Alice's Long Road Home

by Rosie James

  ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘Well, haven’t you been around lately when they’ve been in the drawing room playing the piano? They’ve been looking out all our stuff – including some of the duets – it was like hearing us two, all over again!’ Ellen brushed her hair more vigorously as her thoughts ran on. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful – wonderful – Frank, if they decided to do it seriously? Together? I mean, Eve is certainly capable, she’s a good pianist. I know she’s always maintained that she would never want to follow the route we did – but Max is more than competent – I really think he could do whatever he wanted in the music line. Think of all the instruments he can play! Incredible! But to imagine them having a career like we did would be lovely – and we could give them all the support, the benefit of all our experience, to help them on.’ She put down her brush, and climbed into bed. ‘They do say that what goes around comes around, so it could happen, one day. Couldn’t it, Frank?’

  Chapter Fourteen

  30th November 1947

  Alice stared thoughtfully at her reflection in the mirror as she got ready for work. This was her very last day in Dorchester – well, in the Dorchester office. She had made arrangements to move out from the house tomorrow, not that any of the furniture was hers to take, obviously, but it was amazing how much there’d been to sort out and pack. All her clothes and books, cushions and a new eiderdown she’d bought…bits and pieces she’d added to make the place feel like her own.

  Of course, she couldn’t possibly have managed to take everything to Bristol on the train, so Rex – loyal, caring Rex Meredith – had insisted that he was coming down in the morning to pack his little car up with her belongings and transport her safely to Totterdown. Alice stared into her own eyes as she finished doing her hair. She’d always known that Rex had hoped for something special in their relationship – but, sadly, she’d never had those feelings for him. Not only that – she, Alice, had been chosen to run the Dorchester office over his head – something which Rex had hoped, expected, would have been his own opportunity to make a real change in his life. Yet despite his disappointment in both matters, he had remained a true friend.

  She put down her brush and turned away. She had so many true friends…so many wonderful, true friends…

  As she went downstairs she saw that there was a letter for her on the mat…the postman was early today. She quickly picked up the envelope, a smile immediately forming on her lips. Sam.

  My dearest Alice

  Tomorrow will be a day of mixed emotions for you, I realize that, and I want you to know that I shall be thinking about you as you make your last goodbyes to everyone and everything. But you are a very courageous person – I have thought that for so long, and I’ve told you so – and you will deal with this particular moment in your life with your usual tact and acceptance.

  Now, two good things which I think will cheer you up…my exam results were OK – well, more than OK actually! So now I am on the next phase, starting at Great Ormond Street in the middle of January, which will probably last for a year. The other good thing is that I have met the owner of the mews cottage in Chelsea and he has agreed for us to have the place on a six-month lease. It would have been nice for you to have seen it first (perhaps to have offered your professional opinion!), but this type of place is not easy to find and I didn’t want to lose it. I know you will approve, Alice. It is situated in a charming little corner, and is adjacent to others similar. Upstairs there’s only one bedroom (that’s all we need, don’t we!!!), a bathroom, and a large cupboard of some sort. But the downstairs accommodation is more roomy – the front door opens straight into a large lounge – which has very comfortable furniture in it – and which leads into the kitchen/diner, which I think you’ll agree will be more than adequate for our needs. The back door opens out on to a small, paved patio on which there’s a garden table and chairs. Next spring and early summer I can imagine us enjoying our breakfast outside together, or a glass of something much later in the day!

  Now that the time is fast approaching, I am getting really excited about it all, Alice. I hope you feel the same way. First, our wedding – I know I shall burst with pride when you walk down the aisle towards me, then – Christmas at Clifton! It will be so different from last year’s sad awfulness, won’t it. We shall make sure it is, and that the house is filled with fun and love and laughter as it always was – my mother would expect nothing less. All the family will be here, and my father has invited two of his colleagues to share Christmas lunch with us as well because their duties do not allow them time to go home – they live some way away. Apparently Betty is already making lists!

  Then – at last – our honeymoon. I am not telling you where we’re going. It’s a secret.

