Wish You Were Here

by Victoria Connelly

  She’d almost forgotten about Bruce because he had been away for a couple of days but her heart sank when she saw him there and, as soon as he saw her, he looked totally thunderstruck as if he’d never seen her before in his life. Alice took a deep breath and prepared for the onslaught.

  ‘How do you do it, Alice?’ he asked, his face soft with adoration.

  ‘I’m not doing anything, Bruce,’ she said, knowing that no amount of deflection was going to stop him.

  He laughed. ‘And you’re so witty too!’

  ‘Really, I’m not,’ Alice said as stone-faced as she could.

  This time, Bruce bent double with laughter. ‘Oh, Alice!’ he said, mopping his eyes with an old-fashioned handkerchief. ‘You are the limit! Nobody makes me laugh as much as you do!’

  Alice frowned and Bruce laughed even more, pointing to her face whilst his own turned crimson with mirth. What was going on? Was this about being noticed by men, she wondered? Was it not all about looks, then? Perhaps she should have been more careful with her choice of words when she’d made the wish or maybe it was that wicked Aphrodite having a laugh again by making other people laugh at her.

  The bus arrived just as Alice felt sure Bruce was about to rupture his spleen with so much hilarity and Alice sat next to a teenage girl and sighed with relief when Bruce had to move on down the aisle to the back.

  What a way to start a morning, she thought, although she was getting rather used to it. If it wasn’t for Ben, though, she really felt as if she would go mad but the thought of meeting him at lunchtime got her through the daily toil as well as coping with the deluge of unwanted male attention.

  Larry Baxter was still skilfully avoiding all eye contact with Alice which had been most unnerving for the interviewees they’d been seeing over the last couple of days and she couldn’t help wondering what they must think about their strange behaviour. It had probably put them off working there and Alice couldn’t blame them. Larry was twitchy and kept fiddling with the cuffs of his jacket until one pinged off and rolled across the carpet. He’d then leapt up to retrieve it, caught Alice’s eyes and started jabbering away. Alice had tried to calm him down, reaching out and touching his arm but that had been a mistake and he’d pulled away and fled from the room before she could stop him. The interviewee who’d had the misfortune of witnessing this bizarre scene hadn’t got back to them when they’d later offered her the job.

  Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the whole business was that Alice couldn’t even confide in Ben about it all. She so desperately wanted to tell him about Larry’s weird behaviour and the embarrassing moments with Wilfred and Bruce but she realised that Ben was a part of this charade too and she couldn’t even begin to explain things to him without jeopardising their relationship.

  That lunchtime, with the sun shining and the sky as blue as forget-me-nots, they walked to the Castle Museum where they found a bench. They’d bought freshly-made sandwiches, sugary jammy doughnuts and fruit smoothies – which were an attempt to counteract the effect of the doughnuts.

  ‘This is nice,’ Alice said as they polished off the doughnuts. She couldn’t help thinking that, just a few weeks ago, she would have sat on a bench very like this one, watching all the happy couples parading by whilst she sat on her own.

  ‘Has Larry talked any more about the position opening up in New Business?’

  Alice shook her head. Larry hadn’t talked about anything much at all to her. In fact, it was beginning to be a bit of a worry. They really couldn’t go on like that. Alice had even been thinking about a transfer but she realised that the problem would just duplicate itself somewhere else unless she went to an all-female department.

  ‘He’s a funny bloke,’ Ben said. ‘I don’t know how you put up with him.’

  Alice looked surprised. She hadn’t expected Ben to come out with such a thing. ‘He’s all right,’ she said.

  ‘But are you really happy working with him? I mean, he’s so pompous and you’re so lovely. You could do anything, Alice.’ He looked at her and his eyes were deep and sincere.

  ‘Well, I do often wonder if there’s another life out there waiting to be led.’

  ‘Like I do’ Ben said excitedly.

  Alice smiled. ‘I guess.’

  ‘We should do something about it,’ he said and fear flooded through Alice again. How long could she keep this up with Ben? She should tell him the truth. She should tell him now.

