In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) (6 page)

Confused she lay in bed and looked out of the window at the frosty night sky. Her thoughts drifted back to factory and in a couple of hours she would be back in the freezing cold and on her way to work. Drifting unconsciously in and out of sleep a small smile rose to her lips, pulling the cover’s over her head she sighed deeply.

” At least he’s better than John.” After all the events of the last two days she knew more answers would come in the morning but for now it was time to sleep.

Chapter 5

Jeanie couldn’t wait for this day to come and finally Ivy was on her way home with the baby. Jeanie could not wait tell her what had been happening especially keeping the intricate details of the night she left the hospital safe for the evenings deluge.

  The whole house was alive with excitement and Irene was pounding around screaming at every one as the panic took over like a rat infestation. Hot sweats and palpitations over a new baby was enough to send her into mild hysteria and the rest of the girls where just about underperforming enough for her to blow a gasket.

   Jeanie had borrowed the car from the barracks as the last thing she wanted to do was bring a new baby home in a dirty rusty old van. Jeanie was fit to burst and her heart jumped into her throat as she pulled up at the main entrance.

  Ivy was waiting anxiously and the thought of going home both filled her with excitement and dread.

“Can’t wait to get home, that place was driving me insane!” Jeanie laughed as she helped her into the car. Jumping back into the front seat Ivy looked at Jeanie with purpose as she was glowing. She had never seen her sister so excited or happy over anything for such a long time.

   Ivy stayed silent until they reached the bottom of the hospital drive cocking her head on one side she looked at her sister through the mirror,

“You stayed didn’t you… I told you Jayne.”

“Who’s Jayne?” Ivy scrunched her nose up unable to comprehend the outburst, “The baby…anyway, I didn’t think you would what happened I want all the details…”

   Jeanie held out her hand to display the blue sparking rock which lay upon her finger,

“He proposed! When, how tell me.” The excitement was too much and Ivy gasped with delight at her sister’s news.

” Well I had my usual I think you’ve got the wrong person episodes and he bent down on one knee told me I was incredible and proposed. I ended up staying the night, all night and you know. Anyway, I saw him the day after I had a bit of flap again about are you sure it’s me he shouted at me and said again you’re incredible and proposed again. See long story short… how am I going to broach this with mum!!!”

   Pulling up at the junction Jeanie lay her head on the steering wheel as if the sentence had taken every breath out of her body.

“She’s going to kill me I’m going to get the speech again about being the sole earner for the family and I have duties and responsibilities blah blah blah… I wouldn’t desert any of you. You know that!!”

   Ivy leant over the seat and put her hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry it will all be ok trust me.”

Within one sigh they drove through the centre of town and the beautiful crisp white snow had made the place look like a Christmas post card. Children played in the streets and a thousand snowmen had appeared propping up nearly every garden wall. Snowball fights had become a village sport and even through the cold the streets felt alive with energy. Ivy held the baby close.

“I miss your daddy I hope he’s ok?” as she whispered under her breath to the infant who was sound asleep Jeanie smiled at her in the mirror and continued to take the pair home where an eager Grandmother and equally eager aunts where waiting.

  Jeanie darted around the side of the car as she couldn’t wait to unveil the beautiful new child to the family. Jeanie loved her family dearly and the thought of a new edition and eight gaggling women clucking around a baby excited her greatly. Ivy took careful steps as not to slip and Jeanie carried her sister’s luggage just as carefully the ice had created a shimmering path down to the gate which had been left ajar. As they both arrived a man in a uniform was stood at the parlour door.

Jeanie poked her head around her sister and held her breath,” Jeanie….should I be worried about George….or is this one for you?” Jeanie tried to negotiate around her sister spitting as she moved, “He’s turned up, he’s here what do I do!!!”

  Ivy laughed and pulled the infant closer,” Calm down, it will be fine plus I need a wee and she can’t hit you if you’re holding a baby.”