  Every last scrap of my love to you, darling Alice

  Sam

  PS. When I was being shown the cottage and saw that little sheltered patio with its table and chairs d’you know what struck me? That it would be the perfect spot for you to sit and start writing again. When it’s a bit warmer, naturally. I know that you haven’t had much time to pursue your ambitions lately, and as I understand that the main requirement for writers is solitude, you would certainly have that there. The last time I enquired you said you’d reached chapter ten of the novel. Are you any further on? If not, don’t worry. Soon, you will have all the time in the world to do just as you please.

  S

  Alice held onto the letter for several moments before replacing it in the envelope. Sam’s last comments made her smile briefly. That novel…which, when she was ten years old she’d promised her mother she would one day write, and which she’d always envisaged would be bound in red, with her name, Alice Watts, boldly inscribed in gold lettering on the front… She made a face. Well, Sorry Sam – it is very far from being finished. But what about those wise, maternal words…never give up on your hopes and dreams…? What about them? Hadn’t Alice already proved that dreams sometimes do come true…?

  She kissed the envelope, the envelope with Sam’s familiar handwriting on it, holding it to her heart for a moment. Sam always seemed to know when she needed to hear from him – and she especially needed to hear news about where they were going to be living. The mews cottage – their first home together as man and wife – did sound perfect. Alice took a deep breath. Soon she wouldn’t be Alice Watts any more, she would be Alice Carmichael – the future Mrs. Carmichael of Clifton – of whom much would be expected…

  She’d read the letter still standing there in the hall, and now she sat down slowly on the bottom stair, her fingers reaching for her gold anchor.

  Oh Mama, Papa – why am I having to go through all this without you…

  This morning, Valerie arrived at the office at exactly the same time as Alice – which was unusual. Valerie always left it to the last minute. But this was their last day together, and she didn’t want to waste a single moment of it.

  They went in, shrugging off their coats, and Valerie said, ‘D’you know what it felt like this morning, when I woke up? It felt exactly like Boxing Day after I’d opened all my presents and there were no more to unwrap and nothing more to look forward to. Horrible, horrible.’ She turned to Alice. ‘You do know that I am so happy for you, Alice, about everything…but I am so depressed at the thought that you won’t be here after today, that we won’t be here together any more.’ She sniffed. ‘Now I’ve got to get used to someone else, and I don’t like the thought one bit.’

  Valerie was sounding like a petulant child, and Alice smiled at her. ‘Well, we’ve certainly had a few laughs along the way, haven’t we? Even when we’ve been frantically busy.’

  ‘That’s what I mean,’ Valerie said, ‘sometimes it hasn’t felt like work at all! It’s never going to be like that again.’

  ‘Anyway, you’ll soon know the worst,’ Alice said, ‘because, as you already know, Mr. Pennington is coming down from London today and will be meeting us at the Kings Arms at 12 o’clock to buy us lunch. And to
introduce you – and me – to your new boss.’

  ‘Can’t wait,’ Valerie said sulkily. ‘Anyway, I did put on a clean blouse, and washed my hair a day early – in honour of the occasion,’ she added.

  It was typically miserable November weather as they walked up the town to the hotel, and Valerie tucked her arm into Alice’s. ‘It feels like my first day at school, and that soon you’ll be leaving me at the gates,’ she grumbled.

  Alice squeezed her briefly. She had done her best to cheer Valerie up during the morning – which had only seen two vaguely interested clients come into the office – but even talking about the wedding arrangements hadn’t helped. Valerie was determined to be sad and miserable.

  They arrived at the hotel foyer at exactly midday, and Mr. Pennington – already with a glass of something in his hands – came forward to meet them.

  ‘Ah, here you are, my dear young ladies.’ He put down his glass and helped the girls to take off their coats. Then the three sat down in the comfortable chairs around the fire, and after Mr. Pennington had asked the waiter to fetch the two lager shandies which Alice and Valerie had chosen, Mr. Pennington sat forward.

