A Cheat and a Liar, page 35
George and Nettie attended, and several who had not already congratulated them did so after the service. The reverend, too, included them in one of his prayers, which George thanked him for after the service. Nettie’s parents were at church also, and the arrangement had been made for George to come to supper that evening. George didn’t stay long after they had eaten. He had two or three presents to wrap when he got home. The evening had been nice, and they both found it easy to show affection towards each other without embarrassment that a parent was in the room, and when it was time to leave, Nettie walked to the door with him. George said, ‘Please don’t come outside, it is bitterly cold out there,’ so they both put their arms around each other and kissed. Then he was gone.
Just before 11.00 a.m., he was back. Nettie heard him arrive and was at the door to meet him. It was fine but still cold. He put down what he was carrying and took off his coat in the entrance and then picked them up again and walked into the living area. ‘Well, Merry Christmas to my sweetheart first,’ he said, handing something small but nicely wrapped, to Nettie. Then he turned to Helen and said, ‘And for you, Mother. I am not going to call you Helen because mother makes me feel younger,’ and with that, gave Helen a kiss on the cheek. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘where is he, old father, who I will still call Edward?’ With that, Edward appeared, having heard George’s voice. They shook hands and wished each other a happy Christmas, and then George gave him a gift also. They opened their gifts, and then Helen left the room and gave George something also. It was a quality woollen scarf for warmth when wearing his coat during winter, from her and Edward.
Helen had received a rather expensive-looking box of chocolates, Edward a box of cigars, and Nettie told everyone she would wait until she had given George his present so they could open them together, and they did. George’s gift was a very nice silk neck tie, which gave him another opportunity to openly kiss Nettie, and, last, it was her turn to discover what George’s first gift to her was to be. She carefully undid the ribbon and peeled back the colourful wrapping paper to reveal not one gift, nor two, but three matching boxes. Then there was a handwritten card from George. She read aloud what was written. ‘“To my beautiful fiancée. My first Christmas gift to you, and I hope there are a hundred more. Love, George.” Oh, that’s lovely. Thank you. Now what have you bought me? It looks very expensive.’ Again, she read aloud what was written:
Besame Cosmetics:
Classic Color Lipstick—Vitamin enriched. Long lasting.
Besame
Crème Rouge Vintage Blusher
and then there was
Besame
Vanilla Brightening Cream
‘Oh, George, you spoil me, thank you so much.’
‘I like it,’ said her mother. ‘There is enough there for both of us.’ The two ladies laughed.
‘Right, Edward, it’s time for dinner. Can you please carve the turkey, and we can eat?’ said Helen. The table was beautifully set out with decorations and candles and serviettes and crackers. Edward was to sit at the head of the table, Helen on his right, and the two lovebirds beside each other to his left. Once seated, Edward asked Nettie to please give thanks before they ate.
Festivities were almost over; it was Tuesday, 29 December. George had visited Nettie each day since Christmas but had returned to the cottage each night. He had booked tickets for them both on the train today to Olympia and managed to book two single rooms at the Angelus Hotel as well. He had arranged to arrive and collect Nettie from her home at about 10.00 a.m. and would then drive to the station and leave the truck there overnight.
At about 10.45 a.m., the train pulled out of the station. It was quite full, with many folk travelling at that time, many with children. Nettie was excited and smiling, holding George’s arm tightly as the carriage swayed as only carriages do. ‘This is only the second time I can remember riding on a train as an adult,’ she told him. ‘We always went by train when I was small. For a long time, Father has had a car, and I have kind of forgotten the excitement of the train.’
‘Good,’ he replied. ‘Is it because you are a little frightened that you hold me tight or because you love me?’
‘George,’ she smiled, ‘when I am with you, I am never frightened. I hold you tight because I love you.’ She kissed him on the cheek, and they both laughed.
It was good for George to see some countryside he had never seen before, and before too long, they were in Olympia. They made their way out to the road, and after a short wait for a taxi, George gave the driver instructions to kindly deliver them to the Angelus Hotel. It was on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Columbia, and once at reception, George asked if they had a city map he could have. He also informed the receptionist that he would be paying for both rooms and asked if their two pieces of luggage could be delivered upstairs also. Each signed their respective cards and were each given a key to their respective rooms. They made their way to the lift, and as the doors closed, George whispered, ‘The next time we check in, we will both be headed for the same room. What do you think about that?’
‘I think I am meant to be scared, but I am sure I will be excited,’ she replied, ‘but don’t tell anybody I just said that.’
They each went to their rooms after agreeing that Nettie would knock on his door when she was ready. They were going to walk around the shops, find a jeweller first, and then perhaps get onto a streetcar to see the town and later perhaps have something to eat before returning.
She knocked, and he opened the door and invited her in for a moment. She closed the door and turned to face him. ‘Are you ready, George?’ she asked.
‘After you have kissed me,’ he replied.
