A New Dawn
Chapter 5
Charles was up early as was his way after years in the army. He was quite surprised to see that Johnathan Harte was in the mess area as he lived out with his wife.
"You off to the wedding today then Charles, will we see you later at Raffles"
"Quite probably Johnathan, I believe the happy couple have organised a wedding breakfast there"
"I can see why you are quite taken with that slip of a girl" and Charles could start to feel his hackles rising. He thought as one of his oldest friends that Johnathan would be a bit more gracious than this, or maybe this was his wife's influence
"Yes, I am very fond of her"
"Really"
"Yes, its early days but I think she is the one for me"
"Oh Charles, if you want to bed her why don't you just sweet talk her, tell her you love her, that should do it"
"I hadn't realised that you were such a snob"
"I'm not but as Georgina said, she is hardly going to fit in with the polo set in Surrey is she"
"This conversation is over; I've known Captain Hodgson 5 minutes in comparison to my friendship with you and he has been nothing other than friendly to Molly and her friends." With that he left the mess to go to drive to the bungalow and collect Brian Wiggerty where they would join Captain Hodgson as his seconds.
-OG-
The girls had gone round to Katie's bungalow and were helping her dress they had got a bottle of Champagne from Raffles the night before and were sipping it but none of them sure why everyone made such a fuss over it. It seemed to suck all your fluids out of you, the bubbles went up your nose and made your eyes water, and they really weren't sure why people liked it so much.
"It might be you next" laughed Katie
"Blimey mate" laughed Molly "I've only been out with him a couple of times"
"But your smitten ain't you" said Jacqui
"Yeah well he makes me feel special, safe and all that"
"Look" said Katie with a solemn face "I know the blokes are trying to keep it from us, think they are protecting us, but I think we all know war is coming our way" she smiled "Grab it while you can I say, there's no time to take it slow"
"Are you encouraging me to sleep with him?"
"Why not Molly"
"I'm not that type of girl for a start" said Molly huffily "and me dad will be real proud if I go home with an extra mouth to feed"
"No" said Jacqui "We're not telling you to sleep with him or have his kids what we are saying is that you don't have to have a long courtship if you both love each other; do something don't bother with long engagements, sending out the bans, and more importantly as we are out here don't expect him to ask your Dad"
"Who said I loved him, I hardly know him" both girls looked at each other toasted their glasses together and started laughing
"I'm your oldest friend Molls and I saw the way you looked at him since you first saw him on the docks"
"I haven't known you that long Molly" started Katie "But even I could see how you both look at each other" Molly couldn't help but blush and all the girls laughed and raised their glasses in a silent toast.
-OG-
Charles as the only person they knew who had a car came and picked them up. He had a huge smile on his face when he saw Molly he thought she looked lovely. He opened the car door so the ladies could get in and they drove off to the church.
The men were in their uniforms as it was the army padre who was conducting the service. As far as Molly was concerned it was perfect. Not being particularly religious herself and only the six of them there she noted there were no hymns and only a couple of prayers. She looked at Katie in her white frock holding hands with Alex saying her vows and she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat and be a little misty eyed at how happy the pair of them looked. With all her heart she hoped they would always be this happy.
Charles drove the happy couple back to Raffles and then came back for her Jacqui and Brian, he really was going above and beyond as far as she was concerned. He just seemed to want to help and genuinely liked her friends.
They were all now seated at Raffles and had eaten their lunch. They had even got them a sponge cake and iced it as a make do wedding cake. It was beautiful. Alex stood and made the usual speech "my wife and I can't tell you how pleased we are that you all agreed to be our witnesses and join us here today". They toasted with a glass of champagne which Molly still thought wasn't that special.
The afternoon band started up and a number of tables had started to fill and the afternoon tea dance had started.
