Chapter 18: The Call 27th March 1996
The bus was early on the Wednesday morning, so much so that the Hospital reception had to phone up to get Erin to come down. The driver told her he had to be for some reason or another, though she was far busier basking in the annoyance of being pulled away from James. They were halfway through what she thought was an extremely passionate kiss when a nurse burst in, red-faced upon seeing the two, and told her to get moving. It caught out most of the students too, for whatever reason the bus driver wasn't waiting that morning and only seven students boarded at the gang's usual spot. The other three girls were amongst the seven though… just. There were only four girls at the stop when the bus pulled up but Clare's shrieking from afar held the driver. Even the devil himself would bow to a shrieking Clare Devlin.
It meant that when they got to school, there was a lot of time to kill. Jenny and Aisling didn't join them that morning, they were in the library doing some homework that was due in on the Friday. Oddly for once, the girls had already done it.
"I'm still trying to work out why the bus was early". Clare pondered. "That excuse about the times changin'… there was no way our ma's wouldn't have known!"
"It was flimsy at best". Erin nodded her agreement.
"Aye, he was talkin' shite alright". Michelle held the same belief too.
"Probably just wanted to catch the worm". Orla added in her… very much Orla McCool way.
"What?" They replied in unison.
"Ye know, the early bird catches the worm".
Erin closed her eyes and huffed, Clare doing the same. Michelle was left shaking her head with Orla left believing them to be a bit rude.
"Anyway, we've got that new French teacher startin' s'afters. Wonder what she'll be like…".
Michelle spoke of the news they'd learned the day before. After weeks of having Mr Flanagan cover their French lessons following Sister Kathleen's arrest, Sister Michael had announced the new French teacher would be starting the next day. It was quite odd for a teacher to start on a Wednesday but Our Lady Immaculate was never a school that followed conventions.
"What was her name again. Mrs Demi-Moore or somethin'?"
"It's not Demi Moore, Michelle!" Erin scoffed.
"I know that ye dose! It was like that though…".
"Mrs Delacroix, Michelle". Clare corrected her.
"Ach that was it, Mrs ménage à trois".
Erin copied a very James like reaction, putting her thumb and middle finger of her right hand over an eyelid each, trying to forget she was there.
"What? That's what ye said, right Clare?" Michelle turned to her.
"No Michelle. De-La-Croix… say it after me. De-La-Croix".
"Delacroix!" Orla shouted before Michelle could answer.
"Is yer name Michelle, Orla?" An irritated Erin asked.
"No, my name's Orla not Michelle Orla!" Orla countered.
She would have given anything to be back at the Hospital with James at that moment, but Erin held her frustrations with her cousin. She should have expected it really…
"De-La-Croix". Michelle finally got it right.
"There we go". Clare offered her a beautiful smile.
Michelle felt oddly proud of herself. Being able to pronounce the name of their new French teacher would usually be something that wouldn't concern her, but it felt good to nail it pre-lesson. It would at least cut out any awkwardness.
"I'm surprised Sister Michael went for a French lady if I'm honest". Clare said to them.
"What do ye mean?" Erin replied to her, frowning.
"Don't ye remember… she hates the French!"
Clare's confident statement was correct when it came to Sister Michael's view, but it was just sod's law for Clare that Sister Michael had appeared behind her when she said it. She was the only one sat on the side of the table that the Sister was behind and the other three's eyes widened as she finished speaking. Eyeing them and mouthing a 'What', it soon dawned on her as to why they were doing it. The most almighty cack attack began, starting at Clare's facial expressions but soon spreading all around her so that her body was shaking.
"A very interesting comment Miss Devlin…". Sister Michael firmly spoke from behind her, Clare slowly turning to look at her over her shoulder. "… perhaps the four of you might like to discuss it further in my office".
After weeks of Sister Michael having their backs, looking after them in her own caring way, they were straight back down to earth. The tone from the head mistress was her normally dismissive one and that could only signify that they were in trouble.
