Chapter Four: Plan in Motion
Malcolm and Joyce brought Audrey back home the following morning. The girl nervously looking at her parents as she walked back in. Robert looked at Malcolm as he wondered what he was going to say. He suggested that they all sit down and talk about what they all know. Nancy could barely look her friends in the eye as she wondered what they must think of her. She didn't bring Audrey up to think something like this would be alright. All five of them sat on the couch as Malcolm nervously tried to phase his words, wanting everybody to be happy but especially his wife.
"So me and Joyce know that Audrey's got into a spot of trouble. She told us last night and we spoke about it among ourselves afterwards. Nobody wants to have an illegitimate child in the family. You know me and Joyce have wanted a child and we have the solution. We will adopt this child" Malcolm nervously began but he could see Audrey looking unsure.
"I'm so sorry. I never been more ashamed to call myself a mother...Please forgive me but you speak about it in such a casual manner. I'm deeply ashamed of her and this is the last thing I expected of a daughter of mine. The fact you aren't laying the law down to us but coming up with solutions is unbearable. Please tell me your true feelings" Nancy responded with disbelief.
"We aren't going to pretend that we aren't as disgusted as you but that's not going to help the baby. I have wished for a baby for so long, Nancy. You know I had my own and God took him away from this world too soon. Now I feel as if your troubles are the answer to my prayers. God made this child for us" Joyce spoke up with slight desperation in her voice.
The teenage girl looked to the floor in quiet disbelief. That wasn't she saw it and she wanted to tell her that.
"This is my baby. And I didn't agree to any of this last night...Please mother, I didn't agree to this" Audrey suddenly began pleading as she gripped onto her mother's cold hand but felt her mother pull away in disgust.
"Thank you, Joyce. You're being very reasonable about this" Nancy told her as she ignored her daughter's pleas.
"I don't agree" Audrey said in tears as she felt herself being ignored already.
She looked towards her father but he just looked down. He was ashamed and could barely look anybody in the eye. He felt that the good rapport he built with Malcolm had just been for nothing. He had a fallen girl for a daughter, that might not be strictly true but it's how the street may see them. What father doesn't teach his fifteen year old daughter right from wrong?
"We will give the baby everything that it needs. I have a very good wage coming through and it's only going up the harder I work. This will be a difficult separation but it's for your own good. You do this, Audrey. And you won't have to tell anybody else what you have done. You can move on and live as if this never took place" Malcolm tried to say as he did feel sorry for the girl having no say.
"How can anybody live like this never took place? I'm already sick-"
"Audrey! You be quiet and don't you dare think you still have any right to speak after what you did. You little filthy shrew!" Robert snapped as he pointed his finger towards her.
Making her cower again as she shut her mouth. Joyce was slightly concerned as she didn't want any harm to come to her while she was carrying the baby she wanted. So she hoped Audrey would agree sooner rather than later. The girl just breathed in and was trying to hold in her tears.
"Robert. Do you agree with this solution?" Malcolm asked him as he tried to bring peace again.
"I do agree. I'm just sad it's come to this, Malcolm. The shame I feel is too much for me to bear. And the fact that you and Joyce are willing to solve this issue for us is a Godsend. Audrey will agree to this because if she doesn't, she's out on her ear" Robert promised.
Audrey was sitting in silence but she was screaming inside. She just got up and ran upstairs in floods of tears. Leaving the four adults in the room together as they were silent for a while. Malcolm remained stern looking as he could sense his wife just wanting a yes answer. She didn't care about Audrey's feelings, she just wanted the baby and that was it. The friendship between her and Nancy couldn't survive as it would get too personal and heated too quickly.
"I will speak with her and make her see it's for best. Now if you excuse me, I have to go myself unless I say something I can't take back" Nancy remarked as the more she spoke about it; the harder it got.
She too departed and made her way upstairs. Malcolm felt terrible, he wasn't even keen himself on this. He knew the emotions would be too high and they were, the Potter family were very emotional people. Robert sitting there silently as he felt he was the only one left who could make the final decision. Malcolm put her hand out to him as if he was striking a deal. Robert however looked at his hand and felt rather insulted as he didn't see it that way.