Before she knew it Jeanie was holding Jayne in her arms and Ivy had disappeared. Hearing her sister’s screams arriving before there physical presence Jeanie negotiated around the luggage awaiting the onslaught.

Pulling Jayne close she whispered softly as if she was relaying an important secret. “Just wait….my mothers going to explode, but yours will bounce.”

The screeches of joy from all the women in house was reflected by a somewhat nervous Jeanie however Irene had never looked so happy. Passing the infant to the gaggle she began taking off her boots and jacket and as she sauntered around to the parlour door she took a peek at the figure still stood in the parlour.

   The tall handsome figure stood next to the hearth and as the newly lit fire was building into a smoulder he brushed himself down and checked his appearance as if he was waiting for an inspection. James stood holding his cap under one arm smiling uncontrollably at tentative Jeanie who by this point had tried to blend in with the wall paper. As she moved into the parlour when Irene caught her, “Keep the doctor company for a minute whilst we are waiting for tea.”

   Irene scurried away into the kitchen closing the door behind her. Jeanie was aware that all her sisters where observing her next move and as she sat at the table close to the window sill all eyes focused on her next move.

“Hello….I couldn’t tell you.” James paused awaiting her interruption.

“It’s ok don’t worry, do you need to see Ivy?”

James shook his head and walked briskly over to the table, “I want to set a date for the wedding and I’ve spoke to the vicar at the church in town and the closest they have is the 22 July so I’ve booked it.”

The door parted and Jeanie saw Irene’s face knowing she had heard every single word and immediately she stepped up to James, “ Jeanie…….your seeing the doctor…..the same doctor that delivered your niece?” J

    Jeanie placed her hands over her eyes as she didn’t want a fight today all she wanted to do was coo over a baby however she was now facing a new fiancé pre-occupied on setting a date and a mother scolding him for his lack of involvement.

. “Can we all just sit down…..this is very sudden and I know how this looks,” Irene purple with rage looked attentively at Jeanie,” You better not be pregnant girl” James outraged by Irene’s comments couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

” She isn’t pregnant. Why would you not want your daughter to get married I don’t understand….” Jeanie closed the parlour door as the congregation of people gathered.

” Sorry doctor, she isn’t the marrying kind and you will be putting a family out on the streets if you take away their sole income, would you like that holding over you!” James turned around to Jeanie; her head by this point had bypassed her hands and headed straight for the table.

” I’m sorry Jeanie but she’s wrong……Jeanie wouldn’t allow me to put you on the streets Madam but someone needs to put you on your arse now sit down.”

   The parlour seemed to fill with people intrigued at the noise and the response James had given their mother. Irene was tough and sometimes insensitive but no matter what she spoke her mind and for the first time she seemed to do as she was told and sat at once as if a dog was obeying its master.

“I am in love with your daughter, I will be marrying her, you will not interfere and I am here out of common courtesy and you madam should respect that an intelligent, strong, independent and beautiful woman such as your daughter has been able to put up with you for so long. Now take the flowers as they are for you and your daughter will be back at six.”

   Ivy mouthed the words GO and Jeanie no sooner had walked in had walked straight back out again and this time with James on her arm. Getting back into the car and without a word she started to drive and as they approached a lay by James placed his hand on the steering wheel. “Stop the car.” James opened the door and as Jeanie got out he pulled her close and kissed her at the side of the road.

” James…..not that I mind being kissed…...Where are we going.”

   James was still furious and Jeanie knew Irene had gotten under his skin. The thought of a mother not wanting her daughter to be settled and happy exasperated him even more.

“I’m so sorry your mother infuriated me and I just don’t understand what she’s going to achieve…..”

   His outburst was sweet and Jeanie smirked reaching for his hand, “I didn’t ask that I asked where we are going?”

James looked at her and kissed her softly on the hand she didn’t mind his intrusion; in fact she liked that another person was going to argue with her mother instead of her having to do it all the time.

