JUNE 1922

It was crowded; a hot humid June evening, the air thicker than ever with the bodies perspiring in their cheap suits and homely cotton frocks in Finnegan's Dance Hall. The Ceilidh band had just struck up, playing the well know refrain from The Siege of Ennis and the sets were forming, couples running forward hand in hand, shy young men blushing and adjusting ties as they fumbled their lines - but the girls grabbed them anyway. At the bar at the far end, older men sat watching the proceedings, steadily supping on Guinness or beer, amused by the antics of the younger crowd and muttering very pithy observations in their laconic style.

"I see young Jim's got himself a new girl..." John Kilbride indicated the stocky young man chatting bashfully to a sassy red head who was visibly giving him the eye, an advance about which he seemed noticeably uncomfortable. "He'd better watch himself. Kathleen Hanrahan knows more than her prayers," he chuckled.

Michael Braddock rolled his eyes at his seventeen year old brother's antics. "They won't leave him alone. And he's got no sense at all. You know how they are at that age. Brains in their ballocks!"

"That so? Vincent Hogan remarked hoarsely, draining his glass and slamming it back down on the bar top. "Well, maybe I should see how useful he really is with those fists of his..."

The men exchanged glances; they hadn't any notion what Hogan's beef was but he was well oiled and on his usual short fuse. 

"I'd watch yourself, Vinnie," Michael Braddock observed with a warning hand on his arm. "You're drunk and our Jimmy's a boxer..."

Hogan sneered. "He's just a kid..." and staggered forward menacingly.

The dance was underway, the couples side-stepping, marking time, leading through, passing under the arches and then coming together for the swing. Jim held Kathleen close and set his left foot squarely on the floor whirling her round, his right foot spinning with deft taps against the scratched old wood paneled floor, moving faster and faster. Kathleen threw her head back and laughed, flashing her green eyes as she weighed up the handsome ruddy faced Braddock holding her firm in his brawny arms. He was a sight for sore eyes.

Tall, powerfully built, lean but muscular, Jim Braddock, that strong-jawed, light-eyed sort of Irishman, handsome rather than pretty, manly and reserved, his wavy jet black hair slicked back in the fashion  but a stray curl refusing to be restrained as it flopped onto his damp forehead. Kathleen was nineteen and in the market for a good catch; she figured Braddock was just that, impressed by his looks and his body as well as his reputation as a likely boxer to watch - but she would have been surprised had she known how young he actually was.

She knew that he was an upstanding man, not much given to drinking or brawling like many of his contemporaries, even though his ambition already was to make his way in the fight world. However, Kathleen also knew by reputation that Jimmy, for all his quiet charm, wasn't backwards in coming forwards with the girls. Some of her more shameless friends had been down the alleys off the docks already with him and he had shown them then more than the size of his fists. Rumour had it that he was blessed with a real shillelagh - and Kathleen had a mind to find out before the evening was out.

At the peak of the swing when the couples on the floor had reached their crescendos and appeared almost as a blur, each pair trying to outshine the rest in the reckless bravado of the wild movement, Vinnie Hogan stepped up to Jim and Kathleen. Jim was smiling broadly, enjoying the sense of his own strength and her slightness, how she barely touched the ground, clinging on tight, trusting him to anchor her but daring him to throw her about even more incautiously with each unrestrained shriek of  laughter.

Hogan put his hand roughly on Braddock's arm. The sudden movement caused him to jerk and stutter, momentarily breaking his concentration on the dance. His grip on Kathleen loosened, her feet lost contact with the floor and her legs flew up. She flailed helplessly trying to find a grip and then let go, cannoning across the floor to end in an ungainly splayed heap, still sliding forward, scattering the other dancers as she slid with the forward momentum of the spin. The heel of one shoe was broken and her stockings were laddered. She looked bruised and embarrassed.

"What you go do that for?" Braddock rounded on Hogan, rushing forward amidst the laughter of the others to help Kathleen to her feet. But she pushed him angrily away and limped over to her table where her girlfriends were sitting. They hustled her off to the powder room, giving Jim daggers' looks. He sighed and ran his hand back to smooth down his hair, feeling awkward and ashamed of his clumsiness.

"My sister not good enough for you?" Hogan had followed him over and again laid a hand on him, this time pulling him round to face him. Braddock looked unsure what he meant. "You were walking out with our Mary last week. Ya think it's clever to mess her around, ya dumb Mick?"

Braddock gave him the eye. "She's not my girl, Vinnie. Never was. We just had a coupla dances. And who're you calling a dumb Mick?"

"I'm calling you, ya bog trotter. And Mary tells it differently. She's got it bad for you - and you don't even give her the time o' day! She's too good for you anyways..."

Braddock turned away, realizing that it was futile to argue with the drunken Hogan and not wanting this to get out of hand. Fights were common in the dance halls given the age, volatility, hotheadedness and alcohol consumption. Most would regard it as part of the night's entertainment. Jim had no intention of providing the baying crowd with a bit of blood on a Saturday night.

"Then maybe it's better I leave her alone then," he replied softly. But Hogan was not satisfied, clearly spoiling for a fight. "Don't you turn your back on me, kid..." and he pushed Braddock hard. Jim spun round instinctively, his guard going up. Hogan struck, punching out wildly, a right then a left. Braddock ducked easily and then leaned back on his heels to avoid the other blow. "Stop it, Hogan! That's enough!"

"You running away, Braddock? Heard you had balls? Musta heard it wrong..."

The place had fallen silent, anticipating trouble; there was an expectant buzz. The two men stared each other out. Hogan was sweating, jigging nervously from one leg to another, calling Braddock on with his hands. Jim was thinking, his thought process clear from his rapid blinking and the crease forming on his brow. Then he suddenly turned on his heel and walked off the floor.

"Yeah, Hogan. Ya musta heard it wrong..."

His conceding only enraged Hogan further. Despite the insult he had ridden, it was obvious to everyone Braddock had won Round One. He was the known boxer, younger and fitter - and stone cold sober. He could have made sport with Hogan as many men would have done, but the fact was that wasn't Jim Braddock's style at all and this endeared him even less to his opponent. No man likes to look like a fool or beneath another man's contempt.

Lunging after him, Hogan tried to make a charge but other men surged forward and stopped him, dragging him to the side, still struggling and making threats. Braddock stood at the bar and ordered a beer in his usual softly spoken manner, his head lowered, diffident and without any apparent swagger. "You could have had him. Jimmy boy," One man shouted from the other end. Jim took a drink and wiped the sweat away that had beaded on his upper lip.

"Yeah, I know."

NOVEMBER 25th, 1923

Mae took a shy peek across at the young man sitting across the aisle from her. He was kneeling and staring down at the space ahead of him, lost in thought, one hand cradling the other, pensive and still. She watched him through the lacy filter of her black mantilla, tracing the strongly wrought profile with her ears: prominent nose, full mouth, the jut of his cleft jaw with its dimple. His eyelashes were long and thick. She noticed that. She also observed how his bulk filled the space between the kneeler and the wooden bench.

Everyone was saying that Jimmy Braddock, local boy, was going to have his first amateur fight the coming week. Mae wondered if that was what was on his mind this Sunday morning while Father Byrne droned on in Latin.

She knew a lot about James Braddock but Mae didn't imagine James Braddock even knew she existed. He'd been a year ahead of her at St. Joseph's but he had left at thirteen, so they had never been introduced. But she remembered how he had always been fighting in the schoolyard with boys like Jimmy Morris and that day he had knocked Elmer Furlong out cold. Like all the girls on her streets, young Mae was carrying a torch for the big bonny Braddock. He was well-liked in the neighborhood, quiet, hardworking, an unremarkable nice guy with old fashioned standards and his own principles, with just one talent to set him apart from the rest - pugilism.

Fathers were already eyeing him up as a steady catch up for their daughters. He might be none too bright, having left school without a diploma,  but what they thought he lacked in brains, he made up for in brawn. Mothers liked his shy courtesy and approved of his manly way of carrying himself. Girls giggled and preened when he walked past, the bolder ones calling over from their stoops, "Hey Jimmy! Jimmy Braddock! You gonna go a few rounds with me some night?" Mae smiled to herself. She saw the looks he gave them, the smile that stole over his face when they caught his eye. She was sure he wasn't quite so well behaved as he seemed to be.

Mae always watched other girls round him, all dreamy-eyed, until her friends all teased her about him and she would blush bright red. "You better get in the queue, Mae. The girls are lining up for a chance with Jimmy. He'll never even notice a little mouse like you if you don't start showing yourself off a bit in front of him!"

It wasn't Mae's style to behave like that. Her father would never have allowed it anyway for her to dress like some of the girls she knew with their Marcel-waved blonde crimps, tight skirts and rouged lips. If her Daddy saw her swing her tush and flounce around before the boys, even a decent boy like James Braddock, he would have had something to say about it

She glanced down at her neat little Sunday best frock with its buttoned up front, scalloped collar and fussy necktie covered with a hand-knit white cardigan and her sensible lace-up brogues on her feet. She pulled the mantilla closer around her face and hoped that Jimmy Braddock would not see her; it would only probably make her feel worse if he looked over and right through a dowdy girl like her when he could have all the good looking ones.

At the Holy Communion, Mae stepped out to fall in the line and found herself vying with Jim Braddock himself for the next place. He smiled and held a hand out to let her go first. Mae flustered and blushed red, almost tripping over her feet in her embarrassment. As they slowly advanced towards the altar rails, the choir led by a few old ladies in their wavering sopranos singing 'Soul of My Savior', Mae was almost rigid with the acute sensation of her hero standing behind her, close enough to touch, looking down on her. She could almost imagine his breath warm on her neck, ruffling up the hair she had tied in a girlish pony tail.

