Alice's Long Road Home

by Rosie James

  ‘And it’s lovely for us to be here, Mrs. Foulkes,’ Alice said, her eyes widening slightly as huge plates of bacon, eggs, sausages, and fried bread were put in front of them. ‘If I eat all this, I won’t be needing a thing until at least Wednesday,’ she added.

  Just then, the door opened and Roger appeared. ‘Morning,’ he said breezily, glancing down at the girls. ‘What time d’you call this? The work has to go on, you know, birthdays or not.’

  ‘Sorry, Rog,’ Fay said, spearing a piece of bacon and fried bread onto her fork and swirling it around in the crimson yolk of one of the eggs on her plate. ‘But we knew we could leave everything to you.’ She looked up at him. ‘Which I hope includes mending my car – soon,’ she added, more seriously.

  He grinned down at her. ‘It’s all in hand, so give me the keys,’ he said. ‘I’ll go over to Alan’s place in the van and retrieve our jump leads, then I’ll drive up to the pub, get your car going and bring it down here. OK?’

  ‘Certainly sounds OK,’ Fay said gratefully. ‘Then, I can drive you back to the pub to get the Morris, can’t I?’

  Mabel intervened. ‘Look, Fay luvver – why don’t you go up yonder with Rog, in a minute when you’ve ’ad your breakfast? ‘’Twould save some of that tooin’ and frowin’, wouldn’ it?’ Mabel had never lost an opportunity to find female company for her son, and her suggestion would mean that he and Fay would have nearly an hour together. She knew Roger liked Fay.

  ‘OK,’ Fay said at once. ‘That sounds a good idea to me.’

  Eventually, with the Foulkes family – including the farmer – waving them off at the door, the three girls left the farm and began the drive back home.

  ‘The engine sounds fine to me now,’ Alice observed, ‘so I hope we’re going to make it back all right.’

  ‘It was never the engine,’ Fay said, trying not to snap. She had begun to love her Austin like a child. ‘It was the battery, that’s all. And Miss Downs’s mechanic warned me I’d have to get a new one soon, but they’re not so easy to come by. Like everything else if you ask me,’ Fay added, slightly sourly. Then, after a second – ‘I wonder if the time will ever come when we can just go to a shop, any shop, and buy what we want? I mean – we did win the damn war, didn’t we?’ she said.

  Eve decided to change the subject. ‘So – when are we going to go looking for your dress, and for our bridesmaids’ dresses, Alice?’ she said eagerly. ‘Have you thought of a colour scheme – for us, I mean?’

  Alice hesitated. ‘Not really,’ she said, ‘but one thing I can tell you is that you will not be wearing anything pink, or with frills,’ she went on. ‘Margaret – one of the twins – has decided that much for me. But – have either of you got any suggestions?’

  ‘Don’t make it yellow,’ Fay said at once. ‘Yellow looks wonderful on Evie, but it’s never been a favourite of mine.’

  So, Alice thought, that’s pink and yellow out…

  ‘Blue looks good on most people,’ Eve said, ‘but it’s not a colour I usually wear…not much, anyway.’

  Alice stared straight ahead of her and came to a decision. It was time to take proper charge of her own big day.

  ‘You will all be wearing green,’ she said firmly. She paused. ‘And I don’t see why the four dresses need to be identical in style…they’ll all be long, naturally, but you two will wear the same, and the twins can choose something different if they like.’ Well, Rose and Margaret were usually in London where there was always more choice, Alice thought. They could shop around for themselves.

  ‘So, in a few weeks’ time, perhaps we could look around in Bath and Bristol and see what, if anything, is on offer,’ Alice went on, ‘and I’ll keep a good look out in Dorchester. You never know – things are bound to start becoming available soon, aren’t they? We shall just have to keep our fingers crossed.’

  Fay made a face to herself as they drove along. She would have liked to wear a pair of slacks on the great day…with a nice sharp blouse that had padded shoulders…

  As expected, the car got them safely home – though when they dropped Eve off at Bath, Fay wisely kept the engine running, just in case. Then the others went on to Bristol, and to Temple Meads. Alice’s next train was about to leave, and as they said goodbye, Alice said –

  ‘You and Evie have said that, at the moment, the Saturdays in May and June are free for you two, so I’ll find out when Sam’s duties are likely to be, then I’ll ring you and we can finalize things for you to come to Clifton. OK?’

