It was over a meal at the Marmion house that Alice and Keedy finally had their chance. Ellen had spotted the signs in her daughter. Alice was vivacious, talkative and laughing too loud at the amiable banter. When there was a natural pause, she felt her mother’s hand on her arm.
‘I have the feeling that you have something to tell us,’ said Ellen.
Alice started. ‘Do you, Mummy?’
‘Is it that promotion you hinted at or have you decided to go abroad?’
‘I hope it’s not that job over there as a dispatch rider,’ said Marmion. ‘There’s plenty of valuable work to be done here, Alice.’
‘I won’t be going abroad, Daddy. I can guarantee that.’
‘That’s a load off my mind.’
‘No,’ Alice went on, ‘it’s nothing to do with the WEC — though that will be affected before too long. The thing is …’
As her daughter searched for words, Ellen stepped in excitedly.
‘I was right, wasn’t I?’ she asked.
‘Yes, Mummy, you were.’
‘So there is someone, after all.’
Alice nodded then glanced across at Keedy. Her parents gave a contrasting response. Ellen was so thrilled that she kissed Alice on the cheek and laughed approvingly. Marmion, on the other hand, turned to stare in dismay at Keedy. He’d been deceived by the person he valued as his closest friend. He realised now why Alice had been unable to spend New Year’s Eve with her parents. She’d been with Keedy instead. Fond as he was of the sergeant, Marmion knew only to well of his reputation as a ladies’ man. Over the years, he’d seen girlfriends come and go. It distressed him to think that his own daughter would follow in their footsteps.
‘How long has this been going on?’ he asked, curtly.
‘Sound a bit more pleased, Harvey,’ said his wife.
‘I want to know how long you’ve both pulled the wool over our eyes.’
‘It wasn’t like that, Daddy,’ argued Alice.
‘Then what was it like?’
Keedy spoke up. ‘The answer to your question is that it’s been going on long enough for Alice and me to make up our minds. I can’t blame you for thinking that this is just another case of Joe Keedy having fun with a new girlfriend. It’s not like that at all, Harv,’ he stressed. ‘That life is behind me now and I’m glad. We’re serious about this. Alice and I plan to get engaged.’ The news produced a whoop of joy from Ellen and a deepening frown from her husband. ‘You’re the first to know.’
‘It’s kind of you to let us in on the secret,’ said Marmion, dryly.
Ellen nudged him. ‘Don’t be like that.’
‘How am I supposed to be?’
‘I think you’re forgetting something,’ said Alice, smarting at his grumpiness. ‘You and Mummy used to meet in secret for the best part of a year before you dared to tell her parents. They didn’t like you at all at first.’
‘It’s true,’ said Ellen. ‘My father thought he was unworthy of me.’
‘There you are, Harv,’ said Keedy, brightly. ‘You must have felt the way that I’m feeling now. We shared the same uncomfortable experience.’
‘I never worked alongside Ellen’s father,’ said Marmion, pointedly. ‘I didn’t have to lie to him over a long period.’
‘I didn’t lie to you. I’m like Father Howells when you first met him. I just didn’t tell you the truth. And, yes, there is a distinction between the two.’
Ellen was exasperated. ‘This is supposed to be a happy occasion,’ she complained. ‘We’ve just heard that Joe is going to become one of the family. Isn’t that wonderful news, Harvey? He’s not threatening to run away with Alice. He wants to marry her.’ She nudged him harder. ‘Cheer up, will you? What sort of a father-in-law are you going to be?’
‘You’re right, love,’ said Marmion, contriving a half-smile. ‘In some ways, it is good news and I wish you both well. I warn you now, Joe, that I’ll be a terrible father-in-law.’ They all laughed. ‘As for what happens between us at work,’ he added, ‘well, that’s a different matter altogether.’
He leant across to kiss his daughter then shook Keedy’s hand warmly.
‘And there was me,’ said Ellen, ‘praying that Alice would never make the mistake of marrying a policeman.’
‘I’m going to do more than just marry one,’ declared Alice, who’d been saving up another surprise for her parents. ‘I’ve decided to leave the WEC in the near future. I’m going to join the Women’s Police Service.’ She saw the distress on her father’s face. ‘You’d better get used to the idea, Daddy. We’re going to be working together.’