At the rails, they knelt side by side in the centre and waited while the priest edged his way towards them, flanked by an altar boy holding the paten. Mae's heart pounded and she wondered if Jim could hear it as loudly as she could hear his slow steady breathing, so different from her rapid pulse. Her hands felt clammy. She could smell the sweet sickly scent of his hair oil and the cheap fresh shaving soap. The knuckles of his right hand looked raw and swollen; she guessed from all the sparring and boxing he was doing to train on top of the heavy day work he must be involved in. The last thing she heard he was a stevedore on the docks. Up close she was surprised at how huge his hands actually were and felt a thrill which shamed her further to be thinking such thoughts when she was down on her knees in front of the Tabernacle.

A sudden image of the two of them kneeling there alone came into her mind and lingered even as she tried to drive it away. Side-by-side, she saw them there, her in white, the black mantilla replaced by a lacy veil, Jim in a smart double breasted gray suit, the priest saying the familiar words of the nuptial Mass over them.

"...Corpus Christi." She heard the gruff voice of Father Byrne and then almost panicked, even forgetting for a moment the well known ritual ingrained into her since childhood. But the priest had not been addressing her. It was Jim who mumbled 'Amen" and closed his eyes as he raised his head, extending his tongue for the host. Mae stole a glance and then shot her eyes forward wondering why the sight of his tongue made sweat break out and run down her back; it wasn't even warm in church today.

The priest was now standing before her and she did the same as Jim had but, instead of offering up her own prayer, she wondered what Jim Braddock was praying for today. To win his first fight? Mae just hoped he would survive the brutal bout unhurt.

April 22nd 1926.  Ridgefield Park, New Jersey

The noise of the crowd was deafening as the last numbers of the count rang out:

"Nine...TEN!" A roar went up as the referee dragged on Jimmy's arm and hoisted it. "And the winner is....James J Braddock! Georgie Deschner, a big blond German boy, was still lying on the canvas trying to stand with his legs refusing to obey him. Jimmy himself was struggling to clear his own head. He had taken quite a pounding before he had unleashed the flurry of jabs resulting in the left hook that had knocked his opponent out cold. But he was lucky. He'd taken some real punishment himself.

Then it dawned on him. He had won. His first professional win. Suddenly he became aware that the applause was for him and that the voice shouting from his corner, "Ya did it, Jimmy! Ya did it!" was Joe Gould. A surge of pride coursed through him driving away the pounding headache and parting the waves of confusion in his brain. Won by a knockout. He smiled and then roared his victory, swiveling round and punching the air. There was no feeling like it. To be tested in that most elemental of ways and then come out of that dark tunnel of pain and punishment to the light of day. A win and all it meant. More money in his pocket. More respect. A chance at a higher level if he kept this up. Reaching that dream place that every kid has inside from the first time he squared up to a boy in the schoolyard. To be a man.

Joe ran up and started a non stop stream of rapid fire chatter, a mix of praise and exhortation. "Just the start, Jimmy! It's all the way to the top from here! Ya see the way he went down! Slip, slide, pop, pop, boom! He never saw it coming, Jimmy...went down as sweet as a cherry pie...!" Braddock couldn't speak to reply, his breath still coming in jagged bursts, sweat coursing down him as Joe mopped him with a towel and threw his robe over his shoulder. "Hey...the champ! Jimmy, you're the champ!" He smiled awkwardly, his facial muscles still twitching and hard to control.

Joe led him out of the ring, steadied him as he made a slight stumble jumping down. "You feeling okay, Jimmy?"

"Yeah...okay....fine..." he muttered as he was led along the aisle, people in the crowd patting his back and shouting "I knowed you could do it, Jim...! You won me a nice little sum there....God bless you, Jimmy Braddock..."

The voices were ringing in his ears and the lights of the auditorium dancing before his eyes as he slipped through the door into the dressing rooms. The next bout was already being announced and the new fighters stepped aside to let him past. One of them congratulated him.

As the door to his small dressing room swung shut, the din from outside eased off and he slumped to sit in an armchair, his head sunk in his gloves. Joe and a younger boy pulled them off and began to unwind the bandages. Jim winced but said nothing. His right hand was sore and slightly swollen but it seemed okay. Nothing broken.

"Ya won, Jimmy! Ya won!" Joe needlessly reminded him. Jim nodded slowly.

"How d'ya feel?"

"Fuckin' good..." he mumbled through his swollen lips.

"What you want to do? Get some sleep? Or paint the town?" Joe grinned as he pulled Jimmy up and helped him off with his shorts and jock. Jim picked up a towel. "Shower. A beer...." he flexed his neck and breathed a long slow breath. Every part of him hurt but it was a good pain.

"Looks like that's not all you need!" Gould quipped nodding at Braddock's groin. He was partially erect and hadn't even noticed. He blushed and wrapped the towel round his waist. "Hey...it's normal. I've seen boys carrying baseball bats after a hard fight. S'what happens. Bloodrush, Jimmy. What you need now is a hot little patootie to go with that cold beer. They say there's nothing like the one after a fight. And they'll be round you like flies on jam...you're the Cat's Meow now, Jimmy..."

Braddock grunted and stepped into the tiny shower cubicle letting the hot water course over him and holding his face up to the spray. It hurt as the water bounced off his bruised and swollen face. It made his eyes water.  He tried not to think about what Joe had said. But he knew it had already been somewhere in his mind, even before his manager had voiced the thought. He hadn't visualized a woman but he knew his body had yearned for some kind of sexual release as explosive as that punch that had given him victory. His cock hardened and he flipped the cold water on, letting the icy blast hit his genitals as he gasped. The erection wilted but he still felt the urge.

Dressed in a sharp pin-striped suit, Jimmy strode through the arena and into a cab where he, Gould and a few others made their way to a speakeasy. Word soon went round about Braddock's victory and there was a stir around him. Men came up to introduce themselves and stand him a drink. Jimmy accepted a few whiskeys but his eyes were straying. A few chippies were hanging around, good looking girls giving him the eye. One was standing back from the table where he was sitting but he liked the look of her. She was blonde and stacked but with slender legs. "See the bubs on that one, Jimmy?" Joe whispered, pointing her out. "She looks easy, Jimmy. She wants it. Go get her, champ...."

He lurched up and made for the men's room, taking a piss and trying to think clearly. But his head was still thick and the blood was still pounding like a drum through his body, the thud of the punches he had unleashed still ringing in his ears. He took a deep breath but the image of the blonde dame was still hovering. He wondered if he should just go up and buy her a drink; her look had told him she was interested.

Outside she was waiting for him in the corridor. "Thought you'd never come out...Jimmy..." She gave him a coy look and played with one of her golden curls, leaning on the wall with her back slightly arched, pushing her large breasts forward. "You wanna go somewhere?"

It was a little too fast for Jimmy. "You mean just like that? I don't need to...you know....buy you a drink, sweet talk you...?"

She shrugged. "They say you're some hot shot boxer. That true? Or you just some dumb palooka?"

Jimmy laughed. "I'm a pug. I just won a fight. Not sure what that makes me."

The woman smiled seductively. "Makes me hot anyway. They say a guy is real hard after a fight. When he wins..." she placed her hand on his groin and his response was instantaneous. He breathed rapidly. The girl pushed him back into the john and locked the door. "Let's see how hard is hard, huh?" She unbuttoned his fly and deftly pulled out his cock; his head hit the back of the door. "Jesus Christ..." he muttered as she slipped to her knees and took him between her rouged lips.

Lights danced before his eyes as she sucked him hard. His hands grasped handfuls of her shiny curls and he thrust her face closer. He knew he wouldn't last. All he wanted to do was come, hard and hot and feel the pulse as he shot into her warm wet mouth. She sensed his desire, cradling his testicles and gently squeezing them. He stifled the urge to cry out. Someone banged on the door and tried to force it open. Her other hand jerked his base as she pulled on his shaft.

With a grunt he let go, his knees shaking as he ejaculated and his eyes shooting open as he watched her try to swallow the thick stream, gagging slightly and pulling away. There were gelatinous strands dripping from the smeared red of her lips. They both stared at each other for seconds and then she wiped her hand over her mouth, went to the taps and washed her face, reapplying lipstick and fixing her hair as bold as brass.

"You sure make a lot of jizz, Jim...I nearly choked..." she giggled as she came back and buttoned up his still open fly. "You gonna say anything? Or did I gobble up your tongue as well?"

"What's... your name?"

"Myrna."

"Myrna...can I buy you a drink?" he said and then laughed. "Least I can do..."

"You can even buy me breakfast, big boy...if you think you've still got something left for later..." She took his hand and ran it up her skirt. "I sure feel itchy for that big schlong of yours. You wouldn't like to disappoint a lady now, would ya?"

"No, ma'am. I would never do that..." He unlocked the door and stepped back to let her out. A few disgruntled men made lewd comments as they exited but there was a sneaking sense of admiration in their remarks. Jimmy felt better than he had done in a long time. He straightened his shoulders and swaggered back into the bar, dragging on Myrna's hand and pulling her onto the dance floor. It was the best night of his life. He wanted more of this.

MARCH 17th 1927

"So, what d'ya do, Mae?" Jim asked as they stood together awkwardly holding paper cups of lukewarm lemonade. It was St. Patrick's Day and everyone was out watching the parade. Danny Boylan had dragged Jim along that day saying that even he had to get out of the gym and drink some beer for St Paddy. But the plans for an afternoon in 'The Pride of Erin' had stuttered to a halt when Boylan had espied the lovely Bridie Phelan and insisted they go in pursuit. Jim had tried to make excuses, knowing he'd be the odd man out - but Boylan wouldn't hear of it. Mary Bridget was with her friend that day so it was Jim's job to keep her occupied while he got on with the business of romancing her prettier friend.

"I work in a shop. On Whitney Street. The baker's..."

Jim nodded. He knew the place. "Like it?"

