Julie purposely chose to go home to visit whilst Tim was in Oxford. She hadn't been home since Christmas and couldn't put it off any longer.
When she arrived home she was still adjusting to Kate's news and the prospect of losing her roommate. Smiling she remembered how Teddy had offered to share his room with her. Unfortunately bickering pursued, because Angela assured him that she'd share with her. Teddy argued and Tim stepped in.
Walking through the village toward home, she waved at neighbours that she had known all her life. A few called out to her. She stopped into the corner shop where Carole worked.
"Well look it's Julie," Mr. Fulton, the shopkeep said when she entered.
"You're looking well," she replied. She always liked the gregarious man.
Carole came running. "Julie!"
Mrs. Fulton said, "She's been talking about nothing, but your visit. It's a nice change since normally it's nonstop Walter."
Julie hugged her sister.
Mrs. Fulton added, "Go home. You're of no use to us now."
Carole linked her arm as they walked. Before Julie could ask, Carole said, "I'm going to marry Walter."
"Has he asked you?"
"Not officially, he's afraid of Dad."
"Tim faced him and Dad has always liked Walter," Julie reminded her.
"Dad likes Tim."
"No, he doesn't, but I'm marrying him still."
"How can you stand to wait?"
"I have to. I was hoping you would want to come live in London with me. I need a new flatmate."
"Julie, I can't leave Walter. The whole village knows about Kate's wedding. Dad was fit to be tied when he heard."
"I suppose I'll get more than the lecture that Tim got from his dad."
"Quite."
Thankfully only her mum was home. As Julie was greeting her she noticed that she was doing more poorly than ever. Her weight had increased. She had difficulty walking and seemed labored by every movement.
Julie sat down for tea and a visit. They spoke of her brother Albert married last Christmas to Linda. Julie was pleased that they were expecting a baby.
"Midwife says she doing fine," Muriel said.
"Tim's mum is a midwife. I like the idea of her helping when my time comes."
"You're not even married yet," Muriel scolded.
"I know. I said when," she defended herself. "Mum, I'm not Kate."
"That girl." She shook her head. "You must have known that she was…"
"Mum, please everyone does it these days," Carole interrupted.
Julie glared at her, because she wasn't helping. She hoped Carole wasn't included in the everyone.
"Well not me and I'm engaged," Julie quickly added.
"I've never heard of such a long engagement," her mother scoffed.
"It isn't easy. Two more years and then we'll marry."
"Now that Kate's to be married, you can come home and help me out. Carole's going to be leaving me and I still have your father and three boys to look after."
"Mum, I'm not coming home. I haven't worked it out yet, but I will. Two of those boys you wait on are men. They should be making their own way."
"It's what I do for my family," her mother defended.
"Mum, it isn't good for your health."
"I'm in fine fettle. I haven't seen a doctor since Charlie..."
"Mum, I'm worried. I think you need to see the doctor."
"Oh fiddlesticks, it's just that doctor of yours filling your head."
"Mum, you're tired crossing the room."
"I know I need to lose a stone or two, but I'm perfectly healthy."
Julie couldn't force her and she wouldn't let Tim get involved. The only thing she could do was worry and that wouldn't change a thing.
"Did you hear that Charlie's working out on the farm with Walter?" Carole asked enthusiastically.
"Is Dad mad he's not at the factory?" Julie asked.
"They weren't hiring," Muriel said.
"I heard the work's slowed down," Carole added.
"How'd you hear that?" Muriel asked.
"I hear a lot of talk at the shop," Carole said.
Henry Miller came home in a foul mood. Julie greeted him and he started on her immediately.
The vein on his forehead was throbbing as he lambasted her. Julie let him rant. She couldn't convince her father that she wasn't a trollop like Kate, his words not hers. He wasn't a man who listened to reason.
After the washing up was done, Carole said, "We're going to see Albert. Come on then."
Julie would have agreed to go anyplace to get out of the house. She feared she was about to have a row with her father.
Charlie quickly followed the girls out of the house. Not surprisingly Walter was waiting for Carole.
Julie smiled. "You're too scared, I heard."
His eyes darted to Carole, who defended herself. "Julie won't tell them. I didn't tell her everything."
"Everything?"
Walter sighed, "You did now, love."
"I have to tell her," Carole replied matter-of-factly.
"Fine, but you can't tell your mum. Promise?" Walter negotiated.
Julie nodded, not knowing what she was agreeing to.
"I've been saving money, we're going to go live in Australia," Walter said.
Julie felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach. "Australia! Why?"
Carole said, "England's too small. We want to have our own farm someday."
Julie wasn't certain if England was too small for farming or to get free of their father. She felt sick when Charlie announced that he was going too.
"I've told Walter that we should just leave. We can get married aboard the ship."
"Are you serious?" Julie asked. "You're leaving Mum on her own to look after Dad, Junior and Georgie! Dad would be livid."
"She'll have Bert and Linda and their baby," Carole reminded her.
"But I'll never see you… Your babies and mine won't know each other."
Walter said, "I need to save more. We should just marry here."
Julie's world was unraveling. First Kate was leaving her and now her sister and brother. She tried to imagine visiting Mum without Carole. It would be depressing especially if Mum didn't start taking care of herself.
She made up her mind that her mum needed to see the doctor. She wasn't certain how to accomplish it. If her dad loved her mum then he'll convince her.
On Sunday, she kissed her mum goodbye and gave Charlie a hug. Carole was walking her to the station. Her father followed her out into the untended garden.
"I'm expecting you to come home now. Your doctor won't ever marry you. He'll take what he wants and leave you for one of his own kind," Henry said.
"Tim loves me. He intends to marry me. He's given me his late mother's ring. If you want to fret about something, how about Mum's health. She needs a doctor."
"Doctor! Did your fancy doctor tell you that? He needs to stay out of matters that are none of his concern. I don't like him one bit."
"I'm concerned for her. I love her. What's the harm in a visit to the surgery?"
"Best get your train back to the city. I don't want to be listening to your bossy attitude a minute longer."
She left feeling defeated. She wanted to be proven wrong, but all the same she had confidence in Tim's knowledge.
As they walked Carole asked, "What's wrong with Mum?"
"I don't know, but she isn't healthy. Are you really planning to leave her?" Julie asked.
"I'm going with Walter and he wants to go."
"When are you leaving?"
"When he's saved enough."
Julie's heart ached already.
Julie sat on the train staring out the window. If she closed her eyes she could imagine her life in two years. Setting out a dinner and Tim coming home. Curling up to him in the evening and caring for their children, a boy and a girl. What she couldn't imagine was her life for the next two years and that frightened her.