Annie MacPherson Day 36

Annie wouldn’t have blamed Isobella for turning her back on the situation but her Christian spirit was strong and the depth of her forgiveness immeasurable.

“There is a way forward,” she assured Annie, “and if Nancy is agreeable, I can arrange a place for her where she can wait out her confinement.

“It’s a nursing home on the outskirts of the town called Clement Park. There will be other young girls there, in the same condition as Nancy but when the baby is born, decisions may have to be taken quickly for its welfare.”

Annie felt tears build up in her eyes. Nothing had changed in the years since she had given birth to Billy Dawson’s son in the poorhouse in Belfast and another generation of women were left to face life with or without their child but with no husband.

At least Clement Park wasn’t the workhouse and with Isobella looking after things, Annie felt sure Nancy and her unborn baby would be safe there.

“Thank you Isobella,” said Annie, holding her sister-in-law’s hand tightly, “I won’t forget this and neither will Mary watching over Nancy from heaven.”

Impulsive

The sound of heavy footsteps signalled the return of Euan with Billy Dawson.

Annie rushed to the door. “Is it good news?” she asked breathlessly. “Have you found Joe yet? Please tell me Billy Donnelly is all right.”

“Hush Annie,” said Euan. “Questions, questions, questions.” He looked at Billy Dawson. “Do you want to tell Nancy the good news?” Billy nodded. “Good news!” Annie exclaimed. “We think the young man’s had a change of heart and there’ll be a marriage after all.”

Annie clasped her hands in joy before throwing her arms around Billy.

The sudden closeness of her impulsive hug took both of them by surprise but it was Billy who untangled himself from her first as Euan watched the encounter.

As Billy disappeared into the bedroom to tell Nancy some good news at last, Annie remembered Isobella was still in the kitchen. “Isobella’s here,” she said to Euan, overly bright, aware that he was watching her carefully.

“She’s just offered to help Nancy but if it’s true that Billy Donnelly is going to marry her, then it won’t now be necessary, will it...?” Her voice tailed off as she realised how almost hysterical she sounded.

Was it just the good news that had made her throw herself at Billy Dawson, or some deep impulse from long ago that hadn’t quite died?

Euan had picked up on her behaviour but had Billy Dawson? She tried to calm herself down by refilling the kettle and rinsing the teacups out under the tap, while Isobella stood up to go.

“Well, I’m glad that this young man is going to do the right thing,” she said, “but if anything changes Annie, let me know and I’ll make the arrangements.”

Annie was calm again. “Thanks Isobella,” she said softly now, “hopefully, the arrangements we’ll be making will be for a wedding.”

Respectable

Billy left without saying goodbye and Nancy emerged from the bedroom; for the first time, a hint of colour was on her cheeks.

“He said Billy’s coming to see me soon.” She threw her arms around Annie’s neck, animation coming back into her small frame and life returning to her eyes. “Thank you Auntie Annie for everything and as soon as Billy comes for me, I’ll be going to be with him in Lochee.”

Annie beamed. “That’s wonderful Nancy,” she said, “but there’s no need to rush now. You’re carrying a child and that’s the most important thing to remember.”

Relief was now flooding through Annie. Nancy would be a respectable married woman soon and if the babe was born a little early, then who’s to notice?

Lexie took the news with the casualness of youth. “So does that mean I’ll get my room back soon?”

Annie looked at her daughter, not yet a woman, nor touched by the hand of fate, with all its vagaries in developing compassion and understanding for the human condition.

She put her arms around her daughter. “Yes, Lexie, you can have your room back soon and thank you for all your kindness.”

It was a week after Billy Donnelly and Nancy wed at Dundee Registrar’s Office, with her father at her side and Annie as matron of honour, that the news reached Annie that Joe Cassiday had been found collapsed on the Law Hill and was now in a bad way in Dundee Royal Infirmary.

One of Euan’s constables had found him almost frozen to death and starving and the fear was that he had deliberately chosen to end his life.

“What about Agnes?” Annie asked Euan. “Does she know this?”

Euan nodded. “She’s been at his bedside since he was brought in, her and their three little boys. Despite everything, she still seems to love the man and blames Nancy for everything.”

Annie was shocked. “But, surely it was Joe who was at fault, lusting after Nancy like a dog in heat.”

Euan winced at Annie’s bluntness. “Maybe so,” he said, “but she says Nancy encouraged it.”

Much as she didn’t want to believe it of her niece, she remembered Mary and her flirtatious ways with Billy Dawson when he first came to their small farm to help with the flax harvest.

As much to blame

Maybe it had come through in the blood and Nancy was as much to blame as Joe Cassiday.

She pushed the thought from her head. Nancy was now a respectable married woman and that was all that mattered. “Does Billy Dawson know?” she asked Euan. “He does,” came the reply, “and he’s going to the DRI to visit him this evening, see how things are and maybe get him back to some kind of life with Agnes.”

To say Billy was shocked when he saw Joe was a huge understatement. He remembered him in his Black Watch kilt striding off to war, full of life and strong as an ox.

It was hard to believe this was the same man. Agnes was sitting by Joe’s side “to be there when he wakens”, she’d said but by the looks of the colour of Joe’s skin, that wasn’t going to be any time soon.

“Maybe you should go home Agnes,” Billy said, “look after your laddies and get some rest. I’ll sit with him for a while.”

(More tomorrow)

Was it just the good news that had made her throw herself at Billy Dawson, or some deep impulse from long ago that hadn’t quite died?