Mrs. Grace & I

In that night, I learned in a decisive way the difference between
fucking and lovemaking. In the morning, we knew that we had
established a strong union.

I had been away from home all night and I felt guilty at the anxiety I
must have given my parents. I did not want to leave Catherine, but
felt I must put my parents minds at rest. I hastened home, only to be
given another shock.

My father was sitting in the kitchen, and looking up as I walked in he
said, “About bloody time too.”

I thought he was referring to my all night out, but he went on, “You
made the poor woman wait long enough.”

Mother came in and said her piece. “You’ve come to your senses then? I
should think so too. If ever two people were made for each other its
you and Catherine, and she’s been so patient.”

I finally found my voice: “You mean you both knew this was going to
happen?” “Of course we have,” mother snapped. “Who do you think
selected that black thing she was wearing last night? You don’t think
Catherine would have chosen it, do you? I went shopping with her and
persuaded her to get it.”

“It was my idea,” laughed father. “That’s how your mother caught me.”

“Do you mean that you two and Catherine have been plotting this all
along?”

“Course we have,” said mother. “We didn’t want our son marrying any
old girl. We wanted the best for you, and if you ask her to marry you,
you’ll have the best. Now start getting your things out of here and
into Catherine’s place.

I did not start “moving my things” immediately. I rushed back to
Catherine, burst in through the door, grabbed her and said, “Will you
marry me?”

She paused for a moment and my stomach turned over; “She’s going to
say ‘No’”.

I was wrong. She said quietly, “Move in with me, darling, and if in
twelve months time you ask me to marry you again, I shall say ‘Yes.’”

“But…but why not say ‘yes’ now?” I protested.

“For all the reasons you have held back from me for so long,” she
replied. “In twelve months you will have answers to the questions
those reasons give rise to. There is one other thing you should think
about. I shall not be able to give you babies. Now come along, let’s
start moving your things.”

Mother, father, Catherine and I spent the morning moving my goods into
my new habitat.

Two things did not turn out as Catherine had stated them. First, and
much to her surprise, she became pregnant. I think our first night
together fixed that.

Second, in the light of her pregnancy and because I was so persistent,
we married in three months.

As I write it is now three years since we married, and now within our
bond of love we have our little Alicia as well.