  ‘Well, well, well, this is a big day for you both, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘Your final day as a working woman, Miss Watts – with so much to look forward to! And another new start for you, too, Miss Gates. But life is like that, isn’t it…beginnings and endings, starts and finishes.’ He took a drink from his glass and glanced over his shoulder. ‘In view of all the circumstances,’ he went on, ‘I decided to introduce you to the new manager of our Dorchester branch here, rather than in the office, where we might be interrupted. Over lunch,’ he shot a look at Valerie, ‘you will be able to get a little bit used to each other before starting as a working team, won’t you.’

  ‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Pennington,’ Valerie said, ‘and it is certainly more comfortable here than down the road…’ (And lunch smells good, too, she could have added.)

  Mr. Pennington glanced over his shoulder again. ‘He won’t be a moment…he just needed a wash and tidy up before we eat. He’s travelled some way to be here, and his train was late.’

  So – it was a “he” not a “she” both girls thought, shooting a look at each other briefly. And Valerie Gates thought – I shall know straightaway whether we’re going to get on, mister, and it could easily soon be me giving in my notice…

  And just then Rex Meredith appeared around the corner from the Gents, smiling broadly, and holding out his arms to the two girls in welcome.

  Alice’s mouth dropped in amazement. But…she’d only been talking to Rex on the phone the day before yesterday, making all the plans for him to drive her home tomorrow! And he hadn’t said a word! Not a single hint about having applied for her post! The devious…naughty…irrepressible Rex!

  And Valerie? She almost leapt into the air in delight! She’d liked Rex Meredith from the day he’d just turned up, unannounced, wearing a Father Christmas hood, and had taken Alice – and her – out to lunch. He was fun, a real tease… (and quite a dish). And then he’d come to that first Christmas party at Alice’s house, then on Alice’s birthday a crowd of them had all gone to Weymouth in Rex’s little car…it had been so much fun! In the beginning, Valerie had thought he and Alice were a bit more than friends, but that hadn’t turned out to be the case. And now, and now…instead of some stuffy, older man, or a miserable, middle-aged spinster type, Rex Meredith was to be the one in charge!

  Hurrah, hurrah! If she couldn’t have Alice Watts, Rex Meredith would do just fine – thank you very much!

  At half past two the following day, Rex, with all Alice’s belongings safely stacked away in the boot, drove the car slowly away from Dorchester. He glanced across at her as she sat next to him.

  ‘I won’t give you a penny for your thoughts,’ he said, ‘because I can imagine what they are.’

  Alice returned his glance. ‘Yes, any change provokes mixed feelings,’ she said, ‘but it’s funny…now that I know it’s you taking my place I don’t feel quite so bad about leaving here.’

  He made a face at her. ‘You mean you can actually trust me with the baby you’ve been nurturing for the last two years? Trust me not to mess things up? Well thanks for the compliment!’

  ‘I didn’t only mean that,’ Alice said, ‘but you being there is sort of…keeping it in the family…isn’t it? You know how everything ticks in the business – after all, you were my boss once – and you’ve come down to Dorchester so often – I don’t mean to work – but, well, to keep in touch. So it won’t be like a stranger taking my place. And I know that Valerie is mighty relieved that you’re going to be the boss, and it’s not some straight-faced person who’d keep telling her off if she got the giggles.’

  ‘I’ll just have to make sure that I keep the figures up, that’s all,’ Rex said, ‘your standards are going to be hard to follow.’ He glanced at Alice briefly. ‘And I’m sorry that it came as such a shock to you, Alice,’ he said, ‘but – I’ll be honest – I asked Mr. Pennington not to say that I had applied for the post because if someone else was chosen over me I’d never live it down. I’d feel, well, a bit humiliated,’ Rex admitted.

  Alice nodded without saying anything. They both knew the past. Then –

  ‘I understand that, but what I can’t get over is how you managed to keep it a secret after you knew you’d got the job,’ Alice went on. ‘I mean, when we were making arrangements about today, you never said a word!’ Alice was still surprised at that – Rex Meredith was open and good-natured – given to outbursts of impetuousness at times, and it would have been more in character for him to have blurted it out without thinking.

