"I'm getting so big," she said, lifting the hem of the skirt to survey her ankles. "And my ankles are getting swollen."

"Not a bit of it," replied John. He was watching her from the bed, and he got up and came to stand behind her.

They stood together looking at themselves in the mirror for a moment.  "We look good together," he said suddenly. "But then, ye'd make any man look good who stood beside ye."

Mavis turned in his arms and looked up into his face. The morning sun pouring in from the window beside him made the russet highlights in his hair shine, and his eyes were the warm, light brown color that was natural to him. They sparkled at her from behind his glasses as he looked down at her.

"You're the good looking one," argued Mavis. "There's nothing special about me."

"Oh, I beg to differ, Miss Mavis," he said in a gently scolding tone. "Yer just that beautiful with yer wide eyes and those delicious, kissable lips o' yers. C'mon, darlin', and give us a kiss."

She lifted her mouth to kiss him, and his warm, strong hands entangled themselves in her long hair. She caught her breath as he took her mouth hungrily, his tongue eagerly exploring hers as thoroughly as it had the very first time they had kissed, as it did every time.

She broke the kiss reluctantly and rested her head on his shoulder, flushed with excitement and breathing heavily.  "You make me dizzy," she whispered breathlessly. "I wish I didn't have to go down to the pub to start breakfast, but people will start coming in soon and nothing's been done yet."

"Hold on, darlin', I know ye've gotta get cookin' and I have the fire to tend to, but first I've got a surprise for ye."

He released her and went back to the bed. He reached underneath and slid out a fair sized box, placing it on the unmade bed.

Mavis opened the box. Inside were four new skirts in a larger size with an elastic panel in each to accommodate her growing belly. There were several new, loose fitting blouses as well.

"This one's me favorite," remarked John, lifting out a deep green velvet brocade skirt. "It's just the color for ye."

"They're beautiful," said Mavis. "And so thoughtful! Where'd you get them?"

"Peace Masterson made the blouses, and as for the skirts, Birdsong McKinnon's mum made them," he told her. "I asked her last month at her daughter's weddin'."

"Hmmm. I'll bet Birdsong wished it was you she was marrying," said Mavis, a slight twinge of jealousy making her eyes flash. "She was always chasing you."

"Caught me a few times too, din't she," replied John. "She'll settle down now, though. Her mum says she's adjustin' to married life quite well--more's the pity for the young men on the island."

"Hmmm," Mavis responded. "Well, anyway, thank her mother for me, won't you? Preferably on the street and not in the house she shares with that free-spirited daughter of hers."

"I never looked at her again once I got me hands on ye, Mavis me love," John said sincerely. "Me only regret is that we can't get married. Yer me heart and soul, gurrl, and ye mean the world to me. I'd marry ye in a second, if I only could."

"I know you would," Mavis replied, running a brush through her hair and pinning the front of it back. "You don't have to say so."

The two of them went down to the pub. Mavis disappeared into the kitchen to get breakfast started, and John brought the fire to life again and went outside to get an armload of wood for later.

He looked down the street towards the beach where the sun was just coming up. The sky looked like it was on fire, and he wished that Mavis were standing next to him to see it with him.  More than anything, he wished that he could marry the girl, but his hands were tied. He had a wife in America, even if she did think he was dead.

Too bad I didn't get amnesia when I hit me head on the root cellar door last month, he thought to himself. Then I could marry her with a clear conscience.

"Ah, well," he said aloud to the empty street. "In me heart, she's me true wife, anyroad."

He went around the side of the building to the alley and selected an armload of wood from the pile there, then hurried back inside and put the wood by the fireplace, leaving the front door unlocked. He opened the heavy green drapes covering the big front window, then went into the kitchen where Mavis was working at the stove.

"There was frost last night although it's just September," he said, seating himself at the small table and lighting a cigarette. "The window is all decorated like it's Chrimble."

"I noticed that when we were upstairs," she told him. "It's still pretty cold out there. If it wanted to rain, it would surely snow instead. It'll most likely get warm again for a couple weeks any day now, though, happens every year."

"Mavis," John said suddenly after a short silence, "I feel really bad about not bein' able to marry ye with the baby comin' and all. I really do wish I could."

"You don't have to feel badly," she replied. She took the skillet of fried potatoes off the fire and placed it on the back of the stove, then rearranged the bacon and sausages before turning to face him.  "Lots of people have children nowadays without being married," she pointed out. "Just look at Willow and Jack. They aren't married, and they have five children."

"Yeah, but that's because Jack doesn't believe in marriage," John countered. "I do."

"Didn't you once say that it was just a piece of paper and not important?" asked Mavis. "I was sure I had read that somewhere."