  ‘Perfect,’ Fay said, hugging Alice. ‘I can’t wait to meet this saintly god of manhood.’

  The following morning as she opened the office post, Alice kept going over and over what had happened at the weekend. She could still hardly believe that they’d spent another night at Home Farm. But it had given them yet more happy memories to take with them for the rest of their lives, and now Alice was longing to tell Sam all about it.

  She stopped what she was doing for a moment…he’d given her a number to ring in case there was any emergency, but just to talk to him about Mabel’s birthday weekend was hardly an emergency, was it? She couldn’t possibly ring him about that. But Alice knew that what she really wanted was just to hear Sam’s voice…to reassure her…and she wasn’t going to be doing that until next Sunday, when he hoped to be free to come to Dorchester again. Alice went on opening the post. Anyway, she’d write him a letter this evening, she decided. He’d get it on Wednesday morning – and he’d enjoy reading it when he had a moment. She half-smiled to herself. Just writing to him, sharing everything with him, would bring them closer, as it always had done. Would bridge the gap until she felt his arms around her again.

  Just then Valerie arrived, exactly on time as usual. She shrugged off her coat as she went past.

  ‘It has actually stopped raining,’ she announced cheerfully, ‘and there’s even a rumour that we’re in for a good summer! I think we should get out all those flags and victory bunting again,’ she added, ‘if it’s true.’

  ‘Morning Valerie,’ Alice said, throwing all the torn envelopes into the wastepaper basket at her feet. She glanced up. ‘Did you have a good weekend?’

  ‘So-so,’ Valerie replied. ‘What about you, Alice? Was it a nice birthday party, spending it with all those friends of yours?’

  Alice went on to describe what had happened, but she could tell that what Valerie wanted to talk about was the wedding.

  ‘Have you and Sam decided on a date yet?’ Valerie asked eagerly. ‘You have to sort these things out well in advance, I do know that,’ she added.

  Alice hesitated before replying. Then – ‘It’s going to be on the 23rd December, Valerie,’ she said slowly, ‘but I want to leave it as long as possible before telling Mr. Pennington at head office – because when I leave, I’ll have to give up the house as well…see, I shall be a little orphan with no roof over my head and no home to call my own!’ This was said half-jokingly, but Valerie broke in at once.

  ‘Oh Alice! Don’t say things like that!’ she exclaimed. ‘You will never be homeless because you could always, always live with us at our house until the wedding! I know you would be more than welcome because my mum and dad loved meeting you at Ronnie’s other wedding, and they also know how much I enjoy my job here, with you, too. How much happier I’ve been for the last eighteen months.’ Valerie paused for breath. ‘And you’ll have Ronnie’s room – it’s a nice big one,’ she declared as if it was already happening, ‘because that’s obviously vacant again now.’

  Alice couldn’t answer for a moment. Then – ‘Well, that’s really kind of you, Valerie,’ she said, ‘really kind of you to even think of it. But I would hope to stay here for the next few months at least… I thought I’d give my notice in at the end of September, but I want to keep quiet about it until then,’ she added.

  ‘Of course, I understand, Alice – and I won’t breathe a word,’ Valerie promised. Then her face fell. ‘I’m going to hate it here without you, Alice,�
� she said slowly. ‘I don’t want to even think about it.’

  ‘Then don’t,’ Alice said. ‘But what you can do is think about helping me look for my dress.’

  ‘You mean – your wedding dress?’ Valerie cheered up at once. ‘Oh Alice! I’d love to look around with you! I’d know what suited you the minute I saw it! And if we don’t come across anything here, we could try other places, couldn’t we…there might be something worth looking at in Weymouth, or Bournemouth, even.’

  Alice smiled. ‘Well, I might try Dorchester, Bath and Bristol first,’ she said. ‘Fay and Eve have said they’ll help me as well.’

  ‘So that makes four of us on the case!’ Valerie exclaimed. ‘Between us, we’re sure to find something – and Alice…you can have all my coupons,’ the girl went on. ‘No, I mean it…and I know you could have my parents’ as well,’ she added firmly.