She stepped forward but put her hand up to refrain him from talking. ‘Why, my love, did you not tell me we were going to delay our departure for an extra minute because you wanted to kiss me? I have just put on, for the very first time, the very expensive lipstick that you have just given me, and I will probably spread it all over your lips, so you’ll look like a circus clown and will want to wipe it all off, and I will have to return to my room to put more of it on. No, George; you now have a lady in your life. You must think of these little intricacies and the implications your actions may have. I would love to kiss you, but I would hate to have to then walk around this town with a circus clown, even though nobody would know me. Come on, we shall go without a kiss.’ George was speechless.
Soon, they were on the street. Ah, this is Fourth Avenue, so which way is Fifth? he asked himself. They had been given a street map, so after looking at that, George seemed to know the direction they should head. ‘The National Bank is on the corner of this avenue and Capitol Way,’ he said out loud.
Two blocks down, Nettie said, ‘There we are, George; there is the National Bank. Why do we need to go there?’
George thought for a moment and then said very quietly, ‘Because, my love, tonight I am going to dig a hole under it and get enough money to purchase a diamond ring that is worthy of you.’ He laughed at what he had said.
Nettie frowned at him and said, ‘What a stupid answer. What if someone had heard you, and tonight somebody had broken into the bank? They might think it was you.’
George laughed again. ‘Loosen up, woman,’ he said. ‘It was the only way I could remember where we should be going—to Talcott Jewellers, right next to the National Bank.’
Poor Nettie rolled her eyes. ‘Are all thirty-eight-year-old men like you, George?’
He looked at her for a moment and said, ‘I don’t know, my love. I have never asked one out.’ For a third time in as many minutes, George laughed again.
They opened the door of the jewellery shop and went inside. There was quiet music playing and a couple talking to a staff member at the far end. George and Nettie slowly made their way forward, admiring all that was displayed behind the locked doors of the glass cabinets. Behind them was the long glass counter displaying bracelets and brooches and bangles and, finally, rings: dress rings, signet rings, wedding rings, and then, yes, there they were, engagement rings. By then, another attendant, a lady, had appeared and asked if she could help.
‘We are looking for an engagement ring. I want something very nice, but I would like my fiancée to choose what she would like; perhaps a solitaire, perhaps three or five diamonds, or even a cluster.’
‘Oh, I wish my husband had given me such choice,’ the lady said and then obviously felt embarrassed that her words were rather inappropriate. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said and, looking at Nettie, said, ‘So, ma’am, which do you prefer?’
Nettie thought for a few seconds and then said, ‘I think that what I might like and what suits my hand may be quite different. May I please try one or two on?’
With that, the attendant took a ring from under the glass and said, ‘Let’s just see what size your ring finger is?’ It was almost a good fit, so she then asked what setting Nettie thought she might prefer. Again, Nettie asked if she could try one of each. One by one, various rings were slid onto her ring finger.
‘Five diamonds looks too ‘flashy,’ said Nettie.
‘Don’t worry about flashy,’ the lady replied. ‘You would be the envy of every girl.’
Nettie tried the cluster. ‘No,’ she said, and the attendant agreed.
‘You do not have a very big hand. Why don’t you try a ring with five slightly smaller diamonds? I think you might like it.’ She went to another cabinet and returned, holding a ring between her fingers, and said, ‘This is your size also.’ Nettie put it on, put her hand down by her side, and then lifted her arm in George’s direction.
‘What do you think? Do you like it?’ he asked.
‘Is it too expensive, George? I think it is wonderful.’
‘If you think it wonderful, then I shall get it for you now.’ He held up his hand and said to the lady, ‘Can you please put it into its box and wrap it and write on a piece of paper, out of my fiancée’s sight, the cost? I will go next door, to the bank, and return as soon as I have made a withdrawal.’ Everyone did per George’s instructions, and soon, cash was paid, and the ring in its box was passed to George and placed by him into one of his suit coat’s inner pockets. They thanked the lady and hand in hand walked out onto the street.
‘Right,’ said George. ‘What would you like to do, my love? Would you like us to get onto a streetcar and see what this town has to offer?’
They stopped walking, and Nettie turned to face him. She said nothing for a few moments and then said, ‘Could we just go back to the hotel?’
George could see tears in her eyes. ‘Are you feeling ill, love?’ he asked. ‘Are you unwell?’
She said nothing, and then, finally, as tears ran down her cheeks, she said, ‘Let’s go back to the hotel. I just want to put on my beautiful ring.’ As she finally said it, she fell forward, her head onto his chest. He put his arms around her and let her sob for a minute or so. He gave her his clean handkerchief to wipe her eyes when she was ready. She looked up and could only mouth the words ‘Thank you’.
They started to walk, slowly at first, her arm tucked securely inside his. Soon, they were back at the Angelus Hotel and made their way up to her room. As they got there, George suggested, ‘Would you like to rest, my love, and I will go to my room, and in, say, half an hour, I will come and get you and we will go and have a celebratory drink in the lounge?’
‘No,’ she replied and started to cry again. ‘Please let me put that ring on again.’
George did as requested, except as he took it from its box, he dropped down onto one knee, took her left hand in his hand, pushed the ring onto her finger, and asked, ‘Nettie, will you please marry me?’
She could not answer. He looked up at her face. She was crying again. She could not talk. In the end, she just nodded. Finally, she said, ‘I love you,’ and they kissed.