"Probably," he admitted, "But I really am sort of old fashioned. Enough to want me baby to have me name, anyroad."

"Well, he or she will have your blood, and they will be just as wonderful as you are, and that is way more important than what their name is," Mavis said, pulling the skillet of meats off the fire and putting on a fresh pan for the eggs. "Now, go see if there's anyone out front yet and tell them, if there is, that breakfast is almost ready."

"Yerokay," replied John as he stood up to leave. "I gotta admit, the way ye talk to me sometimes, all orders and such, does make me feel as if we're married."

"Go on," she said with a smile. "If anyone's here yet, just take their order and come tell me what they want."

"Takin' orders from everyone today," muttered John as he left the room.  "Okay, darlin', he added out loud, "Sounds like there are at least two fellas out there."

***

After breakfast was over and the kitchen had been cleaned up, the sun was out and the ice had melted from the windows.

"It's gettin' a lot warmer outside. How about takin' a little ride around the island?" asked John. "We'll be back by eleven to make up some sarnies for the lunch crowd. Ye could probably use a little fresh air, don't ye think?"

"Sounds lovely," replied Mavis. "You go borrow the wagon and I'll pour a thermos of coffee to take along."

John went to ask Dylan if he could borrow the wagon and Mavis was on the street waiting for him when he led the horse around from behind the general store.

"Let me give ye a hand up, me gurrl," he said, taking her arm and boosting her onto the seat.  He climbed up beside her and flicked the reins across the horse's back.

"Off ye go, old gurrl," he told the animal. "Once around the island, shall we?"

"I was thinkin' o' takin' a trip over to the mainland to see Paulie this weekend," said John as they rolled out of town and started along the coast road. "He sent me a telegraph message this mornin' and he says Linda and the kids are goin' in to Glasgow to do some clothes shoppin' on Saturday. I'll stick around if ye think ye'll be needin' me, though."

"You go ahead if you can get a lift out," replied Mavis. "I was thinking of going to the mainland myself on Saturday, but I can leave the pub in Mary Larson's hands. She's been asking if I could give her a few extra hours before Christmas. She needs the money and I could use a day off."

"Sounds great; there are a few things I've been wantin' to get as well. I'll make ye up a list tonight."

The leaves were in full color and the air was crisp and clean. They rode along in silence for a while, Mavis' small hand clasped tightly in John's.

"I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am right now," John remarked as they neared the beach on the eastern end of the island. "Yer the best thing that ever happened to me, Mavis. Kinda funny to think that I owe it all to gettin' fuckin' shot."

"I'm just happy that you survived," Mavis told him. She leaned against him and laid her head on his chest.  "You're everything to me now. I don't know how I could possibly live without you."

"Ye don't mind that I no longer have me fame and fortune?" he asked, teasing her.

"Of course not! This way, you're all mine; I don't have to share you with the whole world. Besides, we have enough money to get by...even without the things you buy when my funds are running low, we'll get by. What more do we need?"

"Yeah, well, about that," said John slowly, "I think I might be a little more well off than most of the people here on Harmony. I've got a good amount stashed away."

"Well, good. We could probably use a little extra money with the baby coming. It will help to have a little put by."

"I don't know why I never mentioned it before to ye, Mavis, but ye know that brown case I have in the attic? There's nearly a million dollars in there. Yoko must have gone nuts tryin' to figger out what became of it."

The color drained from Mavis' face as what he'd said registered.  "A million dollars US cash?" she asked, her voice a mere squeak. "Saints preserve us, John, what if the pub burns down? You'd lose everything--that much money ought to be in a bank!"

"Yeah, well, there is no bank on the island, is there...and I really don't get to anywhere where there is."

"You should take it with you when you go to visit Paul," Mavis said decisively. "He can put it in a bank in Scotland and you can draw on it if you need to through him."

"Ye may be right," John mused. "Although it's been all right so far."

"You shouldn't take any chances, darling," Mavis assured him. "You've been lucky so far, but a million dollars-- my goodness, I didn't know I had such a rich man living under my roof. That's amazing. I knew you had some money, of course-- you always seem to have some when you need it, but I would have been a nervous wreck if I'd known you had such an amount. I probably will be now until I know it's out of my attic."

"I just figgered I'd make sure I had enough to last me while I was here," he explained, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag. "I didn't wanna find meself penniless and alone in a strange place."

"But that's enough money to last you several lifetimes here on the island," said Mavis. "It's a fortune-- I'll be glad when you get it tucked safely into the bank. Besides, this wasn't a strange place for long. You seemed to settle right in."

