The House That Alice Built

by Chris Penhall

  ‘He said he hadn’t seen you.’

  ‘Oh, okay.’ Kathy bent over and did a stretch. ‘So?’

  ‘So what?’

  Kathy raised an eyebrow. ‘On the phone you told me Luis had dropped you home after Sintra …’

  ‘Why did Stephano say he hadn’t seen you then?’

  ‘Because it’s Stephano,’ said Kathy standing straight and stretching her arms above her head. ‘Come on, I want to hear about you and Luis.’

  Alice stretched too. ‘Well he dropped me off home.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And nothing.’ Alice looked at the floor and tried not to smile.

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘He kissed my hand.’

  ‘Is that all?’ Kathy laughed and bent down to touch her toes.

  ‘I thought it was very gallant actually.’

  ‘Rubbish. For goodness sake.’

  Alice kicked her gently and laughed. ‘I’m not used to this, Kathy, remember. No idea what’s supposed to happen or when or if. And anyway, I’m just passing through, so it doesn’t really matter.’

  ‘Yes it does matter, Alice,’ said Kathy, kicking her back. ‘There is going to be a next time thought, isn’t there? Do you plan to exchange letters or something?’

  ‘Ha ha … he said next time he would take me to eat where there were actual chairs.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘He said it was somewhere at the edge of the world.’

  ‘Oh. My. God!’ said Kathy in mock disgust.

  ‘It sounded funny when he said it.’

  Kathy stretched again and tried to shimmy.

  ‘I can’t do belly dancing,’ said Alice.

  ‘Neither can I,’ said Kathy, ‘but the teacher is a client and finally managed to wear me down.’

  ‘Well I suppose I am a blank canvas.’ Alice started doing her own stretches.

  ‘Yes I suppose you are.’

  ‘A new page in a book.’

  ‘Yes, another way of putting it.’

  ‘A new novel. A new chapter.’ Alice stood up straight.

  ‘You can stop now,’ said Kathy.

  Alice hugged her. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Just everything.’

  ‘Alice loves Luis. Alice loves Luis,’ sung Kathy.

  ‘No I don’t. No I don’t. Shhh ... teacher’s here. She’ll tell you off if you talk.’

  ‘I suppose the cake will undo all the good work I’ve just done wiggling my belly,’ said Alice, as they sat in the café after the class. She sliced a sticky, round bolo de chocolate in half.

  ‘I saw you,’ scoffed Kathy. ‘You just shook your bits around for an hour.’

  ‘That’s what you were supposed to do!’

  ‘Totally out of time with the music.’

  ‘I don’t care! I was expressing myself in a unique way,’ said Alice, biting into the cake. ‘What?’ Kathy was looking at her with a smile on her face.

  ‘It’s so nice to see you back to being Alice Dorothy Matthews.’

  Alice tried to smile back but her mouth was full of chocolate crumbs. ‘Why thank you,’ she spluttered.

  ‘That doesn’t mean that you’re not disgusting.’ Kathy laughed. ‘Close your mouth when you’re eating.’

  Alice threw a lump of sugar at her. ‘So then, Kathy.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Stephano.’

  Kathy took a slice of cake and began to eat it.

  ‘You went a bit strange when he appeared at the party, didn’t you?’

  Kathy continued to eat and took her phone out of her bag. Alice leaned over and snatched the phone away.

  ‘Excuse me, that’s rude,’ said Kathy.

  Alice stared at her. ‘And you were very evasive when he was here earlier.’

  ‘We live in the same town. We’re bound to cross paths occasionally.’

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ Alice pulled the plate of cake away. ‘I’m holding this hostage until you tell me the truth. I know you. I know you very well. And Stephano.’

  Kathy bit her lip

  ‘Is something going on between you and Stephano?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘What? With my ex-husband? What kind of idiot do you take me for?’

  Alice smiled. ‘Just the common or garden kind.’

  Kathy sat back and sighed loudly. Alice grinned expectantly.

  ‘Yes, okay, I’m an idiot. Sometimes things go on. And then I regret it immediately. And then I’m really horrible to him. And then after a period of months, something happens again.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Only this time …’

  ‘Ah, recently was it?’

