"Don't tell me you are going, I could not bare it if you are," Constance says launching herself at Jimmy was still drinking his morning coffee. The house was deserted his parents were at work, the children at school, and Mrs. Clarke was running errands.
The woman in question had meant to be at work as well, but instead, she is in his arms.
"What is wrong?" He asks knowing that she knows how he feels about the war.
"Caleb, Caleb told us that he is enlisting he's just a boy Jimmy! He just began his apprenticeship, but the army is a better source of pay, but from what I read they won't give him separation pay for Mother as I have been the one supporting them all these years…if he can't…then we can't…"
"What do you mean we can't? Connie…we have waiting for this day." Jimmy says taking a step from her. "If you don't want to get married…you don't have to make excuses."
"Excuses, I want nothing more to marry you, but you know that I have to think of my mother and little sisters James!" Her voice raises slightly.
"Your sisters are old enough to work after school now, and the war has kick-started the economy which means there are plenty of jobs and the rules about one job per family have been revoked, Constance. Hell, you can get married and still work if I allowed it could you not? I'll whatever note they need if they need it. It's not like I haven't seen a working woman before, hell I was raised by one practically if you could the amount of school I saw Rilla—Mom do over the years?"
"Really?" Constance looks up at him.
"Really Con, we can make it work some way, somehow," Jimmy says sighing. "But unless they send me off forcefully I am not going. I am not doing that to myself, or my family and least of all you." He pulls her into his embrace, kissing her forehead. "It will be okay, but I'll talk to Caleb maybe I can get him to wait a bit, finish his apprenticeship and work a bit. I don't know how it works but if he can prove that he supports your mother and sister for the year he might be able to get separation pay for them, especially if you're married to me in that time?"
"Would you?" Connie looks up at him. "I don't think he realizes what he's going into. I was born after the war of course, but I remember Pa's nightmares and how Mama would try and hide it from me until she couldn't. I don't want him to end up…" She stops talking, she doesn't like talking about the fact that her father had killed himself when she had been younger. Leaving a wife to support three children. Constance had learned to balance school and work long hours or work after it to help her mother and her sibling survive during the depression. Then she managed to become a morality officer when she was eighteen before the whole thing was turned into the office of social workers that worked within police stations.
"I'll see what I can do," Jimmy nods his head and draws her closer to him. He kisses her before he pulls her into the house and up the stairs toward the attic.
"Your parents," she breathes. He's already unbuttoning her blouse.
"Are at work, and the kids are at school, what they don't know won't hurt them," he says not caring at this moment. Sure they had one rule for him No premarital relations in the house, they weren't that sort of house. Outside of the house, it was his life, inside was another story, but the house had children in it, and they didn't want them walking in on anything that couldn't be easily explained in the confines of marriage.
They weren't home though, and the wanting need was strong. Their clothes came off and her hair escaped its combs. They fall on his bed, her in his lap, sunlight highlighting her body through the windows of the attic room he had. The curve of her waist and hips memorized him, and he lost all comprehension until much later when she curled up into him, taking her post-coital cat nap.
"What's going on up here?" Ken says from the doorway of the attic announcing himself and the two people who were lying in bed half naked. It takes a moment for them to wake up enough to realize.
"Shit," Jimmy says looking at the clock as he made sure Connie was covered.
"Shit indeed," Ken says with a raised eyebrow. "Kids will be home soon, I suggest you make yourself presentable, and not let your mother find you up here as you are. You know the rules."
"Of course, my apologies," Jimmy says as Connie hides in the blankets blushing deep red.
"I can never show my face here again," she hisses at him.
"It's fine Connie, he doesn't care," Jimmy, tells her trying to make her feel better. Though even that was a guess. Ken liked rules and structure, one thing he retained from his time in the army even if he would never admit it.
"Jimmy had Connie upstairs this afternoon," Ken tells his wife as she changes out of her hospital clothes.
"Did he? That's unusual for them I wonder if she came over without warning," Rilla hums as she pulls the combs from her hair as she sits in her underthings at her vanity.
"Probably, I warned him to be presentable by the time the kids come home," Ken replies.
'I mean we don't mind his relationship, but that doesn't mean we want it happening within our house and he knows that?" Rilla nods her head. "You didn't scare him did you?"
"I may have alluded that you would be angry at them canoodling as they are," Ken says with a crooked grin.
"Oh, I would be angry?" Rilla raises an eyebrow at him. "Sure make me the bad cop parent." She rolls her eyes.
"And if Clara had come early and burst into his room it be a whole other conversation," Ken reminds her as he watches the window, to see Jimmy now outside with his girlfriend. "He's walking her home again," Ken says gruffly. "That skirt is truly indecent," he says under his breath.