  After Valerie had left at 5.30, Alice closed the office, pulled down the blinds, and went over to the telephone. She rang Gloria’s number, and almost immediately heard the familiar voice pronouncing the information slowly, and very carefully.

  ‘2-1-3-2…hello…?’

  ‘Hello, Mrs…Mrs. Travers,’ Alice said, making a face to herself. She nearly said Mrs. Hammond!

  ‘Alice – my dear girl! How are you? We haven’t seen you for ages!’

  ‘I’m fine, thanks,’ Alice replied. ‘And what about you – and Mr. Travers?’

  ‘Oh, we’re all right,’ Gloria assured her.

  Alice took a deep breath. ‘The thing is,’ she began, ‘I’ve got a bit of news – and…’

  Gloria interrupted. ‘And so have we! Don is going to be a grandfather, Alice! His daughter Mary is expecting a baby – at long last! We all thought it was never going to happen! And that will make me a step-grandmother, won’t it! Me – a step-grandmother – just think of that! I must say we’re both very excited…it’ll be lovely to have a little baby in the family at last! And as a matter of fact – you just caught us, Alice. We’re catching the 6.30 to Plymouth where Mary and Malcolm live…and we’re going to stay for a week or two, because apparently poor Mary is suffering from terrible morning sickness, so I can be of some use to her, can’t I, helping with chores and food – not that she’s eating a thing, apparently, but Malcolm has to have a good meal at the end of the day.’ Gloria paused. ‘With Mary’s own mum no longer here, I shall do my very best to be a good step-mum. I know I can never take her own mother’s place – well, no one can do that, can they? But I’m going to do my best to be a good understudy!’ Gloria couldn’t contain her excitement. ‘Now then…what did you just say, Alice…you had something you wanted to tell us?’

  ‘No, it’s nothing, Mrs. Travers,’ Alice said slowly. She wasn’t going to top Gloria’s excitement, nor did Alice want to dish out her own news as if it was an afterthought. ‘At least – it’s something that can easily wait until we meet,’ she added. She cleared her throat. ‘Can I come and see you – soon?’

  ‘Course you can, my love! Now – just let me get me diary…now then, all being well we shall be back home towards the end of May – why not come the weekend 25th-26th of the month, Alice? We’re sure to be back by then. And a’course, you’ll stay the night? We shall have such a lot to talk about, shan’t we!’

  ‘That’ll be lovely,’ Alice said. ‘And until then – have a wonderful time spoiling your family…like you always used to spoil me,’ she added.

  They ended the call and Alice put the phone down thoughtfully. Gloria’s delight at being part of a family – a family who had obviously welcomed her into their midst with loving arms – had rung out loud and clear. Gloria had managed to embrace her new situation with no trouble at all…rejoicing at every bit of it, determined to accept the role she was to play in the lives of her husband’s family without question.

  Alice left the office, locking the door securely behind her. It was going to be good to see Gloria again – and perhaps catch some of her lack of self-doubt…

  Chapter Eight

  The following Sunday, in the small kitchen in Dorchester, Alice finished preparing lunch, the hint of a frown on her forehead. This was going to be another “first” for her – planning, preparing and cooking a meal for them both, which they would be eating together, just the two of them. Food prepared by her – and not by Betty. That was quite a standard to live up to, but, after all, she, Alice, had helped the Carmichaels’ cook on many, many occasions, had learned a lot more than the mere basics of providing appetizing food for others to eat.

  Alice had become a regular customer of the local butcher on the corner of the street, and had bought a very small fillet of pork – the amount her coupons allowed – which she’d augmented by rolling up and stuffing with sage and onion, and which was now roasting slowly in the oven. Together with a dish of roasted vegetables – a trick which Betty had shown Alice – and followed by apple pancakes and cream. Alice made a mental note to ask Sam which meal he always looked forward to…perhaps one of the many – if less significant things – she had to find out about her future husband.

  Alice made a face to herself. Long before she took up her position as Sam’s wife, she had a wedding to organize. At least, her part of it.

  Sam had arrived from London on the early train, and after they’d had coffee Alice had persuaded him to relax in the sitting room with the morning papers while she got the lunch…he’d looked so tired when he’d arrived. Then later, they were going for a walk and she’d have the chance to really show Sam some of her favourite places in the town. There hadn’t been much time on his earlier visit.