"It's a job," she said shyly. Mae had wanted to be a stenographer but her Dad hadn't wanted her to stay on and go to college. He had thought it a waste of time and wasn't keen on her working in some city office. She had ideas above her station. So Mae had left school and joined the rest of her friends working in the neighborhood, biding their time until they got married and had babies.

Jim looked at her and seemed to see her for the first time. She was a pretty girl, homely and simply dressed with a sedate brown skirt and white blouse under her winter coat and wearing a hat that seemed a bit too old for her. But she was still a pretty girl, with a soft and gentle expression, her full mouth quick to smile and her eyes as trusting as a little puppy dog. He gave her a sudden smile and saw her face relax. She was nervous talking to him and his unconsciously friendly action had put her at her ease.

It was a cold day and they had been out on the street for a long time. Jim noticed her cheeks red from the chill and her hand holding the drink seemed chapped. He took her arm gently. "You feel like somethin' to eat? We could go grab a hot meal at the diner? Cup of coffee?"

Suddenly Danny and a day spent drinking with his friends was no longer uppermost in his mind. Mae nodded and blushed at his offer, then wondered had she appeared too keen and accepted too quickly. Her friends all said you had to keep a boy on a string or he would think you were too easy. But she was cold. And hungry. And she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Jimmy Braddock. It was unlikely that she would get an opportunity like this again. "Sure. I'd like that a lot, Mr. Braddock..."

He laughed at that. "Jim. Jimmy. You make me sound like my Dad...come on...let's get out of here..."

"What about Bridie and your friend Danny?' Mae asked looking about her. Jim had noted them slipping off a while ago.

"You don't worry about them, Mae. I think they know what they're doing..." he blushed slightly. Mae thought it charming. Jim was a little embarrassed at referring to what he suspected the two of them might be up to. She had little doubt that her forward friend would be up to no good. Bridie had already told her that she planned to 'go all the way' with Boylan next time they went out although Mae doubted that Jim Braddock would have thought such a thing of a nice girl. He was a respectable fella. She couldn't see him making a move on a girl like Danny Boylan would.

The door of the diner chimed merrily when Jim pushed on it and then stood back to allow Mae in. She looked up at him and felt her cheeks flame again to realize who she was with and how much she had dreamed of a chance like this. As she stepped into the welcome warmth of the place, she felt the cheery glow of the simple eaterie wrap around her. No up town fancy restaurant could equal the experience of being taken to dine by James Braddock on St. Patrick's Day itself.

He guided her to an empty booth and they sat facing each other. All around them people were talking and laughing but it only served to make them both more tongue tied. "Been here before?" Mae asked.

"Yeah," Jim replied and then winced, aware that he should say more but with no real idea what else to say. Minutes passed by as they nervously looked about them, examining the table settings and fingering the edge of the table. The arrival of a waitress to take their orders was a welcome relief.

Jim ordered a hamburger and fries, Mae went for a chicken sandwich. They drank coffee. "What parish you from?"

"St Joseph's.' Mae replied.

"You went to the school?"

Mae nodded. "You were a year or so above me. I guess you never remember the littler ones..." she added.

Jim smiled. "...Thought I might have remembered the pretty ones like you. But I left early. I wasn't much interested in studying. Nothing I was good at anyway," he said a little bashfully.

"You were good at fighting!" Mae giggled. "I remember the day you knocked out Elmer Furlong..."

Jim grinned broadly. " 'Bout all I could ever do. They suggested after that I might consider a quiet exit before I got myself into any more trouble. My Dad couldn't see the point in me staying on. I was already full grown and could lift and carry. I was more use earning some money. Can't say I ever regretted it..."

"You fighting full time now, Jimmy?" Mae asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Making real money. Had three wins this month already. Pays better than any job I ever had. I tried working the mills and the waterfront and you know something, Mae? Boxing's easier. They work a man to death whatever he does. At least you get a chance to hit back in the ring..." he laughed ruefully.

She thought about what he said but she wasn't convinced. The idea of men earning their living by beating each other into pulp had always mystified her. She knew men died in the ring. And the thought of someone hammering this gentle man into a bloody mess made her stomach churn. Even if she was proud that he had an ambition and wanted to better himself.

"I wouldn't like to see you get hurt..." Mae answered as their food came and was set down before them. 

Jim gave her a warm smile. "Don't you worry about me. I'm too good for them all. Long as my hands hold out. The rest of me is hard as nails...come on...eat up..." He tucked into his food and she nibbled daintily as girls were supposed to do, watching him eat hungrily. Her heart seemed to somersault in her chest as she looked at him, his strong manly face already bearing the scars of his profession - his nose looked as if it had taken a few good punches and here and there she could see traces of bruises. His thick wavy black hair was greased back but a few curls were escaping and she had an overwhelming urge to push them back and run her fingers through the glossy locks. She wondered what Jimmy Braddock would say if she did that. He would probably run a million miles.

They finished with two slices of apple pie and cream and another cup of coffee. As they warmed up and the food slid down, the conversation got easier. They found they knew people in common - hardly surprising when they came from the same streets - and gossip about relatives and old acquaintances soon got them chatting. Jimmy filled her in about some of the guys she had known in her schooldays and she told him about girls he knew who had married and now had families.

Jim called for the check and insisted on paying even though Mae said they should go halves. He merely laughed and said it was his pleasure to treat a pretty girl to lunch. Mae blushed again. That was the second time he had called her pretty. Was he just being polite or did he mean it?

Back out on the street again, they wandered around some of the stalls set up and watched a few sets of dancing in the local church hall. Finally they bumped into Bridie and Danny again who ran up looking flustered and untidy. It embarrassed Jim; he could see what they had been up to and wondered if it would upset an innocent girl like Mae. But she did not seem to notice, merely blushing as if she had been caught out in something wrong.

"So what have you two been up to?" Bridie teased, giving Boylan cow eyes and making him smirk.

"We had lunch," Jim replied with a warning glance at his friend who gave another smug grin.

"I think we better be getting off, Bridie. I said I wouldn't be late back. Mum wants me to sit with the little ones while she and Dad have a few hours in The Shamrock..."

"Awww....come on, Mae! There's a fair on! Let's go have some fun with these nice boys..." Bridie snuggled up to Danny.

"I'll walk you home, Mae," Jim decided. He had no interest in following the other pair around and he could see Mae was anxious. The two couples made their farewells and parted company.

"You don't have to see me home," Mae said. "It's still early. I'll just make my own way..."

"I'd like to. There's a lot of drunks about today. Don't want you having no trouble..."

That was that. They sauntered along the streets, conversation suddenly stilted again as if the contact with the other lovers had thrown their time together into some confusion. What came next? Mae wasn't sure if Jim was just being a gentleman or if he was interested in her. He for his part wasn't used to dating 'nice' girls and thought that she might be offended if he tried to hold her hand or kiss her. But he wanted to. He wanted to kiss her so badly. She was the sweetest girl he had ever talked to. So gentle and kindhearted, so pure and simple - but not a fool. He could see she was a smart girl with a good head on her shoulders. She made him feel like a man. Like he wanted to protect her and show her how good it could be with the right guy. All that after just a few hours?

Nearing her street, Mae seemed to get a little agitated. "I'm all right from here, Jim. No need to go all the way..."

"You worried about us being seen together? We ain't done nothing wrong...you never brought a guy home before?"

Mae shook her head. Jim couldn't believe it. What was wrong with the men around here? But then he realized that he must have passed this girl a hundred times on the street and had never before given her as much as a second glance. That's men for you. They only see the ones that give them a chance for some nookie.

He smiled tentatively at her. "Mae..." he began. "Could I call round some night? It's Friday tomorrow. Take you to a movie?"

She gasped. "I...I..."

"You worried what your Dad will say? Hey, it's only a movie..."

Mae blushed. "He's real strict. He'll say we have to have a chaperone or something..."

Jim laughed. "What's he think I'm gonna do to ya?" Then he realized she was upset. "You wanna come with me?" Mae nodded. "Okay...then I'll bring a real good chaperone...you just see if I don't...Friday then...it's a date. Six thirty?"

Mae giggled and nodded again. "Number 26. Second floor. I'll see you then, Jim. And thanks for lunch. It was swell...thanks...." With another bright red flush in her cheeks, she turned and walked along the street to her house, pausing at the stoop to look back. He was still there watching her, his face showing no sign of what he was thinking. As she caught his eye, he raised his hand to say goodbye and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She could hardly believe the turn of events. Lunch with Jimmy Braddock and now a date! Please God, let her father allow her to go out with him. She would die if he said no. Already she was panicking at what would happen on Friday evening when Jimmy came knocking at their door.

Mae had spent the day in a state of scarcely controlled panic. She was convinced that if Jimmy knocked on the door then her father would chase him. It occurred to her that it might be better to warn her mother but then she would only alert Pops and he would be even more ready to go on the attack. She wished Jim had asked her to meet him somewhere. As hard as it was for her to go out at night, she could always manufacture some excuse that might work for her.

She had just finished washing the dishes after supper when she heard the rat-a-tat of a confident knock on the door of their small apartment. Mae's mother went to open it and Mae closed her eyes and said a prayer to St Jude, patron saint of hopeless causes.

"Mae! Look who's here! Tommy Murphy! It's good to see you, Tommy! When did you get back?" Tommy Murphy was Mae's cousin, the son of her mother's elder sister. He was a seminarian, off training for the priesthood. Mae's father stood up and shook his hand, delighted to see the family's pride. Every Irish Catholic wanted a priest in the family.  As if they would all get to heaven merely by association with his piety.

Mae came through from the kitchen bemused at the turn of events. Here she had been dreading the arrival of Jim Braddock and instead it was Tommy. She was so pleased to see him; they'd been friends since childhood - he was a year or two older than her and had been like a big brother to her growing up.

"Hiya, Auntie Mary! Uncle Barney! Mae! This is a pal of mine, James Braddock...Hope you don't mind us dropping in like this...?"

