“Thanks for the update, Pete. Cathy and I were planning a trip up there soon. Cathy wants to see the Women’s shelter operation once Maureen has it organized. From what I hear it is coming along just fine, but the first client has not set foot in there yet, that I believe is scheduled to start on Monday. Paul will be starting in the plant that day too – full time that is. He has only been dropping in periodically up until now – but once the place is up and running he has to be there to run it. You have all the floor operations ticking along like a Swiss watch he tells me – but the office side he now has to organize so that will keep him busy for a while.”
“Oh I’m sure it will, he has a good secretary/ administrator/ personal assistant though. She came from one of the big banks and she is really efficient too, her name is Angela. She knows her business and she doesn’t put up with any BS. Paul liked her immediately and so do I – you will too, Tony.”
The Women’s Shelter was now totally finished and redecorated as was Maureen and Paul’s apartment on the roof. They could walk out on to the roof top and see the boats bobbing about in the harbour. Maureen just loved that as it reminded her of home – which in fact was not very far away. The sea had always had an appeal for Maureen; and just about every other Maritimer too. Their apartment was quite spacious – all things considered and the women’s rooms below were a little more than simply Spartan. A woman staying there would not feel like she had been institutionalized and should adapt quickly and without unnecessary anxiety. The ground floor had Maureen’s office, the kitchen and the community dining room and the family room. The individual’s rooms did have a TV and those seeking solitude could certainly have it. The family room was for mixing and for the kids to play and meet the other kids etc. The kitchen had been professionally designed and had a huge fridge – which had been fully stocked along with the chest freezer in the basement. “I think Tony has set us up to withstand a siege” Maureen had commented to Paul when she saw all the food supplies.
Maureen had met all the professionals now and also several of the local social workers. The Chief of Police had also dropped by to introduce himself and Maureen had given him a tour of the facility. He was very impressed with it too. The presidents of the Rotary Club and the Lions had also dropped by to let her know they were more than willing to help if needed. Maureen duly thanked them and told them that she more than likely would – Christmas Parties and the like she had said. Both groups were more than willing to participate in that – “Just let us know what we can do” had been their collective response.
Their own apartment was now all set up and arranged the way that they wanted it. Paul only had to walk downstairs and across the yard and he was in his office. He found that to be very convenient indeed. The plant itself was working well. He had walked around several times and seen first-hand how things were going. The lines were moving well, the workers seemed to have a handle on everything and the supervisors and foremen were more than willing to lend a hand when necessary. That appealed to Paul. Leadership by example was his mantra and also Pete Bradshaw’s. That message had obviously been put across to the foremen – and they were now observing that philosophy. A happy factory is a productive factory and the morale here was excellent – it was Paul’s responsibility to maintain it – with Pete’s help of course, and he knew he could always count on that.
***
The first day that the Women’s Shelter opened Maureen had no idea as to what to expect or even if anyone would show up. She was equipped to handle up to twelve women, but at a pinch she could squeeze in fifteen in an emergency. The doors were officially opened at 8:30 am and by noon she had filled eight of the spaces. The local social workers tried to do a sort of triage on who was in the most need of the shelter’s facilities – but it was tough to do. They all needed to be catered to and they were all suffering – but some were indeed needier than others. It was these women Maureen saw. The alcoholics and drug abusers were placed on the back burner so to speak. They did need help, of that there was no doubt – but to some degree it was their choice – but even then not all of the time. A call had to be made and it fell on the side of those who were in physical pain and distress. Having been beaten and pummeled herself, Maureen knew from first-hand experience how those women were feeling. Incest took precedence over rape, homeless women with kids who had been evicted, were ahead of those who were kicked out for drug abuse etc. They would all get treatment - just not at the women’s shelter. One had to prioritize and rightly or wrongly this was what they had done in order to help those that they did take. It was agonizing at times to have to turn people away – but there was no other option at times. Some of the abuse victims that Maureen would see could well have come directly from that logging camp in Ontario they were so badly beaten. In one case it was the woman’s son that had done this to his mother – he turned out to be a schizophrenic, but he had not been diagnosed at the time. Another girl was being systematically raped by her brother and forced by threats to keep quiet. The anguish was out there and deciding who got the help immediately and who had to wait was a trauma in itself. While Maureen didn’t know these women personally, she could easily identify with them. She had been a maritime girl, married a fisherman and lived that life. She had seen the hardships, the recessions, the drinking and the resulting brawls and wife battering. This was certainly not strange to Maureen – but it certainly did upset her. They did not deserve this abuse, they deserved to be just as happy as she now was – but that was a dream. As young girls they would all have had similar dreams. A nice little cottage, a couple of kids and a good man to take care of them all, it was not expecting too much at all. This they could probably all envision as they were walking down the aisle. How they came to end up like this was anyone’s guess – but too many of them did. The economics of the day had a lot to do with it, the lack of opportunity to earn a decent wage and the need for a higher education to get what jobs were available. The frustration would then set in and build up until it reached breaking point. When it did they would lash out and their families were generally on the receiving end of that explosive tirade. At which point they would be introduced to Maureen, involuntarily most of the time, either by the police or the social workers.