"I'm not shaking your damn hand, Malcolm. This is my grandchild, not my house" Robert hissed.
"I didn't mean to offend. It's a mere gesture so we agree to this very difficult decision without it being in writing"
"Just get out of my house. I'll speak about to it my wife and my...Well, go on then" Robert responded while refusing to shake on it.
The Reid couple could sense the moment was gone. So Malcolm just put his arm around his wife and left, saying a brief goodbye before leaving through the front door and going back to their own house.
...
The Reid couple told their respective families that Joyce was expecting again not long after this agreement. Cousin Eunice Reid was the first member to come round. A rather large woman (in her mid-twenties by this point) came to the street. Though she wasn't suppose to until the birth, she came all the way from Heswall. She gave a knock at the door and a surprised Joyce opened it. Eunice giving a wide grin as she invited herself in, making herself comfortable on the couch.
"You aren't suppose to be here this yet. I'm in confinement...I don't want anyone me seeing in this state" Joyce nervously uttered.
"Oh. You don't look awful, Joyce. You look the same as you always do and ever will do"
"Eunice. I got a good mind to be offended"
"I came here to see if what Malcolm said was true. About you expecting another baby because well, you are at an age where it's quite surprising"
"And you came all the way here to tell me that?"
"I would have telephoned but I prefer speaking face to face. Besides, I like shopping in Manchester and thought I would treat myself to the sights. Still looks like another world does Manchester but I suppose when you move to Canada. Manchester will look like Heswall"
"You're a rude woman"
"But a right one, right?"
"We are adopting if you must know. Nobody else was rude enough to inquire further but you just had to stick your two shillings in, didn't you? I suppose you think this baby won't be a real Reid either. That's what Malcolm tells me"
"We think he should have married younger too but the heart wants what it wants. I'll cut to the chase as I want a walk on the canal before returning home. Malcolm is doing all this for you. He wishes you could give him a baby of his own again but this will have to do. I won't say anything to the rest of the family but they do already know deep down. You're thirty-seven going on thirty-eight, you're not fooling anybody"
"Goodbye Eunice. If you don't mind, I'd like you to see yourself out so I can get on with my housework and you can get on with your business" Joyce responded. She was deeply hurt.
She turned away as she heard her husband's cousin getting up again and leaving. She really did come all this way just to tell her what the Reid family thinks.
...
As for Audrey during this, she found herself being put in the local 'maternity house' for unwed mothers. She had befriended another girl during this as they shared one of the rooms. Some of these young mothers were so clueless that they drank or smoked during their pregnancies. Audrey never did that but she felt tempted for a drink at times as she walked around the house during breaks. Her upcoming exams being the only thing she could focus on that wasn't her baby and what will happen to it once it's born. The Reids were taking it whether she liked it or not, weren't they? It made her feel sick. She was currently studying for her O-Levels but couldn't focus as she slammed the book back down. Her friend and fellow teenager unwed mother (a girl not much older called Carol) looked up...
"Audrey. You have to stop this...Besides, you're lucky you know where your baby is going after this. I have no idea where mine is going" Carol spoke up as she knew that's what she was thinking about (it's what all the girls in here thought about most).
"I hate them and wish I never told them"
"You said Malcolm and Joyce were good people-"
"They are but I can still hate them. I know they only mean well but it's breaking me apart. I feel things I didn't even think I would feel, I felt the baby kicking last night and I just felt an overwhelming sense to run away. How can I give it up if I'm already forming a bond before it's even born?"
"I feel nothing towards mine yet. My advice is to think of it as a problem rather your own. It does make it eaiser...That baby has made you have to give up everything for nine months. Doesn't that make you feel angry?"