Mae's mouth fell open at the sight of Jim quietly leaning back against the door, his cap in his hand, while the family made their greetings to his 'pal' Tommy. He winked at Mae, who flushed bright red and choked down the desire to laugh. He had said he would find a chaperone! She couldn't believe his cheek! But he was a friend of Tommy's. They had been in the same class at St. Jo's. It had always been an odd friendship between the fighting Braddock and the studious altar boy, Thomas Murphy.

"Not at all, Tommy...any friend of yours is welcome here...come in and sit down. Jim Braddock? Jo Braddock's son? The boxer, is it?"

"Yes sir. The same."

"You got a great left, boyo. I saw you knock out Carmine Caggiano back in September. Like your style..."

Jim smiled shyly and accepted the compliment graciously. Mae's father sat him down. "What's your record?"

"Twenty one - nineteen wins, two No Decisions..."

"How long you been a pro?"

"Eleven months."

The older man whistled. "Not bad. You go on like that, they gonna give you a shot..."

"That's what I want, sir..."

"You stick with it, son. You can make a good living...better than shifting bales..."

Mae was stunned by the reception, had no idea what the men were talking about and sat by the wall, incapable of speech. Her mother made tea. Her father offered the men some Irish. They took a small one and made polite chatter.

"So what brings you over here tonight, Tommy?"

"I was wondering if Mae would like to go to the cinema? Remember how I used to take her back then before I went off to college? Thought we could go see that new Jazz Singer. It's got talking in it..."

Mae gasped and she shot a glance over at Jim who was biting his lip to stop himself from grinning. He was so pleased with himself that it was all Mae could do not to burst out into peals of laughter herself.

"You sure it's decent, Tommy? Suitable for a young girl?"

"Pops, I'm almost twenty!" Mae insisted.

"All the same, I don't hold with some of this lewd behavior in these movies."

"It's a classic, sir. Mostly singing. Al Jolson. He sings about his Mother a lot..." Tommy replied with a look of innocence on his face.

"Well..." Mae's mother began, "Can't see how she'll come to any harm with these two. A priest and a boxer? Safe as houses!"

They all laughed and it was agreed. Mae dashed off to get her coat and hat and put on a touch of lipstick. Her father gave her a look as she came by, not too sure he liked the 'face paint' as he called it, but he didn't say anything before the guests. "Not too late. She's working in the morning..." Pops said as they took their leave.

The door closed and the three made their way out onto the street where they all burst out laughing.

"Jimmy Braddock! I don't believe you did that! How did you think of it?"

He shrugged. "I remembered who you were after we met. Thought about Tommy. Knew he was home for a coupla weeks. I'm not as dumb as I look am I?"

"No, but I must be!  Playing gooseberry to you two!" Tommy grinned. Mae and Jim looked at each other awkwardly. They were hardly lovers.

Linking her arm, Tommy led her down the street with Jim walking beside. Mae stopped and held out her left arm. "Come on...don't be shy! We're partners-in crime now! What would my Pops say if he knew what you two were up to?"

From the window up above Mae's parents looked down smiling at the three kids on the street. "So, Braddock's interested in our Mae, is he? I better keep an eye on this, Mary.  But she could do worse..."

"What's the hurry?" Mae asked a few nights later. They had gone for a walk after Jimmy had called for her at the end of her shift. He had taken her for supper but seemed preoccupied. She knew he had a fight coming up and wanted to get plenty of sleep but it was only nine, still pretty early. Yet he was striding fast and she had to almost run to keep up with him.

"Don't want to get you home late. Your Dad won't like it..."

"It's only nine! Come on, Jimmy, even he's not that bad! Anyone would think you had something better to do. Is that it? Don't you want to see me really?" She had suddenly got a burst of doubt. Maybe she was too tame and homely for a guy like him who was going places?

He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared at her. "That what you think?" He looked about him and then pulled her down a nearby alleyway to give them some privacy. "I love being with you. It's the best part of my day. It's just that...it's hard to explain to a girl like you, Mae. I'm kinda restless tonight. I think I need to go and drink a few beers, shoot some pool, ya know?"

"Restless? What's that mean?" And then she knew. She suddenly got this idea that she knew what was wrong with him. They had been seeing each other for a few dates but apart from an occasional time when he had touched her hand to cross a road or taken her arm to guide her along, he hadn't made a move on her. They were both shy with each other every time they met or parted. Mae realized he wanted to kiss her and he was burning up because he didn't know how to suggest it. Her heart went out to him. Big tough Jimmy Braddock whom all the girls wanted - and he was unable to kiss the girl he was with in case he upset her.

"Jimmy?" Mae suddenly moved in close and he backed back slightly; she merely stepped closer still. "Jim?" She put her hand up and touched his face shyly. "Is there something else you want to say to me?"

He stopped and looked deep into her eyes, opened his mouth as if to speak and then just grabbed her and planted one on. It wasn't particularly well executed, being just a smacking kiss, but it broke the ice.

Jim pulled away, panting slightly. "Jeez, Mae...I'm so sorry...I've just been wanting to do that for days..."

She smiled broadly at him. "Why, Jim Braddock, what are you apologizing for? You think I didn't want you to kiss me more than anything? Now I want to ask you for something in return...kiss me again. But this time...real slow, so I can learn how to do it properly..."

"You never been kissed before?" he asked, astonished.

"Only by my family. And it sure wasn't anything like that one!"

He took her tiny face in his large bruised hands. She was so soft and delicate, like as if he could break her so easily if he didn't take care. But his hands were tender and caressed her gently; Mae turned her cheek into his palm and rubbed against the callouses. "You're so pretty, Mae. It almost hurts..."

"...And you are so fine, Jimmy...Kiss me again...kiss me like you mean it..."

"I mean it...." He lowered his lips to hers and she slipped her arms around his shoulders. He was so big and strong. It felt like the safest place in the world in his arms. For a moment they stayed like that, lips almost touching and then he dipped down and suckled softly on her top lip. He heard her sigh of pleasure and then he took her lower lip and rolled it between his teeth softly. Her mouth fell open and he took both her lips for a deep kiss, his tongue seeking permission. She shivered slightly and then relaxed and let him go, even playing with his tongue until he felt his head would burst with longing.

She was leaning against him and he moved his lower body slightly at an angle, aware that his erection was already straining and ashamed she would feel something. He wasn't sure she would even know what was in a guy's pants, let alone whether it would frighten her if she felt what a mere kiss could do to a desperate man.

Mae could not even believe the way it felt when he kissed her. At first it had just been soft and romantic as their lips touched but then as he had pushed it more, she had felt something quite different. Her body seemed to lose itself in his grasp as if her bones had turned to water. A lazy, dreamy sensation ran through her and she could feel between her legs. It was somewhere between an irritant and a pleasurable warmth and there was a gush of moisture. As he sucked on her tongue and she pressed deeper on his mouth, she knew this was what men and women felt and that it led to other more dangerous things.

Mae was not unaware of the 'business' between men and women, as her mother referred to it. She had never been told anything but about her monthlies by her Mom but her girlfriends talked about it all the time and she listened hard. Some of her friends were married and they had done it all. They loved to boast about their superior knowledge and what their fellas did to them.

But they had never said how wonderful it made you feel. Mae suddenly understood then that with Jimmy she would never be embarrassed or shy. She also knew that for the time being she would have to keep a head on her shoulders. Men always found it hard to stop - everyone said that - so she would have to be the sensible one. She noticed he pulled away awkwardly, holding his bottom half away from her body and she instinctively worked out why. She knew men were sensitive down there and they got 'hard' if they were excited. Her kiss had made him feel excited. She liked the thought of that. He must really like her. He also respected her too because he didn't start pawing at her or trying to talk her into going further. He just kissed her deep and passionately and then broke off slowly to caress her face.

"Boy, Mae...that was some kiss...! You sure you never did this before?" he smiled, his eyes dreamy.

She giggled. "I kissed my pillow a few times. Dreamed it was you..." then she blushed when she realized what he might think. But he seemed to like her comment.

"Ya did? And am I as good as dream Jimmy?"

"Heaps better.....heaps and heaps...." They both laughed and he picked her up by the waist, spinning her round.

"Oh, Mae...you're the best girl I ever met...I wanted to tell you how I felt but I didn't know how..."

He rested her down and kissed her softly again. "You just have to say the words. Jimmy. I won't be angry. I think you're the finest man I ever met. What girl wouldn't want to be on your arm?"

He smiled in delight at her comment. That nervous energy he had been showing earlier seemed to have disappeared and he was now relaxed and sunny. He held out his arm and she linked it. They walked home slowly, leaning in close, a new kind of trust building between him. Neither of them had used the word 'love' but they both knew it was out there somewhere waiting for them. All they had to do was give it a little time.

July 21st 1927

Jim had asked Mae to come and watch him fight. He told her that she was his lucky charm and that he couldn't fail if she was out there rooting for him. It was the last thing she wanted. Since they had started dating, he had had seven fights but he hadn't been doing anywhere near as well as he and his manager, Joe Gould, had hoped. Four of them had been brutal contests going to ten rounds and gaining a No Decision.

Mae had been horrified by the extent of the battering he had taken every time. Jim had never said it directly to her but Joe Gould had intimated it once or twice with sly comments that somehow he thought it was Mae's fault that his boy wasn't winning any more. He laid it on thick to Jim himself: he was wasting too much time either taking his girl out or dreaming about her - it was affecting his concentration. A boxer on his way up had to be single minded and there was no time for gals - except in their proper place, to give him a bit of a buzz when he needed to get down and do it. And it was clear to Gould that Mae wasn't giving him any. He liked Mae but he knew she could ruin it for them both.

"I want you to see me win, Mae. Please...it's important to me...I know if you're there, I'll have something real to fight for. I wouldn't let you down. I wouldn't let him get me if you were sitting out there..."