Charles held out his hand to Molly asking her to dance and her trademark smile appeared on her face as she stood to join him
"I've been really concentrating" she smirked "Have I stood on your feet yet?" he threw his head back laughing
"No Molly not yet you haven't"
"You going to teach me to be Ginger now then"
"Nooo" he smiled at her his eyes soft and dark "but we could try the tango" as he started twirling her round the floor both of them laughing. He caught a glimpse of Johnathan and Georgina out the corner of his eye and his smile slipped a bit remembering their earlier conversation.
"I'm very fond of you Charlie" she said looking up at him smiling and her eyes wide with happiness.
"and I'm very fond of you too Molly" he replied his eyes softening and darkening with need.
"Did you want to talk with your mates, they are over there"
"Not particularly" his smile leaving his face "I'd much rather be with you"
They walked back to their table arm in arm to see Katie and Alex say that they were going shortly and Katie thanking Molly for covering her shifts from tomorrow morning. Alex nodded towards Charles and asked him to come with him to the bar
"Look Charles" he started "I'm being sent up country to Malaya, make sure the Japs don't come down through the peninsula. Will be gone at the weekend" and he looked down fiddling with his uniform, pulling it straight before looking up and back at Charles "I know where the land lies with you and Molly, so if you can when you visit her…. Can you just check that mine is OK too" he coughed "I know we haven't known each other long but would be grateful."
"Of course," he smiled "but if she is anything like Molly I'm not sure she will appreciate it"
Alex attracted the bartender's attention and ordered them a whiskey each
"Times are changing and maybe we can't expect these girls to honour and obey anymore, but I can't help but worry….if I can't be here…. if anything happens"
"I don't know how long I will be here either before I get sent to Malaya too" Charles replied nodding in agreement "but while I'm here I'll do what I can" they clinked glasses "When will you be back in Singapore"
"We should get leave from time to time, but who knows for how long" and Alex looked him straight in the eye and all Charles could do was nod "Get her on a ship back to Oz if you can"
"Do you think she will go" and Alex threw his head back laughing "No but I can but ask"
Charles extended his hand "It's been a pleasure meeting you Alex and I hope we see you again"
"So how about trying a bit of Aussie fare then Charles, what about a Tiger beer to go with the whiskey"
-OG-
The weeks and months passed and Charles and Molly had been to many a tea dance and meal at Raffles. They tried their best to be out if Brian had a pass to give Jacqui and him some time and privacy together, but sometimes they joined them for dinner.
He had kept his promise to Alex and kept an eye on Katie and she had come with him and Molly to the gardens to see the military bands along with taking them both to the godowns to look for material to make their clothes. Alex had been able to get back twice in the months since their wedding and again they had all gone for dinner at Raffles, he and Alex had a lot in common apart from both being career army men they also had a passion for Rugby and had many a heated debate on the merits between League and Union over a Tiger beer. Not only did he enjoy the easy going nature of Molly he also liked Brian, Jacqui and Katie. He found after the remarks from Johnathan that he was not as close to him as he had been before and had distanced himself from them preferring the company of Molly and her friends. A few times they had seen Johnathan and Georgina at dinner inevitably she raised her eyebrows at his company of both Molly and the Australians. He hadn't really known her that well before he was best man for Johnathan, they had only met a few times for dinner and the wedding rehearsals.
-OG-
It was now November and they had been stepping out for 8 months and he knew he adored her, it may be a bit quick and she may be totally different from anyone he had ever known but he knew she was the love of his life. Her warm sunny disposition and her compassion for her fellow man made her someone special. Her quick wit and the way she looked at him made him realise he would always want her in his life.
They were currently walking in the Botanical Gardens by the lake their arms linked and Charles covering her hand with his. He led them to a bench in front of the lake and they were both looking at the tropical plants, birds and the waterfall. It really was a beautiful spot.
"Molly" he stumbled "I know you are a long way from home and your family isn't here …. Again, he paused trying to think of the words he wanted to tell her.
