Happiness(Laura Munro) Victoria drew back the curtains and welcomed the day. Spring sunlight flew into the room, covering everything it touched with a warm glow. Victoria opened the window and breathed in the fresh, crisp morning air, as the light breeze rippled gently at the curtains. She looked out across the fields to the large oak wood beyond- standing green and majestic against the sky. The addition of a few more buildings and a busy main road had not taken away any of its splendor- sat high above the village…

A flurry of curtains knocked over a photo frame on the table by the window.
‘Damn’ Victoria sighed and, as she bent to pick it up, felt her back creak. ‘I’m getting old’ she told the photograph.

A beautiful young woman and a handsome young man smiled back at her; Victoria and James on their wedding day. Fifty years ago and very much in love.

Victoria put the picture back in its place and got herself dressed. She sat at her mahogany dressing table and began to brush her long grey hair. As she looked in the mirror, Victoria had to admit that she hadn’t lost her beauty after all these years. Her dark green eyes still danced and sparkled, especially when she laughed; and her kind, friendly smile had never faded.

She and James were loved by all in the village and, after his passing, everyone had done everything they could to help her through her grief. The kindness shown to Victoria through that most difficult of times could never be repaid and realizing how much she meant to the people of the village was an overwhelming of emotions that she couldn’t begin to describe... Tying her hair up, Victoria finally went downstairs.

Once in the kitchen, she turned on the radio to listen to the morning weather forecast only to hear that rain was due later on in the day.
‘Damn weather’ she cursed, ‘I wanted to relax this morning but I’d best get the fire going before I head out for my pension’. She laughed.
‘Talking to myself again? I’m going mad…’ Victoria thought of James ‘… or maybe I’m just lonely’. A tear came to her eye ‘Pull yourself together woman!’ Victoria scolded herself and, grabbing her coat and handbag, stepped out of her front door and into the day…

On the way to the post office Victoria met Ben Parry, the youngest son of one of the local doctors. He was sitting on a small stone wall with his pet Jack Russell, Woofer, on a lead by his side.
‘Good morning Ben’ she said, ‘How are you this morning?’
‘I’m fine, thank you Mrs Gilbert’ he replied, trying to hold Woofer back from jumping enthusiastically at her, ‘Dad’s taking me to the cinema later on as a treat…’
‘A treat?’ Victoria asked ‘What did you do to deserve that then?’
‘I tidied my room without being asked AND I didn’t complain or anything!’
‘Good for you’ said Victoria smiling. ‘Tidying up is a horrible job. I find any excuse not to do it, so well done Ben’
‘Thank you Mrs Gilbert’ Ben beamed.

As Victoria looked at the cheeky seven year old smiling up at her, she was reminded of her school days when she had been in love with Albert Smith. They used to share their rationed lunches, walk home together, and share secrets. They stayed friends until the War forced the evacuations. Albert’s mother had insisted that he stay in the city with her while Victoria was sent away. In the beginning they wrote to each other regularly but, as the time passed, the letters from Albert became fewer and fewer until they stopped completely. After the war, Victoria heard that Albert’s mother had been killed during an air raid and he had stayed with the family he had finally been evacuated to. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since.

Once Victoria had collected her pension and bought some bits for lunch, she headed home. By the time she reached her cottage, the rain had begun to fall. She put the shopping away, brought the fire to life and made herself a cup of tea. Her thoughts turned, once more, to her husband and suddenly she felt like crying. Putting her mug down, she headed upstairs to retrieve her photo albums and, once sat comfortably on the bed, began to turn the pages.

She came across her favourite photograph of James, dressed in his Army uniform; photos of her children; her grandchildren; holidays; birthdays… where had the time gone? Looking at the pictures of her family, Victoria realized that, five years after his passing, she still missed James as much as she ever did. He was her husband and best friend. Taking the good times with the bad, they had enjoyed forty five happy years together and, in the few years without him, she had missed his laughter and companionship terribly.

Turning another page in the album, Victoria came across a photograph of her father, George Morley. He had held a lifelong grudge against the Gilberts which went back generations. As far as Victoria could gather, it had all started over something trivial and had escalated over the years. Her father had expressed his view very clearly when Victoria had told him of her plans to marry James.