"Jim! You don't let me down. Win or lose, you're always the champ to me! I don't have to see them hit ya! You don't have anything to prove to me!" she had insisted.

"Please, Mae...just try it once...please..."

She couldn't say no to him. She wouldn't say no to him. Already he was placing a lot of hope on his luck turning if she was there. Mae nodded and tried not to let him see how scared she was. He trained harder than ever this time to show Gould that Mae was a better incentive than anything in turning his success.

The evening came. It was a hot sticky New York night. There was a storm in the air and an electric feel in the atmosphere. Tension was high in the crowded boxing hall when Mae took her ringside seat, wishing she could simply stand somewhere at the back and be anonymous but knowing that was impossible. Jim needed to know she was there. His fight was near the top of the night's program and, even though she had missed the earlier bouts, she was still there for a few and the sickening pummeling of young men before her eyes had almost turned her stomach even before Jim's fight was even called.

She hated the grunting as punches struck home, the spray of blood from split lips, noses and eyebrows, the drip of perspiration and the smell of sweat and hunger that emanated from the baying crowd. It made her wonder what was wrong with people that they saw this as entertainment or that watching men half  kill each other all so they could make a fast buck in a bet could excite so many men - and women. Some of the women fascinated Mae. Many were apparently decent ladies - some quite mature - who seemed to be transformed into banshees during the contest, shouting and cheering the men on. She wondered if there was something about the half naked men that was stirring them as much as the violence of the situation. It seemed a perverted sort of interest to her.

There were also the other women too, younger ones, dressed up to the nines and wearing too much makeup. They were with the promoters and the fat cats who stood to gain the most from the fights. She knew what they were there for. They were the rewards for the winning fighters. She imagined that they would be winding themselves round Jimmy at the end of the night, touching him and making improper suggestions in his ear - and she wondered if he ever took them up on it. Most guys would. A quick tumble in the dressing room or in the back room of a speakeasy later? Would Jimmy go for that? She didn't think he would but she guessed he probably had in the past. He was no virgin, that was for sure. How many men of twenty two would give up a chance of a piece of free tail if it was waved in their faces?

The lights went down and the razzamatazz began again. Out came Jimmy, almost dancing with the nervous energy oozing from him as Joe kept up a constant stream of whispered encouragement as they made their way down the main aisle. Jim looked so fine in the silk robe, his nickname "Bulldog" emblazoned on the back. She couldn't help but feel proud of him despite the fear that gripped her heart that any harm would come to him. He neared the ring and his eyes sought her out. She smiled tentatively. He beamed broadly back at her and winked, mouthing: "In the bag!"

He had spoken to her earlier that day. Told her that if he came good on this one then they were going to give him some big tickets and he would make the real big time. She knew what he meant. He had never asked her but she knew he was thinking about it. The future. The two of them getting married. Having enough money for a decent place. Starting out right. They hadn't been going out long but her parents couldn't object to a guy who earned eight thousand bucks a fight.

She sat back down and swallowed, trying to breath deeply to keep her calm. The contestants were paraded round; it made her think of prize bulls at a fair. They were just so much meat to the crowd who had paid good money to see blood spilled. The fighters sat back down in their corners, last instructions were given and then the bell was rung and out they came.

Mae watched as Jimmy and the other fighter, a swarthy heavy set Italian, George Larocco, circled each other. Jimmy looked small and lean next to the bigger bulk of the other man. They danced around a little and then with a shock came the first flurry of punches. The sound of glove thumping against flesh repelled her. It was a cruel and unmistakable thud, as was the grunt of effort that each man expelled as he began to take his punishment. Each time he reeled from another blow she shuddered, her own body tensing so much from the impact that she felt the pain herself. They hit him, they hit me, she thought to herself. Mae looked about her. No one else seemed in the least surprised. She wanted to stand up, climb into the ring and pull them apart. It was madness. Why were they all here?

Just then Larocco got one to Jim's chin and she could see him stagger back from the impact, his eyes glazed. Blood spurted from a cut on his lip and ran down his face to drip on the canvas. He seemed to be caving in, his knees trembling and she believed he was going to fall down. Her breath caught in her throat and she closed her eyes. When she opened them Jim had apparently shaken it off and was turning on Larocco a fierce barrage of attacking punches as if his blood was now up. She couldn't believe this mad animal was her gentle Jim. It was too much. Bad enough to see him pounded like a dumb mule but even worse to see him changed into a wild beast himself. Pushing past the others on her row, she ran for the exit, the bell for the end of round one sounding as she made the rear door. Ten rounds of this? There was no way she could stay a moment longer, however much he needed her there.

Outside on the street she breathed in the night air, grateful to be out of the stifling arena. The thunder rumbled and she felt the first sploshes of a heavy downpour. Mae was alone and it was not a very good part of the city. Jim would have gone crazy if he had thought she was in any danger so she decided to hail a cab, even if it would cost her half her week's pay. In the safety of the taxi, she gave her address and then sank back, trembling and angry with herself that she had let him down so badly.

But she couldn't stand it. There was no way she could have stayed in that place one more moment. Yet as the minutes ticked by and took her further away from him, she knew that he was still in that ring and taking the punishment. She wondered how he would react when he discovered she was no longer there.

"Where's Mae?" The end of round three and he had been searching for her in the crowd.

"She's gone, Jimmy. She left. Don't think about her. You're gonna get beat if you let it get to ya. She's just a dame, Jimmy. Go out, get the bastard...you want the girls, you better win...that's all you've got a think about....get the bastard..."

He blinked. She'd gone. He couldn't figure out why. But he had to get out of here. His head shot up and he fixed Larocco in his sights. 'Get the bastard.' He rose from the stool as the bell sounded. This time there was going to be a decision. He was going to win for Mae. He was going to win so loud that she would never have to be there again but she'd still hear it.

Braddock won. Knock out in the sixth. Back in the dressing room, he burst through the door, expecting Mae to be waiting there. There were a few hangers on and a floosie or two. But no sign of her. Jim slammed his hand against the wall. "Where did she go?"

"Forget her, Jim. She's just a girl. You're going places. She's too small town for you...You're better off without her. Go get yourself a bit of poontang. Pitch a little woo tonight, you know what I mean? Guy like you needs to have nothing round his neck. Women are trouble, Jim. They bleed you dry or they clip your wings...take it from me..."

"That go for Lucille?" Jimmy replied. He knew how Joe felt about his wife. Maybe it was a low blow but he suddenly didn't feel like listening to any more bad stuff about Mae. Joe's face set at the mention of his wife's name.

"You telling me you're dizzy with that girl? You mean it, Jim?"

"I mean it. I really do. I wanna be a winner. I want a shot, Joe. But now I want it for her. I want to get married. Get her a big house, fancy car, nice clothes...every damn thing she wants. She never had anything. She never asked for anything. But I want to be the one to show her the good life. I got something to win for now, Joe. You don't need to worry. I'm not gonna quit or slack. I want it more than ever now. You should be grateful for my Mae. She's gonna make all the difference," Jim sank down and sighed , letting the trainer's boys remove his gloves as he continued the stream of talking, more than Jim normally said in a whole day. "I've seen them, Joe. Those dead beats. Worn out old pugs hanging round the gyms. They got nothing left. Lost it to booze, fast women, gambling, high living...nobody gives a crap about them. I know the fat cats hang around you when you win - but when you're finished...no one wants to know ya. I'm not gonna be one of those, Joe. Now I've got something to fight for...."

Joe nodded. "I'm sorry I said that about Mae. I didn't know how you felt. You asked her yet?"

Jim shook his head. "When the time's right. When I made some dough...real dough...then I'll ask her...help me, Joe. I need to get me the right fights..."

"You got it, champ. And tonight you're a winner. They'll all be after your ticket, son. Just relax. Ease up. What you want? Got a few nice girls just dying to meet you..."

Jim checked them out. The two girls in the room realized they were on show so they shimmied and primped as Jim gave them a look. He swallowed hard. "Get them outta here, Joe. I'm only flesh and blood. How'm I supposed to be faithful to Mae if you wave them in front of my face?"

Joe grinned. "She'll never know, Jim. It goes with the territory..."

"That do for Lucille as well?" Joe never touched another woman. 

"Lucille? She'd have my balls...."

Jim laughed. "Tell them to go home and get a good night's sleep...please..."

Joe conceded and pushed them out of the room. "You need to come down though, Jim...you wanna go find Mae?"

"No chance.  Not like this. I don't want her to get me in this mood..." He wasn't sure he could control his urges tonight. If she kissed him and rubbed up against him, God knows what he would do. "Take me somewhere and get me as drunk as a skunk..."

"You're the boss...but it's back in the gym on Monday bright and early...you got another fight in three weeks..."

"You got it, Joe...now you go and kiss ass with the big guys and go get me some real action...?"

Mae was just finishing the lunchtime rush the next day when she heard a familiar voice from across the high counter. "You gonna take a break, Mae? Buy you a cup of coffee?"

She swiveled round and saw Jim standing there. He looked okay if you discounted the swelling on his lip and the bruise under his left eye. She swallowed hard.

"I already had it. You'll have to come back later..."

"Hey, Al?" Jim shouted across to the baker. "You spare Mae for half an hour?"

Al came out from the back wiping his floury hands on his apron. "Hey, James Braddock! Great win last night! Sure thing...Mae go get your coat and take as long as you need. Anything you like, Jimmy..."

Mae flushed bright red. They were always teasing her about her friendship with Braddock but this was something else. Al never let you have time for anything personal. It was only at that moment that Mae began to understand what a local hero Jim was becoming - and that he was not averse to using it to get what he wanted now and then either.

She slipped from behind the counter and he led her out of the door into the sunny afternoon. "Let's take a walk in the park?" he murmured.

