Chapter One

Catherine, or Cathy as she was known by her friends, woke early. The faint silvery dawn light filtered through the curtains and into the small bedroom. Cathy sat up in her narrow bed and although it was mid summer, she shivered in her nightgown. clasping her hands around her knees, so she was hugging herself, Cathy smiled.

At nineteen, almost twenty Cathy was a small, slender creature with pale ivory skin and almond shaped cobalt blue eyes. Her ash brown hair fell in waves to her shoulder blades. She looked across the room and saw her sister Sarah sleeping peacefully. At almost seventeen, Sarah was a head taller than Cathy. Sarah had the same cobalt blue eyes, but their father's call black hair that fell to her waist, she was a selfish, self-centered child and age had done nothing to change that fact.

It was very early, but Cathy was too excited to go back to sleep. For today was her wedding day. Cathy had known her darling James since she was a little girl. He was a year older than her, and her older brother Adam's best friend. They both now worked down the mines together. Cathy was happy, for James was everything she could wish him to be.

After a while, Cathy stretched, her muscles stiff from staying still for so long. She threw the covers off her feet and stood up. Sunlight was now streaming into the room. Picking up her hairbrush from the small small set of draws that lay in between Cathy and Sarah's beds, she started brushing her hair. As she did so, Cathy noticed Sarah roll over in her sleep and bump into the pale yellow wall.

"Morning" Cathy sang, in her sweet voice. James often compared her voice to that of a nightingale, or a tinkling bell.

"Morning, how are you feeling?" was Sarah's reply as she yawned and stretched, pausing for a moment Cathy sighed, placing the brush back down. She then smiled.

"Wonderful" Sarah simply nodded her head in response and an uncomfortable silence fell upon the room.

A loud snort suddenly filled the air, breaking the silence. Both Cathy and Sarah jumped, before looking at each other. They then turned to face the scarlet red curtain that his their younger brother Daniel from sight. Using her fingers Cathy counted to three, and then as she pulled back the curtain...

"GOOD MORNING DANIEL" the girls yelled, before collapsing into giggles as Daniel woke with a start and tumbled out of bed, landing on the cold widen floor. At fifteen he was tall with spiky black hair and the same cobalt blue eyes as his sisters. Daniel picked himself up off the floor, grabbed his clothes from the food of his bed and left the room without uttering a single word. Cathy and Sarah were still laughing when their mother walked in a few minutes later.

Patricia Warren was in her early fortes, she was a small plump women with a round face and greying ash brown hair to her shoulders, and the same cobalt blue eyes as her three youngest children.

"Your brother is in a foul mood this morning" she stated as she looked at her daughters knowingly.

"Maybe Cathy shouldn't have woken him up by yelling at him" Sarah snapped, in her sickly sweet voice, as she walked out of the room. Cathy opened her mouth to respond, thought better of it and then closed her mouth. Patricia shook her youngest daughters attitude.

"I know, but don't let her spoil your day" Patricia murdered softly, as she gave Cathy a hug "I camcame to tell you that breakfast is ready" she added. Cathy nodded and together they walked downstairs and into the kitchen.

A few hours later Cathy stood outside the small white washed cottage she had called home for the past nineteen years, her family had moved into number six, Priory Way, when she was a few months old. She wore the palest blue almost white dress, it had lace sleeves that stopped just past her elbow and a bell skirt to her knees. Her hair was plaited and styled into a bun, and her lace veil was helped in place by a simple white aliceband. A bouquet of red and white roses was held in her left hand, the small diamond on her silver engagement glistened in the bright sunlight, that was climbing over the trees.

George Cathy's father, a fat middle aged man with greying black hair, wrinkled oak brown eyes and a rather large belly, was currently helping a sulking Sarah into the back of the small cart that would take them to the church. It was pulled by the beautiful apple-grey mare that belonged to Nathan wood. Sarah wore a pale sky blue dress, a matching silk ribbon was tied in her hair. Lillian, Cathy's best friend and Adam's wife wore a matching dress, a ribbon was also tied in her hair. Lillian was a head taller than Cathy, she had a soft round body and face, her honey blonde hair and round olive green eyes only added to her beauty.. As Patricia and Daniel took their sets in the back alongside Sarah and Lillian. Cathy sat up front with her father.

"cheer up Sarah. Its Cathy's big day so stop sulking and smile lass" Patricia said sternly. Sarah let out a small groan and placed a smile on her face. Everyone knew she liked being the centre of attention, Cathy smiled determinedly, just for once the day was about her and not even Sarah could spoil this day.

Sanity was a mixture of small clumps of ashed cottages and long rows of grey stone short ride from number six Priory Way to the church seemed to take hours. At last they stopped in front of the large iron gates, at the start of the little stone path that lead down to the church. A big stone building with solid oak doors and pretty stained glass windows.

Brenda Dalton, James' mother and his three sisters, Alice who was sixteen, molly who was thirteen and Carrie who was nine were stood outside the gates waiting for them. All three girls had verging lengths of curly auburn hair, and forest green eyes. Brenda here of had the same auburn hair as her daughters, but her son's icy blue eyes.

"Oh at last dear, Arthur's inside trying to calm James. Now we should be heading in as well I just wanted to say 'welcome to the family'" Brenda muttered quickly and she hugged Cathy and gave her cheek a small peck. The girls all hugged her, their eyes brimming with excitement. Causing Cathy to wonder why her own sis er couldn't be this happy for her. Sarah sent Alice a small glare, which Alice ignored.

"Yes, come along Daniel its time we took our seats" Patricia said, she placed a quick kiss of Cathy's forehead and then walked into the church with Brenda followed by Daniel, Alice, molly and Carrie.