She looked at the picture as she recalled the day:
‘Victoria, you are not marrying him!’
‘But we love each other and want to be together’
‘What? You’ve only known each other a few months and now you want to marry him?’
‘Yes father, we want to get married. Your feuds are over. They haven’t come between James and I. Please listen…’
‘Tell her she can’t marry him Daphne’ turning to Victoria’s mother.
‘I am not having any part of this George.’
‘But you disapprove don’t you Daphne?’
‘I’m not saying a word.‘
‘You approve! I don’t believe it! All this time, all these years and now my wife approves of her only daughter marrying a Gilbert!’
‘We love each other.’
‘So you’ve said, once too often.’
‘Father, I’m twenty five. I’m old enough to make my own decisions and James and I will be getting married. I’m sorry if it upsets you but we truly love each other.’
George sighed ‘Fine. Go ahead and marry him. But don’t expect me to be there at the ruddy service. I refuse to give my daughter away to a Gilbert!’ and with that he had walked out of the house and slammed the door behind him.
Daphne held her daughter whilst she wept…
‘You approve don’t you mother? Please say I have your blessing…’
‘He isn’t my first choice, for obvious reasons, but I can see how happy he makes you so yes, you have my blessing.’
Victoria hugged her mother tighter ‘Thank you, thank you’ as the tears flowed…

George Morley kept his word and didn’t attend his daughter’s wedding, so her Uncle had the honour of walking her down the aisle. George was seen outside the church during the ceremony but was gone by the time the congregation emerged into the glorious July sunshine.

James and Victoria bought the cottage in the village and settled happily into married life. Both became integral members of the community and, though her mother was a regular guest, her father still refused to visit. The still birth of Victoria’s first child and the complications which followed changed all that. The near loss of his daughter made George realize that his pride was a thing to be swallowed and he finally made peace with Victoria. Slowly but surely, the civility he showed to James developed into a firm friendship and, two years later, when little William Gilbert was born, there was no prouder Grandfather than George Morley.

The telephone rang and interrupted Victoria’s thoughts. She reached across the bed to answer it.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi Mum, it's William.’
Victoria laughed ‘I was just thinking about you!’
‘Oh?’
‘Yes, I was thinking about when you were a baby, and how much your grandfather doted on you…’
‘I’m surprised your memory can go back that far… I can’t remember what I did yesterday!’ William laughed.
‘So’, Victoria said, ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’
‘Aren’t I allowed to call my mother just for a chat…? Ok, you’re right. I DO have some news… You’re going to be a Great Granny!’
‘Oh William! A Great Granny?! Oh, that’s wonderful news! Is it Samantha or Helen?’
'Samantha. She rang and told us yesterday and I thought I’d pass on the news. I’m sure she’ll get around to telling you herself eventually, when she and Andrew come back down to earth.’
Victoria could hear his grin down the phone ‘So, when is it due? And, more importantly, how do YOU feel about it Grandad?’ she laughed.
‘Its due at the end of September and, although I suddenly feel incredibly old, I’m delighted for them. I know there was a moment where they thought it wasn’t going to happen. Samantha is already four months gone. I think they wanted to be truly sure this time…’
Victoria could hear the pain in his voice.
‘William darling, your Samantha is a strong young lady, and we both know she’ll be fine. If I’m honest, I’m more concerned about the rising cost of Christmas’ she laughed again.
‘Don’t talk daft Mum; you’ve only got seven grandchildren…’
‘Yes, and now I’ll have my first great grandchild.’
‘You’ll be in your element Mum; you loved our kids when they were small…’
‘I still do!’
‘Mum, you know what I mean… you taught them so much.’
‘Don’t forget, I was a lot more active than I am now and your father was there as well, to keep up with them all…’ William noticed her voice cracking.
‘You still miss him don’t you Mum?’
Yes William. I still miss your father a great deal, he was a wonderful man. I feel sad that he’s missing out; that I’m going to experience this without him’
‘I know he was wonderful Mum- he was my Dad!’ There was a pause and then William said, ‘How about I drive down on Saturday and bring you up here for a few days? I can let David and Hannah know that you’re coming and we’ll make a weekend of it. What do you think?'
Victoria laughed ‘That sounds like a super idea but will Lynda be happy to house us all?’
‘You know my wife; with a house full of people to look after, she’ll be in her element!’ William laughed.
‘Yes’ she mused ‘I suppose she will…’
‘Is that a yes then Mum?’
Victoria smiled and sighed ‘Yes dear, it’s a yes. Thank you William’
‘Don’t thank me, just get yourself organized for Saturday morning and I’ll see you then.’
‘Ok. I’m already looking forward to it.’
‘Good. That’s the plan’ William laughed again. ‘Bye for now Mum’
‘Goodbye William’

After replacing the receiver, Victoria felt her heart lift. Annoyed as she was for letting her emotions get the better of her, she was overwhelmed by the love of her children. They all knew, William especially, how strong a woman she was; how she would never ask for help, and yet, just when she needed it most- there they were.
‘No’ she said, looking down at a photo of James, ‘I don’t think we did too badly at all…’

Victoria smiled as she finally closed the album and headed back downstairs, where she discovered that her cup of tea had gone cold.
‘Oh well’ she sighed, and curled up in her comfy armchair and drifted off to sleep, peaceful and contented beside the glowing coals of the fire…

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