The serial: The Pepper Girls Day 4

Things were going to be different now, he vowed. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he would find enough money to feed his wife and family

The doctor ignored Billy and continued to focus on Nancy and her newborn. He picked up the new life and slapped it on its backside. There was a juddering in the child’s body as it tried to breath.

He slapped it again, as Nancy and Billy stared in horror. Just then, a broken cry could be heard as Nancy’s tiny son took his first breath.

“There now,” Dr Finlayson murmured wrapping the child in a clean towel.

“Cry all you want, young man, those little lungs of yours need exercising.”

He turned to Nan Duncan. “Maybe a cup of tea would be in order for mother,” he instructed, “while we get her and baby tidied up.”

He finally handed the baby to Billy. “That was a close call,” he said quietly. “Let’s hope the baby thrives and makes up for his shaky start.”

Billy nodded. “And Mr Donnelly,” the doctor continued, “I think you need to make a decision as to what you want.” Billy looked confused.

He drew him aside while Nan Duncan handed Nancy her tea.

“Two births, this close together, have taken their toll on your wife and another might finish her, so make up your mind which you’d rather have – your wife or your religion, if you get my meaning.”

Anguish

He looked over at Nancy, “I know which one I’d choose.”

Once again, his Catholic faith had brought Billy nothing but anguish.

“Thanks doctor,” he said quietly. “I understand.” Memories of the priest telling him that God wanted his flock of good Catholics to increase and it was every man’s duty to make sure this happened filled his head.

“If you’ll let me know how much we’re owed,” he murmured shakily, “I’ll pay it as soon as I can.”

The doctor nodded sagely, patting the young man on the shoulder, knowing that it may be a long time before he’d be paid. “When you can,” he said, “when you can.”

Nan Duncan took Mary Anne back to her own home to look after her till Nancy got some rest. “Let me know if there’s onythin’ else I can do,” she offered. “I’ll bring some bread and milk through in a while if that’s a’right.”

Billy nodded. Never had he been so glad of anyone as he had been that day of Nan Duncan and things were going to be different now, he vowed. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he was going to find enough money to feed his wife and family.

He had a son now, and no son of his was going to starve or end up working in a jute mill all his life.

He pushed the towel gently away from his son’s face.

His skin was redder now and his cry was getting louder and more insistent.

“I think he’s looking for his tea,” Nancy whispered, reaching for the child before undoing her nightgown and guiding the tiny mouth towards her nipple.

Driven a wedge

With a soft tug, the baby began to suck. Billy stroked Nancy’s hair, “Everything’s going to alright now,” he told her, “I’m going to make sure of it.”

Nancy nodded, the Billy she’d fallen in love with was back.

Poverty and life had driven a wedge between them for a while, but their new son had brought them back together again and hope filled Nancy’s heart once more.

The atmosphere in the MacPherson household was decidedly frosty as Annie scrambled the eggs for their Saturday breakfast.

Despite Euan’s attempts at brokering a reconciliation between mother and daughter, Lexie had taken to her room where she remained, silent and aloof.

Euan sat at the kitchen table, smoking his pipe and pretending to read yesterday’s newspaper, while waiting for Ian and Lexie to rush in, as usual, eager to start the weekend.

But only Ian arrived, a perplexed look on his face at his sister’s absence.

Annie dished out the eggs and toast while Euan attempted, once more, to bring the situation back to normal. “Lexie’s sleeping late,” he stated, glancing at the kitchen clock. Annie nodded agreement. “Looks like it.” Ian forked huge mouthfuls of scrambled eggs followed by slices of buttered toast.

“If Lexie’s not having any breakfast, can I have hers?” he asked, hopefully, his demanding appetite winning over his manners.

“No, you can’t,” said Euan, emphatically, “Lexie will be through shortly, so just finish your own and leave the table.” Ian shrugged and fell into clearing his plate. Annie had barely touched her eggs, but nibbled, birdlike, on a piece of toast her stomach knotted so tightly at the thought of the confrontation she anticipated with Lexie, that nothing would go down.

She picked up the teapot to refill it when the kitchen door opened and Lexie entered, her eyes red-rimmed and her mouth set in a determined line.

Uncomplicated

Ian started to giggle at Lexie’s puffy face, but soon stopped as his sister turned a doleful gaze in his direction.

“Isn’t it time for your football practice?” Euan asked his son, breaking the ice that was rapidly filling the kitchen. Sons were so uncomplicated, he thought, but daughters, well they were fast getting beyond his comprehension, especially Lexie.

Glad of an excuse to leave the table, Ian grabbed another piece of toast and nodded quizzically to his dad. It was only half past eight and football didn’t start till gone ten!

“Come on,” Euan said, rising from the table, “I’ll help you polish your boots,” he too, glad of any excuse to leave the kitchen.

Wordlessly, Annie set the plate of eggs before Lexie and poured herself some tea.

The plate was pushed aside and the ‘battle of wills’ that Annie had been dreading began.