Cathy paused for a moment before placing her hand on her father's extended arm.

"Don't let me fall" Cathy spoke in a gentle voice, which was laced with excitement and fear. Her stomach was full of butterflies. George gave a small laugh and smiled.

"I won't lass, don't you worry, I won't" George replied as he guided his daughter into the church, Sarah and Lillian leading the way.

James was stood at the front, his short brown hair sticking up at odd angles, he had obviously ran his fingers through his hair numerous times. His icy blue eyes reviled just how nervous he was. He was a tall, broad man with the cheekiest smile. To his right was old Mr harper the vicar. A tall, thin man with little hair and beady grey eyes, which bore into Cathy causing her to blush. To his left was Adam a younger, thinner version of George.

Cathy's smile grew wider as she walked closer to James, and by the time they were pronounced man and wife, she way crying with sheer joy.

Chapter Two

Cathy giggled as James picked her up and carried her over the threshold of their hotel room. They were staying in a lovely bed and breakfast near Whitby, for the weekend. This was their honeymoon and their families chance of finishing James and Cathy's new home, a small two-up, two-down grey brick terrace house down court road, near the plough inn.

As James placed Cathy back down on her feet, he smiled, placed a quick kiss on her forehead and left the room, going to retrieve their bags. Cathy removed her hat and coat and kicked off her black pumps. Her light ash brown hair was left loose, and she wore a place Forrest green dress and grey cardigan. James returned a few moments later, caring their cases, which we replaced next to their small wardrobe. He then closed the door before joint his wife at the window. The sky was a burnt orange colour and the last rays off sunlight could be seen through the clouds.

"I still can't believe your my wife" James murdered into Cathy's hair,Ashe wrapped his arms around his wife's waist.

"I know, it seems like a dream" Cathy replied, looking down at the simple silver band that now joined her engagement ring, on James's left hand sat its twin. She turned around and hugged her husband, 'her husband' Cathy felt as if she would she would never get used to this new title. Cathy's arms were wrapped around his neck, as she pulled back their eyes met and James placed a passion filled kiss on his wife's rose coloured lips. This kiss was warm and tender. James guided them over to the bed, and as he laid Cathy down on the bed he smiled, using his arms so he wouldn't fall and crush his wife.

"I love you" he whispered

"I love you too" Cathy whispered back, as James started placing more kisses on her cheek, neck and mouth. Cathy closed her eyes in pure bliss.

Cathy sighed as she stretched, sun filtered through the curtains. It had been three days since her wedding, three blissful, passionate, love filled days. James' arm was draped over her waist causing her to smile.

"Morning dear " James whispered kissing Cathy's cheek. Cathy rolled over and discovered James was propped up one an elbow, he had obviously being watching Cathy sleep.

"Morning my love" Cathy replied giving James a quick kiss, which he deepened.

"Do we have to go home today" James moaned, Cathy giggled.

"Yes, we do, and don't sulk" Cathy laughed as James started to pout. James stopped sulking and hit Cathy with his pillow. Cathy continued to laugh, and when she did calmed down she smiled.

"Your really are childish, you do know that right" James nodded and stuck his tongue out.

"That's why you love my dear," James said simply and Cathy nodded. She really did loves James' sense of humour.

It was nearly six in the evening when James and Cathy finally reached snaith. Brenda Dalton, James' mother was meeting them and the station and taking them to their house. Brenda greater them with warm smiles and friendly hugs. She was a similar height to Cathy and wore a pale white blouse and dark red skirt. Her auburn hair was placed in a bun.

"Hello my dears" Brenda said hugging her son and then kissing Cathy's cheek, "did you have a nice time?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes mum it was great"

"Yes Mrs Dalton we did it was wonderful " Cathy agreed.

"Brenda, dear. Call me Brenda" Mrs Dalton said kindly, causing Cathy to blush. James chuckled as he wrapped an arms around Cathy's waist, his mum had insisted on carrying one of their cases.

They passed the Dalton's own small terrace at the top of court road, they then came to a stop a little way down the path in front of a grey bricked building, with small windows and a scarlet red door. Nailed on the door was a small brass number seven. Brenda handed Cathy a small key attached to a scarlet hair ribbon, passed James the case and walked away, to her own home. James sighed at his mum, she hasn't even said goodbye.

James kissed Cathy's forehead as he dropped he cases and swept her into his arms. Cathy unlocked the door, with difficulty, and then James carried her inside. The front passive was small and narrow Cathy noted as she was once again placed on her feet. To the right was two doors, one lead to the front room the other to the kitchen. Upstairs there was two bedrooms and a cupboard.

The walls of the hallway were covered by a cream coloured wallpaper covered in, red, purple, blue and yellow flowers. The wooden floor that carried on throughout the house was covered with a green tartan rug, that stopped once it reached the narrow staircase. The front room was decorated in green stripy wallpaper, a cream rug and olive green sofa and two matching armchairs, there was also a ebondy bookcase, matching coffee table and sideboard, which held their wireless. The backroom help wooden furniture, the black stove and the boiler. The walls were covered in pale red wallpaper. Their tin bath sat next to the coal shed and outdoor toilet at the bororm of their small garden.

Cathy then walked to their bedroom. It had sky blue floral wwllpaer, simple oak furniture, a dark blue balcketlay on the bed, and a midnight blue and silver checked rug sat on the floor.

"Do you like it?" James asked nervously, Cathy shook her head and then saw James' hurt and disappointment fill his eyes.

"I love it" Cathy smiled as James perked up and pulled her towards his, his arms wrapping around her waist, as he kissed her Cathy's arms snaked themselves around his neck.

"Welcome home Mrs Dalton" James murdered softly into Cathy's hair. Cathy just smiled in response, holding him tighter.