"Well done Clare". Michelle whispered as they followed Sister Michael.
Poor Clare was properly cacking herself, sweating buckets and crying silently. Orla linked arms with her to try and calm her down, but she was far too upset to take note of it. She was in trouble.
James was finishing off the breakfast sent in by the nurses when Joe arrived. Joe was wearing his usual combination of a smart jumper and a hat and was smiling when he saw the Englishman. He carried the newspaper under his arm, having been out early to the bookies that morning to place some bets on the horses. He didn't want to burden James with the pressure of it so soon after coming back to them, but they would still sit and discuss it in the morning. Joe hadn't quite been so good without him but the day before he'd won with two horses at Newcastle, so the money still kept coming.
"Morning son". Joe said as he sat down.
"Morning Joe". He replied once he'd finished his mouthful.
"How ye feelin?"
"Funny you should ask…". James laughed. "… I woke up this morning and I didn't really know where I was".
Joe scrunched his nose on hearing the news, relaxing when he remembered the doctor had noted that James could experience some confusion for a few days.
"But then Erin appeared, and everything fell into place". He hummed.
An uncontrollable grin broke out across Joe's face. There was no doubting the sincerity of the feelings between the two and hearing that he was only contented when he could see her face warmed him.
"Ye remember after I took ye home after prom?" Joe questioned him, James nodding.
"How can I forget… and the morning after when I came and washed the car with Erin".
"Aye…". Joe broke out into a laugh himself. "… anyway, that night when I got home, I realised something about ye. I thought to myself that night, that I wouldn't mind you being in my family… and ye know with Erin…".
"Is that why you were happy to come to our agreement?" James smirked playfully.
"Partly, but I've never thought about that way with any fella that's come into the girls' lives. Apart from Gerry I suppose…".
James knew that there was no truly vicious hatred between Joe and Gerry. It would often be quite brutal when Joe was in a particular mood, but he could see he didn't truly despise Gerry like some thought.
"I won't tell him don't worry". James said after Joe trailed off. "He's a good man, I know you've got respect for him really".
"He is. He always has been, just needs keeping on his toes. But ye tell anyone I said that, and I'll be putting ye back in here with a freshly broken leg, ye hear?"
That was a threat James did take seriously, more seriously than whoever had attacked him in the first place. Joe's secret was very much safe with him, and he put his healing arms up as high as he could in a mock surrender.
"Good. Anyway, yer the best lad I could hope for my Erin, I think ye know that now".
"I do. And I think I might be the luckiest man in the world. I just… I still can't believe she slept here every night… watching over me".
Since Joe had told him of Erin's nightly vigils by his side, James couldn't stop thinking about it. She sacrificed all the comfort of her nice warm bed to sleep on an old Hospital mattress, covered from head to toe in blankets and duvets. He realised he would have done the same, but it still didn't make it anything less short of remarkable in his mind.
"There is something I need to tell ye as well James". Joe changed the subject, with a hint of mischief in his tone.
"Sure". James replied, shifting back from where the plate lay across the bed on a table.
Joe helped him put the table back away, also getting some water for him, which for once James held all by himself to drink. His hand was still unsteady and not fully back to normal, but he showed the strength within himself as he sipped at it, waiting for Joe to start his news.
"Well ye know I said the other day about that horse Frankie entered in the yer lot's Grand National on Saturday".
"Yeah…". James answered with a slight confusion.
"The owner's giving up, so he is. Not interested in running him over in England".
"That's a shame".
Frankie thought the horse would enjoy the trip around perhaps the most famous race in the world. Joe told James the same a couple of days before with the exact amount of enthusiasm and it was sad to hear that it probably wouldn't run.
"That's what I thought too". Joe replied to him. "So… well… I asked Frankie how much to keep him in the race ye know…".
"Okay. How much?"
"About… well about a grand".
It was an eye-watering amount of money, but it was hardly surprising. The English Grand National was the biggest horse race in the world, millions would have their eyes set on Aintree racecourse that Saturday afternoon. A one-thousand-pound entry fee seemed appropriate.
