward. He spoke simply. "I'm getting married, John." Bates looked at Thomas blankly. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"What's the joke?"
"It's no joke, John. I'm going to marry Minnie."
"I don't understand."
"What is there to understand? Minnie and I are getting married. I'm going to have a wife and children, John, the same as you."
Bates' face clouded. "May I return to work now?"
"John, aren't you going to congratulate me?"
Bates pushed himself up from his seat. "Congratulate you! For what? For planning something outrageous? Thomas, do you truly intend to marry that poor woman and live a lie?"
Thomas answered softly, "John, I haven't lied, and you know it."
Bates struggled to contain his temper. "From where do you intend to acquire the children?" he demanded.
"John, why are you being so cruel? Don't you believe I'm entitled to my own family?"
Bates could see the hurt in Thomas' eyes. He moved next to Thomas and leaned against the desk, too. "I'm sorry, Pooh. I don't understand what you're telling me. Tell me again."
Thomas tried to sound sensible. "Minnie and I want the same things. Companionship ... children ... a family. Minnie has been looking for a husband since the end of the war. She feels she's too old now to attract a husband ... at least, one who would provide for her and love the children he fathers. She's ready for an alternative."
"And you're the alternative?"
"Yes. So she's asked me to marry her."
"She asked you?"
"That's right."
"Little brother, have you ever even had sex with a woman?"
Thomas shrugged. "No, but I can do it. Why not? Men have been having sex with women since the beginning of time. Why can't I?"
Bates put an arm around Thomas' shoulders. "Pooh, have I ever told you how much I love to watch you dance?"
"What? Why are you tell me this?"
"Have I ever told you how much watching you and Minnie dance makes me yearn to dance with my wife? It doesn't matter how much I want it, though, does it? I suppose I could stumble about with Old Ram and Anna, but I wouldn't derive the pleasure you derive from dancing. If anything, I would feel worse."
"Are you saying that wanting to dance is the same as wanting a family?"
"I'm saying that you and Minnie can't live in a fairy story no matter how much you want it. You're going to be hurt."
Thomas stared at his shoes. "Hurt? How do you think I feel when I'm with your family, always on the edge?"
"But you're not on the edge! How can you say that?"
"John, please don't misunderstand me. Your cottage is the closing thing I've had to a home since I was a boy. I cherish my time with you and Anna and Timothy. I couldn't love Timothy more if he were my own son. But I don't want to be a bachelor uncle for the rest of my life, and Minnie doesn't want to be a spinster aunt. Can't you understand that?"
"Of course I can, little brother."
"There! How is my marrying Minnie different from your calling me little brother? I'm not really your brother."
"It is different, Pooh. I truly love you as a brother. You don't truly love Minnie as a man loves his wife."
"You're not being fair, John. You're not trying to see it from my point of view."
"Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I can't see it from your point of view. I don't want to fight with you, Pooh. About business, yes, but not about this."
"I don't want to fight with you either, John. I've ruined our afternoon."
"No you haven't, Pooh. We'll have a great time. Only promise me that you won't do anything rash. You weren't planning to elope tonight, were you?"
"No, John. We're not sixteen."
"Promise me that you'll take some time to consider what you're doing.
"We plan to marry in June so we both have time to consider. We're not foolish. We're not announcing it yet. I told Minnie I wanted to discuss it with you, and she understood."
"I'm sorry, Pooh. I've behaved badly. I only want you to be happy. You know that, don't you?"
"I know, John."
Bates gave Thomas' shoulders a squeeze and let him go. "May I use the phone for a few minutes, Pooh?"
"Certainly, John. Take your time. Lord Grantham wants to speak to me in the library before he leaves for his luncheon."
Bates waited until he heard Thomas' footsteps fade down the corridor before picking up the phone. "Operator, please connect me with the Theatre Royal in Leeds."