That however was the gloomy side – there was also a positive side to this facility. What came in was not necessarily the same as what went out and into the real world once more. They were really helping some of these people and giving them a new start in life. The therapists and psychologists were building up their self-confidence and the Shelter workshops were reinforcing their life skills. In some cases they were also training them for jobs in Braxton’s when it was possible. They really were doing good work here.
Pete Bradshaw had also settled in well and he was well liked too – and that is something for a general foreman. They are not usually the most popular figures in a factory – their job almost guarantees that. They are respected – even feared in some cases, but seldom liked to the extent that Pete Bradshaw was. It was richly deserved however and he had earned the respect rather than commanded it by virtue of his position. Pete was a man who had seen rock bottom, known the element of despair and the hopelessness that came with it. He knew instinctively what the workers on the shop floor were all about and what these jobs meant to them. He did not exploit their gratitude by expecting the unreasonable – or asking them to stay behind to finish things – unpaid of course. Pete would never do that and the workforce knew it. They had no idea about his past – just that he was ex-military and seemed to understand their plight. His fairness had won them over big time and he had gained their loyalty on the strength of it.
One day as he was strolling purposefully across the workshop floor he ran into a group of school children. They were being shown around as part of a field trip. Maureen had been asked by her friend Alya if she could arrange this and Maureen had mentioned it to Paul. His new Secretary, Angela had taken care of the rest of it. Pete had been informed about it all ?
?? but it had slipped his mind. He had to address the group too once they had seen all the machinery and assembly stations and gathered in the canteen. It was during this informal chat that Pete’s attention focused on Alya. There was just something about that girl that got to him. Her physical beauty was self-evident and her long lustrous black hair amplified it even more. She really was a striking girl – but it was her manner with the children that appealed to Pete for some reason. He couldn’t put his finger on it – but he was definitely drawn to this woman. Apparently Alya had felt that magnetic pull too. The second she set eyes upon him she felt her heart rate go up. What was that she wondered? He was a handsome devil alright – but that wasn’t it, there was something far deeper inside Mr. Bradshaw. Alya didn’t know exactly what that was – but she sensed it all the same and it definitely intrigued her. Nothing was said about it by either of them – at least not to each other. The odd casual remark had been made to Paul from Pete and to Maureen from Alya a day or so later. Once Paul mentioned it to Maureen that was it - her match making radar went off big time now. A casual dinner was arranged and the two invited guests were who else but Alya and Pete. Maureen and Paul knew the background information on them both – but they said not a word about it. These two would disclose their past as and when it was felt appropriate to do so –Maureen and Paul would let that happen in its own time. Well it didn’t take too long, they both wanted the other to know what they were getting involved with and this information was disclosed right up front. It was accepted by both as being inconsequential – important and good to know – but nothing to worry about and they didn’t. There was no urgency to rush down the aisle, but Alya and Pete knew that was where they were headed down the road. Maureen and Paul knew it too having done some diligent probing to enquire as to how things stood. It had not been too subtle either, but Alya and Pete didn’t mind –they knew where they were coming from and only wished them the best. Several hints had been dropped regarding Maids of Honour and Best Man opportunities and none of them had gone over their heads and Pete and Alya had laughed about it amongst themselves.
***
The Braxton factory was ticking along nicely now and exceeding expectations in terms of production. The morale was high and overall they were a happy and contented workforce. The local economy had been boosted significantly by Braxton’s presence and this was reflected in the attitude of the general population. The activities of the Women’s Shelter were also reduced, not to the point of them being redundant – but reduced all the same. One can never expect that bullying will totally cease or that some men will occasionally become violent. One may pray for such things – but so far those prayers had gone unanswered. It had been several months now since the Shelter had opened and it now had a shingle outside that read “Maureen’s Haven”. Everyone knew exactly what it was and they had considerable respect for the place and what it did. Most folks knew of somebody who had been in there or benefitted from it in some way. For many others it was a case of “There but for the grace of God” – and this added to the esteem in which they held this facility. It was run along the same lines and Rachel’s Shelter in Markton and had pretty much the same facilities. Maureen even had a sewing machine to teach some of the women how to sew and repair and alter their clothing. On occasion she would let ex-residents return at night to use the machine to fix things if they themselves didn’t have a sewing machine and no classes were in progress. Maureen herself was highly regarded for all she was doing in the community and she was also very well liked too. Cathy Braxton had found this out for herself when she was walking around the town of Liverpool on one of her visits there. She had just happened to overhear a conversation between the shopkeeper and a customer about Maureen’s’ Haven and when it was her turn to be served she enquired about it.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation about Maureen’s Haven, is that another ladies store here in town?”