"I was… thinking… I've still got about five hundred left from the original winnings when our horse won at Enniskillen… and if you had ye know…".
"You want to own the horse?"
"That's right". Joe smiled.
James wanted to as well, but the money would be the sticking point. He had very different plans for the money, which he'd not seen since his attack, though Deirdre had told him that he wasn't robbed by whoever attacked him. The money was still in his coat pocket and was safely in his room back at home. But…
"I… I don't really have the money".
"Ah. Well it doesn't matter son, it was a nice though-".
"Wait". James cut off Joe's sigh. "I'll ask mum… for the money… she can even replace me as the owner".
Joe really hadn't meant that, he couldn't expect James to ask his mother. They hadn't even spoke yet… but James was indicating that he'd taken Joe's lesson about reconciliation onboard and that made him smile.
"I can't expect ye to do that son".
"No Joe, I want to". James put his hand on Joe's shoulder. "I want mum back in my life and if she truly wants the best for me like she's said then she will do this for me. I'm sure she'd like a horse too!"
"I hope she does!" Joe chuckled. "I… I went ahead already and told Frankie. He's already arranged for the girls to come with us… although Erin will stay here I reckon".
"That's pressure…". James teased him. "… but I suppose this may equal what I need from you".
Joe frowned at his statement. James was yet to be out of his Hospital bed, what could he possibly want from him other than perhaps a book…
"Go on". Joe continued to frown.
"Well, I have something to ask of you….".
Clare Devlin was practically combusting as they approached the door to Sister Michael's office. She never opened her mouth when it came to comments about the Sister, not with the possibility of her being present anyway, and then she got confident and put her foot in it. There was no wonder why she was famed for having cack attack after cack attack. It was hardly surprising when every time she tried to be confident, she would be thrown straight back down to earth.
However, when they walked into the office behind the head mistress, Clare realised that all the cacking wasn't worth it. Already in the office were Mr Flanagan and the jockey Paul. They could all understand Mr Flanagan's presence but the jockey being present was a strange one. He smiled at the girls as they walked in, though they were all deeply confused and didn't smile back, except for Orla.
"Now girls, I suspect you have questions?" The Sister said as she took a seat at her desk.
"Just a couple…". Michelle rolled her eyes in a quiet response.
"That's enough of that Michelle". The Sister replied with brows narrowed.
"Sister Michael… I… did nothing… we did nothing… we d-!"
"Stop panicking please Miss Devlin… yer consistent attempts to save yer own skin really do got on my nerves ye know".
The girls all hummed in agreement, Clare angrily raising her eyebrow and glaring at them, but they all stood firm in their belief. It was very annoying when she tried to save herself.
"There has been a change to your timetable for the rest of the week, I'll let Mr Flanagan explain".
The girls turned to their favourite teacher who was grinning wickedly. They certainly weren't in trouble but what was going on was a mystery. Whenever Sister Michael made them accompany her to her office in the manner that she did, it would always be her discovering something they'd done. But they hadn't misbehaved in school for ages, unless defending themselves against Moira's barbs counted, and the perplexed faces of the girls reflected their confusion.
"The rest of the week, I'm afraid you girls won't be having yer normal lessons. Unforeseen circumstances have meant that yer normal timetable would be… inappropriate for the rest of this week".
"What's that go to do with Paul?" Erin asked him.
"That's a good question Erin". Mr Flanagan responded, chortling to himself. "Yer lessons, should you all wish to go, will be taken from the Aintree racecourse in England".
Orla's face lit up as she was the first to realise what was going. They were going with Frankie and Paul to the English Grand National meeting. Her eyes travelled to Paul's and he couldn't hide the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips when she did. The others soon caught up with Orla's train of thought and flicked their eyes between Mr Flanagan and Sister Michael to try and see if they were being serious. They certainly were.