They were back in Bucoda. As they drove into her parents’ drive, Nettie suddenly felt tense and wanting to cry. ‘Oh, George, why do I always do this?’
‘I didn’t know you always did it. How many times have you been engaged? You told me this was your first.’
She smiled and said, ‘Oh, you know what I mean.’
Her mother was at the door to meet them. ‘Oh! Come in, I’ve been waiting, show me what you have on your finger.’ Nettie held out her hand. ‘Not just because it’s you, love, but that is the nicest ring I have ever seen, and look at it, five diamonds, oh my goodness.’
Edward came to see the commotion, congratulated them both again, kissed his daughter, and told George it was obvious he was paid too much.
Everyone was happy, and eventually supper time came round again, and at about eight o’clock, George announced he should go home. ‘I will come and see you go,’ Nettie said.
‘No, it’s too cold out there. I will give you a kiss goodbye at the door.’
The next morning, the mill opened, and he was back early as usual. There were some orders to have ready for delivery almost immediately, but any spare time anyone had was in the preparation of deliveries immediately after the New Year weekend.
George also had plans in his head. There was only one bank in Bucoda, and George had only once met the manager, a guy called Hargraves. George had decided he would talk to the man regarding a mortgage to purchase the cottage he had done up and was living in. If he could find out it was possible to borrow, he would then approach Edward and see whether he would sell and at what price.
No time like the present, he told himself, so in the first part of his lunch break, he drove into town. The guy might not even be back at work, or he might be on holiday, George told himself on his way there. He stopped outside, brushed his shoulder and coat of any dust, and went inside. A couple of people were with the teller, but soon he was able to ask for the manager.
‘Certainly,’ said the young man, ‘and your name is?’
‘Morris’ was the reply. ‘George Morris.’
Soon, the door, obviously the manager’s, opened and, in quite a loud welcoming tone, said, ‘Mr Morris, welcome. I don’t believe we have met before, but please come in,’ and he closed the door behind George. The two men shook hands, and Mr Hargraves asked what George did. George explained that they had in fact met before, be it only briefly, but Hargraves had come to the mill some months ago, and George had been in the mill office at the time. As Edward had come from his office to meet the banker, he introduced the man to George. ‘I do remember the incident,’ Hargraves explained, ‘but I did not recognise you today. My apologies. How can I be of assistance?’
George explained that only the day before, he had become engaged to Nettie Nichols, Edward’s daughter. With that, Hargraves was out of his seat, with arm extended. ‘Congratulations, George. We had better have a whisky, don’t you think?’
‘The offer sounds great, but sensibility tells me going back to work in a mill a few minutes after drinking whisky is not a good idea; but I do thank you for your offer.’
So, back to business, George explained how Edward had told him that if he repaired an old cottage that Edward owned, he was welcome to live in it free of charge, probably for as long as he worked for the mill. Now that he was engaged, he wanted somewhere to take his bride, and rather than it be her father’s cottage, George preferred to it to be his and Nettie’s.
‘What is it worth, George?’ Hargraves asked.
‘I do not want that to be an issue’ was the reply. ‘When I was given access to it, I do not think a tramp would have felt comfortable in it. I renewed the water tank, connected water so I have hot and cold, built a new outhouse, repaired weatherboards, gutterings, and windows, and before we marry, probably sometime in the summer, I will entirely paint the place inside and out. I would be very happy to take you there whenever you are available, even before I paint, and show it to you again once redecoration is complete.’
‘I do not see a problem, George. I must ask you, what is your usual take-home pay per week?’ George told him, ‘and how much in the world do you owe as of now?’
‘I am happy to say I owe nothing to anybody.’
‘Right, George,’ said Hargraves. ‘We just need to see how much Edward will sell it to you for. Come back when you know that figure, and we will talk again.’ With that, the two men stood up and shook hands again. Each thanked the other, and George was soon heading back to the mill.
He was deep in thought as he drove back that lunch hour. I think I will wait a day or more and choose the right moment to discuss matters with Edward, he told himself, and I want to talk to him on my own. If Nettie is there, he will feel pressured to agree. I will tell him I am not discussing this with his daughter, and if he would rather not sell to me, I am not in the least offended. It was 1.52 p.m. as he drove back into the yard. He took his lunch from a bag in the truck and went and sat down to eat and think. These are damn busy times, Georgie boy, he told himself
It was New Year’s Day. George had driven into town the day before and purchased some food and groceries to give to Helen. He had been invited to lunch (again) so wanted to even the ledger by spending a good amount for her household. He drove up the drive and parked where he always parked and gathered up the goods from within the truck and headed for the door. Nettie had heard him coming and was there to meet him.
‘What’s all this?’ she asked.
‘This is for your mother. I now have two women to look after. Last week, it was your turn, this week, your mother’s.’ Helen had heard what was being said and came to meet him. ‘Happy New Year, Mother-in-Law to-Be,’ he said.
‘Why all this?’ she enquired.
‘Well, over the last week or two, I have barely eaten a meal at the cottage, so I felt I should help out in some small way by returning the favours.’