He took her arm and they crossed the street, strolling over in the direction of the small neighborhood park. They didn't say anything much, just small talk about the weather.

He asked her if she wanted an ice cream. She nodded and he bought them. It gave them something to do as they sauntered along the path until he found a secluded patch of grass and indicated they should sit down.

"Why did you run last night, Mae?"

Mae looked down and played with the wafer. "I didn't like it, Jim."

"What didn't you like?" he pursued it doggedly.

"I didn't like you getting hit."

"It's boxing. That's what happens."

"I don't have to like it."

Jim shrugged and ate his ice cream thoughtfully. "I won. You missed it. Knock out in the sixth."

"That supposed to make me feel better, Jim?" Mae asked bluntly. "Thing is...I hated it. Every minute of it. I saw them cheer when you got hit and when you bled. What kind of people want to see men hurt each other? But you know what was worse than that? I hated it worse when you hit him back. You're a good man, Jimmy. A gentle man. I don't want to see you turn into an animal like them."

Jimmy threw the half eaten cone away from him and lay down in the grass staring up at the sky. "I'm the same guy. But if you don't have a beast in you...you can't box. There's gotta be something inside that comes out when you're in that ring. I can't explain it. Some men fight 'cos they like fighting. They want to beat the other fella to pulp. They love to make men fear them. I'm not like them. I don't want it for power. I want to make some money. Get a better life. I just think when I'm in the ring....this is what it's for. To get outta here. Have a decent life....make Mae happy..."

Mae shot a look of surprise at him. "You do it for me? I don't want you to do it! I love you the way you are...I don't care about money...!" It was the first time she had ever used the word love. She blushed immediately at her presumption but it was enough to fire Jim on. He held her arms.

"I know you don't care. But I love you too - and I care. I'm gonna give you everything one day, Mae. I don't want you working in some two bit bakery, wearing cheap dresses and scrimping and saving. I want to give you a good life..." He looked at her and ran his fingers down her face. "I wanna see you dressed in fine lace, with pearls on your pretty neck..." He trailed his large hand around her neck  and caressed her throat with his thumb. "... And if this is the only way I can do it...Are you gonna make me stop fighting? You know I would if you asked me..."

She was stunned by his outburst. First he had told her that he loved her and then more or less spoken as if he expected them to marry. He dreamed about her in pearls and lace - maybe fancy lingerie that only he would ever see.  But she forced herself to listen to his words. He was asking her if she could stand for him to live the life of a boxer with all that went with it. If not, he would give up his dream if she asked him to. It was the greatest proof he could have given her of what a man he really was.

She sniffed and choked back the tears. If she could stop him ever going into a ring again, she would have done so. But not at the cost of his hopes and ambitions and all he had worked so hard to achieve. "No...I will never stop you boxing. That would be so wrong of me. Jim...I'll stand by you whatever you do. Just don't ask me to watch. I can never go and watch what they do to you...please understand that..."

He smiled and held her hand, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I needed you last night. That guy, Larocco, he ended up in the hospital. He's okay but I never wanted to hurt him so bad."

"Oh Jimmy, I'm so sorry! I should have stayed!"

"No...no, that's not what I meant. I learned something about myself last night. After the fight, you know how I felt when they carried him out, knocked out cold?  I felt like roaring. It made me feel so powerful. I should have been ashamed but I wasn't. Something happens to a man when he's fighting. I can't explain it to a nice girl like you. Brings out the worst in him. Brings out the animal. Not sure I want you to be there either, really. Not sure if I could have trusted myself..."

At that he lay back down again and turned his face away. He had never ever made a reference to anything intimate that he might have wanted from Mae and she knew straight away what it cost him to admit even this much.

"You mean you might have wanted my body if I'd been there? That what you mean, Jimmy?" Her voice dropped to a tiny whisper.

He covered his eyes with his arm. "I wanted any body, Mae. That's how a man feels..."

She sat awhile and thought about his words. "Is that where you went last night after the fight then? Is that what you're trying to tell me? You went with one of those floosies that were hanging around?" She wasn't sure how she felt about that. On one hand it made her feel disgusted but she loved him enough to want him to be happy and maybe that's what it took. "Jimmy...you should have come to me! I know you well enough now. If you want to do it...I'd let you. I know you'd stand by me if you got me into trouble..."

He jumped up and pulled her close. "No, Mae...I didn't go with any dame last night. I could have ...they were all over me but...I didn't want that. I don't want any more of that kind of life. It's dirty and cheap. I don't want to treat a girl like she was just some..." he ran out of decent words to say, only knowing crude profanities for the sort of behavior he was describing.

"...Then why didn't you come to me? I waited all night for you...I thought you would call..."

He smiled wryly. "...Because I was scared of myself. If I'd have seen you, I think I might have pushed you...I don't want to 'do it to you'. I want to wait until we're married and do it right. I won't ever disrespect you, Mae. One day it will be right for us and I swear I'll show you how good it can be. But not taking you after a fight just because my blood's up. You think I could do that to an innocent girl like you?"

Mae stroked his face. "I might be an innocent girl, but I'm not scared of you, Jim. Good girls think about it too, you know?"

He nodded and bent down to kiss her lips, so sweetly that she thought her heart would break. When he broke the kiss, she murmured, "Where did you go last night, Jimmy?"

He laughed and gave her a sheepish face. "I got drunk. Ended up in the Bowery. Got this...." He rolled up his sleeve and showed her the underside of his arm. There was a tattoo. She gasped.

"You got a tattoo?"

He nodded. "Hurt like hell as well...it's the flag...and those are flowers and that's you...." There was the profile of a woman's face and Mae could recognise herself in the image.

"How did you get my picture?"

He pulled a battered photograph from his pocket. "Remember that day at the fair when we had that picture done? You turned your head when the camera was taking it and all we got was the side of your head looking up at me. I showed the guy this...he did a good job..."

"Jimmy...you crazy lug...what you go and do a thing like that for?" she exclaimed.

"...Because I love you. And because I was drunk and crying into my beer..." he gave her a shameful look. "I'm a lost cause, Mae. I got it so bad for you. I'll surely die if you don't want me..."

She took a deep breath to stop herself from crying. He had no idea how much she loved him. "Jimmy Braddock! I love you! I love you! I love you!"

They kissed right there in the middle of the park and neither gave a hoot who saw them as they rolled back and hugged each other on the grassy bank.

"Hey, cut it out, you two!" An older man passing by with his wife and children shouted in protest at their public spooning. Jim jumped up and pulled Mae to her feet and the two of them took to their heels, running down the path still wrapped up in each other and laughing.

April 21st 1928 

"That you, Barney? Just saw your Mae and her fella going dancing. Any sign of them getting hitched?"

Barney Fox raised his head and looked Paddy O'Dowd in the eye. "What the fuck you on about, man?" He had had a few already and was over his usual limit, not being a man who normally drank much. But he'd had a little win on the horses and a bit of spare cash in his back pocket that Mary didn't know about, so for once he had pushed the boat out.

"I just got off a shift." Paddy was a longshoreman. "Saw the pair of them waiting outside Finnegan's. Surprised you let her go down a place like that. They've been raided don't no how many feckin' times but they keep opening up again. Half of New York's finest drink down there - must explain all the fighting and the rest..."

"Finnegan's? The Gaelic League? They're all just off the boats down there. Real rough Micks. You sure it was our Mae?"

Paddy shrugged. "It was definitely Braddock. You couldn't miss his mug. It's on every fight draw round here. Maybe he was with some other girl...."

But Barney knew it must have been Mae. Jim had picked her up that evening and told him he was taking her to the cinema. The lying bastard. He's been walking out with Mae for over a year now and there was no sign of a ring or any such talk. Maybe he'd been wrong about the lad. Maybe now he was such a big man he thought he could just have his way with Mae, take her down sleazy bars like a two bit whore and keep her dangling. The girl was mooning about over him, thought the sun shone from his ass. If he found out that Braddock was poking her he would kill him, hot shot boxer or not.

Lurching from his seat, he staggered out into the spring evening and made his way across town to the infamous dancehall, favorite haunt of the young but decried from the pulpit of every church in the area. No matter how many times parish priests threatened eternal damnation on young men and women who frequented its worn boards, the place was still packing them in every night and it was the best venue for ceilidh bands in the city.

By the time he reached the place, his temper was high. He had managed to convince himself that Braddock was just toying with Mae and that he had ruined her; there would never be any wedding and, as everyone in town knew the lie of the land, then no one would look at her twice if she was soiled goods.

At the door, a mean looking brute tried to stop him entering. "Get your hands off me, lad...I've come for my daughter..."

It was not an unusual request and the management generally let the fathers in and out as quickly as possible. Fox was admitted and he made his way resolutely to the main hall where the floor was thronging with young men and women all throwing themselves about in fast swings and sets. He went from group to group and saw no sign of Mae. Then he asked a passing waiter. "James Braddock been in here tonight?"

"Sure, mister. He's over there near the table in the corner..." The boy pointed him out and there they were, Mae standing sipping a drink and Jim resting one arm on the wall behind her, his other hand in his pocket. They were talking, heads close.

Over he went and dragged on Jim's arm. The boxer spun round and pulled back his fist instinctively - Finnegan's was that sort of joint where if a man lays hands on you he generally intends to knock you down. And for all the fawning attention a local boy made good like Braddock got, he also attracted the opposite kind of notice from drunken bucks who fancied their chances with the champ.

"Mr. Fox!" Jim gasped. Mae suppressed a scream. She was in for it now.

"Hit me, would ya, ya bastard? Come over here, Mae. I'll not have any daughter of mine in this den of iniquity..."

"It's only a dancehall, Dad..."

"Dancehall? You call this dancing? Arms and legs all over the show and women drinking like sluts..." he indicated the drink in her hand.