"Me and Frankie need someone to lead the horses up…". Paul informed them. "… and we can't just take Orla and not the rest of you's can we? Joe told me ye were… what was the phrase… 'pack animals'".
Michelle giggled at the description she'd first given them the year before at the doomed wedding celebration. Pack animals was the best way to describe them. They were the second coming of The Musketeers, Derry's very own Les Inséparables, with just an extra member to the group.
"I appreciate that this might not suit you Erin". Mr Flanagan turned his attention to her.
He was right. As much as Erin would have loved to have gone, and would have done at any other time, she couldn't spend the time away from James. There would be other trips to England to see Orla race, she was going to be a star on the big scene over there, but if anything were to happen to James while she was away, it would break her. She solemnly confirmed Mr Flanagan's suspicions.
"Then you spend the next couple of days with James. We won't be having ye missing out and it's not fair to expect ye to come to school alone".
Erin couldn't quite believe Mr Flanagan's words. They were going to let her skip two days of school just to be with James. She looked at Sister Michael, who simply stared back in return.
"You all deserve a break girls. You've been a true inspiration to us all over the last few weeks and a little trip away for the rest of you's and some time with James for yerself Erin… well it would do you good. But you will be back on Monday or there will be trouble, understood?"
Flipping back to the Sister Michael that normally prowled the corridors of Our Lady Immaculate, they all sincerely nodded at her one request. It was the first year they would ever work right up to Easter, finishing the Thursday after and then only having a week off, taking an extra week in the summer but restarting on a Friday rather than a Monday.
"Thank ye Sister". Erin replied for the group.
"And thank ye Paul!" Orla beamed him a smile.
The three adults all smiled upon the four girls before Sister Michael dismissed them from her office back out onto the corridors. Paul joined them, having offered to give the girls a lift back to their respective houses, Sister Michael also dropping on them that they wouldn't be required at school that day either.
"This is cracker!" Orla piped up.
"Sister Michael's been sniffin' glue". Michelle snorted. "Not that I'm complaining".
"God, I thought I was dead back there!" Clare managed to chuckle at her own prior apprehensions.
They got outside to Paul's car and he opened the boot so that they could throw their bags in. Orla took the front seat next to him, which not one of them decided to question, as they'd expected her to. She often sat in the front on journeys; it was the easiest way for the driver of the vehicle to keep an eye on what she might be doing.
"Paul, are we gunna need dresses for this?" An inquisitive Michelle asked.
"Orla won't for leading the horses, but you girls… aye ye will".
"Wh… What are we gunna do Michelle?!" Clare was back fretting again. "We haven't got the money for d-… oh wait yes… yes we do! I have me winnings from Orla's first win still".
"Then it's on you". Michelle sniggered.
They all laughed at Clare's expense, literally, as she put herself in the position of buying not only a dress for herself but one for Michelle too.
"By the way…". Michelle spoke up again. "… did you's hear some fucker broke into the Guildhall last night and stole all the plans to the major buildings in the city…".
Dr Kennedy came along a few minutes after James had asked his question to Joe. It was fair to say he'd stunned the older man with it but there were no hard feelings between the two at all. The Doctor's update on James's progress was glowing. He still couldn't find much of a medical explanation to account for James's remarkable recovery and for the first time, discharging him from the Hospital was mentioned. They needed to check his ability to move about first; having been out for a few weeks and with a broken leg it was bound to be somewhat stunted. Providing that he could move as freely as could be expected, they wouldn't be keeping him at the Hospital much longer and he'd be moved out of the Intensive Care Unit to a different ward until they did. The call to Kathy acted as the ideal starting point to test it. Deirdre had managed to get permission for him to use the staff room phone to make the call, the room located further down the corridor.
"We'll get ye up very slowly James". The Doctor told him.
Joe assisted the doctor, the two of them taking an arm of James's each to steady him, but yet again they were shocked by him. James didn't need either of them, able to raise himself up and get his legs over the side of the bed. Despite the pains in both arms and his broken leg, he gritted his teeth and got on with it. Dr Kennedy had brought crutches along with him, as well as a wheelchair just in case, and he retrieved them as Joe kept a cautious hand over James. The Englishman took a look out of the window from where he was perched on the edge of the bed, the clouds offering a bleak view over the countryside in the distance.