"Spit it out Charlie" she laughed. He coughed and continued
"I love you Molly" and he shut his eyes before blurting it out "Will you do me the honour of marrying me"
She looked at him her eyes wide and shining with tears "You sure Charlie, you know I love you too but what will your family say when we go home engaged"
He lent forward his elbows on his knees "Well I wasn't really planning an engagement that long" he snorted a laugh "I thought we would do what Alex and Katie did"
"What's the rush Charlie" she asked her hand clasping his. He looked at her and his eyes seemed to have caramel flecks and there was sadness in them
"I can't say much" he started
"I know Charlie – Careless talk" she said holding his hand a little tighter
"There's rumours of a large fleet" and shook his head "I want you to have my name, know that you will be looked after if anything happens"
"Oh Charlie" and this time the tears did fall and he put one hand on either cheek to brush them away with his thumbs. Their foreheads met. "When shall we do it then?" she asked smiling and the smile on Charles face was like the cat that had got the cream.
"Well I need to talk with my CO get the pass, maybe we could see if we can get Brian and Alex a pass too, that should please Katie and Jacqui to have them back for a couple of days"
"I'll get Jacqui and Katie to come with me and find a dress" she beamed
"Well I thought we could go look for a ring first" he smiled back
-OG-
Charles went back to barracks to find Lt Colonel Beck and ask his permission to both marry and for some time off.
They were seated in Becks office
"We're not complete stuffed shirts Edna and I, Charles" he smirked "We have been friends with your parents for years, are you sure that you want to go ahead with them not here"
"Yes Sir" replied Charles
"Edna and I have seen her with you at Raffles and Edna says she looks enchanting" Charles had to smile and shake his head, that is not necessarily a word he would have picked to describe Molly remembering a particular conversation about going to the godowns but she was a beautiful woman inside and out and he adored her.
"I want to marry her Sir, know that she will be looked after and safe if anything happens to me out here"
"That's very admirable Charles" he looked directly at him "Although I do think your parents will be disappointed they won't get to meet her and be here for the big day" he coughed "Do you not think it might be better to wait until we all get home"
"Sir we have both seen the reports, heard the rumours, the war in Europe has already been going on 2 years and if the Japanese do join in then who knows how much longer this could go on for" he used the same direct eye contact that Beck had used for him "We want to be together and if anything turns a bit sticky out here I want to be in a position I can put her on a ship and send her back to Britain and my parents."
Beck nodded "I understand Charles, didn't think much of the rumour Harte was spreading, that you had got the young lady pregnant" Charles flushed "Edna says it was more his wife who she thinks is an out and out snob of the first order"
Beck stood to get them a glass of whiskey each from his cabinet "Well Charles I am more than happy to authorise it and give you leave. One thing though Charles I think as Edna and I are likely to be meeting this young lady in the future at your parents' home it would be an honour if you would allow Edna and I to join you after at Raffles"
Charles face broke into one of his huge smiles, he didn't think he had ever been this happy.
"Thank you Sir" he beamed "I just need to hope that Wiggerty and Hodgson can attend with their wives"
"Leave it with me Charles" said Beck "Few benefits of being a Lt Colonel but one is being able to give orders. Leave it with me" he smiled back at Charles. Charles saluted and left to speak with the Army Chaplain
"Captain James would Friday at 11am in the Armenian Church suffice. I believe a number of weddings take place there on a daily basis via army chaplains"
"That would be perfect, I'll let my fiancée know" he said beaming "I'll be seeing you Friday then, thank you" and put out his hand to shake.
Making his way back to Woodlands Officers mess he bumped into Johnathan who slapped him on the back
"I hear congratulations are in order Charles" he grinned "Do you need a best man"
"No" he replied using his sternest expression "After what I've heard today, the rumour you have been spreading about Molly, it's extremely unlikely that you will be welcome"
"Oh, come on Charles" he laughed "What were Georgina and I meant to think, you're an honourable man, we just assumed you were marrying her to give the baby a name…It's all so rushed"
"It wouldn't occur to you then that I love her"
"Well" and Johnathan was finally realising that maybe he had overstepped the mark "You surely don't have much in common with her"
"More than you could ever realise, good day Johnathan" and he marched off leaving him standing there open mouthed.