  ‘After Mary and Frank’s birthday party, actually.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Well he turned up at work the day after asking to take me out for a drink.’

  Alice took a sip of her coffee. ‘Well I’m no expert,’ she said, ‘but that sounds normal to me. Although, as you know, I have not had any experience of normal behaviour for some time.’

  Kathy looked up at the sky in exasperation. ‘We never do that. It’s always the same – hover round each other, sleep together, regret it, disappear …’

  ‘Did you go for a drink with him?’

  ‘Yes, reluctantly.’

  ‘Did you enjoy it?’

  ‘Yes, reluctantly.’

  ‘You don’t look very happy about it.’

  ‘I don’t trust him. Haven’t for years. Since about two years into our very short marriage.

  Alice took another bite of cake. ‘Look at us still talking about boys,’ she said.

  Kathy took off her sunglasses and smiled. ‘Shall we be grown up for a moment though? At some point you are going to have to deal with—’

  ‘—oh no you don’t,’ interrupted Alice. ‘For the moment real life consists of the following: sunshine, swimming, photography, painting, shopping for food and Aphrodite … and perhaps going for a meal at a restaurant with chairs with a very attractive man called Luis. Who apparently has a reputation. But has beautiful eyes. And I’m on holiday, so does it matter if he has a reputation? The biggest stress I should have to deal with is Aphrodite’s pet geckos. Which is actually very stressful really and more than enough for me, thank you very much.’

  ‘Finished?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I thought you were going back in a couple of weeks.’

  ‘I am. Just haven’t decided exactly when yet. I can’t stay indefinitely. It’s not allowed is it? I can’t remember exactly how long I can stay for a holiday, but it’s not that long. I am regrouping my strength ready for the fight ahead. And looking for jobs … oh God. Spell broken. I’m feeling horrible again.’

  ‘Sorry, have some cake,’ said Kathy.

  ‘Can we talk some more about boys?’

  ‘Made any bracelets yet?’ Kathy ignored her question.

  ‘You sound like my mother,’ Alice said with a sigh.

  Chapter Eight

  ‘Over there,’ said Luis. ‘Cities, roads, people, things, dogs, cats … but over there—’ he turned towards the sea stretching westwards to infinity ‘—nothing, nada. Well, until you get to America. Or the Azores.’

  ‘So this is the restaurant at the end of the world?’ asked Alice.

  ‘Yes. Imagine. In the Middle Ages you would look out over exactly the same sea, thinking that not far beyond the horizon the world ended.’

  ‘Frightening,’ she said, looking at the black rolling waves roaring against the cliffs.

  ‘There are fishing boats out there. See the tiny lights. They look like they are twinkling. It’s nothing as romantic as that. They are just disappearing behind terrifyingly massive swells.’

  Alice, smiled, glancing at the distant lights scattering down the hills, clustering into villages and towns, the glow of Lisbon in the far distance. ‘This is beautifu
l,’ she said. ‘Another beautiful place. Do you only go to beautiful places?’

  ‘They have to pass very stringent tests.’ Luis nodded gravely. ‘I refuse to live in a plain world.’

  ‘So you not only visit beautiful places, you live in them too?’

  ‘Australia is mostly beautiful,’ he said. ‘I’m from Melbourne. Well, I was born here and my family moved there when I was a baby. Then I moved back in my early twenties because Australia just wasn’t quite beautiful enough.’

  Alice sipped her wine. ‘What really brought you here?’

  Luis touched his chest. ‘Broken heart.’

  ‘Really? I’m sorry.’

  Luis smiled. ‘No, not really. Well, I always had what I wanted. Good at school, good at university, good at sport, good at being an architect for about five minutes. But just after I qualified and the world was my oyster, something happened. My girlfriend dumped me. And I loved her, and I had done for a long time. I couldn’t cope at not being good at being a boyfriend. So I ran away.’ He paused, and glanced down at his drink, embarrassed. ‘And I wish I hadn’t told you all of that. Please forget it.’

  Alice wanted to touch his hand, but said instead, ‘you were an architect? That’s impressive.’

  ‘Briefly,’ said Luis, smiling again. ‘Are you trying to picture me in a suit?’