The crutches were soon ready in place. Taking a deep breath, James this time accepted Joe's help and he lifted the wee English fella up and into the crutches. It was the moment of truth for James, whether his arms, and to some extent his wrists, could take the pressure. Dr Kennedy had confided in Deirdre that he thought it could be a step too far, but yet again he was forced to concede to the will and determination of James Maguire. He was up and without instruction began to move forward on them.
"Well I can't believe it…". The Doctor's voice trailed off in amazement.
"It hurts a bit…". James confirmed. "…but I can manage".
Rushing off to hold the doors open, Dr Kennedy smiled to Deirdre, who'd appeared outside and there was a tear in her eye when she saw James able to get about. His courage was beyond imagination.
The three of them walked alongside him slowly as he made his way down the corridor. He did stop a couple of times to have a breather. It was taking it out of him, and he'd lied to them when he said it only hurt a bit. He was in excruciating pain, flaring up both of his arms, focusing on the weak points of the breaks that his attackers inflicted. Eventually, they got to the staff room, and Deirdre helped him inside. He stood up on his own on the crutches for a minute as she got two chairs for him. One for him to sit on and another to rest the broken leg on. After having helped him down onto the seat, positioning it next to the phone, Deirdre left him in peace and the rest of the staff were told to keep out for a while.
James looked at the number for Kathy's office on the piece of paper by the phone. He needed a few deep breaths to steady himself. He remembered the last phone call which he considered to be a turning point in his life, the call from Mary on the night of the prom. That call set him on the path to the future with Erin that his heart hid away whenever his head searched for it. Rescuing Erin from a night of misery stopped that hiding, even if it did take a few weeks for them to finally profess their feelings. Yet again it would be a phone call that would signal a huge moment in his life. This time being the path of reconciliation with his mother.
He picked up the phone and punched the numbers in slowly with his right hand, relaxing into the chair for the two rings it took for it to be answered.
"Kathy Maguire speaking". She answered in a professional tone.
Another deep breath came.
"Hello Mum".
James could only croak out the two words, but he could feel the impact down the line. Kathy's breath caught and for a moment there was a total silence, not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Just total silence…
"J… James". Kathy could barely hold it together. "Can you give me a minute".
James was famous for giving those he loved a minute to be themselves. He whispered an acceptance down the line, his voice box still not operating above a croak. Hearing the phone being placed down, he then listened out as Kathy's voice filled the background. He didn't catch every word of what she was saying but the general gist appeared to be that she didn't want to be disturbed and for things to continue as normal without her. Sounded about right…
"James". She said his name once the phone was back next to her ear.
"I… I love you mum".
They both broke apart upon him telling her. Reconciliation was the only option for James and though he'd been through agony when she'd wrote the letter to him, it didn't matter. There was always a second chance. Deirdre and Mary were willing to forgive and forget with Kathy… and he knew he shouldn't be any different to them. The tragedy of Joe's situation only acted as further confirmation that keeping her out of his life would be a decision he would later regret. They cried for at least a couple of minutes, the pent-up feelings escaping down rosy cheeks on different sides of the Irish Sea. It was Kathy that spoke first when her cries subsided slightly.
"I… I don't deserve it". She cried again.
"I… I forgive you mum". He sniffled. "I know you were upset with me… I understand".
"It gave me no right to do that to you son. You're my only child and I dis-".
James couldn't let her do this to herself and interrupting her, he added a steely resolve to his voice to combat the tears.
"For a while it hurt me mum… I want to be honest with you, have no lies between us…".
Kathy muttered her agreement before he continued.
"… but I knew it couldn't be the real you. We've not always been close, and you've often not been there for me… but you aren't vindictive and spiteful. There is a good woman in there and that's my mum and I'm proud of her".