  ” Church James after the conversation we had in the medical wing…I thought we agreed to take things slowly…”

Wiping away the steam on the window James took off his hat,” I had some leave….and I got impatient I went for a walk and found myself at your local church I told him who I was marrying and he opened up a small space in July.”

Placing her hand over his mouth Jeanie contemplated her thoughts,” I know you like to think what’s best….cause you are a Doctor… I remember having this conversation with you at the factory hold on,” James sighed knowing his interruption wasn’t received graciously.

“We where arguing and I shouted at you and you were wrong and you didn’t like it and sulked for week. James learn something for God sake…..”

” I apologised remember and this isn’t the same thing...”

Jeanie pursed her lips and smirked,” You didn’t apologise you sulked,” playfully James pushed her arm,” I do remember cause I fell over the chair in your workshop and you picked me up and I accidentally touched you’re breast and you shouted at me again and I apologised again.”

Jeanie laughed, trying to keep her look serious” Sorry. Yes I remember you grabbing my boob actually not that I minded but that’s another story...”

” You’re playing with me this isn’t funny and your making it a big joke. Come here.” Jeanie shook her head trying to make her point and trying to fend leaning over James pressed against her shoulder,” I’m not sorry for booking it…..” taking his hand she stroked his palm with her fingers,” I mean it James….this is all too quick and I’m in shock enough….James if she knew I’d spent the night with you…..just lets see how it goes…”.

As they turned the corner Jeanie realised they where at Silloth Bay, she used to go to the beach with her dad and watch the boats sail between Scotland and England. As a little girl she had played for hours in the sand until the sun disappeared, those memories had imprinted into her mind which Jeanie referred to when she missed him the most. James got out of the car and lit a cigarette, putting on her coat Jeanie followed,” I love the beach, dad used to take me down here when I was younger. I had my first kiss at this beach, by a boy who I used to live next to I fell in love with him a little to. You may have seen him at the plant a few times….. I had my heartbroken though and from that point I never really loved again.” James took hold of her hand leading her down to the sea wall, “What was his name?” Jeanie flicked James’s cigarette away and playfully looked back to see James’s response.

” John Stanton. If you want to know about any man in my life it would be him he was the only one left me for another girl. What about you…..you mentioned a fiancé,” James fastened his coat as the sea breeze ran through his clothes.

” I did I was engaged to a girl. A woman Catherine I was with her a while. We met at medical school to my parent’s approval. I don’t know it wasn’t right she wanted to live a life that I never felt comfortable in. She wanted the accolade of being the wife of a surgeon. That I could give her, but nothing else I didn’t like who I was when I was with her.

Then I met you and you shouted, screamed and swore at me and then you cared for me and put me back together.

  It was strange in my world I was right all of the time. I suppose I played god but you there was no edge no superficial meaning you meant what you said and you kept your word and people respected you and loved you for it.

  My dad is a doctor and my mother was a nurse I don’t think I ever talked about them whilst working with you. That was it my life then though. Circulating around people whose job it was to be right and according to you everything I did was wrong so it knocked me down off my pedestal. I never disliked you for it. In fact I think I welcomed it. That’s when I knew my relationship with Catherine was all wrong, I had relationships with other women and she knew and as long as I kept up appearances nothing mattered, sex was a game I liked to play. I’m not going to lie Jeanie getting what I wanted came easy.

  You on the other hand I didn’t understand, love wasn’t a game the people in your life all had meaning no matter how trivial the part the played and all I wanted to know why?

  I’ve never felt anything like the way I feel about you.”

” James…you don’t have to...” Lighting another cigarette he sat on the steps of the sea wall.

” You see I do because you make me want to. I’m an arsehole I know it and I come from a long line of arrogant self righteous arseholes I was told it in medical school but without you I wouldn’t be a surgeon, without you I couldn’t have changed my life around and without you I don’t think I would have ever felt love. I believe that.” Taking him by the hand she led him down to the beach his warm palm filled her with possibilities and hope that a future with him would be worth it.