  ‘Why didn’t you carry on doing it here?’

  Luis looked at the table and took a sip of his drink. ‘I think that’s enough about me for the evening. That’s as interesting as I get. What about you? What’s your story Alice?’

  ‘Boring really. I’m a runaway too.’

  ‘I’m glad you ran away here. Am I being too cheesy?’

  Alice’s stomach looped the loop once again. ‘Yes and no.’

  He took a gulp of beer, then placed his drink firmly on the table. ‘Alice.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Do you like the chairs?’

  ‘Do you mean the actual chairs?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Alice stroked the arms and looked down at the legs. Then she wriggled in her seat. ‘As green plastic chairs go they are top notch.’

  ‘Nothing but the best.’ He sipped his beer again. ‘Do you like the food?’

  ‘Absolutely delicious as burgers go. Yes, thank you.’

  He leaned forward. ‘I have bought a new house. I’d like to show it to you. Next time. As long as you are still here?’

  ‘For a few weeks yet. That would be lovely, thanks.’ Alice realised that the extra ‘two weeks only’ was beginning to stretch a bit but also realised she didn’t care. ‘I like looking at houses,’ she said.

  ‘It’s different, this one. Older. In need of some tender loving care. Been battered and bruised. A real project.’

  ‘A challenge?’

  Luis looked at Alice and smiled. ‘A challenge and definitely something worth spending some extra time on. And on that note, shall we go? Tomorrow I am meeting the buyer for my completed house, and unfortunately, I am also playing in the band. It’ll be a long and dull day.’

  As they walked towards the car, Luis switched on his phone. ‘I didn’t want us to be interrupted,’ he said, ‘but the result is this.’ It pinged over and over with messages received. ‘No rest for the wicked.’ He sighed, accidentally brushing his arm against Alice’s then moving away quickly to listen to a voicemail. ‘Alice,’ he said as they got in the car. ‘Do you mind if we stop by a bar on the way to your apartment? Antonio was supposed to drop some of my tools at the house, but he didn’t, and I’ve got a couple of things I need to finish first thing. He’s got them in his car. It’ll be just after a gig. I’m so sorry. Five minutes?’

  ‘No problem,’ said Alice, ‘It’ll be nice to meet him.’

  ‘Humph,’ said Luis as they drove off.

  ‘Right,’ he said as he parked outside the bar.

  ‘Right,’ said Alice.

  He turned to her, unsmiling. ‘When we go in can you remember that I’m leaving this part of my life behind?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Alice, surprised. She hesitated for a moment. ‘Is there anything I should know?’

  ‘No, no,’ he said, slightly agitated. ‘It’s just Antonio can be … a little … and some of his friends are …’ He sighed. ‘Never mind, forget it. We’ll be in and out in a few minutes.’ He took her hand protectively as they walked towards the entrance, and as he pushed open the door, the calm peace of the night was punctured with chatter, laughter and loud, pumping music. They weaved around the groups of people towards the back of the room, where Antonio stood with three young women.

  ‘Antonio,’ said Luis. ‘This is Alice.’

  Antonio turned slowly around to look at her, and nodded, unsmiling.

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ said Alice, holding out her hand.

  He nodded again, ignored her and turned to the women. Alice stepped closer to Luis, a little taken aback.

  ‘Luis,’ Antonio said. ‘This is Marcella.’ He put his arm around the shoulders of a tall, shapely young woman with glowing skin and dark brown lustrous hair. ‘She’s the one I’ve been telling you about. And her friends are Julia and Joanna.’

  ‘Hi,’ said Marcella, grabbing Luis and kissing him on both cheeks. ‘I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you. I love the band. I’ve been telling Antonio I would love to get you more gigs. I’m in events management and my father owns some bars and restaurants. I know a lot of people. It would be great. We could get to know each other.’

  Luis untangled himself and squeezed Alice’s hand tightly again. ‘This is Alice,’ he said.

  Marcella nodded. ‘Hi,’ she said, without smiling.

  Alice smiled widely, trying to work out what was going on. ‘Hello, lovely to meet you.’ A long forgotten, half-hidden memory of the parties she went to with Adam shivered through her uncomfortably. She pushed it away but the shadow lingered.

