Free After the War is Over by Maureen Lee Page A

‘Let’s get married soon.’
    ‘How soon?’
    ‘Next week.’ He sat up and laid his hand idly on her breast. ‘Tomorrow? How about now?’
    They were in his mother’s place in Everton Valley. Betty had gone to London the day before, accompanied by most of her possessions in a trunk. Soon, she would come back for the last of her things. In a few weeks she would be established in Susan’s flat in Crouch End and her own flat would belong to her son, whose name was already on the rent book. Chris had approached the man who was opening the picture house in Walton Vale and applied for the post of manager. He had been assured the job would eventually be his. As from now, there was nothing to stop him and Maggie from getting married.
    Thinking about this now, Maggie had no idea why she should suddenly feel apprehensive. Despite having been so close to Chris, as close as a man and woman could be, thereby putting a seal on their relationship, she was aware that she didn’t know all that much about him. They hadn’t discussed all sorts of important things; politics, for instance. Because of her father, Maggie was more aware of politics than most women. For which party had Chris voted at the last election? Another thing, did he want children? Maggie wanted at least four and didn’t care what sex they were. One thing was for sure, it would be impossible to raise four children in a fourth-floor flat with two small bedrooms, so where would they live when their babies began to arrive?
    Why hadn’t she thought about all these things before?
    She slid from underneath Chris, who seemed to have fallen asleep, picked up her clothes and went into the main room. There were no lights on, but the curtains were open and a pale moon was visible through the window; the nights were gradually getting lighter. As she dressed, she listened to the traffic on the road below; horns sounded, people shouted, tram cars trundled past.
    What was she to do now? Should she tell Chris she wanted to wait a bit longer before they got married? It was also essential that she discuss it with Mam and Dad before a date was set. They’d met him, Mam liked him, Dad didn’t, but they had no idea that their daughter getting married so soon was on the cards.
    ‘Oh!’ Maggie sat down, feeling sick. What a terrible mess she’d got herself into. People were always saying she was too headstrong. Only minutes ago she’d been soaring through blissful heaven; now she felt panic-stricken and full of worry.
    In the bedroom, she heard Chris stir, and next minute he walked into the room completely naked. She wasn’t prepared for it. He should have worn something, even if it was only underpants or a towel, she reasoned. She had never seen a naked man before.
    Oh, Jaysus! I’m a madwoman, she thought. Chris was coming towards her. She could tell by his face that he wanted to kiss her. But he had nothing on!
    Maggie grabbed her coat and handbag and fled from the room. She ran downstairs with Chris shouting, ‘Maggie, Maggie, what’s wrong?’ from the fourth-floor landing. ‘Come back,’ he called plaintively as she raced through the front door.
    She waited on Scotland Road for a tram, half expecting Chris to come running around the corner, having forgotten he hadn’t any clothes on. But the next tram that came was heading for Bootle. Maggie got on with a relieved sigh and a racing heart, thankful that she was going home.
    Angry voices were coming from the parlour of the house in Coral Street. The loudest voice belonged to Auntie Kath, who always shouted when she argued about politics with people who disagreed with her.
    ‘What’s going on in there?’ Maggie asked her mother, who was in the living room. There was no sign of her brother, and Bridie would have gone to bed hours ago.
    ‘Phelim Hegarty has decided to resign, so there’ll be a by-election. Our Kath is trying to talk your dad into standing for the seat,’ her mother said tiredly. ‘There’s half a