“No Ma’am it’s our local women’s shelter.”
“Oh I’m sorry I thought it was another fashion store.”
“It’s far more than that, ma’am, it gives refuge to a lot of women and the woman who runs it is a very nice lady. Those that have been guests of that place consider her to be a saint. She doesn’t judge or dispense phony advice –she just listens to them and offers words of encouragement. They all suspect that she herself has seen some tough times – but she never talks about them. They just figure that to have the understanding that she has she has to have been there herself. Maureen Machin is her name, she comes from just up the coast in Murdoch’s Cove, so that makes her one of us really. Anyway, she is a very popular girl in this town and well-liked by everyone. Her husband runs Braxton’s and he too is well liked by the workforce in there.”
“They sound like a very nice couple.”
“Oh they certainly are that – you won’t hear a wrong word against them in this town, they really are nice people.”
With that Cathy walked out of the shop having thanked the lady for her help and information. Yes, Maureen and Paul were indeed nice people and it was gratifying to know that the locals had embraced them totally and respected and admired them both. She never mentioned that conversation to Maureen – but she certainly told Tony all about it later that night. He too was pleased, as was Rachel when he mentioned it to her a few days later.
“I always knew she’d be good out there, Tony. There’s just something about Maureen.”
“Yes Rachel, there is and I saw it too the first time I met her. She and Paul have been through Hell and yet they still emerged as lovely people - people I am more than delighted to know and to have as friends.”
“Amen to that Tony, John and I feel the same way about them, they really are nice people.”
***
As everything had been running smoothly in Liverpool, Maureen and Paul had been discussing their future and the prospect of children down the road. While it was not a really pressing issue as Maureen still had plenty of time left on her clock, they decided to stop taking precautions and let nature take its course.
“I know I want children, Paul and I know we could wait a little longer as I am still quite young really – but what if there was a problem? I’d rather find that out now so we could do something about it sooner rather than later.”
“Yes that makes sense to me, he replied. Let’s stop taking precautions and see what happens.”
“Are you sure Paul, I don’t want to rush you into anything you are not ready for.”
“Oh I’m ready, Maureen, well I think I am anyway – does anyone ever know for sure whether they are ready or not?”
“Well when you put it that way I guess nobody does until it happens. They may think they are – but do they really know for sure?”
“Let’s go for it as you say and see what happens.”
Maureen was all “Gung Ho” now – she had always wanted to be a Mom – now that dream was about to come true – or she hoped it would at least.
Paul too wanted to be a Dad and he was excited for Maureen as her saw how much it meant to her. So for the next few months caution was thrown to the wind and they tried to make a baby together. There was no stress attached or sense of desperation and they knew it would probably take a while. Deep down Maureen was terrified that she had been damaged in that logging camp and that her ability to conceive had been destroyed. Dr. Malcolm had assured her otherwise when he examined her in Thunder Bay – but she still worried. As time dragged on she began to worry even more. Paul had done his level best to console her and told her to go and see her doctor to put her mind at ease.
On the morning of her appointment Maureen felt sick and only just made it to the bathroom before she threw up.
“Relax, honey, don’t get yourself all stressed out, you’ll be fine and I’m sure Dr. Grant will tell you so. There’s nothing wrong with you, it will happen in its own time.”
“I know, I just need to be reassured, I’m sorry.”
“Well go and see Dr. Grant, I’m sure she’ll straighten you out.”
Maureen did go to see Dr. Grant and she was given a thorough examination - at the end of which a smiling doctor told Maureen that she was pregnant right now – hence her bout of morning sickness.
“Well Maureen I am happy to be able to tell that as of right this minute you are pregnant. That is why you threw up this morning – it was morning sickness. You are indeed going to have a baby and in my opinion your due date will be April 4th.”
“Really, Jane, I am already pregnant. You sure are Maureen so you have nothing further to worry about – apart from eating healthy foods etc. Avoid stress too and don’t go and overwork yourself – but don’t stop having sex” she said laughing, it won’t hurt the fetus unless you go wild –you are not a wild child are you Maureen?”
“Not anymore, Jane, but I have had my moments.”
Jane just laughed - “Haven’t we all at some point, Maureen, but take a few months off okay – just keep it within normal limits for the next nine months.”
They both roared laughing at that remark, but Maureen was now a very happy and relaxed woman. Dr. Grant had totally removed all her fears now and she could not go home and give Paul the good news. It was now a question of just how she was going to do that and what setting she would choose to deliver this news. She chose an after dinner walk on the beach. They were both Maritimers, they both loved the sea – what better place was there.