  ‘Right, mate,’ said Luis, unsmiling. ‘Where’s my tools?’

  ‘Your tools?’ asked Antonio.

  ‘You said you had my tools here. I need them.’

  ‘Oh, that was a mistake. I managed to drop them off at the house after I left the message and it slipped my mind.’

  ‘Great, what a waste of time.’ He turned to go.

  ‘Well, now you’re here, why not stay?’

  ‘I’ve got to take Alice home.’

  Antonio glanced at her. ‘Well come back after you’ve done that. Marcella has lots to talk to you about.’

  Alice stepped back, wanting to get away, back to the car, back to the restaurant at the edge of the world. Luis put his arm around her.

  ‘Yes, please come back.’ Marcella pouted.

  ‘No, thanks,’ he said turning away. ‘I’m taking Alice home and then I’m working first thing in the morning, as you know.’ They walked towards the door without turning back, and as they headed to the car, he turned to her. ‘I’m so sorry. They were very rude.’

  ‘Surprisingly rude,’ said Alice quietly

  ‘Yes. Please remember. They are not my people. Antonio was not always like that.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Alice, trying to pretend that it didn’t matter. Because she was only here for a few weeks, and this was all just fun.

  He switched on some music and they drove to the apartment in silence.

  ‘Thank you for a lovely evening,’ said Alice after they pulled into the driveway.

  ‘Well, I enjoyed it. Shall we forget about the last bit?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘And do you want to come and see this old house? My project.’

  Alice began to relax again. ‘Yes, I’d love to.’

  ‘And perhaps we could go into Lisbon for a drink. You said you are here for a few weeks, didn’t you? I keep asking you that. Sorry.’

  ‘I am, and yes, that would be great.’

  There was another pause.

  ‘Okay,’ she said, turning towards the door. ‘Off I go.’

  ‘Wait,’ said Lui
s. Suddenly he pulled her towards him and kissed her gently.

  As his lips touched hers, Alice felt herself change, as if she was shedding one of the layers she had grown to protect herself. And she couldn’t stop it. She didn’t want to stop it. Don’t go, she thought as he stroked her hair.

  ‘I have to go,’ he said. ‘I’d like to kiss you more. But I have to be up at half five tomorrow morning. You are now free to leave the vehicle.’ He laughed. ‘Ate logo. See you very soon.’

  Alice stepped out of the car and turned back so she could see his face again. He leaned over, touched her cheek and kissed her once more. ‘Oh, Alice,’ he said, ‘I wish I didn’t have to go but I do.’ He closed the door gently.

  She watched the car as it disappeared into the dark, and touched her mouth, smiling at the memory of his kiss. As the headlights finally turned out of sight, she almost skipped into the apartment and scooped up Aphrodite. ‘Shall we dance?’ she squeaked into the cat’s ear.

  She awoke the following morning, eager to meet the day. She thought of Luis, his eyes crinkling, the firm touch of his hand as he tried to make her feel secure when she met Antonio. Stepping out of bed she walked straight towards the living room, needing to see the sunlight and breathe the fresh, clear air. Flinging open the shutters Alice padded onto the balcony, embracing the morning sun. The sky was clear and cloudless, the leaves on the trees deep and green and the bougainvillea draping the bright white walls surrounding the garden was a velvety crimson. ‘Heaven,’ she said to Aphrodite, who was curled up on a chair in the sun. ‘Mmmmm … can you smell that? Is it pine trees? What do you think? Yes, pine I think, Aphrodite.’ The memory of Luis’s kiss fluttered through her like a butterfly. Two birds flew from the roof, swooping towards the swimming pool, and as they soared back up to the trees, Alice saw their bright blue chests shimmering in the sun. Then she walked into the apartment, gathered her easel, canvas and paints and staggered out of the door, almost giddy with excitement to spend the day painting the first thing she saw.

  She had arranged to meet Kathy at the hotel so they could wander around the town in the evening, and as she sauntered towards the beauty salon, she heard raised voices from inside.

  ‘You shouldn’t be looking at my phone.’ It was Kathy, her voice stern.

  ‘Well you shouldn’t be getting texts from strange men.’