  Alice stopped what she was doing for a second. She had enjoyed – was enjoying – living in Dorchester. Not just the town and its ancient atmosphere, but in her unexpectedly prestigious position as head of the company’s local office. She had revelled in the responsibility and it had all gone very well, but by this time next year it would be a thing of the past. Gone. Finished. Another interlude in her life, enjoyable while it lasted, but transitory… Alice bit her lip. She could not deny the fact that she was dreading having to close the door on something she’d worked so hard to achieve. And she wondered whether this had even crossed Sam’s mind. After all, her career could hardly be compared with the life-and-death nature of his, but it had been important to many people at significant times in their lives…and very important to her.

  Alice finished setting the dining table for two, then peeped into the sitting room. With the papers unopened on his lap, Sam was sprawled in one of the armchairs, his long legs stretched right out in front of him, his head slightly to one side, resting on his shoulder. He was deeply asleep, and for a few seconds Alice just stood and gazed at him, wondering what he was dreaming about. In his semi-consciousness was he still at work in the intensity of the operating theatre, or was he dreaming of her, of them, of their forthcoming marriage with perhaps one or two unanswered questions of his own?

  But for now, what Alice really wanted to do was to move quietly across and place her lips on his, to wake him and tell him what she was thinking. But somehow that would spoil the moment, so she just kept on gazing at him like she’d sometimes done in a gallery of fine paintings…absorbing, drinking in the vision. Not wanting to hurry the moment.

  Suddenly, he stirred and opened his eyes. Then he turned to look at her, and sat up.

  ‘Don’t ask me what’s in the news,’ he said, ‘because I haven’t read a word.’ He put the papers on the floor and beckoned Alice over to sit on his lap. And she did, curling up and nestling into him in front of the small fire which was burning in the grate – although the early May weather was beginning to improve it was still cold outside.

  ‘Sorry if I’m smelling of onions,’ Alice murmured into his ear.

  ‘You always smell wonderful to me,’ he said softly.

  Presently, as they ate their lunch – which was proving to be everything Alice had hoped – Sam said –

  ‘Now, I want to hear everything about last week
end at the farm.’ He speared another roast potato on to his plate, and glanced across at Alice. ‘Did it seem strange, being back at the farm again, even for a few hours?’

  Alice nodded. ‘It did. Especially as we were forced to stay the night. That was really weird!’

  Then she went on to describe what had happened, and she could tell that Sam was intrigued – and highly amused.

  ‘They – the Foulkes family – seem such good people,’ he said. He paused. ‘Will they be coming to the wedding? I certainly hope so, because I really want to meet them… Farmer Foulkes sounds like a real character to me. A salt-of-the-earth sort of person,’ Sam added.

  ‘Oh, they are good people,’ Alice said at once, ‘and they’ve promised to be there on the day…’ She hesitated. She knew that the question of the guest list had to be answered soon. ‘But of course I want you to meet Fay and Evie first…and I wondered if you were free next weekend, Sam? Or is that too close to this one?’ She didn’t want to hassle him. Even at this early stage in their new relationship she wanted to protect him, not to add to his obligations.

  Sam thought for a moment. Then – ‘I could be home later on Saturday,’ he said,’ but I’ll have to go back on Sunday morning. Is that any good?’

  Alice smiled. ‘That sounds fine,’ she said. ‘Because I want to do some shopping in Bristol first with Fay and Evie.’ (She wasn’t going to mention the word wedding dress – that was none of his business.) ‘Then we could all come to Clifton later, for dinner, couldn’t we…you’re sure Betty will be happy with that arrangement?’ Alice added.

  Sam grinned. ‘What a question to ask.’ He scraped up the last of his meal carefully. He looked across at Alice. ‘And Betty will have to work hard to beat what I’ve just eaten,’ he said.

  Presently, arm in arm as they strolled through the streets, Sam said – ‘Do you have any idea of the numbers you’ll want to invite, Alice?’ He paused. ‘We do need to know that fairly soon because my father has approached two venues he thinks we might like, and the first question he’s been asked is how many they are to provide for.’ Sam glanced down at her. ‘A fairly reasonable request, isn’t it?’ he added.