Chapter 3

They left Perth after lunch and drove down to Edinburgh spending the night with Alison and her family. That came as a welcome relief for both of them. Moira had been acutely aware of David's dislike of her father even though he had remained scrupulously polite and had unselfishly and gently turned down her offers to leave early.

They headed south after breakfast spending a blissful night at another B&B, this time in the Peak District. It was not so much that they were able to make love as to be alone together. There was that in the car but some attention had to be paid to the driving instead of exclusively to each other. It was during that journey that Moira first called David 'Dai'. It became her pet name for him. He was deeply touched at its tenderness and also amused when his family started to adopt it.

Caroline, after David had told her that he and Moira were in love, subsequently rang him and asked him point blank shortly before the end of term whether they were sleeping together.

David had no qualms about answering her truthfully. "Whenever we get the chance," adding ruefully, "which isn't that often."

Accordingly and with Ralph's agreement she put Moira in the spare room with the double bed for which she received separate but warm hugs from both of them.

They did nothing desperately exciting: no major expeditions involving, for them, large sums of money. They did do some sight-seeing though: Pitsbury (David was surprised how little he really knew about his home city), Stonehenge, Bath, Bradford on Avon, Avebury. They went to a performance of Haydn's 'Creation' in the cathedral and also went to the theatre. They rode (Moira with L-plates), walked the dogs, spent time with Caroline and at the weekends Ralph. They were happy though just being together. It did not matter whether there were other people with them although their private time was particularly special. They went back to Cambridge more deeply in love than ever.

Their second year went smoothly although Moira was not happy about her parents' health, particularly her mother's. David did not go with her to Perth at all during the vacations. Moira was firm that it was a misery for both of them that did not need to be endured. Instead she repeated the visits of the previous year.

When she arrived at the Ingles' in the New Year she was happy to be back with them and David in particular but he was quick to notice that she was not entirely herself.

"What's the matter, my Moira? You seem subdued."

"Mum! She's even more scatty than ever: little or no short term memory. She never mentioned you once and when I did she looked totally confused until I reminded her about last summer but even then she was pretty vague. She's also developed very shaky hands. Dad seems totally indifferent."

"Did you talk to her doctor?"

"Yes. He reckons it's Parkinson's."

"Oh Lord!"

"Yeah, not much fun but he says it can mark time for quite a while and that he is not seriously concerned for her at the moment. He's given her pills to take but the chances are she'll forget to take them. I had to remind her several times. I've stuck a large notice on the fridge door. I just hope it helps."

"Poor her and poor you!" He pulled her into his arms and that was it. She cried long and wrackingly but it seemed to do her good and she perked up considerably but still had moments of sad thoughtfulness. David did his best for her and she responded to his love and concern.

"The good news though," she said, "is that Daniel has found a girlfriend and I think it's serious." She smiled wryly. "He even brought her up for Hogmanay."

"Good news indeed! How did your father react?"

"Surprisingly positively. She's no beauty but still very pretty and she's a lovely person."

"Oh well! I know I'm not very pretty..."

"But you're after his daughter," she smiled.

"I suppose. Is he over-protective or incestuous minded?"

"David!"

"Sorry, my love. I just wish he could be a bit more welcoming."

"I understand, my Dai. I think it's over-possessive actually." She managed a grin. "If it was incestuous I reckon I'd be had for patricide."

"Oh, my darling Moira!"

"It's you I love, old fruit."

"Old fruit?"

"Squidgy!"

"Rubbish! I'm a fit young man."

"With a squidgy bum!"

Moira was back to normal which was a relief to David although she did make regular calls home and appeared relieved after them.

David raised the subject of engagement again.

"No, my one, not yet. You know the answer but I reckon we should leave a formal announcement until we can also announce a wedding date."

"Graduation day?"

She shook her head. "Once we've graduated and found jobs."

"Moira, my sweet, you're making it all sound so business-like."

"Oh Dai, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be. It's just that I never want to be a financial burden to you."

"You won't be. If everything goes according to plan I shall go straight from Cambridge into a job with a civil engineering company. What I would hope is that you would move in with me and look for a job from there. So why not get married as soon as we finish our degrees?"

"Because, while I am job-hunting I want to be able to get full single woman's benefits."

David laughed. "A true Scottish lass."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Dead right, my special Sassenach!"

David kissed her and did not argue further. He would support her decision if his parents tried to hurry them up. She had agreed that they would live together. The joy of actually being man and wife could wait a bit longer.

Bridget was effectively sacked at the end of the summer term. The Head was genuinely sad to lose her but she was no longer up to it. She admitted it and resigned. At least she still had a pension. Moira was worried but Bridget assured her that she could manage. The first fortnight of the summer vacation reassured her. Bridget was sensibly making notes of what needed to be done and was able to translate those into daily duties. Mr Macintyre showed neither sympathy nor an inclination to help.

"There are times I could strangle him," Moira confided to David.

"Please don't. I might lose you to life imprisonment."