Fortunes of the Heart by Jenny Telfer Chaplin

looked around the kitchen, and finished by
patting his Sunday best jacket pocket to check that his pack of bread and lemon
curd was safely stowed therein. Kate watched this performance then, without a
word, she walked over to the mantelpiece and lifted down the highly-polished
best tea caddy. With eagerly seeking fingers, she scrabbled around the inside
of the caddy. Then, as her fingers closed over something, she withdrew her hand
and again approached her son.
    Whatever it was, she kept it in her tightly bunched fist.
Then with a mock-serious expression on her face, she smiled at her adored son.
    “Danny. Close your eyes. Then just you hold out your hands.
I’ll give you a creepy Kinnon doubler. See how you like that.”
    When Daniel again opened his eyes and looked in wonder at
his upturned palm, a slow smile crept over his face.
    “Oh, Mammy, Mammy. Two whole silver threepennies .
For me?”
    Kate threw back her head and laughed, delighted that the
planned surprise for which she had also been saving at the rate of a farthing a
week had proved so acceptable to Danny. Again, she laughed.
    “Of course it’s for you, Danny. To spend at the Exhibition.
And listen, it couldn’t possibly be two half silver threepennies ,
now could it, you daft gowk. Away with you –you can’t keep Royalty waiting. And
mind and use that rag I gave you for a hanky. Would never do to let the Prince
of Wales think that we’re all Glesga Keelies in this benighted City – even though we are Irish.”
    As she waved her son off from the front-room window, Kate
found herself wondering: ‘ What tales would he have to tell on his return.’
    Since she herself had never been to an Exhibition of any
kind, be it international or otherwise, she had no way of knowing, or any
possible conception as to what delights may or may not be awaiting him. But
knowing Daniel, she knew he would be full of it on his return home. Her one
remaining hope was that Pearce would, for once in a lifetime, take time out to
listen to his son. As she turned away from the window, having caught Daniel’s
last cheery wave as he turned the corner, she thought: Ah well, time will tell.
Meantime I’d better see to Hannah and the girls. Can’t stand here day-dreaming
for ever more: much as I’d like to.

 

 
 
    Chapter
17

 
    When later that same day Daniel arrived home from his visit
to the Exhibition in Kelvingrove Park, from the
bemused expression on his face, it was clear he was still slightly
shell-shocked from the impact of the wonders he had seen. The family was seated
round the kitchen table and with the exception of Hannah who as usual,
understood little or nothing but her own immediate needs, it was to an
enthralled audience that Daniel spoke. Amazingly, even Pearce seemed not only
attentive, but also even somewhat impressed. He allowed the boy to finish
speaking, all the while stroking and smoothing down his handsome black beard.
    “Yes. Daniel, I am indeed pleased that you’ve been able to
give us all such a comprehensive report of your visit. Yes, that twopence was most certainly money well-spent.”
    Daniel’s eyes widened as he started to correct Dadda as to
the total amount of money spent. He got no further than: “Oh. but Dadda, I had
– “ when catching a warning look from Mammy, he at once changed tactics, and to
cover his confusion, started coughing and spluttering, as if something had
stuck in his throat.
    Kate immediately got to her feet, returning a second later
with a mug of cold water. With a twinkle in her eye and a conspiratorial air
for his eyes alone, she held out the mug, with the tongue-in-cheek words:
“Something go down the wrong way, Danny?”
    When he again sufficiently recovered, Daniel resumed
answering the eager questions still being fielded by Jenny and even wee
Isabella whose eyes were out like organ stops in amazement. Much to Daniel’s
enjoyment of the unique situation, even Dadda seemed to be hanging on his