Children in Her Shadow by Keith Pearson Page B

However, today was the day to wear the stockings given to her by Auntie Lottie and to wear her best shoes. Moira had helped wash and brush Ruth’s long black hair to make it look its best, which it did.
    The arrangement was that Ruth should call at Edward’s house at twelve o’clock which she did. The door was opened by a tall man who introduced himself as Edward’s father, Sam. He was a smart slim looking man who was dressed in a grey suit and wore what was clearly a regimental tie. Ruth had not been brought up with such formality in the home and felt herself immediately disarmed. Mr Carmichael, as he clearly expected to be called ushered Ruth into the house and through into a small living room where she was then introduced to Ellen, Edward’s mother and his two Aunts, Matilda and Dorothy.
    Ruth felt a flush rising up her neck and she also felt her knees knocking as it became clear that for the time being at least there was no sign of Edward. Ruth was politely asked to sit in the only chair in the room whilst the rest of the gathering sat on two small sofas. Ruth sat and looked out at the penetrating eyes of the Carmichael’s who would not have been out of place as characters at the Spanish inquisition.
    With the pleasantries such as they were, out of the way, Ellen asked, “So how long have you known our dear Edward?” When Ruth politely replied that she had known him for some months Aunt Matilda seized upon the opportunity to say, “Ah yes you met our dear Edward through Sarah ….we love Sarah and….well, my dear I cannot understand why she and Edward didn’t reconcile their differences and get on and marry.” Ruth had never encountered anyone with the poise and composure of this tiny woman and had not expected that the two delicate subjects of marriage and Sarah would enter the conversation at all and certainly not quite so early in their meeting.
    Ruth acknowledged that she was well aware of the circumstances that led to Edward and Sarah breaking up their relationship but felt she had to politely but firmly point out that it was not until after they had split up that she accepted Edward’s invitation to date.
    The questioning continued, Aunt Dorothy, asked, “I understand that you are from Wales and that your parents are Irish, what a quaint combination of two very poor Celtic nations … what was it like growing up in a poor mining area?” Ruth, ever the innocent drifted back to her strong valley accent and proudly proclaimed the tremendous merits of growing up in a mining community where no one had much but what they had they shared.
    When she had passionately reflected her love of Wales and its people Aunt Matilda spluttered as though the coal dust of the valleys had caught in her throat and declared in a disparaging voice, “Oh how charming it is to hear the simple tones of Ruth’s Welsh lilt though I was expecting to hear some of your parents more earthy Irish brogue penetrate your accent.”
    The questioning and innuendo was relentless. When there was a momentary pause Ruth took the opportunity to ask if the assembled company knew where Edward was. Sam grasped the moment to speak and said “Oh he’s in his wireless shack…..” and with that the assembled company glared at him as though he had broken wind. “I mean he is playing with some old radio, I’ll go and get him.”
    The conversation moved from questioning Ruth to the three women speaking about her as though she were not in the room. At length, Edward arrived and sat on the arm of Ruth’s chair. Other than acknowledging her with a quiet hello and welcome, and without showing any affection towards Ruth, Edward immediately fell under the protective spell of these matriarchs.
    Edward’s demeanour was almost childlike as each vied with the other to stroke the ego of their beloved boy. As their darling only child, Edward seemed to be the centre of both their attention and their comments, and their nauseating sycophantic comments continued