  ‘I know, I know,’ Rex said, ‘but actually, it was Mr. Pennington’s idea to keep the secret for just a bit longer – until we were all having lunch together. I think he found it amusing.’

  There was silence for a few moments, then Alice said, ‘It’s so good of you to come and fetch me, and then take me back to Bristol, Rex…especially as you’re going to be making the trip again tomorrow, to bring all your own stuff down.’ She shook her head briefly. ‘It’s going to feel so weird…you’re not only having my job, you’re going to be living in my house, as well. Please make sure you keep it all clean and tidy – and don’t break anything!’

  ‘Ah, but – what you don’t know,’ Rex said, ‘is that I’m making plans to buy the place…not just to borrow it, like you did.’ He glanced across. ‘See, I intend to sell my house in Bristol – the one I inherited from my parents – and really make Dorchester my home…my proper home. After all, as you’ve said, I’ve come down often enough to know the place sufficiently, and to make me realize that I’d far rather live here permanently. It’s a lovely part of the country – better than living in any city. And the house is quite adequate – as you’ve discovered yourself.’ He grinned at Alice. ‘It’s certainly adequate for a good party!’

  This new piece of news didn’t particularly surprise Alice. Rex knew the trade, and the house – “her” house – that he intended to buy would be a sound investment. Especially in this desirable location.

  ‘Anyway – I’m still very grateful to you, Rex,’ Alice repeated, ‘for being my chauffeur today.’

  He shrugged good-naturedly. ‘Don’t mention it,’ he said. ‘I’ve been saving all my coupons – that’s why I used the train yesterday.’

  Presently, they reached Totterdown, and Rex drew the car up outside Gloria’s house. But before they got out of the car, Alice said, ‘I don’t suppose we’ll see each other again until my wedding day, so make sure you’re not late won’t you you, Rex?’ Rex’s time-keeping had never been his strong point. ‘It’s at 1.30,’ she said, emphasizing the words.

  ‘I know, I know,’ he said, holding up his hands in submission, ‘and it’s at St. Mary Redcliffe. That posh church.’ He turned to look at Alice seriously. ‘I hope Valerie will look after me –take charge of me when necessary – like you always us
ed to, Alice,’ he said. ‘You women are always so organized.’

  ‘I’m absolutely certain that she will, Rex,’ Alice said, smiling inwardly. ‘And I wish you both the very best of luck together…’

  Presently, seeing the car outside, Gloria and Don came out to help carry Alice’s belongings into the house, before they all stood and waved Rex off. He had refused the offer of a cup of tea because he was going home to start doing some more packing of his own.

  Once inside, the first thing Alice wanted to know was how the new baby was getting on…Don and Gloria’s first grandchild.

  ‘Oh, he’s getting on a real treat!’ Gloria exclaimed. ‘Our little James Malcolm! And Mary’s fine as well. Course, the baby’s a month old now, and putting on weight like anything!’ Gloria paused. ‘We’ve been down to see them – but we didn’t stay because Malcolm’s mother was there, helping out. Well, you don’t want too many people around, do you, so I wasn’t needed this time,’ she added.

  Alice put her arm around Gloria’s shoulders. ‘They might not need you down Plymouth way, Mrs. Travers,’ Alice said, ‘but you are going to be very much needed here, in your own home, for the next three weeks!’ Alice feigned a terrified shudder. ‘Now that the day is drawing so near,’ she added, ‘I’m beginning to get the shakes about it all!’

  Gloria tutted consolingly. ‘Oh, we’ll be here, backing you all the way, Alice my love,’ she said. She glanced up at her husband. ‘And Don is always a tower of strength in all circumstances –well, he was an insurance man, you see…and he’ll look after everything, don’t you worry.’

  As usual, tea – which alongside bread and butter and raspberry jam, and a Madeira cake, included a fresh head of celery, hard-boiled eggs and potato crisps, was laid on the dining room table, and Gloria was just bringing in the teapot when there a knock on the back door.