"No. It makes me feel guilty...Surely there's somebody I can talk to? It's not illegal to be an unwed mother. I can change my mind before it's in writing, can't I? What if I speak to Geoff Masters? Force him to marry me"
"You could but consider the stigma. I thought about everything you thought about but my mother told me it's silly to dwell on it"
"I'm sixteen. I can marry him if I wished to"
"Oh yes. I'm sure this Geoff Masters would love it if you just escaped from this house for fallen woman and asked him to marry you. Wake up, Audrey. No man wants that. You will just be a shame he wants to hide" Carol responded as if they were no question about it.
That's what the father of her baby said to her. So why should Audrey's baby's father be any different?
"I'm going to help decorate the tree" Audrey just spoke up in a huff as she went into the main living area.
This was during the Christmas season by this point as well. Audrey sat down in the living area as she really wanted an excuse to get away from Carol's pessimism.
...
With a mere two months to go. The Reid couple had began to buy things for the nursey and thus the secret was out on their behalf. Malcolm bumped into his old friend Robert (who he now barely talks to besides when it concerns the baby) while carrying a package which contained the cot. He went to say sorry until he saw who it was and a rather awkward silence followed on this cold December afternoon. Malcolm sucking under his breath as he carefully placed the box down.
"Robert-"
"No. You had to buy sooner or later, I won't begrudge you for it. Looks expensive but I expect everything in the nursey will be with your wages. When our Audrey was born, all she got was a space in the cupboard"
"Joyce wanted this. You know she's getting on a bit in terms of childbearing years and well, we can solve both our problems with this. How is Audrey?"
"Hardly talking but I suspect she's secretly hating us and you. She won't talk anymore and keeps me giving me glares whenever I bring up your name. She won't tell me who the father is neither. Just somebody in her class she says but she dare not say a name. Probably because she knows I would leather him"
"Well that's expected I suppose. Joyce is really excited and keeps coming up with names. She's keen on a boy. We're thinking Alfred or John...Sorry, you don't want to hear that. My family doesn't either. My cousin Eunice has been the only one blunt enough to point out that it's obvious the baby isn't Joyce's and everybody knows it"
"But they won't know it's Audrey's and that's the main thing"
"Yes. That goes without saying...Look I best get this cot in, have a lovely Christmas" Malcolm replied with a faint smile.
Picking up the box again and walking up his path with a wistful Robert looking on. This was hitting him harder than he would ever let on. His first grandchild this was but he could never take it out or be called 'grandpa'. He would have to watch Malcolm and Joyce bring it up from the sidelines. He could see the light from the doorway as an excited Joyce welcomed Malcolm in. She was already knitting little baby clothes and hats for February.
"The most expensive one in the shop, honey. I told them...I wish for the most expensive cot in the shop. One good enough for royalty. It's wooden and it set me back forty-eight pounds but any child of ours will have the best. They call it de luxe" Malcolm spoke up cheerfully to his wife.
"Blimey! I didn't know cots could cost this much money. Don't be silly with our money though please"
"No I'm not. I cut down on my cigars and my nice suits for this, so don't worry"
"Well I can't argue with you then, can I? I noticed Robert looking at us, how is the girl these days?"
"The girl? Audrey deserves to be called by her name, Joyce. Audrey isn't doing fine but what can we expect? She's giving us the most precious thing a woman can have, she's very upset I imagine"
"Stop it please"
"Stop what?"
"Talking about her like she's the mother. I'm going to be the mother...She won't get a look in. That little tart that she is. And I'm sorry for saying it however what can she expect? She goes to bed for fun and doesn't even wish to glance at the so-called father again. That's something only tarts do...Oh the thought of my baby being inside her for another two months makes me want to weep"
"Audrey is a young girl who made a mistake with a boy she liked. And she's suffering the consequences for it now. I was barely much older when I wed you my darling, I know how it feels to be young. It's just that I was smart enough to get wed first, not everybody thinks that far ahead"
"Well they should! Just keep her name away from my house. Just take the cot to the nursey and fix it up for me" Joyce demanded as she was tearing her hair out slightly from talking about that girl.
Malcolm nodding with a sigh as he picked the cot back up. He went to give his wife a kiss but she turned away. Making him just scoff in disbelief as he began walking up the stairs, down the hall and into the nursery.
...
TBC