"Who is walking who home?" Rilla asks as reaches for one of her house dresses and pulls it on and does up the zipper. "Where is Clara though?" She asks out loud as you could see their youngest appear with their son, riding on the handlebars of his bicycle. Which she did not approve of either.
They were all unbothered by the news of war now, too young to worry about it when no one seemed to be going from their little family.
"He's a nice boy Ken, leave them be," Rilla tells him, patting her cheek. "She's fourteen this weekend remember that."
"Trust me I remember," Ken says grumbling. "To mature for her age."
"Yet she still calls you Daddy," Rilla reminds him. "She's still very much a little girl underneath it all."
Rowena's Fourteenth Birthday came much faster than Ken could ever imagine. He remembers her when she was younger, toothless and with wild hair. Now she was wearing make-up and looking more and more like a young woman that she quickly became.
She's still sleeping, in floral pyjamas with bloomer bottoms as one leg is outside of the blankets. Hair in curlers and some sort of green cream spotted on her face.
"Happy Birthday," he whispers kissing her forehead. He's done this for as long as he could remember. Years ago when she was a child he would cuddle with her, these days it's more about breakfast in bed. He waits a moment, as she stirs before he lets her present dangle in front of her
She opens her hazel eyes looking up at him, eyes, adjusting to the swinging pendant.
"You got it!" She clammers as she tangles in the blankets trying to sit up in bed and reach for it at the same time. A gold heart locket with a painted porcelain stone, with etched vines around it.
"Don't I get a Thank you?" Ken says pulling it back.
"Thank you, Daddy!" She says and turns around as he slips the chain over her head. It takes him back slightly, to how grown up she was, yet still clearly very much had years of maturing left.
"I can't believe you're fourteen, it feels like yesterday I caught you in my hands, screaming at me with your little red face," Ken says with a long sigh.
"I know, you tell me this every year," Rowena rolled her eyes slightly.
"Well of course," Ken grins. "I have to remind you of it so you never forget it for the future one day when you're angry at me over something."
"Dad," Rowena rolls her eyes and waves for him to move and he doesn't move. "Please! I need to go pee," she tells him and Ken chuckles lightly and moves to stand up
"Breakfast is waiting," Rilla says from the doorway still in her robe. "There are pancakes."
"Who made them?" Rowena asks cautiously,
"Oh come off it," Rilla chides her. "You know well enough that I leave the cooking to others, come your siblings are waiting and you have more presents downstairs." Rilla tries to hurry her along. She catches her daughter though before she can pass through the doorway and kisses the top of her head, "Happy Birthday Rowena."
"Thank you, Mum! But I need to pee!" She says skipping to the bathroom.
There is a course of Happy Birthday for the birthday girl when she arrives in the kitchen. Pancakes are piled high on a platter, along with jams and syrups and breakfast meats.
"Open mine first!" Clara exclaims scampering from Jimmy's lap to go pick up the wrapped box. "Mummy helps me wrap it."
"Thank you," Rowena says taking it, she opens it carefully completely unsure what her little sister might have gotten her. In the end, it's a set of new curlers and a silk scarf in pink of course.
"Mummy helped me pick it out as well!" Clara chirps.
"And pay for it," Oliver says as he reaches for his and hands it over to his sister.
"And you paid this on your own?" Rowena raises one of her arched eyebrows.
"Course, I have a paper route do I not?" He says simply and watches his sister open the gift. It was delicate silk ribbons and threads with a few new patterns. "You said you ran out."
"I did, this is perfect," Rowena says nodding her head.
"All right, all right eat while it's hot," Mrs. Clarke tells the children sitting down at her spot at the table after placing a stack of sprinkle-laden pancakes at the birthday girl's spot. She doesn't always set down with the family, but birthdays of the children she always seemed to take a moment with them. Though later that afternoon she was leaving for a wedding out of town.
"Thank you, Mrs. Clarke!" Rowena chants reaching for the whipped cream and jam.
Rowena was still licking her finger when Jimmy produced an envelope and a small box long narrow box. "The card is from me, and the gift is actually from Connie," he tells her explaining ignoring the look that Rilla gave him.
She opens the card first, it's a pretty card and has a lovely message in it, but inside there are tickets to see a show.
"Swan Lake! You're taking me to see Swan Lake," She says rushing to hug him.
thank you thank you," she says bouncing on her heels.
"Open the other one," Jimmy says shaking his head amused and she starts tearing at the table.
"Perfume samples! Oh, tell her thank you!" She hugs him again, not noticing the look her mother gives Jimmy.
"Perfume Jimmy?" Rilla asks later on, once alone in the kitchen as the children left to go change for the day.
