“Nothin’, half the school thinks I’m with child because Sean and I are engaged,” Maeve snapped angrily.
“Are you?”
“No, and I was in school. You can ask John O’Malley if you don’t believe me. He saw me there this mornin’. Someone must have screwed up the attendance again,” she said over her shoulder as she stooped to put potatoes in the bin.
“I may do just that,” her mother warned.
“Go ahead. I’m goin’ upstairs to work on my schoolwork,” she said, picking up an apple. “I need to get it done. I’m goin’ to be mindin’ the Monroes’ wee ones quite a bit in the future,” she added, leaving the room.
“Aye, you’d best do that. I don’t want you fallin’ behind this close to graduation,” her mother replied absently.
Falling behind didn’t even come close, Maeve thought as she went to her room to take a nap.
* * *
If her Ma thought she was dressed too fine to mind the Monroe children, she didn’t mention it when Maeve left the house thenext morning. Sean would be on his way to America, there was no school and she was off to start a new phase of her life with a skip in her step.
Mr. McGreevy was tolerant as he taught her what was required and she spent the day typing up labels for patients’ medications, stocking shelves and sweeping. Twice someone she knew came into the store, and she ducked behind the tall shelves of drugs on the upper level. With her white coat and cap it seemed unlikely anyone would recognize her unless they made a point to speak with her, and she made it a point to be unavailable.
On Wednesday, she just made it home when a call came through from Sean. He’d had his interview, thought it went well and was enjoying some sights as he waited to see if he was called back for a second interview.
He asked her about school; she lied through her teeth. He wanted to know what she was doing with her time, she told him she was minding children and staying home. Aye, she was being good. Aye, she was watching her language and aye, she wasn’t looking for another boy to see if he could get her to make those sweet noises.
In truth, she’d kissed two boys since O’Malley left town. On impulse, she gave Kelly Rourke one more chance to get it right, grabbing him after choir practice and pulling him to the end of the line as they all filed down the stairs. She wasn’t surprised to find he still kissed like a fish, but it was worth a try.
On Tuesday night, she really did mind the Monroe children and told Tommy Mahoney he could walk her home. They walked slow, talking and laughing and when they finally arrived at her home, he sweetly kissed her lips, blushed and almost ran toward his house. It was disappointing and she began to think O’Malley was right. It could just be he was the only one who could have her “nearly purring”.
She had to admit it, if only to herself, that she missed him, at least parts of him. He could provide a grand kiss, and his strong arms made her feel safe. His hands he could leave in the good old U.S. of A. for all she cared. After all, it was those huge hands that caused all the trouble.
* * *
Maeve didn’t worry overmuch about getting caught. She’d been out of school nearly a fortnight and Sister Magdalena stopped calling when she told her she was recuperating and spending time reflecting on her sins. When she had recovered fully, she may come back to school. Of course, the nuns didn’t particularly want a lass with a tarnished reputation associating with the other girls, lest she lead them astray. Engaged or not, she was now a pariah, which seemed to suit her fine.
She liked her job, was making a little money and doing as she pleased. She attended early Mass, but slipped in a side door, sat in the back and slipped back out, for the most part unnoticed. A few times, she caught Sean’s younger brother watching her speculatively, but she stuck her chin in the air and ignored him.
Sean was called back for a second interview and was staying across the pond for another week, maybe more. If they offered him the job, he would be there for much longer as he looked for a house for them to start their married life. All she knew about the place was that it was in upstate NY and he would be working at an Air Force Base on some sort of top secret project.
“Are you still keen to move to the States?” he asked when he called.
“The sooner the better,” Maeve replied. “In fact, I don’t see any reason I can’t come and join you now. We could even be married there,” she suggested hopefully.
“But our folks?—”
“I’m sure if we explain things to them, they’ll understand. Or we could have a small private ceremony here and have our honeymoon in the U.S.”
“Oy, honeymoon,” Sean teased. “I like the sound of that word. Have you been behavin’ lass?”
“Like an angel,” she replied, crossing her fingers.
“My brother says he hasn’t seen much of you. Where have you been hidin’?”
“I’m mindin’ the Monroe children and savin’ my money. Maybe he just keeps missin’ me at school,” she added softly.
“Maybe, but I’ve a feelin’ there’s somethin’ you’re not tellin’ me, darlin’. Now would be a good time to confess if there’s anythin’ to tell. I’m thousands of miles away and would most likely cool off before I get back.”
“Um…no, everythin’s fine here. Don’t worry about me, just work on gettin’ that job. I can’t wait to see this place in the rear window. These people with their narrow little minds are beginning’ to make me mad.”
“What’s the trouble?”