"It's only sarsaparilla, Daddy!" Mae protested, but her father wasn't listening. "I'm taking you home, Mae, and I'll be speaking to you, Braddock...just don't you come near my girl before I do, you hear me?

Jim stood there silently raging at the humiliating episode but even more concerned for Mae than himself. But he couldn't do or say anything. Her father was her father and he had no rights to interfere. Throngs of people were gathered about enjoying the spectacle as a white faced Mae was frog-marched out of the place.

Jim picked up his beer and drained it before walking out himself. "That your first knock out, Jimmy? The old fella sure had your number there..."

The next day, Jim waited outside the Fox house and took a deep breath. He had spent the whole day preparing what he had to say. Straightening his tie, he took the steps at a run and then charged up the inside staircase as if he was running into the ring. There was only one way through this - and that was facing it head on. He had a slight moment of hesitation before he knocked on the door. It was opened by a pale faced Mae whose red eyes showed she'd been crying.

"Jim!" she exclaimed, aghast.

"I want to speak to your father," he said. 

She nodded and turned back to face the room. "It's Jim, Dad. He's asking to speak to you."

"Tell him I'm eating," came the curt reply.

"...Tell him I'll wait out here," Jim shot straight back. Mae repeated his message.

"Close the door and let him cool his heels. It won't do him any harm," her father answered and went on chomping his way through his Sunday dinner. Mae sat back down and shot her mother a glance; her mother shrugged and indicated she should go on eating. The younger ones all grinned and sniggered into their plates. They knew Mae was in big trouble and expected a first hand shouting match any minute. But lunch was eaten in silence and then they were all sent to their room.

"Mae, go and help your mother in the kitchen," her father ordered and then when the door was closed, he let Braddock in. Jim was still standing outside facing the door, his face set and determination written all over him.

"You've got a cheek showing up here, Braddock,' Fox began.

"I've got something to say. I heard you out last night. Figure you owe me the same chance today," Braddock replied.

"That so? Why should I listen to the no good bum whose been stringing my girl along with a whole lot of empty promises while making free with her? You might think yourself some kind of hot shot out there but this is my house and my daughter and I don't give a damn who you are!"

Jim took a breath and tried to keep his temper. "I don't know what you think's been going on, but you're wrong.  I ain't never touched Mae. I wouldn't do anything bad to her. Okay, I told a lie about the dancehall. I didn't want to worry you. She was safe there with me. You think I'd let any harm come to her?"

"Any man who takes a girl to a joint like that got no respect for her..."

Jim swallowed. "I happen to disagree. It was just a bit of fun. She's twenty one, sir. She's not a little girl anymore. I've been seeing her for over a year. I thought you knew that we were getting sweet on each other. I'm not shining her on..."

"No? Don't see no sign of you setting a date?"

That remark brought a flash of anger to Jim's eyes but he choked down a response. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft and low. "Don't see how that's any of your business, Mr. Fox..."

"...Not my business?  My girl's marriage is not my business...?"

"Not what I meant, sir. I mean the when and where of it. I do want to marry Mae. Wanted it an awful long time but I want to save up enough to do it right. Things are beginning to go well for me. I'm making a good living. That's why I'm here today. I want to ask you for your permission. I want to marry your daughter. I don't have a ring but as soon as the stores are open on Monday, I'll take her and get her a real diamond. If you say it's fine with you and Mrs. Fox, that is..."

The wind was knocked right out of Barney's sails at the unexpected declaration. For a long moment he just stared, his mouth hanging open. "This straight up, Jim? You really gonna propose to Mae?"

"If she'll have me, sir..."

"Have you? She'll bite your hand off, lad!' He laughed and then sobered up. "I'm sorry I made a show of you both last night. I was just worried about her..."

"As you have every right to be. But if she says yes to me today, then you gotta understand that she's my responsibility from then on. Don't you ever speak to me like that again in front of her! Next time, I won't stand by and take it. You understand me?"

Barney Fox smiled. He wouldn't have had it any other way. He'd always liked Braddock but the way he'd conducted himself here made him grow even more in his estimation. "You just make sure you take care of my girl. Don't rush into this. Next year's soon enough. I won't have anyone thinking you got her into trouble and had to jump the gun. What do you say about that?"

"I was thinking the same myself. Should have a nice tidy sum by then. Real big wedding. Nice house with everything she needs. Fancy honeymoon...I love Mae, Mr. Fox. You don't have to worry about me taking care of her. She's the most precious thing in my life..."

"Ya better go tell her then, not me...Mae? You get in here, girl. Jimmy's got something to say to you..."

May 4th 1929

It was everything Jimmy had promised her and more. They got married in their home parish and Mae got to kneel side by side with James Braddock just as she had once dreamed. Then they had been whisked off to a reception at a hotel in New Jersey. Everything was so perfect, it felt like she was in a movie. The whole day just took her breath away. Jim so tall and handsome in his grey suit, smiling fit to burst, her mother crying, her father red in the face and drinking to hide his emotion, everyone they knew wishing them well...but despite the wonderful meal and the music and singing and dancing that accompanied it, all Mae wanted was to get away and be alone with Jim.

She could hardly believe that after all this time, she would never have to say goodnight again and grab a last kiss at the doorstep, watching him walk away alone into the night. He was going to be there every night when she closed her eyes and every morning when she woke up. She'd be sleeping in his strong arms, not to mention the other things that were no longer forbidden to them. They could do it and no one could stop them or call her cheap if she wanted to stay in bed with him all the day long.

Stealing a glance across at him, she giggled to herself at the thought of what was to come. She had a feeling that Jimmy was a bit worked up about it, worrying that he would frighten her. Last night her Mum and her Auntie Kathleen had sat her down and given her the talk. It had been all she could do to keep a straight face.

"He's a big man but don't be scared. Just relax and close your eyes. It won't take long and he'll be very grateful. Jimmy's a good boy...he won't hurt you anymore than he has to. First time's the worst and then it's not so bad...."

She couldn't tell her Mum and Auntie that all she wanted in the world was for Jimmy to strip her clothes off and take her. She didn't care how much it hurt. It would be worth it.

"You okay, Mae? Tired?" Jim asked her. She shook her head and then reached up to whisper in his ear.

"I just want to get you alone. I want to be very bad with you..."

He coughed and gave her a look of surprise and then his eyes crinkled up. "You better watch your mouth, honey...or I may have to be even badder..."

"You better, Jimmy boy..." her eyes sparkled as she murmured her reply and she giggled as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

They left in a Daimler, rented for the occasion, and drove across the river to spend the night at the Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue. Mae's head was in a whirl as they left the car to enter the legendary hotel. She smoothed down her smart red suit and rearranged her hat; Jim hadn't been able to keep his hands to himself all the way over. A bell boy carried in their luggage and he held her close to him as they crossed the splendid foyer.

"Can we afford this, Jimmy?" she gasped, looking round at the opulent entrance.

"This is just the start. We're going to the top. I swear I'll never let you down, Mae..."

She smiled up at him. "You couldn't if you tried, Jimmy Braddock. I'm not going to pretend I don't like all this but I'll tell you something for nothing. I'd have you even if all we owned was a flea bitten tenement. It's you I want. That's all that will ever matter to me..."

In the room, he flipped on the lamps and threw down the keys, pulling at his tie and loosening his top button. "You want some champagne? I could order it..." He seemed restless and kept walking up and down.

"What would I want champagne for, Jimmy? I don't even drink. Stop pacing around. Sit down next to me." She patted the bed where she was sitting, primly perched on the end. He took a deep breath and sat down next to her staring ahead of him, his hands joined on his knees..

"What's the matter, Jimmy? You nervous?"

He cleared his throat. "Yeah."

"Why? I thought you'd done it before..."

"What?" He looked around at her with a shocked expression.

Mae blushed. "I just presumed...you know...a guy like you...some of the girls used to say..."

"Say what?" he snapped.

"They kind of said you'd been around the block, you know? Haven't you?"

He blew air out slowly. "You think I'm going to tell you about things like that?"

Mae grinned. "So you have!" She nudged his arm playfully. "Hey, Jimmy, I'm not mad at you. At least one of us knows what the hell we're doing! I'm not even sure where to put it..."

He put his head in his hands and began laughing. "How much you know about all this, Mae Braddock?"

"Some...but I was hoping I'd know more by the morning - if you ever get started, that is..."

He looked across at her and he wondered how he'd ever got so lucky. Money in his pocket and the best girl in the world for his wife. Reaching out, he stroked her face and bent to kiss her slowly, tasting her lips and giving her time to taste his.

"I want to show you how good it can be...."

"It is good....it can only get better..." she murmured back.

 He lay her down on the bed and trailed his hand down her body. "Do you know how much I want you?"

"Do you know how much I want you?" she answered. "Jimmy, don't be scared. I'm not scared with you. I'll do anything for you and you know, I'll love it."

He reached out and began to unfasten the buttons of her jacket. "You want to get changed? I'll go sit in the bathroom if you'd prefer to put something on in private. If you don't want me to see you..."

"...Jimmy! Take my clothes off! Then take off yours. I want to see you as much as you want to see me..."

She finished unbuttoning her jacket and shimmied out of it. He unfastened the button on her skirt and pulled it down. She had on a pale pink chemise underneath. He ran his hand along the silk of her stocking and sighed when he reached the garter. Mae smiled and he popped it open with rather more skill than she had expected. That made her smile even wider. He had done this many times before, just as she had imagined.

Rolling off each stocking, he took her naked foot and kissed the sole: Mae lay back and watched as her petticoat fell back to her thighs revealing the pale pink satin of her underwear. She had thought she would be embarrassed but she didn't feel even shy before him. Her body felt loose and liquid as if she was going to melt into the coverlet and she wondered if there was a damp stain at the gusset of her camis.

One look at Jim told her he was either not in the least bothered - or perhaps it was exactly what he expected. His next move took her completely by surprise - he bent down and kissed the place between her thighs right on the satin. It made her cry out with longing at the tenderness of the act.

