“Oh sit down and don’t be so dramatic. I’m only tryin’ to tell you the way of things. Are you happy with the weddin’ plans?” she continued when Maeve sat.
“You’re askin’ me now? You and Sean’s ma seemed to have it all figured out. Neither one of you gave a lick for my opinions yesterday. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Maybe the both of you would like to come along on our honeymoon so you can orchestrate that too?”
Her mother actually laughed.
“Somehow I don’t think that t’will be necessary. I’ve a feelin’ Sean O’Malley knows a thing or two in that department. He won’t be nearly as malleable as your father; you should know that,” she said, suddenly serious. “Have a care with that temper of yours and your sassy mouth. He doesn’t seem the type to put up with much of that,” she continued reaching out and patting her daughter’s hand for a moment. Getting up, she moved to the sink and rinsed her cup out. She stood there in her pretty robe and spoke without turning around.
“You may not believe this, but I do want you to be happy. You’re my only child.”
Suddenly Maeve felt much older than her years. For the first time ever, she saw her mother in a different light. She pictured her young, full of hopes and dreams, dreams that were long gone now.
“Happier than you, Ma?” she asked softly.
“Aye, much happier than me.”
Walking to the sink, she put her arms around her mother and rested her head on her back. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed her cheek. The pink robe and other baubles no longer seemed like such a high price for her father to pay. He’d failed in some way. Maeve wasn’t sure how, as he was a good man, but he’d let her mother down.
“There’s a real pretty brooch in the window at Gallagher’s,” she said softly. “You might want to have a peek at it, you know, before next time.”
“Thank you,” her mother replied, reaching to pat Maeve’s hand. “Hurry along now, you’ll be late.”
* * *
School was even worse than she’d expected, and by lunch time, she wanted to go find Sean and ask him to elope. To hell with it, she’d tell him. They all think the worst of me anyway, so why wait.
Nearly the entire senior class made a point of checking her out. Six girls asked her when she was ‘due’ and three more wanted to know what kind of lover O’Malley was. The nuns weren’t much better. Depending on their personalities and what they thought of Sean, they treated her like she was the town’s biggest slut, or the birth of another holy child…hers, was imminent.
She committed a litany of sins in thought, if not in deed, well before 10:00 a.m. Her first class after lunch was biology, and unfortunately, they were dissecting toads. For some reason, the smell of the lab seemed worse than ever and she decided she’d had enough for one day. Walking to the huge desk at the front of the classroom, she spoke with Sister Magdalena.
“I’m really not feelin’ well,” she whispered. “I’d like to go home.”
“What?”
Of all the times to have a teacher who was nearly deaf, this was the worst.
“I said I’m not feelin’ well,” she repeated, leaning closer.
“Speak up, Maeve. I can’t hear you,” Sister yelled.
“I said I don’t feel well,” Maeve shouted, putting her hand on her forehead as though she had a fever. In fact, she thought she might have a fever, her face was so hot.
“Oh, I see,” Sister Magdalena replied at full volume. “Well, that’s perfectly understandable,” she continued not hearing Maeve groan. “You go on home now, dear,” she said walking Maeve to the door.
Escaping into the hall, Maeve ignored the snickers behind her and heaved a sigh of relief as she walked away. Then Sister Magdalena opened the door and called loudly down the hall. “Put your feet up, child.”
“Lord have mercy,” Maeve mumbled.
* * *
She found Sean tinkering with his car in his parents’ drive. His upper body was under the hood, and he was swearing like a sailor.
“I want to get married now,” she stated sharply, dropping her bag on the ground. His swearing increased in volume when startled, he rapped his head on the hood and turned to stare at her.
“Maeve, what are you doin’ here? Why aren’t you in school?”
“I’m never goin’ back to school, and I’m here because I want you to marry me, right now.”
“Now?”
