For the love of Christopher

Alder street and good news

The following day, we didn't wake up until ten o'clock. We were totally refreshed and after saying goodbye and thanks to my mother and my step-dad, Jack, we were on our way to Alder Street, Great Lever where we would make our new home and our new life together.
Alder Street was a cobbled street with pre-war terraced houses, on each side. The house I lived in was a two-up, two- down house and it belonged to a housing association. It was very modern inside, very spacious with a large front room and modern kitchen. Upstairs were two good sized bedrooms and a small bathroom. It was adequate and it was my home, our home and I intended to make Helen happy there.
I guess this is where the story really begins. I opened my front door and carried her over the threshold as though we were just married. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bit of an embarrassment as I fell over, unceremoniously dropped Helen on the floor and smashed a Greek vase. Naturally, Helen was a bit shaken, but she burst out laughing. I hope this is not a sign of things to come, I thought. I didn't want to think we were already cursed with bad luck.
When I showed Helen round the house, she was delighted. "It's a lovely house," she said happily. "I like it and I'm going to be happy here with you." She settled down quickly. I showed her around the town and the shops and introduced her to a lot of my friends. Her English was improving daily and after a while she felt confident enough to go out on her own. She found out very quickly which shops to go to and she learned which buses to catch. She also learned remarkably quickly about English currency perhaps to my cost.
About eight weeks after we had arrived, she began to feel unwell so I took her to the doctor's. He asked her a few questions about her symptoms and then he examined her, requesting her to provide a urine sample. When she went back into the surgery, he told her he would have to send the sample off to the lab. I was worried there might be something seriously wrong with her, but the doctor informed us. "I think you might be pregnant."
I was in total shock. "She can't be!" I said. "I was in a previous relationship for eight years and nothing happened. We have only been together for a few weeks."
The doctor smiled. "Every relationship is different."
I looked at Helen and she was as white as a sheet. We left the doctor's and walked home. It was not very far and Helen didn't speak a word. When we arrived home, she just put her arms around me and started to cry. I held her in my arms until she was calm. I was in shock too, but the truth of the matter was, I was actually very happy about it. I felt I couldn't show this to Helen as I didn't know what kind of reaction I would get. Looking back, I thought Helen was afraid because her mother used to do everything for her. In Greece, she wasn't allowed to do even the simple things such as ironing, or washing dishes. She was totally under the control of her mother even in things like not being allowed to wear make-up. Her mother had treated her like a child all of her life. She hadn't been allowed to go far from the house and when she did, she had to telephone her mother to say where she was. At twenty years old, I thought it was a bit extreme, but now she was going to be a mother herself and I think the prospect of motherhood daunted her.
I reassured her that everything would be fine and I would always be there for her. My family would help her too and she seemed to calm down. She kissed me warmly and said with a beautiful smile, "I can't believe we will have our own family." It was a magical moment for us both and a special time that we would never forget. We hadn't planned to have a family and for it to happen so soon after Helen's arrival in England was unexpected to say the least.
I smiled at her and told her, "Let's just wait for the results and take it from there."
We decided to keep the news of the pregnancy from my family and friends and for the next few days we carried on as best we could until we got the final results. Four days later, the phone rang. It was the doctor. He spoke cheerily. "The results are here and it's positive. Congratulations!"
The feeling was incredible. I was going to be a father! It was the happiest I had ever felt in my whole life. It was unreal and I said to myself, "My life is going to change forever." The troubles I had in the past were long gone. I went upstairs and told Helen. "You are going to be a mother!" She burst into tears and put her arms around me. This time they were tears of joy.
I rang round all my family, bar my mother and Jack whom I wanted to tell in person. I knew they would be happy with such good news. I decided to go and see them on the same day we had the pregnancy confirmed. I had bought a bottle of champagne the day before. We took a taxi to my mother's house and I had butterflies all the way there. I was so excited to be telling her the brilliant news. When we arrived, we sat in the kitchen and my mother knew straight away I had something to tell her as I couldn't stop smiling. I allowed Helen to break the news as her English was now very good. My mum and Jack were so happy; they jumped up from their chairs and hugged us both fondly.
I looked at Helen and she was really happy. I was very proud of her and I thought she now had a real family who would love her for who she is; a kind, generous and loving girl who had so much love to give. We stayed with Mum and Jack for most of the day and celebrated. It felt the right time and so I got down on one knee. "Helen, will you marry me?"
Helen looked into my eyes and lovingly said, "Yes."
I wanted to tell the whole world that I was going to be a father and I was getting married. I was absolutely ecstatic.
The next four months were spent planning our wedding day. I took Helen into Bolton and walked round the jewellery shops looking for a wedding ring. Next we bought clothes. I found a smart jacket, shirt and tie and Helen bought a purple dress in a size which would disguise her four months baby bump. Over the coming weeks, we ordered the wedding cake and booked everything necessary to give us a wonderful wedding day. On the morning of the wedding in February 1991, I hugged Helen and told her I truly loved her. "Thank you for turning my life around. I would go through all the heartache in Greece again to bring you here. You are the love of my life."
It was just a small affair with a few friends and family at Bolton Register Office. Neither of us wanted too much fuss.
We had a small gathering at our house after the wedding. We cut the wedding cake and celebrated till the early hours. I kissed Helen fondly and I said, "You are finally mine; my Greek princess; my wife who I shall love forever." It was a wonderful, happy day and one I shall never forget. I married the girl I had fallen in love with on the Greek island of Corfu. I gave Helen an English red rose which I hoped she would keep forever. It was a symbol of our love to remind us that in spite of all the trouble we went through, love conquers all.