"I've got news for ye, Mavis me gurrl," replied John, "Harmony is the strangest place I've ever been, truth to tell. It's like stepping back in time when you get here from the outside world. I really love it, though. I can't imagine ever livin' anywhere else, now that this has become home to me. But to anyone from the rest of the world, this would seem a very strange place indeed."

"It's starting to get late," Mavis said. "We'd better start back. I have sandwiches to make and things to do."

"Yerokay," John agreed. "C'mon, Buttercup, me gurrl, take us home," he called to the horse, flicking the reins and giving a whistle. "Get along, then."

The old horse nodded her head as if to indicate that she understood and turned in the direction John had directed her to go.

"This horse knows the way home," John said with a naughty glint in his eyes. "Wanna climb in the back and take a little nap?"

Mavis turned to answer him, but when she looked at him, John was not looking back at her. The color had drained from his face, and when Mavis followed the direction of his gaze, she saw the young man lying in the tuberoses beside the road.

John pulled on the reins to stop the horse and jumped down from his seat to the road. He knelt beside the kid and put his ear to his chest.

"Is he alive?" asked Mary, kneeling beside him.

"Yeah, but he looks bad," John replied. "Help me get him into the wagon and we'll take him into the village to the doctor's surgery."

They lifted the boy, who, as waterlogged as he was, did not weigh much. He never stirred; it was like moving a piece of wood.  Mavis covered the boy with her shawl and they got back into their seats.

"Get a move on, Buttercup, it's an emergency!" called John, slapping the reins sharply across the old animal's back.  The horse snorted and took off towards the village at a brisk trot.  "Sorry, old gurrl, but a little faster, please," John called, giving the reins another sharp snap.  Buttercup broke into a gallop for the first time in five years.

The surgery was closed when they got there, so John and Mavis stopped Dylan and Sycamore on the street and asked them to help carry the boy into the pub and get him settled into John's old room.

"Who d'ye suppose he is?" asked John. "Either of you fellas ever see him before?"

"Nope, he's a stranger," Dylan replied, and Sycamore nodded agreement.

"I know everyone on the island, and I've never laid eyes on him before," said Mavis. "He looks young; not more than sixteen, I'll bet."

"While I've got ye here, Syccie, how about a ride out to me brother's place in Scotland this Saturday mornin'? I'll pay ye for the fuel and a day on the town in Glasgow as usual if yer available."

"Fine with me, I guess. I gotta get back to work, but I'll see ya on Saturday, John."

Mavis went into the kitchen to make a platter of sandwiches for the lunch customers, and John stood outside the front door talking to Dylan for a few minutes.

"Thanks for the use o' the wagon, Dylan. If ye see the doctor, please send him over, willyer?"

"Sure thing, John. Good luck with the kid...let me know as soon as you find out what his story is."

***

The doctor came into the pub an hour later and John took him upstairs to see their mysterious guest.

"He's exhausted and suffering from exposure, but I think he'll be all right," the old man told John. "I have something that I think will bring him around. Where did you say you found him again?"  The doctor filled a syringe and John averted his eyes; he hated needles.

"We found him lyin' on the side of the road by East Beach," replied John. "I thought he was dead at first."

"There we go; he should be awake in a few seconds," the doctor said, putting the needle back into his bag.  The boy snapped awake and made as if to rise, but he fell back and stared at the two men looking down at him.

"Who are you?" he asked in a thick, breathless voice.

"I'm John Evans, and this here is the doc," replied John. "The bigger question is who are you, and what brings ye to Harmony?"

"I don't know the answer to either of those questions," answered the boy. "I was hoping you would know."

"We found ye beside the road down by the beach," John said. "Ye were pretty well soaked through, like ye were washed ashore by the tide and crawled up to the roadside. Don't ye remember anything?"

"No...nothing. Thanks for bringin' me here, though, wherever here is."

"This is Harmony Island," said the doctor. "We're pretty much off the map; it's a small private island and you're in the public house--Mavis owns the place, and she'll be bringing you some soup as soon as I let her know you're awake. John here runs the pub with Mavis, and I'm sure the two of them will take excellent care of you for now. You just try to relax and get some rest, and I'll be by later this evening to check up on you."

"Okay, doctor. Thanks a lot," the boy replied. "Hopefully I'll be able to remember something by then."

The doctor left the room and went down the stairs, leaving John and the young man alone.

"Is there anythin' ye need besides some rest and a hot meal?" asked John.

"I could use some water," the boy told him. "Whatever happened, it left me pretty thirsty."

John filled the water pitcher at the sink and filled a glass for the boy, who drank it greedily.  "There now, take it easy," John cautioned, "No use havin' it come right back up on ye."

