Chapter 6
Grace Mainwaring to Vanaver Mainwaring December 5, 1936
. . . As a Catholic, Honey has always had strong reservations about the Spanish Republic. She doesn't approve of my support for it or Mother's or Max's. However, we have maintained an uneasy truce. Max, Mother, and I agree that the Republic could have dealt less severely with the Church in the past and that the murders of hundreds of priests and nuns by its supporters at the beginning of the war were wrong. To Honey's credit, she is as sickened as we are by the fascists' massacres of civilians and prisoners of war in every village, town, and city they take, especially the crowning slaughter at Badajoz. The fact that the first people the fascists shoot on such occasions are public schoolteachers like Max may have influenced her thinking.
For the sake of family harmony, we have kept our disagreements on this issue civil since you joined the International Brigades. We have managed to avoid any heated arguments until today. Then the storm broke. . . It is late as I write this. The moon shining through my window is as lonesome as it was long ago when I gazed at it with a heart full of longing and wondered if I would ever find my true love. I can't help but miss you. . .
From the Journal of Honey Sutton December 5, 1936
It's bad enough that Grace intends to campaign in New Bedford for the Canadian Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy. I can't believe that she persuaded Max to join her or that Max let himself be persuaded. What kind of a democracy murders people for practicing their religion? Even if Grace is right in saying that the government of the Republic has reined in the Communist and Anarchist militias since the summer, its anticlerical policies are largely responsible for inflaming their hatred of the Church in the first place. What kind of Catholic home do I have where the father openly supports such a government?
Not that Franco and his cronies are any better, no matter what the Catholic Register says. There are too many stories of their crimes from too many reliable witnesses and correspondents for me to believe otherwise. Besides, people who claim to be defenders of religion shouldn't have a persecutor of religion like Hitler for an ally. It seems to me that there is no right side in this war. I understand that Grace wants to support her husband, but she can write to him and send him comforts like any other wife with a husband at war. After the blazing fight we had today over the issue, I'm not looking forward to facing her at Sunday dinner.
May Bailey to Jessie Buchanan December 9, 1936
The preparations for Archie and Toppy's wedding are proving a strong spur to a lot of people to put aside their differences starting with me. I wouldn't have thought that anything could persuade me to accept the presence of Bob's hussy at the affair. However, Grace dug in her heels on the subject. I can hear her now. "Toppy wants her daughter to attend her wedding. Doris isn't coming without her father and Bob isn't coming without his wife. You will write to Bob telling him that you want to mend fences. When he and his wife come here, you will smile and behave yourself. You will be gracious and welcoming. No matter what you think of Bob's wife, you will make her feel like part of the family because that is what she is now whether we like it or not."
I protested that she was a woman of low morals who had an affair with Bob while he was still married to Toppy. I couldn't possibly associate with someone like her and hold my head up. Grace gave me a stare colder than some of the winters John and I lived through in our prospecting days. I couldn't believe what she said next. "You will associate with her and you will hold your head up no matter how much this hurts your precious pride. Toppy's wedding will be a special day for her. I won't let you ruin it with childishness and resentment. If you try, I will have Juanita announce that you aren't feeling well and wheel you away. You will spend the rest of the day in your room until it's over."
I was so shocked that all I could do was blurt out "you wouldn't."
Grace refused to yield an inch. She warned me in a tone that brooked no argument not to put her to the test. I know when someone is trying to overawe me by bluff and bluster. Grace wasn't. As sure as I am putting pen to paper now, she meant every word.
"I know this is hard for you," she said in a kinder tone, "but it's even harder for Toppy. You should have heard some of the things she said about that woman when she was crying on my shoulder during the divorce. If she can tolerate her for the good of this family, then so can you."
I couldn't argue with Grace on that point. I promised that I would make peace with Bob and be civil with his wife for Toppy's sake and I am not one to break my promises. There was a time that Grace would never have dared speak to me like that. I have no idea where she learned to be so stubborn and unreasonable. I will have to admit that Grace is at least trying to practice what she preaches. You can feel the chill when she and Honey are in a room together, but they manage to be polite to each other and a good thing too. It wouldn't do to have Toppy's matron of honor and one of her bridesmaids at each other's throats. I feel sorry for Max. It can't be easy for him being caught in the middle between his wife and his friend.
Vanaver Mainwaring to Grace Mainwaring December 10, 1936
We are in New York. Soon, we will be on our way to Spain. Will says his mother appreciates the sage tea you brought from Roolie for her rheumatism.
. . . I have met some of the American volunteers for the International Brigades. I have to admit I wasn't very impressed. Most of them are straight out of college and not much older than Will. It was fun to see these campus Communists gawp at the Canadians. This may be the first time some of them have met actual proletarians. Still, I should give them a fair chance. From what Father told me, the collegians he served with in the Rough Riders gave a pretty good account of themselves, even the ones from Harvard. . . It's strange that the moon seems lonesome to you. I find it comforting in its serenity. The thought that its pale light shines down on us both makes me feel closer to you.
Grace Mainwaring to Sally Henry December 10, 1936
. . . I was sitting in my chair at Honey's beauty salon waiting for my hair to dry when Althea Bridgeman came in for her own appointment. If the three of us hadn't been the only ones in the place, I don't think she would have asked Honey if it were true that Max was considering raising money for the Spanish Republic. Honey coolly told her to ask me. I'm the one who's working with him on that.