  ‘Ben, listen – there’s something I need to—’

  ‘I hope you’re free tonight,’ he interrupted, leaning in close to her.

  ‘Ben, I want to—’

  ‘Are you free? Or have you got a dozen other men queuing around the block for you? I bet you have.’

  ‘No, I don’t,’ Alice said and she couldn’t help but smile.

  ‘So you’re free?’

  ‘Well, I’ll have to check my diary,’ she teased and then wished she hadn’t because Ben’s face fell. That was the trouble with being attractive to men – you had a responsibility not to let people down. ‘I was joking!’ she added quickly.

  He smiled with relief. ‘Then I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.’ He got up from the bench and extended a hand to help her up.

  You should tell him. Get it over and done with, the little voice said. But, as she placed her hand in his and received a smile for her pains, she thought she might just put the big confession off for a little longer.

  Chapter 23

  Alice looked at the row of pretty dresses in her wardrobe. Since Ben had asked her out, she’d bought a few more colourful pieces and now couldn’t decide what to wear. He hadn’t said anything about their date that night so that left Alice in the dark as to what to go for, so she decided to wear the plum-coloured velvet dress with the scoop neckline and the long sleeves.

  Once the dress was on, she popped her feet into a pair of new shoes with the most modest of heels and then went into the bathroom to do something about her face. Staring at herself in the mirror, she wondered how far the wish would carry her. Would Ben notice if she decided to be plain old Alice and go sans make-up or if she deliberately left her hair a mess? It would be fun to find out but Alice was too self-conscious and she wanted to look her very best for Ben.

  Just as her lipstick was halfway to her mouth, the doorbell went and Alice froze in a panic. Ben was awfully early, wasn’t he? She quickly applied a coat of Summer Rose and tied her hair back. She’d have to beg at least five more minutes if she was going to look anywhere near presentable.

  But it wasn’t Ben at the door. It was Stella. Her face was stony and glum as she pushed into the hallway without so much as a hello. Alice hadn’t seen her sister since they’d got back from Kethos and she knew that an unannounced visit meant trouble.

  ‘Is everything okay?’ Alice asked.

  Stella shrugged as she flopped down onto Alice’s sofa, pulling a cushion onto her lap.

  ‘I’m fed up,’ she said.

  Alice sat down beside her. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Everything,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, dear.’

  Stella nodded. ‘Miles broke up with me.’

  ‘Miles? Who’s Miles?’

  Stella turned and glared at Alice. ‘My boyfriend,’ she said.

  ‘Since we came back from Kethos?’

  ‘Well, of course since we came back from Kethos!’ She groaned and she really did look sad.

  ‘What happened?’ Alice asked, genuinely concerned now.

  ‘He said—’ Stella paused.

  ‘What? What did he say?’

  ‘He said he didn’t want to see me again because I was too young.’

  ‘Too young? Well, how old was he?’ Alice asked.

  ‘Twenty-six,’ Stella said.

  ‘But that’s not much older than you.’

  ‘I know!’ Stella said in exasperation.

  ‘It doesn’t make any sense. Are you sure that was his reason?’

  Stella’s gaze hit the
floor and Alice immediately knew that she was hiding something.

  ‘What is it?’ Alice asked.

  Stella’s face had turned quite pale and Alice was beginning to get worried. What on earth had this Miles person said to her sister?

  ‘He said,’ she began at last, ‘he said that I was childish. Isn’t that awful?’

  Alice bit her lip until she could trust herself to speak. ‘Well—’

  ‘How could he say such a thing?’

  ‘I really don’t know,’ Alice said, supportively.

  ‘I mean, I’m not childish, am I?’ she asked, turning her big blue eyes onto Alice and searching for an answer that would make her feel better.

  ‘Well, you can be a little—’ Alice paused, choosing her words carefully. She didn’t want Ben arriving in the middle of a full-blown argument. ‘A little demanding, I’d say.’

  Stella shifted on the sofa. ‘That’s rubbish. I’m not demanding at all.’

  ‘Well, you have to admit that you like things your way,’ Alice said gently.

  ‘Of course I do. Doesn’t everybody?’

