Sea Glass: Marie and Lauryn

Chapter 43

The rain had cleared overnight, leaving the Antrim coast morning washed clean and luminous, the sky pale blue streaked with soft clouds still drifting out to sea. The cliffs gleamed dark and damp, but the air felt fresh rather than heavy, and the path along the headland shimmered faintly where the sun caught it.

The morning seemed to reflect Lauryn perfectly. She wasn't feeling exhausted and regressed anymore; and instead seemed refreshed. She walked slowly, her hand tucked into Marie's, feet careful on the uneven ground. The sea stretched wide and silver below them, gulls wheeling lazily in the brightening light. It wasn't ambitious, no steep climbs, no long distances, but it was enough to feel the wind in their faces and the steady rhythm of movement in their legs.

They didn't linger too long. Lauryn's health was better than it had been months ago, but Marie was careful, always careful, and once she felt the subtle shift in Lauryn's breathing, she gently steered them back toward the car. Lauryn was still so fragile, and while Marie was proud of her in moments like these, she worried constantly about whether Lauryn would backslide. 

By late morning they were driving south-east toward Belfast, the coastline giving way to small towns and rolling green. Lauryn grew quieter as they approached the city, not anxious exactly, but aware. This was home territory, filled with history. Perhaps, Marie thought, too much history.

They parked outside Granda's cottage just before lunch.

"D-did G-granda kn-know y-you w-were g-going t-to ask?" Lauryn asked Marie as she helped her from the car.

Marie winked and took her hand. 

"Maybe."

Walking to the small door, Marie knocked. 

The door opened and there stood Bridget, two of her little boys locked onto her legs, their blue eyes wide as they looked warily up at Marie. A smile lit up Bridget's face.

"Well, let's see it then!" 

"Y-you kn-knew t-too?"

"Ye really think Granda can keep a secret? He can't keep anything a secret!"

Lauryn giggled and took her left hand from her coat pocket, the ring catching the light. Bridget took Lauryn's hand in her own before letting out a girly scream, making Marie laugh.

"Is that them?" Marie heard Granda's voice say from somewhere inside. 

"Aye, Granda. And it's a whopper of a ring so it is."

Lauryn blushed. 

The door opened wider and there was Granda. He gently took Lauryn's hand in his own, and seeing the ring, his face softened.

"About time," he said gruffly, though his eyes shone as he looked up at Marie.

To think how much Lauryn feared he wouldn't understand their love.  

He pulled Lauryn into a firm hug first, then Marie, then Lauryn again. Marie watched Lauryn cling to the little old man, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Me wee baby, a grown up, married lady. To think."

By early afternoon, once the excitement had begun to settle and Lauryn's energy started to dip, Marie gently announced they were heading to their hotel downtown for a rest. She could tell Lauryn was fading fast, which generally led to headaches and her inability to get up for the rest of the day if she didn't get to lay down for a bit.

Once inside the hotel room, Marie helped her change slowly, unhurried. Given that she felt big today, Marie helped her into a soft pull-up in place of a thicker diaper, then loose, cozy clothes. Lauryn swayed slightly on her feet when Marie pulled the jumper down over her head, and Marie steadied her discreetly by wrapping her arms around her and kissing her head.