Mavis came in with a bowl of soup and seated herself beside the bed.  "Well, hello," she said brightly. "Nice to see you're all right. Can you eat somethin?"

"I sure could. and that smells great," answered the stranger. "Did you make it yourself?"

"That I did; now, if you can sit up, I'll help you with this."

The boy lifted his head and shoulders and John placed an additional pillow behind his back to support him as he ate.  "It's good," the boy said through a mouthful of soup. "I guess I was hungrier than I thought."

"Don't eat too fast; we don't know how long it's been since your last meal."

"Dunno, but feels like it's been a while," replied the boy. He put the spoon down and closed his eyes.  "I guess that's probably enough," he admitted. "I think if I eat any more I might be sick."

"Ah, well, just get yerself some rest, then," John said.  He took the tray from the boy and helped him lie back.

"I'll go down and let ye sleep," he said as he left the room. "I'll check on ye in a bit, and before ye know it, the doc'll be back."

***

That night after the front door had been locked, John and Mavis took their customary places by the hearth, he with his guitar and she with her knitting.

"Where do you think he came from?" asked Mavis. "He's so young."

"More than likely he's a runaway," John mused. "Probably got a knock on the head and scrambled his wits a little. He'll come around, I imagine."

"What if he never remembers who he is?"

"Then he'll be whoever he turns out to be," John said decisively. "He has years to become whoever he's meant to be. When ye go to Glasgow this weekend maybe ye'll hear of a missing kid, who knows?"

"His parents must be worried sick about him," Mavis said. "I would be, if my child went missing."

John laid his guitar aside and knelt to bank the fire.  "Off to bed, darlin'." he said, taking Mavis by the hand.  She put her work aside and stood up, allowing herself to be taken into his arms.

"Are ye tired, Mavis?" he asked.

"A little," she admitted, "But not too much."

"Good, cause I've got plans for ye."

The boy was fast asleep when they peeked into his room. John closed the door most of the way and led Mavis down the hall to their own bedroom.

"Do you think he'll hear us?" asked Mavis nervously.

"Nah, he's down for the count," John assured her. "The doc gave him a shot of summat to help him sleep."

Mavis changed into her nightgown as John watched her appreciatively.  "If I get any larger, I won't be able to get into my nightclothes," she said.

"Nonsense, the thing's absolutely voluminous. Two of ye could fit into it. Besides, yer just that beautiful, darlin'. Ye've never looked better."

"You're just saying that because you love me," she told him. "But thank you."

"I'm sayin' it because it's true. Come here, baby, and let me show ye how much I love ye."

She got into the bed with him and he gathered her close, kissing her deeply.  Mavis lost herself in his kiss, the rest of the world receding, then finally falling away.

***

Saturday morning was bright and clear, but there was a touch of winter in the crisp sea air. John left early to meet Sycamore and fly to the mainland, but Mavis elected to take the ferry. Soon it would be too cold to do that, and she loved watching the island grow smaller and smaller as she stood on the deck at the rear of the ferry, and even more beautiful was watching her home appear in the distance and grow steadily larger on her trip back in the evening.

On her approach to the mainland, she noticed the many smells wafting out from the port city, mingling with the clean, salt air...fast food restaurants, bus fumes, and a hundred other, less obtrusive scents. The sounds of the city grew as well, gradually drowning out the sound of the waves lapping against the sides of the ferry. By contrast, Harmony was nearly silent.

Finally the ferry made port, and Mavis disembarked and became part of the crowd headed for the marketplace.

***

John could see Paul outside of his house, throwing a ball for his big sheepdog to run after and bring back to him. The plane taxied to a stop at the far end of the south pasture and he climbed out and stood back, waving to the pilot as he turned the machine north and began to head towards the trees, lifting unto the clear, blue sky seemingly at the last moment.

Paul was running down towards the pasture to meet him, easily jumping the stone wall. It was hard to believe that his old friend was now forty years old, to see him make that leap.

"John!" called Paul as he ran up to his friend. "Something pretty bad has happened. You won't like it, but I think you ought to know."

***

When Mavis arrived home on the evening ferry, she was surprised to see John sitting on the dock waiting for her. She knew it was him long before she could make out his face, and something about the way he was sitting there watching the boat approach was disquieting. She drew her cloak about her body tightly, her stomach fluttering.

Once the ferry nosed into the dock, she hurried to disembark and ran to him. He caught her in his arms, and she was alarmed to find that he was trembling.

"What is it?" she asked. "What's happened?"