Tears fell again when he revealed his pride in her. James was truly a gift from God, the son any mother would wish for and his soul was as benevolent as the good lord himself.
"And I'm so proud of ye too. I love you James". She told him what she wanted to… that she truly loved him.
"I know you do mum. You don't need to tell me… I know".
"If I… if I had another chance then I'd have never forced you to try to leave. When ye was… lying there… I could see for my own eyes the life you've built without me. I should have seen that in November… I can't just take ye away from all this".
"Mum stop". His tone was slightly amused, and Kathy slightly chuckled down the phone in response. "Things were… different then, it wasn't as visible as it is now. But as you've seen… I can't leave Derry. I have too much here to lose… even if the Police don't see it that way".
The cops rang Kathy themselves after speaking to James. Anticipating that he wouldn't want to leave, she'd told them that she didn't want him back either. Though she would happily accept him back of course, after her two brief visits back to her home city, it was clear he belonged there and not with her in London.
"I told them I couldn't have ye back… that yer life was in Derry with yer Erin".
"You… You told them that?"
"Of course James…". She sniffed. "… I know they've said ye might be at risk, but you can't let your life be defined by whoever did this. I guess you think the same way?"
"Like mother… like son". He hummed cheerfully in reply.
They were truly back to being mother and son. They were a team that rarely co-existed for long, but James's attack sparked a change for Kathy and this time she wouldn't let anything get in the way. She couldn't move back to Derry, but her door was always open for James and she would visit him as much as possible. Over the next couple of minutes, they confirmed that arrangement over the phone and for both it was perfect. Stupid and perfect.
"Joe told me about the horse James". Kathy softly said down the phone. "I have to say I'm proud. Winning all the money like that and investing it, I don't think I could ask for much more in ye son".
Kathy bringing up the subject of the horse did make it a lot easy for James when it came to the question he needed to ask. Despite that, he was still pleased that he'd pleased her when it came to 'The Wee English Fella'.
"About that…". He started before stopping abruptly.
"What is it James?"
"You know the Grand National is this Saturday?"
"You can't go James!" She cautioned him down the phone. "Yer not well enough yet".
"No, it's not that. The man who trains our horse… he has a horse entered in it and the owner is packing it in. I… well… Joe and I have about half the money to pay the entry fee he'll lose refunding the owner… and I was…".
"Taking advantage of me now James?" Kathy rather sternly questioned him.
"I…".
"Consider it done. How much?".
It took him a few seconds to recover from the shock of her agreeing. He thought she was about to remind him that their relationship worked both ways and he couldn't start leeching off her for things now they'd repaired it. His earlier comment to Joe proved true; she would quite like to own a horse as well.
"Five hundred pounds". He whispered.
"I'll sort it out with the bank and get the money over to Deirdre's account. But I have one condition?"
"Yes anything!" He shouted his hope into the phone.
"Think of a good name. I think this should be a syndicate of all of us… like a big family".
Neither him nor Joe had thought of it that way, but she'd made a brilliant suggestion. This horse was to represent the family and the brutal few weeks they'd been through. It wasn't just his and Joe's… it was theirs. Even Uncle Colm's!
Chatting away for another few minutes, James having something else to discuss with Kathy before she made the call to the bank, mother and son were one again.
The future looked bright to James.
Joe knocked on the staff room door after about twenty minutes, James calling out to tell him to come in. He found the Englishman, red-eyed from where tears had fell, but beaming and looking more like the James of before the attack.
"Everything alright son". He asked carefully, just in case all was not as it seemed.
"I've got two brilliant bits of news Joe!". He exclaimed with the beaming grin unmoved.
"Me and mum are putting the past behind us".
"That's great son. Thank ye… it means a lot to me that ye stayed away from the mistakes and regrets that I have".
"No… thank you Joe. It was the convincing that I needed to do it". He nodded in return.
"And the second piece?" Joe's eyebrow raised.
"We have a runner in the Grand National!"