"Connie thought it would be nice for her to find a youthful, age-appropriate scent," Jimmy says shrugging. "She's fourteen, you let her wear light scents already I didn't see the harm in it?"
"You know if you just made a means to an end with the situation it wouldn't be as hush-hush," Rilla tells him. "Instead you come home at random hours smelling like Chanel, pretending like you were at work. "
"There are things to consider and figure out before we even think about setting a date," Jimmy tells her gruffly not telling them about the conversation that was happening behind closed doors between him and Connie. "I'm twenty-five I don't see the point of rushing down the aisle. Even you and Dad weren't married by the time he was twenty-five."
"Well, there was this thing called a war happening," she gives him a look. "And before that well, it wouldn't have been allowed anyway." She reminds him.
"I can't believe you got a copy of Gone with the Wind," Rilla says shaking her head in disbelief as Ken sets up the projector in the old basement of the magazine. The girls were camped out on the floor with pillows and blankets, dressed in birthday dresses.
"I work for a magazine, I have connections and if they want a review of it I need to see it," Ken says with a grin.
"Well, I cannot wait to zee it," Lillian says settling down on one of the sofas.
"At least that makes one of us," Shirley says under his breath. "How did I get stuck watching it if Jasper is with Ollie watching Clara and Phoebe?" He asks as Carl and Marianne had come for the movie as well.
"I am asking myself the same thing," Carl says. "Are you sure the little kids are fine?"
"Between Oliver and Jasper they'll be more than fine and Jimmy will be around as well," Rilla tells them.
"Clarke Gable is dashing isn't he," Rowena says sighing deeply when they get back to Oleander End.
"Really Roe, Ashely is a much better choice," Elodie says matter-of-factly.
"Neither of them are, Wade her first husband is the dreamiest," Lunette says dreamily. "Though Clarke isn't half bad even if he is old."
"He isn't old," Rowena counters back. "He is no older than Dad."
"You hear that Rilla," Shirley snickers. "Rowena truly is your twin."
"I heard it," Ken grumbles. "She is no longer allowed to date ever."
"The more you restrict her, the more she will fight you on it," Rilla tells him. "It's a crush on a movie star dear. It isn't real."
"I mean…that whole film isn't real…let alone interesting?" Carl whispers to Shirley and Ken who both look at him and silently agree.
"Daddy!" Phoebe comes running towards Carl. "Can Clara and I ride ponies one day after school?"
"We'll see," Carl laughs looking over at Rilla.
"Well, I am going to light up the fire pit," Ken says standing up, patting his pocket for his cigarettes to the men who nod their heads.
"But cake!" Rowena shouts out.
"I think we can wait a few minutes for cake," Ken says chuckling and moving to kiss the top of her head.
"Well, don't take too long, Tante Lily says she'll pierce my ears for me!" Rowena says grinning and skipping her away.
"Pardon she will do what?" Ken's voice boomed in surprise.
"Earrings Daddy, you know that Mom said you agreed to it!" Rowena bounces in excitement as Ken looks at his wife with no recollection of her mentioning it at all to him.
"I told you before bed one night, you thought it was a lovely idea," Rilla says with a cheeky smile.
"It doesn't count if I'm half asleep or spent," Ken whispers shaking his head and kissing her swiftly.
Rilla merely grins at him and goes towards the women.
"It always counts, how do you think I got that new kitchen," Marianne says quietly to the other women.
"Or those shoes I saw in the window," Lillian adds with a smirk.
"But isn't that wrong?" Elodie asks raising an eyebrow and hearing the older woman. "Wouldn't that be cheating the system?"
"One day sweetheart, you will be married and realize the same thing we all have," Rilla wraps her arm around her niece's shoulder. "If you want anything from a man you have to find the most opportune moment to ask for it."
"Yes, the man may be head of the house, but the woman is the neck which controls the head," Marianne explains.
"But Papa…," Elodie says objecting.
"You'll understand one day Cherie," Lilian chuckles and pulls her daughter to her. "Lunette cherie, Do you want yours done as well as we are doing this?"
"You want to me stick needles into my ear lobes? Merci Non," she says shaking her head from her spot near her brother.
"Can I have one?" Jasper asks, " I can be like a pirate or a sailor?"
"You're not getting an earring," Shirley barks from the outside, clearly hearing his son. "Earrings are for girls, or la feé's," he adds on in French.
Rilla looks at her brother sharply through the screen of the window. "Pardon?"
"What?" Shirley replies gruffly. "He's not getting an earring."
Rilla eyes narrow at him and shows her disapproving feeling for her brother. . "Cake is ready so quit the smoking and come sing happy birthday all of you."
The men sigh and squash their darts and head back inside where Rilla is waiting with the pink cake that only needed candles to be lit.
