‘I did. Why would he come to you?’
‘Me and Lil did our share of raising him,’ Bobby said, rubbing her forehead. ‘He was a bairn when our mam got ill. I suppose it’s natural he’d look to us when he needed help.’
‘Not to your dad?’
‘Their relationship’s always been a bit strained. Jake found it hard to understand why Dad was… the way he was. Struggled to respect him.’ She shook her head. ‘Honestly, could he not send a ruddy telegram to say he was coming? Where on earth are they going to sleep?’
‘They’ll have to bed down in the parlour.’
‘They can’t share, can they? They’re not married yet.’
Charlie laughed. ‘She must be six months pregnant, Bobby.’
‘I suppose so,’ Bobby conceded. ‘Still, I’d like to do things properly until after the wedding. She ought not to sleep on the floor in her condition anyway. She’ll have to share with me and you can sleep in the parlour with Jake.’ She pressed her aching temples. ‘I can’t imagine how I’m to feed them. Typical of the boy to forget his ration card. And how can we arrange a wedding at this short notice?’
‘Registrars are used to last-minute arrangements these days. We’ll take them into Skipton tomorrow. I’ll go to the registry and organise it while you hunt down provisions.’
Bobby glanced through the door at her brother, who was sitting with Kathleen on his lap. ‘I’d be minded to give him a serious ticking-off about getting that poor girl into trouble if he didn’t look so awful. But he’s trying to do the right thing.’
‘You can tell he thinks the world of her.’ Charlie got up and gave her a kiss. ‘And since I feel much the same about my own wife, I’m going to insist she eats her stew while I brew the tea.’
‘Yes, I ought to eat.’ Bobby rubbed her eyes. ‘I dread to think what our Lil’s going to make of all this.’
Bobby slept badly that night. She found it hard to relax, sleeping beside a stranger.
Kathleen was a quiet sleeper, but this only made things worse. Bobby had grown used to Charlie’s restlessness. The lack of movement felt eerie, now. She listened carefully for any sound from the parlour to indicate her husband was having an unsettled night, but she couldn’t hear anything. Charlie’s nightmares were different from her father’s: more a quiet whimpering than outright screams.
Oh God, her father. He would have to be told about this. Rob’s relationship with Jake had always been difficult, but Bobby would like Kathleen to be welcomed into the family properly. There was also the thirty-five pounds her dad had put aside for his youngest child. The lad had more important things to spend it on now than his Triumph motorcycle. She made a mental note to send a message to Lilian tomorrow, and enlist her help.
By 9 a.m., Bobby, Charlie and the prospective newlyweds were in Skipton. Bobby hadn’t neglected to send a note to Lil via Gil Capstick, explaining that Jake had turned up for some leave and to call round later.
‘You three had better get to the registry and find out what you need to do,’ Bobby said. ‘Don’t wait for me after, just get the bus back. I’ll head home once I’ve scoured the shops for supplies.’
‘Don’t you need witnesses though?’ Jake said. ‘You’d better come with us, Bob, in case you have to sign owt.’
Bobby was surprised her eternally clueless little brother was even this well-informed about weddings.
‘I doubt they’ll be able to do it today, Jake,’ she said. ‘You have to get a licence first. Once you’ve got that, you can arrange the ceremony when you’re next able to get leave.’
He shook his head. ‘We want it done right away. Don’t we, Kath?’
The girl nodded. ‘I don’t want my baby born without a father. My family wouldn’t ever speak to me again. They’re strict Catholics.’
‘They don’t know you’re engaged?’ Bobby asked.
‘No. I came over here to go into service, but I lost my job last month.’
‘The toffs she worked for gave Kath her ticket when they noticed… well, you know,’ Jake said, looking rather guilty. ‘I’ve been supporting her on my pay, but a guinea a week don’t go far. I’ll get more once we’re married.’
‘And if I have the baby here then, um…’ Kathleen flushed. ‘Well, there’d be no need for my mam and da to know we didn’t do things proper. I’m of age.’
‘We’ll do everything we can,’ Charlie said. ‘Let’s start with buying the licence. You’ll need the special one for servicemen if you want a wedding this weekend.’
‘Buying?’ Jake cast a worried look at his bride. ‘Here, does it cost money to get married? I spent all I had getting us here.’
‘Never mind the money. You can owe it us.’ Bobby gave him a kiss, and one for Kathleen. ‘Once you’re safely married, we can spend your next leave celebrating. But for now, just try and get yourselves wed, all right?’
Bobby left them to walk to the register office while she went to scour the shops. It had been slim pickings in Settle yesterday.She was hoping there might be a wider selection in the bigger town.