  ‘But you don’t always go about it the right way,’ Alice said.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Alice glanced at the clock. The time was ticking away and she’d have to make a move before long. ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’ she asked kindly.

  Stella nodded. ‘And have you got something to eat? I haven’t got a thing at home.’

  ‘You can take a look but you’ll have to prepare it yourself,’ Alice said as they walked through to the kitchen and switched the kettle on.

  ‘I think I’m going to extend my kitchen,’ Stella announced casually, thoughts of Miles’s cruel words obviously forgotten.

  ‘What?’

  ‘It’s way too small, don’t you think?’

  Alice frowned. ‘Why would Dad pay for that when he doesn’t even live there any more?’

  ‘Because it’s the right thing to do for the house,’ Stella said. ‘Just think about it. The house will be worth more if we extend. Nobody wants a pokey old kitchen. It’s far too small. You’re lucky you don’t have to put up with it yourself.’

  ‘Are you kidding me? Just look at this place,’ Alice said, gazing around the tiniest of rooms. ‘It’s about the width of a rolling pin and not much longer either.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s not so important for you, is it? I mean, this is just rented.’

  ‘I don’t think Dad can afford it, Stella.’

  ‘He’s got the money.’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘And I think it’ll definitely be worth it. It’s an investment,’ she said with a little nod.

  ‘But all his money’s tied up in the house and what little he has left over is for nursing fees,’ Alice pointed out. ‘You’ll have to come up with the money yourself if you want to do any work on the house.’

  Stella gave a scoffing sort of a laugh. ‘I haven’t got the money!’ she said.

  ‘What happened to that interview you were going to?’ Alice asked, suddenly remembering that Stella had said something about it whilst they were in Kethos.

  Stella pouted as she went about poking through Alice’s kitchen cupboards in search of something to eat. ‘It was awful and I didn’t get the job. They asked me all kinds of silly questions.’

  ‘They usually do in interviews.’ Alice glanced at the cooker clock. ‘Stella, I’m afraid I’ve got to get moving.’

  ‘You’re going out?’ Stella said with a frown.

  ‘Yes. I do go out occasionally, you know,’ Alice said.

  ‘No, I didn’t know,’ Stella said. ‘You’re not going to wear your hair like that, are you?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because you don’t suit it up. Not like me,’ Stella said, posing in front of the glass in the back door, a handful of blonde hair in her hands. ‘Can’t you stay? I really need somebody to talk to.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Stella, but I’ve really got to get going.’

  Her sister’s eyes suddenly doubled in size like a cartoon character’s and filled with tears. ‘Everything’s going wrong and I can’t even talk to my sister about it.’

  ‘Of course you can, only not tonight.’

  ‘You’re so mean.’

  ‘You can stay and have your tea here but I’m going out,’ Alice told her.

  ‘Can’t I come with you?’

  ‘Certainly not. I’m going on a date.’ It was then that the doorbell went. ‘Oh, heavens!’ Alice said as she realised that she hadn’t finished getting ready.

  ‘I’ll get it,’ Stella said.

  ‘No need,’ Alice said, nimbly pushing past Stella before she managed to answer the door to Ben.

  ‘Hello,’ he said, his eyes bright as the hallway light caught him. ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘Hi!’ the bright voice of Stella cried as she pushed Alice out of the way.

  ‘Hello,’ Ben said in surprise.

  ‘I’m Stella,’ Stella said with her huskiest voice as she extended a hand. Ben shook it and Alice couldn’t help but notice how long she managed to hold onto it for.

  Ben smiled but then his gaze returned to Alice. ‘Shall we get going, then?’

  Alice nodded. ‘Just give me a moment,’ she said and they all walked into the hallway together. Alice rushed back up the stairs to finish getting ready. She didn’t want to leave Stella with Ben longer than was absolutely necessary and returned in record time. Only they weren’t in the hallway where she’d left them. They were in the sitting room and Stella was perched on the sofa, her long legs crossed and her face animated with interest in whatever it was Ben was talking about.

