How’s your cold now?
Okay. Actually it was the flu I think.
O, pardon me!
He grinned. Kirsty was watching him. She rose from the floor, facing down the way and pushing herself up with both hands. She toddled to the cot and stood there, holding onto the bars. When she glanced at him he winked again. Hullo Kirsty! She turned away. And he opened his cigarettes. He said to Vi: You still no smoking?
I’m still no smoking.
That’s good.
Bloody awful! Vi was leaning with the small of her back against the sink, her arms folded; she was smiling. She turned and lifted the kettle, set it back down again.
Tammas inhaled on the cigarette, flicked the flame out of the match, dropping it onto the ashtray. He said: It’s really great to see you.
She smiled. You’ve said that already.
Naw but. .
Hey! Tammas! Vi clapped her hands and came forwards, bent to lean her elbows on the top frame of the settee, grinning at him, her face less than 12 inches from his: he moved to kiss her. Will you take me to the pictures?
What?
Eh? D’you no fancy it? She kissed the tip of his nose.
The pictures?
Please, eh? Come on. . She was gazing right into his eyes, very close to him, now smiling. Eh?
The pictures?
She laughed and stood up. The bloody pictures! And she was returning to the draining board and the two cups, reaching for the bottle of milk. I’ve no been for ages. Honest Tammas, I cant remember the last time. I’ve even stopped reading the entertainments’ page in the papers. I used to ask Milly if she would go but she was never interested. Vi paused to look across. D’you no fancy it?
What about Kirsty?
Aw Cathy’ll babysit, no bother. I mean it’s no as if we’ll be late back either — I’ll go and tell her eh?
He shrugged slightly. Vi was already walking to the kitchen door. He smiled at Kirsty who had been watching him but she cried out and rushed to the door after Vi.
Soon Cathy’s door was opening and shutting. Tammas got up, he walked to get one of the coffees. He peered out the window, down into the backcourt. When he heard Cathy’s door open he returned to the settee immediately.
Vi had Kirsty in her arms and she put her onto the floor, saying: Get your dolls now Kirsty. . And she added: Tammas, you’ve no even looked at the paper.
The paper?
The paper! Vi marched to beside the television where a copy of the Evening Times was lying, and she gave it to him: You look while I’m getting her ready.
He nodded.
God you’re no very enthusiastic.
Enthusiastic?
Aye I mean. . tch. She shook her head, opening it at the entertainments’ page, handing it over to him. She went to the cupboard and tugged out a drawer, collected a packet of paper nappies. Then she smiled and muttered, You dont really want to go do you!
What?
D’you just no fancy it?
The pictures?
Vi glanced at Kirsty who was kneeling at the foot of the bed where a toy pram lay. She turned back to Tammas. We dont have to go.
After a moment he said, It’s just I’m skint Vi.
Aw God.
I only had the busfare and the ten fags. Had to tap the sister for it.
Tch, Tammas. Vi marched to him and put her arms round him and they kissed. She clung into him. He moved a little away from her, but she pulled back into him; they were still kissing. We’ll be early home, she whispered.
•••
It was no longer pitchblack when he wakened. Vi’s arm lay over his shoulder, and he lifted it, laid it on the pillow. He manoeuvered himself to the edge of the bed, sliding out from the blankets carefully. The alarm clock was on the mantelpiece. Vi kept it there so she would always have to get out of bed to switch off the alarm. Ten minutes to 6 am. Another hour and she would be rising for work.
He went to the lavatory. On his return he halted by the cot. Kirsty was lying on her back with the bedclothes near her waist. Tammas stared at her for several moments, and then he raised her vest and peered down at the scratches on her belly. They were more like scars. There were four of them and they were as though parallel, just beneath her navel. He lifted the vest down to cover them. Her arms were bent at the elbows, the forearms lying vertically. When he raised the bedclothes past her shoulders she made a sighing noise and she turned onto her side, looking towards the wall.
Back in bed he lay for quite a while with his hands behind his head on the pillow. Vi’s arm came onto his chest. Eventually he began stroking it. He turned a little so that he could touch her breasts and he stroked them around the nipples until she was awake, and he slipped his arm beneath her shoulders: Fancy taking the day off?
She chuckled. What time’s it?
Only about 6.
6?
Aye. He turned onto his side, facing into her, the warmth of her, pulling her in to him.
•••
The photographer motioned them in closer together then waved them to the side a bit and back a step. Taking the camera away from his face he straightened up, shaking his head. Naw, he said, it’s no good; yous’ll have to get closer than that.
There was a burst of laughter from the little crowd gathered some twenty yards off by the church wall. Tammas put his arm round the best maid’s shoulders and somebody shouted: No flies on him anyway!
And then came a cheer when Rab drew Rena closer into him, his arm round her waist as she clutched the small bouquet. The photographer was waving his hand about and saying, Fine, that’s fine; now hold it there, fine. And another — fine now fine, and just. . fine, and another. Fine.
Rab edged sideways as if set to say something to Tammas but the man stopped him by raising his hand and signalling. . Just you and the lassie now son — just you and the missus — a nice yin. One for the grandweans!
Another roar then more laughter from the spectators. Rab blushed and he glared at the man. Shoosh, whispered Rena.
I never said anything. . He was shaking his head, he glanced at Tammas.
Tammas shrugged. He and Julie retreated to the edge of the crowd, standing next to the two wee girls who had been bridesmaids.
The reception was being held in the home of Rena’s parents. It was a first storey flat in a red sandstone tenement they lived in, less than two miles from where Rab’s own parents stayed. Once the guests had assembled an uncle of Rena asked for quiet. And he nodded to Tammas.
Well everybody. . Tammas cleared his throat.
Another man called: A bit of order now for the best man.
Tammas waited until the talking stopped. Well. . He cleared his throat again. I’d like to toast the bride. She’s the best looking bride I’ve ever seen. He turned to her and said, Honest Rena, I really mean that. All the best to the two of yous.
He raised the tumbler of sherry he had been given aloft. There was silence, the faces in the room all gazing at him. It was crowded. The door open widely and people standing visible out in the lobby. Here’s to Rena! he cried, and he swallowed the sherry in a gulp.
Somebody called: To Rena!
Then others were saying her name and the toasts being made. Rena’s mother was looking at him. He stepped to the side, leaning to whisper to Rab, I’m needing a slash man be back in a minute.
He kept his head bowed while making his way through the folk in the room. Betty was by the doorway, standing just to the side of an old lady who stared at him. Hullo Betty, he said.
O Tammas. .
Nice wedding.
It was really beautiful.
Aye. He nodded, took out his cigarettes. The old lady was still staring at him. He smiled at her and turned slightly, scratching at his ear.
You didnt say very much for the speech.
I know. Hh. Have you seen Billy at all?