They go through the ritual and Rilla cuts the cake and gives the first pieces to her daughter and hands out the rest.
"Mom, did you make this?" Rowena asks face blanching.
"Of course I did," Rilla says. "It tasted fine and I followed the recipe and the scrapes," she says as she looks around to see everyone suddenly weary of the cake. She takes a piece for herself and takes a bite.
The taste hit her mouth.
"I swear it tasted just fine last night when I made it," Rilla sighs defeated by the cake and sits down in a chair. Gloria had asked for the weekend off to see a friend and Rilla gladly let her have the time. She was always welcome in family celebrations of course, but she had friends and family of her own.
"It's fine," Marianne speaks up. "You tried that is all that matters."
"Mummy, next time it's my birthday can you just buy me a cake," Clara says coming to sit on her lap.
"I mean, it's not a birthday unless mom tries to make something and it doesn't turn out," Oliver says grinning.
"Hey, that's your mother," Uncle Shirley warns his nephew. "Though it is a true statement," he grins at his sister.
"Oh, Thank you," Rilla glares at him. "Anyone else going to tease me?"
"I mean if you're asking I can bring up…" Jimmy starts but sees shoot him a look. "Or not." He says looking down at his teacup.
"Wait what happened?" Rowena looks at her mother. "It can't have been that bad?"
"Yes! Tell us please!" The cousins join in for a chorus.
"Well if there is no cake can we walk down and get ice cream?" Rowena asks looking at her father.
"How about I run out and grab a few pints and come back?" Ken says looking at the clock. "I feel like your Aunt and Mother had other things they wish to get over and down with."
"Oh right!" She says.
"Well, I got chocolate, vanilla and strawberry for safe choices," Ken begins as he stops to watch his wife and brother in laws wife sterilize needles as he comes back with a large box. "You waited for me, didn't you? This is barbaric."
"Really Ken? She wants her ears pierced she's fourteen and it's a lot better for me to do it for her than for her to sleep over at one of her friend's places and do it in the middle of the night," Rilla hushes him. "I have earrings, and Mother and Susan did it the same way in the kitchen when I was her age and there was literally nothing to it."
"It still doesn't feel right," Ken huffs.
"Darling, how did you think ear piercing came about? They mysteriously appeared one day. No, we beg our mothers until they relent and then sit nervously until it's over with it."
"What if it becomes infected?" Ken counters as Marianne leans against the counter.
"Scoop some ice cream out will you, I am sure the kids are restless?"
"Oh they are," Marianne nods her head.
"Of course," Rilla nods her head to her friend before turning to her husband. "She's old enough to remember to clean the area until they are healed and not play with them. Seriously Ken you are overreacting, she asked for this. Lillian and I will do it at the same time so it will be two seconds of pain and then she will have her earrings." Rilla pats his shoulder. "Boys, do you think Rowena getting her ears pierced is barbaric?" She looks at her two sons.
Jimmy looks up from his spot and Oliver from his comic book. "I think they will suit her and will give her future husband something to buy for Christmas each year. It is a solid plan for women to have."
"Oh hush you," Rilla shakes her head at him.
"I just don't understand who thought sticking a needle through the ear lob was the best way to wear earrings," Oliver says. "But girls are strange."
"Oh really, weren't you complimenting Mindy King's earrings the other day," Rowena taunts her brother who flushes down his neck.
"All right are we ready?" Lillian asks and Rowena nods her head, while still holding pieces of ice to her ear.
"I can't watch this," Ken grumbles as Rilla takes one of the apple slices from the counter.
"Un, deux, trois," Lillian counts for them and with a deep breath from the ladies and the teenager the needles poked their way into the apple.
"You can breathe now," Rilla tells her husband teasingly. "Heavens your teenage daughter took it better than you."
"Earrings," Lillian asks and Lunette holds the plate they had placed the earrings after dosing them in alcohol.
Lillian carefully withdrew the needle and placed the earring in the new hole she had made. Screwing the back on before she moved to the other side.
"Tout fini ma Cherie," she tells her nieces and holds up a mirror. "Tres Magnifique!"
"Look, Daddy!" Rowena calls out grinning.
Ken only shakes his head. "They are lovely, even if barbaric."
"Can Elodie and Loon sleepover?" Rowena asks looking at her cousins.
Rilla looks towards her brother and then her husband, and both shrugs.
"Can Phoebe sleep over too!" Clara jumps in.
"Might as well make it an even group and have Jasper stay as well," Rilla says shaking her head. "If he wants anyway? I'm sure the boys won't mind bunking together in Oliver's room?"
Shirley...he's being a bit homophobic...yes he is because it's the 1930s. I don't take pleasure in writing such things because it is the time. I don't agree with him, but that is how he feels in this.