  ‘So that’s kind of how the department’s run,’ Ben was saying. Stella nodded her head as if it was something she really cared about. ‘Ah,’ he said as Alice walked into the room. ‘You look amazing.’

  Alice stroked the front of her dress self-consciously and fiddled with her hair and she couldn’t help noticing that Stella was giving her a look as if to say, what on earth did you do to ensnare this one?

  * * *

  Ben had booked the best table in a restaurant that Alice had only ever dreamed of eating at. He guided her to the table with his hand resting in the small of her back and then he pulled out her chair like a true gentleman.

  ‘You look beautiful tonight,’ he whispered in her ear before sitting down opposite her.

  ‘So do you,’ she said and then smiled. ‘Handsome, I mean. You look handsome.’

  The waiter arrived and handed them the menus and Alice’s eyes almost popped out of her head at the prices but Ben seemed perfectly calm. That’s what came of being a manager, she thought, remembering seeing his salary increase at the end of last month.

  They took their time ordering, talking about the events of the day and swapping sweet nothings across the table.

  ‘Here’s to us,’ Ben said, opening the champagne bottle and filling their glasses after they’d finished their starter and had moved on to their main course. Alice was just thinking that she had never been treated so well in her life when she realised that she had. Milo had treated her like a queen, hadn’t he? And he hadn’t relied on fancy restaurants and expensive champagne either. He had cooked for her himself and taken her to secret places that nobody else knew about.

  But he also lied to you, a little voice said. He lied to you, used you and conveniently forgot about you.

  She shook her head. Why was she thinking of Milo now? Hadn’t he been filed away in the back of her mind in a compartment named ‘Things to Forget’? She was with Ben now and she was happy. She was quite sure she was.

  ‘You know, I still can’t get over how I’ve never noticed you before,’ Ben said.

  Alice smiled at him. ‘It’s easy to overlook somebody like me,’ she said.

  Ben shook his head. ‘All this time we’ve wasted,’ he said, ‘but we can make up for all that now, can’t we?’

  Alice nodded happily. ‘Yes,’ she said, know
ing full well how many years she had wasted being plain and, even if this new Alice was a freak and a fraud and even if it wasn’t going to last forever, she was going to make the very most of it right now with Ben.

  They were just mulling over the desserts when a tall blonde waltzed over to their table and, without so much as hello, bent down and placed a scarlet lipstick smudge right across Ben’s cheek.

  ‘Lynne!’ Ben exclaimed.

  ‘Long time, no see, darling,’ the woman said.

  Alice watched in horror as the woman pulled a chair from another table and sat herself down next to Ben.

  ‘Er – let me introduce you,’ Ben said hurriedly. ‘Alice – this is Lynne. Lynne – Alice.’

  Lynne gave a sickly sort of smile to Alice and then her gaze snapped back to Ben.

  ‘It has been a long time, hasn’t it?’ Ben said.

  Lynne laughed. ‘I’m just trying to remember exactly when it was. I can’t make my mind up. Was it that awful conference in Leeds where we stayed in that nasty little hotel or that weekend in Monaco where we stole those gorgeous hand towels? Do you remember? They were all embroidered in gold.’

  Ben’s face had reddened and Alice couldn’t help wondering if it was because of the reference to staying in hotels with this woman or because of the stolen towel incident.

  ‘Ben and I go back years, don’t we, Ben?’ Lynne said, giving Alice the once-over and obviously not liking what she saw.

  ‘We certainly do, we certainly do!’ Ben said, swallowing hard.

  ‘You know, I’ve often wondered what happened to you,’ she continued, laying a perfectly manicured hand on his. Ben pulled his hand away and the woman visibly flinched.

  ‘Well,’ he said at last, ‘it was lovely seeing you again.’

  Lynne glared at him as if daring him to brush her off but he maintained his stance and she soon scraped her chair out from behind her.

  ‘Goodbye, Ben,’ she said. ‘And good luck to you,’ she said, turning her icy stare on Alice. ‘Whatever your name is.’

  ‘It’s Alice,’ Alice said without missing a beat. They watched as Lynne stalked across the restaurant.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ Ben said when he was quite sure she was out of earshot.