Love in Coventry

Chapter 2

        It had been two weeks since Thomas last saw Miss Mary Davenport. He thought of little else. Everyday, while Thomas was on break, he would look to the road outside of the factory searching for any sign of her.
        The boys he worked with, two of which Thomas had grown up with, sensed something was amiss with him. Martin, who had also been one of the first to enlist, came home early due to his knee getting shot. He was no longer fit to fight so he took to the factory for work. Tommy Two and Alfie, who were two years Thomas and Martin's junior, had a few months until their 18th birthday. Alfie, whose older brother and friend of Martin and Thomas's had already been killed, was counting down the days until his birthday. Tommy Two was less enthusiastic about turning the fighting age. Martin had gathered the lads, minus Thomas, after work to discuss Thomas's latest demeanor. The three of them decided the pub would be the best anecdote.
        Thomas was just clocking out when Martin approached him. "The boys and I were thinking of heading over to Duffy's since they don't check for age. Want to join?"
        Thomas wanted to say no. He preferred going to bed.
        "You've done nothing but work and mope around for the past few weeks. Come and take a load off." Alfie and Tommy Two came up behind Martin. Thomas considered the offer and decided drowning in beer would probably be the best way to forget about Miss Mary, even if it was only for a night. Thomas shrugged his shoulders.
        "Yeah, alright." 
        "Great!" Alfie cheered. "I'm ready to get pissed!" Martin popped him on the back of the head as he headed for the exit. 
        "Let's go, idiots." Martin looked back at Thomas. "C'mon, Tommy." Thomas smiled as he grabbed his jacket and followed behind his friends.
        After spending a few hours getting drunker than they anticipated, the lads decided it was time to call it a night. Martin thanked Duffy as they exited the pub. Thomas was first out the door and just as he stepped onto the street he spotted Miss Mary walking on the other side. She was arm-in-arm with a lady who looked around her age.
        "Oh my god," Thomas whispered to himself. He left the boys by the entrance of the pub as he walked across the street. "Miss Mary?" he called out. She turned around at the sound of her name. Thomas took off his cap and placed it under his arm. He nervously waved as she looked at him with a rather shocked, but pleasant look on her face.
        "Thomas, what a surprise." She blinked a few times.
        "Well, I suppose we were bound to run into each other someday, right?" Thomas nervously placed his hands in his pockets.
        "Of course." Mary was still surprised to see him. The three of them stood there awkwardly in silence for a few moments. Her companion cleared her throat and nudged Mary's side to bring her back down to earth.
        Mary finally remembered herself. "Oh, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Thomas, this is Margaret, my older sister." She motioned to her sister.
        "Like the Princess?" Thomas tried to attempt a joke, but it didn't execute well.
        Mary looked at him oddly as she continued her introduction. "Margaret, this is Thomas Oliver."
        Thomas reached out his hand, "Nice to meet you, Miss Margaret."
        "Likewise." Margaret briefly took hold of Thomas's hand before retreating back to her sister's side. Margaret looked Thomas up and down, silently judging him. Thomas felt exposed and was beginning to regret crossing the street. Stupid alcohol for making me brave, he thought.
        Margaret looked back at Mary and said, "And how are the two of you acquainted?" Mary who had been staring at Thomas, widened her eyes slightly. Thomas saw a flash of panic cross Mary's face.
        "We, um, met on the train coming home from London." Mary smiled at Thomas warmly.
        "I helped Miss Mary with her luggage," added Thomas.
        Margaret looked back at Thomas and smiled, but superficially. "I see."
        Mary stepped forward. "Please, Thomas, just call me Mary."
        Thomas nodded. "Sorry...Mary." 
        Margaret looked at the two suspiciously. She suddenly recognied his surname. "Wait, did you say your last name was Oliver?"
        "Yes?"
        "You're not related to Gloria Oliver are you?" Thomas was almost afraid to answer. Margaret was starting to intimidate him.
        "She's me mum, yeah, you know her?"
        "Yes, a little," Margaret said quietly. "Your mother cared for me briefly when I was sick." Mary looked back at Margaret.
        "What happened to Dr. Ainsworth?" Mary wondered.
        "It was a last minute emergency and Dr. Ainsworth wasn't around." Margaret faced Thomas. He felt her eyes burn through him.
        Mary continued to question Margaret. "When was this? Father never told me about you being ill." Thomas looked to the ground while the sisters talked, kicking a tiny pebble in front of him. Margaret watched him as she spoke. "Oh, this happened about a year and a half ago. You were in Paris, darling. Nothing you needed to be concerned with." Margaret patted her sister's hand to reassure her.
        "Your parents, they don't live around here anymore, correct?" Thomas was still playing with the pebble on the ground. "Thomas?" Margaret tried again. He raised his head quickly after realizing she was speaking to him.
        "Oh, sorry! Yes, Miss, they moved to, uh, Warwick. I visit them on most weekends. I can tell me Mum you said hello if you wish." Margaret nodded.
        "That would be nice if," Margaret stopped herself briefly before changing her mind. "Actually, no, that's alright, but thank you." Thomas was incredibly overwhelmed by the two women. The beer was really kicking in and he could feel himself sweating. His vision was starting to blur as well.
        "Okay." Thomas looked at Margaret confused so she tried to rectify herself.
        "It's just that I don't want you to trouble yourself. She probably doesn't remember me anyways."
        Thomas corrected Margaret. "I doubt me Mum would forget caring for one of the members of the Davenport family, but if you insist." He tried to smile, while also keeping a burp down.
        "I do." Margaret's words were almost threatening. She turned to Mary and grabbed hold of her arm. "Mary, it's late. We really should get going."
        Mary was hesitant to leave, but Thomas was too drunk to notice. She smiled at him. "Well, it was really great to see you again, Thomas." She tried to give him her hand. Thomas reached for it, but Margaret pulled her away before they could touch.
        Thomas stumbled backwards slightly as he called out to the ladies. "You too, it was lovely to meet you Miss, uh...Margaret!" The women were already walking away. That was the second time Thomas had to watch his love walk away from him and he wasn't liking it. He placed his hand to his heart to keep it from jumping out of his chest.
        Mary stopped for a moment to look back. She called out to Thomas, "You're still over at Alvis, correct?" He wrinkled his forehead. "I should hope so."
        "Good." Mary smiled unveiling the covert dimple. Margaret pulled on Mary's arm again and the two sisters turned away and disappeared into the night.
        Thomas walked back to the entrance of the pub with his head down and hands in pocket. His lads were engaged in a hushed conversation.