It's a good thing that we women don't have to shave our faces. The way things are between Honey and me right now, I'm not sure that I'd trust her with a razor at my throat. What Mrs. Bridgeman had to tell me wasn't any help. Apparently, her husband and more than a few respectable citizens of New Bedford don't approve of what Max, Archie, Mother and I are proposing. Right now, it isn't more than talk, but she isn't sure what will happen if we take action.
From the Journal of Honey Sutton December 11, 1936
Hub tells me that according to Laura Bridgeman, her parents had a heated discussion over whether or not they should even attend Archie and Toppy's wedding. To her credit, Mrs. Bridgeman made it clear that she would be attending as Toppy's bridesmaid whether Mr. Bridgeman went or not. Mr. Bridgeman grudgingly backed down. Laura isn't too pleased with what Grace, Max, and Archie are planning either, but thinks that her mother is right to stand by her friend.
Max admitted that Mr. Grady had given him a similar warning to the one Mrs. Bridgeman gave Grace, only not as friendly. I'm afraid that we had sharp words over what he and Grace are planning. It just isn't worth the chance of endangering his job. It hurts so much to fight with Max like this, especially since he isn't trying to do harm. He honestly believes that he's protecting all of us from a real threat to civilization. I have no love for Franco, Mussolini, or Hitler, but I just don't believe that they are as dangerous as he thinks they are or that it's our responsibility to stop them.
Grace Mainwaring to Vanaver Mainwaring December 15, 1936
. . . I am glad that you were able to see your sister and younger brother again and that they understand that you are turning over a new leaf. After spending over a decade with no contact with my brother Jack, I know how much it means to you to reunite with them after all this time. I am sorry that Jane was unable to bring her children to meet you. Nieces and nephews are some of life's greatest joys.
. . . Mother's progress in recovering from her stroke is amazing. She is walking for longer and longer periods before returning to her chair. In a month or two, she won't need the chair at all. Juanita has done wonders for her. We will miss her wry wisdom when, as seems likely, she leaves us in a few months to nurse a new patient. Her trustworthiness and discretion since the summer have been a blessing to this family. Both she and Maisie are tremendously impressed by Norman Bethune's recent work in Spain, particularly his innovation of mobile blood transfusion units to save lives on the battlefield. Max, Archie, Hal Lane, Mother, and I are already planning to raise funds for one once the wedding is over and Archie has returned from his honeymoon.
Grace Mainwaring to Sally Henry December 17, 1936
. . . Sunday dinner was interesting. We had Jim Flett and his son Pritchard as guests. I found myself in the middle of a squabble between Pritchard and Fat, I mean Henry. I keep forgetting that he doesn't want to be called by his old nickname anymore. Henry was teasing Pritchard about his love of what H.G. Wells would call scientific romance although Pritchard prefers the new term science fiction. I don't think I helped things by pointing out to Henry that he went through a ray guns and bug-eyed-monsters phase of his own not so long ago. Pritchard took exception to hearing his favorite reading described in those terms. He informed me that while there is an element of fantasy in science fiction, authors like Stanley G. Weinbaum and Murray Leinster primarily speculate on the effect of new technology and new discoveries on humanity.
Unfortunately, Henry and Pritchard haven't been on the best of terms since they both fell head over heels for Rebecca Graham. Rebecca has decided that the situation is like something out of a romantic movie where two dashing suitors vie for the hand of the glamorous heroine. She has been absolutely shameless in making the most of it. I don't think she means any harm. She just likes the attention. She reminds me of another slightly daffy redheaded teenager I knew in high school who always had two or three beaus on her string. Today, Marjorie Behan is Marjorie Jefferson and a loyal and loving wife to my dear friend Ollie. Hopefully, Rebecca will turn out just as well in the end.
Bob and his wife and Doris arrived here yesterday. They are staying at the New Bedford Inn although Mother was generous enough, with a little prodding, to offer to put them up. However, the refusal of the invitation was polite. When they came over for dinner, Mother managed to avoid showing more than mild discomfort and Bob held his temper rather than take umbrage. Diana proved to be the pleasant person I remembered from our two previous meetings. Her genuine affection for Bob and his for her couldn't have been more obvious. Hopefully she will be a better wife to him than he was a husband to Toppy.
Doris was dressed to the nines and looking every moment as though she desperately wanted to be someplace less shabby and provincial like a Siberian coal mine or a leper colony. I didn't doubt that the glamour of her wardrobe had a lot to do with her milking her father's guilt over the divorce for all it was worth. Of course, she has been wrapping him around her little finger since she was five.
She was barely polite to Archie and pointedly ignored Juanita. She told me afterwards that she couldn't believe that Toppy was marrying a dreary, commonplace pharmacist. She knows that her grandparents came from modest beginnings, but surely the family has risen above trade by now. I wanted to slap her. Instead, I explained to her that Archie was an honest, thoughtful, goodhearted man who loved her mother very much. If she were lucky, maybe she would have a husband like him one day.
She actually had the nerve to say that someone whose husband left her to go to war when he didn't have to shouldn't be talking about marriage. I admit that I was a little short with her. I told her that a spoiled brat who has never worked a day in her life, constantly disregards others' feelings, and thinks that she can get whatever she wants by wheedling and whining shouldn't be talking to anyone about anything. I had no idea that Mother was in the kitchen doorway until I heard a firm "well said, Grace" coming from behind me.
"Come with me, Doris." she continued darkly. "We need to have a talk with your father about your behavior tonight."
I don't know what Mother told Bob or what both of them told Doris but it must have been effective given that Doris apologized to me the next day.
Next Post: A wedding. Grace makes a decision.
