The back door burst open and in came George looking pleased as punch.
“When have you been?” demanded Mother. She was still reeling over Joseph’s decision to support Maggie in becoming a nurse in the army and she couldn't help but feel a little left out of her children’s lives. Elizabeth and William had told them all about George’s new friend Annabel, with Elizabeth adding that her match making had done so well the first time she decided it was time for George benefit from her generosity.
Even with Mother’s discourteous manner George was more than happy to fill the family on his Saturday afternoon and evening.
“I’ve just had the worst night of my life”, said George with much glee in his voice. Just then there was a soft knock at the back door. “I asked her to wait so I could introduce her”, George had the silliest most infantile smile on his face.
Elizabeth and Maggie looked at each other and started to laugh they had not seen this type of excitement from George since they waited up for Santa Clause one Christmas Eve when they were about eight, ten and twelve. Elizabeth didn’t believe in Santa Clause at this stage but she wanted to be included in on the fun and so she kept that a secret from the others. Well they waited up until it was nearly midnight and to the children’s great delight they heard the jingling of bells coming from outside. George got so excited he was about to run out the front door when Maggie grabbed him by the shirt tails. Maggie was so worried that if Santa had found them out of bed that they would miss out of their presents and she had written Santa six letters asking only for a doctor’s kit so she decided that she wasn’t taking any chances so she pulled George up the stairs much to his chagrin. What was particular humorous was that Father had gone to all the trouble of borrowing a Santa costume and was planning on placing their presents under the tree in front of the children and giving them a wink as he left again. When he arrived and Maggie and George were not there he was about to go and find them upstairs when Mother saw him ascending the stairs and let out a huge scream which then had the whole family running around in a panic thinking that an intruder was in the house. Father thought it would be better to just hide himself inside the broom closet which ended up being the first place that George looked, looking for the criminal in their midst. George pulled ‘Santa’ out of the cupboard and told Santa how wonderful it was to meet him. Even Maggie had realised who ‘Santa’ was by this stage but not George. George was so happy to be meeting the man in red that father didn’t want to speak in case George cottoned on to his voice. So ‘Santa’ patted George on the head, placed the presents under the tree and after giving the much rehearsed wink, Santa left.
Right now George had that same look on his face when he opened the door saying,
“I would like to introduce the woman who turned down my marriage proposal tonight and made it the worst night of my life. Although she did repent and agreed to be my girlfriend which then made this the most wonderful night of my life.”
The family stood there speechless, the only other person in the room smiling was Elizabeth, she loved to be right and she had been spot on with arranging this pairing, although she knew that it was extremely hasty turn of events she was happy to put that aside for the moment and bask in the glory of being right.
“I wasn’t under the understanding that the two of you were even familiar with each other until this afternoon, George” Timothy questioned. This question was not light-hearted and Timothy now considered himself family and therefore felt he was able to look after their best interests. “I would imagine that there is a lot that you don’t know about Annabel” Timothy was eyeing her steadily “and I suppose a lot she doesn’t know about you” he hasten to add when he realised all eyes were watching him out of curiosity.
“What exactly are you saying?” George was looking at Timothy with a red face. “Are you accusing me of hiding something from Anna? Listen here Timothy I may have taken out a few girls here and there but my intentions with Anna are truly honourable. I asked her to marry me for crying out loud!”
“I...I...” Timothy was stumbling for the right words and then decided now was not the time. “Now listen George, I am just a little concerned that you might be rushing things here. I mean look at Maggie and I. We have been courting for three years and only now have we decided that the time is right for marriage. And even then, for the sake of your father, are we delaying the wedding further so that Maggie can serve her country.”
“Look that great that you live your life that way Timothy, but really this is none of your business” George snapped back.
“Now boys”, father interjected and then looking at George “we are all just a little taken back by your sudden...developments.”
“But you are happy for me?” George was beaming with the same smile from earlier towards his father and then to his mother and then on to his sisters.
“Well I think it is just perfect” Elizabeth said. “I never could have planned it to work out any better then this.”
“What exactly are we happy for George?” Mother said. She was still angry at George for various things like escorting Maggie to the war office and deserting his family on his last day for some girl he didn’t even know. However she was slowly coming round and the idea of having all three children married in the near future would certainly be a blessing in her eyes. Elizabeth had filled the family in on a lot of details about Annabel, like that her aunt was married to a Count and that her father who was now deceased was a very reputable doctor or surgeon in London. “Now enough of this silly talk and let us meet this young lady friend. Elizabeth I think as she is your friend it would only be fitting that you introduce us to her, properly”.
George grinned at Mother’s little speech, even though Mother was serious about formalities he could see the glimmer of amusement and joy in her eyes. With all of Mother’s seriousness and formality it was difficult for some to see just how much she loved her children, but she did and George knew that better than most. George had gone through a difficult stage at university when he started spending time with a group of chaps who thought it was there duty to inform the world, especially Christian groups, that God was dead, if He ever existed at all. During this time George and his father said very little to each other. George never actually debated this topic with him but Father had overheard various conversations between George and his sisters. Father never confronted him on the issue; he simply remained silent on the matter. Mother on the other hand, with the help of her two feisty daughters, confronted the matter head on. Mother would not hear of her son espousing atheist ideas or whatever they were as she used to say, Mother told George in no uncertain terms that she was going to help him and that she would never give up on his soul. When George would ask her to leave him alone to think what he liked she would never back away. He once asked her why she wouldn’t, her reply was very definite and George never felt so close to his mother as he did then. Mother said to George that she loved him, and that she could imagine Heaven without him there. Since that time George slowly extracted himself from that group of boys and began life anew at his mother and father’s side at church every Sunday. George then knew where he belonged and he also knew why God had given him such a strong-willed mother, without her and her staunch love George may never have found his way back.
Elizabeth made the formal introductions and everyone agreed that although the circumstances were strange that they were very pleased to meet such a lovely young lady.
Maggie watched how George could not stop smiling and was continuously looking at Anna, and how Anna would sneak peeks at George when she thought no one was watching. It was beautiful to watch a young couple in love. Maggie had always known that what she shared with Timothy was more of a platonic love but watching the two young aficionados it was clear that there was more to relationships than simply enjoy each others company. She watched as George would look at Anna and he would stick out his chest and hold his shoulders back and without thinking Anna too would coyly have her head down but would then look up at George through her long thick eyelashes. Maggie knew it was what her friends had called sexual chemistry, unfortunately she had never felt this way about Timothy and the more she had heard about it from her friends that more Maggie had wondered what it would feel like. She had decided too that it was an absolute must in regards to marriage and that she was not going to settle for anything less.
Thinking about this reminded Maggie that she really could never marry Timothy, even if she had lived an exciting adventurous life during the war. She knew that one day she would need to have the conversation, but not tonight. Tonight was to be George’s last night and even though Maggie would have enjoyed keeping him all to herself she decided to invite Timothy and Elizabeth and William into the sitting room in order to give George as much time with Annabel as he could. Father also picked up on Maggie’s not so subtle exit and told Julia that it was time that they retired for the night as it had been a big day.
“But I wish to spend more time with George and I am only just getting to know Annabel”, complained Mother.
“At this stage I believe it is more important for George to get to know Annabel than us. I’m sure Annabel can come and visit us again in the near future and we can get to know her then. But for now let us leave these two alone, maybe you could join the others in the sitting room if you wish for more conversation”, teased Father.
“Oh, I can talk to them any old time”, mother lamented. Despite her protest though she stood up with Father and kissed George on his head and went upstairs without any further protests.
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