Pulling on her arms gently, he eased the chemise over her head and unfastened the garter belt. Each time he took an item off, he kissed her lips once more. Mae felt passive, curious, eager to know what he would do next and each time he acted in a way she had never expected from this gruff loving man.

His fingers shook slightly when he reached behind her to unhook her brassiere. It was the first time he had faltered. Mae took her own hands back and did it for him, letting the garment fall and revealing her small pert breasts to his gaze. He had touched them through her clothing when they kissed from time to time but this was the first time he had seen them and he sank to his knees and sighed, kissing each little pink nipple until it peaked in a hard bud. That was the most wonderful sensation yet, to feel his warm wet lips suckle her like a baby at the breast.

She was naked now but for the little satin panties. He stopped, rocked back on his haunches and seemed too overcome to continue. This was the final step and he was reluctant to do it now the moment had come. Mae simply put her hands to the elastic and slipped them down her slender thighs, tossing them away to sit completely naked before him.

He said nothing, just taking her hand and raising her to her feet where he twirled her round and looked at her slim figure with a gentle smile on his face. She put her arms around his neck and leaned close to his body feeling the thick rod of his erection lying at an angle in his trousers. It wasn't the first time she had felt it, often having leant back against him and rubbed her buttocks into his groin to be rewarded by the pleasant swell and his deep groan of satisfaction. But they had never discussed what they were doing nor taken it any further than that.

But tonight Mae no longer had to act the good girl. She whispered into Jim's ear as his hand swept all over her naked back and buttocks, "Take your clothes off, Jimmy. Let me see you too..."

He stepped back and she stood before him meekly as he threw off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt roughly, kicked off his shoes and yanked away his socks. She stopped him then as he stood in his undershirt and trousers, easing off his braces and running her hands over his broad chest before pulling the shirt from his pants and over his head. The only time she had seen his naked chest before had been in the ring and that night she had not been thinking about how beautiful he was. This time she admired his thick muscles and the light brushing of hair between his solid pectorals.  Her fingers traced down the bulging forearms and then she took his hands in hers. "Let me see the rest....?"

He blushed and then unbuttoned his pants, letting them fall and stepping out of them. She could see the outline of the ungainly bulge in his shorts; his hand went to cover it.

"Maybe I should get in bed first...?" he asked shyly.

"NO! Let me see..."

"It ain't pretty, Mae..."

"Let me be the judge of that, hey Jimmy?" she grinned and he shrugged and hooked his thumb into the waistband while thrusting his other hand down to ease out his erection. That movement alone fascinated her even before the thick shaft bounced free and stood up proudly between them.

"Told you, it wasn't pretty..." he muttered.

Mae stared. He was hairy down there, more hairy than a girl, and his penis was long and thick, dark red at the tip and oozing a drop of fluid from the tiny hole. Below she could see his heavy testicles hanging down; they looked fragile and tender despite their impressive size. She had a sudden urge to cradle them.

"Jeepers...it's bigger than I thought!" she exclaimed but then extended her fingers and touched it. "Is that all right? Can I touch it?"

He couldn't help but smile. "You sure can, Mae. It's what a fella dreams of...."

She ran her fingers up and down and then he showed her how to circle it in her grip and jerk steadily on it. She saw how his face seemed to rearrange itself and he groaned at her touch.

"That good?"

"Better than when I do it..." he muttered and then winced.

"You touch yourself? Why?" Mae asked.

He looked embarrassed. "It's what guys do. When they don't have a girl to do it for them..."

She giggled and squeezed him harder until he cried out. That seemed to be the moment when he lost all his fear and began to take charge. Taking her hand away, he laid her down on the bed and rolled on top of her, kissing her deeply and caressing her naked breast with his hand. Mae sighed and found herself opening her legs even before he ran his own leg between them. She felt wet and hot, itchy and faint: His body was heavy and hot, hard and pressing against her. She heard his breathing change from shallow to heavy and realized the same thing was happening to hers too.

And then she began to lose control. His fingers had wandered down and he was touching that place between her legs. Then she felt a full sensation and realized he had put his finger inside her. He grunted when he could go no further. With his lips against her ear, he whispered: "I have to break you, Mae. I'll try not to hurt you...I never had a virgin before..." She imagined he didn't quite know what he was saying in the moment. For Jim that was quite an admission.

He rolled atop of her and widened her legs. She looked down but he caught her chin in his hand. "Don't look..."

She closed her eyes as her mother had told her to and tried to breathe slowly. Relax, she told herself. Think about something else...and then she felt something against her tender skin, something impossibly big and hard. "Jim...?' she cried and then she heard him grunt and push hard. She gasped as a searing pain shot through her lower body and then she felt a tearing sensation, a gush of liquid and he was deep inside her, his body so close she could hear the beating of his heart.

"Oh, Mae, honey...oh Mae....did I hurt you...?"

"It doesn't matter...It's okay now...Jimmy....Jimmy....oh Jimmy...." He rose up and pulled back. This time she looked and saw the thick veiny penis streaked with blood sliding out and then plunging back inside again. Her head dropped back and Jim's followed, sinking into her shoulder as he thrust over and over again, at first slow and steady and then faster and faster; she felt her body struggling against some wave of sensation. He held her hands in his and she squeezed them tight as they stared into each other's eyes in wonderment at the moment come at last, when nothing lay between their love any more. And then.....Mae screamed out and shook, pulsing again and again, tightening around him as he in his part let out a guttural groan and began to tremble in her arms. She held him close as the warm spurts shot deep inside her.

"What happened?' she muttered. "Are you okay, Jimmy? Did I hurt you?" She wasn't sure if maybe he was bleeding or something.

"Shush.....shushhh..." He didn't seem capable of speech as he slumped upon her and panted heavily, sweat coursing down his back.

It was a long time before he pulled away and rolled over. Mae looked at herself and saw the blood on the sheet and streaked along her thighs. Then she saw his penis, now half soft and lying against his thigh, looking tender and pink. He lay back and reached for her, pulling her against his body.

"What happened? Was that okay?"

"Didn't you like it, Mae?

"I liked it fine, Jimmy. It was wonderful. But what happened to you?"

He chuckled. "I came...that's what men do. That's how you make a baby, Mae. My seed. Don't you even know that?"

She giggled and cuddled him close. "Well, I do now. Guess my Mom forgot to mention that bit..." They lay there for a few moments and then Mae got up and leaned on his naked chest. "Jim? Can we do it again?"

June 30th 1929

He hadn't had a fight in almost three months. But his luck was surely changing. Gould had got him a crack at the title with a major contest against Tommy Hummell in July. This was the big time he'd been promising Mae but he was having a hard time getting back to fitness.

After their wedding they had spent a week down at Long Island and then they had been settling into their home together. It had taken a lot of hard work over the past few weeks to get him back into training again. Joe was on his back all the time, complaining about too much nookie and how he'd have to cut back sooner or later if he was going to have a chance of winning the next one. But he was trying, even if it was hard to keep his mind on the tough regime when all he wanted to do was run home and scoop Mae up, drag her away from the stove and carry her to their bedroom to make passionate love to her. She was just so loving he could hardly believe it. She never said no or pushed him away and seemed as eager for it as he was. He didn't know good girls felt like that.

Even just to be in the same room as her he found it hard to keep from touching her, running his fingers down her slender hips or drawing her against him. Her mother had given him the eye when they'd gone round for Sunday lunch when she caught him caressing Mae's sweet buttock while she was at the skillet in the kitchen. They had both blushed bright red to be caught out so blatantly.

It was after one that afternoon and Jim was tired and hungry having spent the morning running, skipping, at the punch bag and then hours of sparring. His legs were leaden and his arms stiff.

"Hey, Mr. Braddock?" shouted one of the boys who were always bunking off school to hang around the gym. "Your wife wants you."

"My wife? You got the wrong guy, son. My wife never comes down here..."

"She said she was married to James Braddock. Don't see another fella of that name in here..."

Jim jumped down from the ring and asked the boy to unlace his gloves. "Hey....Jimmy...don't cool down...put something on..." Gould warned him. He thrust his arms into a worn grey jumper and threw a towel around his neck to mop up the sweat.

"Where is she?"

"Outside. She didn't want to come in..."

Jim walked to the door, a little anxious. Mae hated anything to do with boxing and never showed the slightest interest in coming down the gym. This must be serious. He ran up the steps from the basement into the sunshine and looked about him. Mae was leaning by the wall of the building and as she saw him she gave him a wide smile and ran over, jumping into his arms.

He caught her. "Hey, I'm all sweaty...I smell..."

"I don't care...I love your smell!" she giggled and kissed his lips.

"Hey, cut it out...everyone can see us...what's got into you?"

That made her laugh even more. "What's got into me? I'll tell you what's got into me, James Walter Braddock. You have. You rogue."

Jim looked bemused, setting her down and running a hand through his hair. "What you talking about, Mae? You feeling all right?"

"I'm feeling wonderful...well, a little bit sickly but the doctor said that was normal and my Mom said..."

"What's wrong with you? You been to the doctor? You sick or something?" He looked anxious and gripped her by her upper arms.

At that Mae threw her head back; laughing. "No! Jim...I couldn't wait to tell you...I came straight away....you've done it, Jim...another knock out...now you really are the champ!"

"Knock out?"

She took his cheeks in her hands and groaned at his lack of comprehension. "Well not exactly a knock out...more a knock up...Jimmy Braddock, you knocked me up good and proper..."

"You mean....?" he gasped.

Mae nodded excitedly. "I'm having a baby! Your baby. Can you imagine that? You did it, Jimmy! You did it!"

He picked her up and held her tight, unable to speak for wonder at the moment. He knew he wouldn't have any problem getting back into shape for his next opponent now. Everything was different now. Now he knew what he was fighting for.