The Serial: The Green Years, Day 48

Does that mean you’re leaving Dundee?” she stammered, the bleakness returning to her spirit

Chrissie looked at Maisie. “Now,” she said gently, “that wasn’t too bad, was it?” Maisie was looking utterly miserable. Chrissie linked her good arm into her own and stopped speaking. There was nothing she could say that was going to make the journey any easier for her. Rab saw the girls weaving through the crowd towards him. He fingered the small box in his pocket with a tremor of anxiety. What if he’d got it wrong and Chrissie hadn’t loved him as much as she’d said and she’d take one look at the ring and run.

“Well, here we are,” Chrissie said brightly, indicating to Rab with a warning tilt of her head that Maisie was with her and not in a good state. Not knowing what to do, Rab shook Maisie’s hand. “Nice to see you, Maisie,” he said glancing at Chrissie for guidance. “and I’m sorry about Kenny and, well, everything.”

At that moment he could have wrung Kenny Wilson’s neck. How could he have hurt Maisie so much and then just disappear without telling anyone where he was going, even his best mate? Awkward Asking Chrissie to get engaged was now going to be very awkward, if not impossible. Kenny had managed to ruin everyone’s Hogmanay. The crowd around them was growing. Revellers waving tartan scarves and draped in tinsel surrounded them as Samuel’s clock ticked on. But Maisie was oblivious to it all.

Rab put his arm around her shoulder. “Cheer up, Maisie,” he said, desperately, “Me and Chrissie are here and...”

But before Rab could say any more, there was a tap on his shoulder. “And don’t forget me, Maisie,” Kenny Wilson said to the stunned trio. Maisie couldn’t believe her eyes. Once again, Kenny Wilson in full battle-dress stood before her. “You didn’t think I’d miss Hogmanay, did you?” he asked quietly. Maisie tried to find her voice but failed. “Where have you been?” Rab asked, waving his arms wildly at his pal. “We’ve been worried sick about you.”

“Sorry about that,” he said, never taking his eyes off Maisie. “We need to talk.” He took Maisie’s frozen hand in his. “We’ll be back before 12,” he told Rab and Chrissie. “We’ll bring in the New Year together, if that’s all right with you, Maisie?”

Rab and Chrissie watched as the pair disappeared up Reform Street. “Where are they going?” Chrissie asked. Rab shrugged and wrapped his arms around Chrissie. “I don’t care where they’re going,” he said huskily, “just as long as you’re here with me.”

Chrissie snuggled closer to Rab’s chest, feeling his warmth surround her. Now was Rab’s moment.

“Chrissie,” he said slowly, unwinding her arms from his neck. “Remember I said I had something for you?” Chrissie nodded. With breathing on hold, he took the box from his pocket and opened it. The diamond ring sparkled in the Christmas lights and matched the glistening tears in Chrissie’s eyes.

“Do you want to be engaged to me,” Rab said shyly, “I mean, officially, like?” Happiness Chrissie felt an uncontrollable giggle rising from the soles of her boots and mixing with her tears of happiness. “I do” she said, her words almost lost in the noise of the crowd. Rab pulled her closer as he slipped the ring on her finger.

“Say that again,” he said, all anxiety now disappearing. “I do,” shouted Chrissie, before Rab’s lips found hers. 1963 was going to be wonderful.

Purposefully, Kenny led Maisie to one of the wooden benches dotted around the Albert Museum. The crowd had thinned out here and it seemed that there was no else in the world besides themselves.

“Do you forgive me, Maisie,” Kenny asked quietly, “for being such an idiot?” Maisie’s eyes widened. “Me forgive you,” she said, breathlessly. “Isn’t it me who should be asking you for forgiveness?”

Kenny smiled. “I’m not talking about Ian Brown,” he said. “I know that nothing happened between you two.” Maisie felt her breathing ease.

“I mean forgive me for not realising the needs of the beautiful woman beneath the blonde mop.” He ruffled Maisie’s curls gently and kissed her forehead. “But now I do.”

“I don’t understand,” Maisie began to say, but Kenny stopped her. “Yes, you do,” he said, determined to let Maisie know he understood her completely. “You wanted a better life for yourself and you thought Ian Brown could give it to you,” he said frankly.

Maisie hung her head, Kenny seemed to know her better than she knew herself. “I didn’t really...”

Again Kenny stopped her. “You haven’t done anything wrong, Maisie, wanting a better life for yourself. It’s what I want too.”

Maisie eyes searched his, wondering at how little she really knew the man she had fallen in love with. He pulled her closer to him trying to still the shivering inside both of them.

“Listen carefully, Maisie,” he said, turning her face to his. “I spent yesterday with Shug Reilly,” he began “and together we went to the Army Recruiting Office.” He took the deepest breath of his life. “Maisie, I’ve signed up for the British Army.”

Maisie again was lost for words. “They can offer me a trade Maisie, in the REME and all, and travel to other countries.” His eyes misted at the possibilities that now lay before him. Disbelief Maisie’s elation at having Kenny back and unharmed, disappeared into the darkness of the night. “Does that mean you’re leaving Dundee?” she stammered, the bleakness returning to her spirit.

“It means,” he answered her softly, “that we are leaving Dundee.”

“We?” Maisie blinked in disbelief. But Kenny had more to say.

“Will you marry me, Maisie Green?” Kenny asked, “for better or for worse and travel the world with me and be a soldier’s wife?”

Maisie felt herself dissolve into Kenny’s arms, as the world kept turning all around them. She nodded, her throat so tight she felt she would never speak another word again.

“Is that a yes?” Kenny said, tilting her chin up and brushing a tear from her cheek. “Yes,” Maisie managed to say, just as 12 o’clock chimed all over Dundee.

“Happy New Year, Maisie,” Kenny whispered, as snow began to fall all around them. “Now you’re a soldier,” Maisie giggled, finally finding her voice, “does that mean you have to obey orders?”

Kenny gave her a quizzical look. “It does,” he said pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms around her. “Then I order you to tell me you love me and...”

Maisie never managed to say another word as Kenny kissed her over and over. Maisie had found “the one” and 1963 was truly going to be wonderful. The end. A new serial begins on Monday. It is Around the Rowan Tree, the third biographical book by Perthshire author Margaret Gillies Brown. After a period in Canada, covered in Far From the Rowan Tree, the family is back in Scotland and farming in the Carse of Gowrie.