"I'm so fuckin' angry I can barely stand it," he told her. "It's Yoko; she's done summat terrible, and I can hardly believe that she would-- Mavis, she's thrown me sisters out of the houses I bought for them and sold them. I left her over two hundred million dollars! I don't know what she could have been thinkin'."

"That's awful! How did you find out?"

"Paulie told me. He said he didn't want to tell me in his telegraph message; he thought I should hear it from him in person. I've gotta calm down, Mavis. I'm only glad she's not here, because I don't know what I would do if she were. Let's go home, gurrl. I have to be home with ye right now. I feel as if I'm about to burst."

He was silent as the walked through the village and to the pub. There were still some men at the bar drinking, and he replied curtly to their greetings and disappeared up the stairs.

"Could you close up, please, Mary?" asked Mavis. "John's had some upsetting news concerning his family, and he needs me."

"No problem. See you tomorrow, Mavis, good night."

Up in the bedroom, John was pacing anxiously, muttering to himself. He sat on the bed and lit a cigarette with shaking hands.

"I can't believe she's done this," he said as Mavis sat beside him and took his hand. "What the fuck-- two hundred million dollars wasn't enough for her? She had no right to do this. Mavis, I feel as if I don't even know who she is! I have to do summat about this. I'm gonna tell Paulie to buy some new places for them out of the money I brought him today to put into the bank for me. At least she let them take the furniture...I bought that as well; maybe she didn't know that."

"That's a fine idea. We can send a message to him in the morning and have him do it right away. Calm down, baby. I'm afraid you're going to have a stroke."

"I just might. Hold on to me, Mavis. I just need to hold on to you right now."

Mavis climbed into the bed and he lay down beside her. She held him in her arms and his body trembled against hers. He began to weep softly, all the tension, anger, and pain draining from him as she stroked his hair and soothed him as she would a small child.

At last he stopped trembling, and his breathing told her that he had fallen asleep.  Mavis sighed and kissed him gently, her heart full of love for him and anger against the wife who had betrayed his trust.

She felt a little guilty for this last emotion; she knew John loved Yoko, and she was sure she loved him too, but it was hard for her to imagine what had driven the woman John had cherished so to do such a thing to his family. She didn't think she would ever be able to understand why people sometimes did the things they did.

John sighed gently and pressed closer to her; she tightened her arms around him and closed her eyes, falling asleep with her nose in his hair, breathing in his scent. In the morning he would make things right. Taking care of the people he loved and looking out for them was as natural to John as breathing; it was what he did. It was who he was, and Mavis was so happy that a man like that was the father of her child.

***

"That boy Joshua has a terrible crush on ye, Mavis. How long's he been here now, anyroad?"

"Nearly two months now," Mavis replied. "He still doesn't remember anything, though. I'm beginning to think that his memory of his past is gone for good. I’m glad we found him, though. He’s a big help around the place, and he’s doing well in school.”

“Yeah, he’s made a lot of friends amongst the local lads, too. It almost seems like he grew up among them.”

“I wonder if his family is still looking for him,” Mavis said thoughtfully. “Seems as though he doesn’t mind much, though. He never seems to wonder about where he came from.”

“Perhaps he wasn’t treated well at home, or he may be an orphan. I can identify with that. At least if that’s the case, not remembering it will keep him from being angry about it. I know it was hell on me.”

“Well, at least you had your aunt and uncle to raise you, so you were never all alone.”

“Yeah, and I appreciated that, but it still wasn’t the same.”

“At any rate, he’s adapted well. I’ll miss you while you’re gone to the mainland to see Paul tomorrow, but at least I’ll have him here to help out.”

“Right enough. Well, let’s be off to bed then, Mavis. I think he’s asleep by now. You go on up, and I’ll bank the fire and join ye directly.”

***

"I don't wanna hurt the baby, darlin', so let's try somethin' different," John said gently after they'd lain in bed kissing for a while. "Get up on yer hands and knees here and I'll get behind ye. It works real well in late pregnancy."

Mavis' heart was pounding as usual when she was in his arms, and she eagerly complied, pressing herself close against him, loving the feeling of his hardness throbbing hotly against her skin.

John moaned softly and entered her, sliding himself deep inside of her welcoming warmth. She caught her breath as he penetrated her fully, holding very still for a moment. The sensations were a bit different than she was used to, but very nice.

Before long, they were deeply engrossed in their lovemaking. Neither one of them noticed the door opening a crack, or the boy Joshua watching them intently from the dark hallway. Before they were finished, the boy closed the door silently and went back to his room, trembling with excitement, a half formed plan already taking shape in his mind. He would be alone with Mavis the next day, and with John out of the way, he would make sure that she noticed him.

Part Six Coming Soon!

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