Chapter Eleven:
'Beth and Dermot start off married life in Galway'
Six months and one week after Beth had left 'Beacon House' in Salford, Dermot had joined her in County Galway where they had planned to marry and set up home. With both parties having been initially born in Ireland, it seemed only natural to start here afresh. Also, it was important in order for Beth to finally bury the ghosts of her past that she return to the soil from which she'd once run away.
Dermot was unable to secure a job for himself in the line of hostel work as he'd done in England, but even had he been able to, the irregular hours that came with such work wouldn't have fitted in with his plans of being with Beth as many hours of the day and night as was possible.
Dermot was unable to secure a job for himself in the line of hostel work as he'd done in England, but even had he been able to, the irregular hours that came with such work wouldn't have fitted in with his plans of being with Beth as many hours of the day and night as was possible.
Subsequently, Dermot took a labouring job in a glue factory so that he could be at home each evening and spend all weekend with Beth while she went to work in a bakery during the daytime hours, Monday to Friday. The couple then put a sizable deposit down to buy themselves a small cottage in Galway, largely with Dermot's savings over the years that he'd worked as warden of 'Beacon House'. Three months after arriving in Galway, the couple were married at 'St. Francis Church' in Francis Street, County Galway in a quiet ceremony with only a few parishioners and two friends from the mainland who acted as witnesses.
At the time of their marriage, neither party had any family member present and though each said they minded not, both would have dearly liked to have had their happy day blessed by the presence of close family, especially Beth who would have forfeited one of her limbs to have had her beloved Dada walk her down the aisle. Both Beth and Dermot was over the moon when Megan and her mother, Susie from Salford, attended the wedding at the last moment. While they stayed for four days in a nearby hotel, they ate most evenings with Beth and Dermot in the couple's newly acquired cottage.
Immediately upon setting eyes on Megan after so long, despite having maintained regular letter correspondence with her, Beth wondered if she'd heard any word from her daughter Clare, who'd be 26 years old now. Megan hadn't.
Immediately upon setting eyes on Megan after so long, despite having maintained regular letter correspondence with her, Beth wondered if she'd heard any word from her daughter Clare, who'd be 26 years old now. Megan hadn't.
Over the next three years, Beth and Dermot couldn't have been happier and most of their evenings were spent indoors playing games like scrabble, rummy and checkers. Beth had managed to stay alcohol free since entering the hostel years earlier and along with Dermot, both were regular visitors to the local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Galway. Like most reformed alcoholics, they found the experiences of such meetings positively reinforcing to self and extremely valuable to newcomers to a life of abstinence who needed as much encouragement as they could get from others of their ilk who had 'been there and done that' before them.
When Beth was 49 years of age, she was astounded to discover that she'd fallen pregnant. The couple couldn't believe the news at first and once they'd been reassured by the doctor that it was undoubtedly correct, Dermot was over the moon at the thought of becoming a father in his fifth decade. While Beth was happy to be having Dermot's child, she was naturally apprehensive of giving birth to an infant at her age.
When Beth was 49 years of age, she was astounded to discover that she'd fallen pregnant. The couple couldn't believe the news at first and once they'd been reassured by the doctor that it was undoubtedly correct, Dermot was over the moon at the thought of becoming a father in his fifth decade. While Beth was happy to be having Dermot's child, she was naturally apprehensive of giving birth to an infant at her age.
Indeed, had the truth been known, she would never have chosen to become a mother again. When she eventually started to take some delayed pleasure from the prospect of motherhood again, she received the worse possible news ever visited upon any pregnant woman. She learned that the foetus inside her had died and would eventually be delivered stillborn!
For the remaining months, up until the ninth month, Beth fell into a state of depression during which Dermot seemed unable to comfort her despite all his efforts. Deep down, he was grieving every bit as much as Beth as the thought of fatherhood to Beth's child had made him happier than he'd ever been in his life. A part of Dermot feared that this experience of death inside her womb might drive Beth back to the drink, or perhaps even himself; worse still, both of them!
For the remaining months, up until the ninth month, Beth fell into a state of depression during which Dermot seemed unable to comfort her despite all his efforts. Deep down, he was grieving every bit as much as Beth as the thought of fatherhood to Beth's child had made him happier than he'd ever been in his life. A part of Dermot feared that this experience of death inside her womb might drive Beth back to the drink, or perhaps even himself; worse still, both of them!
Though they still loved one another, neither had the strength to show their love in the usual way between man and wife over the ensuing months. They may have continued to share the same bed, but apart from a good-night kiss that amounted to little more than a peck on the cheek along with the occasional brief cuddle, all emotional and physical closeness appeared to have been 'put on hold'.
Dermot continued to work at the glue factory although his days now seemed longer and less happier than they'd once been. Each evening when he returned home from work, he always returned in a state of heightened apprehension and uncertain fear. Upon opening the door to their cottage, he never knew how he might find Beth; either asleep in bed, deeply depressed or weeping as she cowered down in a corner as she often did during moments of acute depression. A part of Dermot feared that he might even walk in the door of their cottage one evening to find Beth drunk or even dead!
Dermot continued to work at the glue factory although his days now seemed longer and less happier than they'd once been. Each evening when he returned home from work, he always returned in a state of heightened apprehension and uncertain fear. Upon opening the door to their cottage, he never knew how he might find Beth; either asleep in bed, deeply depressed or weeping as she cowered down in a corner as she often did during moments of acute depression. A part of Dermot feared that he might even walk in the door of their cottage one evening to find Beth drunk or even dead!
When December, 1992 arrived, there was little to be cheerful about in the Dermot household. Upon getting together initially, Beth was to discover that Dermot loved Christmas and Christmas Day every bit as much as Beth seemed to be wary of it.
Indeed, had it not been for his insistence, there would have been no real celebration of Christmas every year in the weeks running up to it and beyond into the New Year. The fact that his wife Beth shared her birthday with baby Jesus made the occasion much more special for Dermot and upon first getting their cottage he'd insisted upon the erection of a real Christmas tree to decorate their front room, along with their attendance at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to mark the specialness of the festive season.
Indeed, had it not been for his insistence, there would have been no real celebration of Christmas every year in the weeks running up to it and beyond into the New Year. The fact that his wife Beth shared her birthday with baby Jesus made the occasion much more special for Dermot and upon first getting their cottage he'd insisted upon the erection of a real Christmas tree to decorate their front room, along with their attendance at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to mark the specialness of the festive season.
One thing that Beth would never forget in the years ahead was Dermot firing the starting pistol each December by saying, "That's it sweetheart.........the tree is up and the lights are switched on. Just smell the fragrance of that pine. Christmas has now started. Roll on Christmas Day! Roll on my beloved wife's birthday!"
All that now seemed to have fallen by the wayside as the twin irony of the birth of Jesus was matched in cruel union by the delivery of Beth's dead child!
All that now seemed to have fallen by the wayside as the twin irony of the birth of Jesus was matched in cruel union by the delivery of Beth's dead child!
