Brides of War

by June Tate

Both Jeff and Gracie looked surprised, they had imagined Valerie was with her husband.

  ‘We’ve come out here to find other vistas to paint,’ she explained. ‘We thought the Rockies was just what we needed.’ She gazed at Gracie. ‘To be honest it was knowing you were here that decided where we’d come. We thought we could see you and paint as well.’

  ‘We thought you’d be with your husband,’ said Jeff.

  ‘No, he’s back in New York and is far too busy to take time off,’ Valerie explained, but there was something in her voice that made Gracie wonder.

  There was a small table and chairs set out in readiness and Max said, ‘I’ll go and make some coffee whilst you two catch up.’ He looked at Jeff. ‘Would you like to see inside the camper? I think we both might be in the way out here?’ he said laughing.

  Jeff agreed and stepped inside. He was surprised at how roomy was the interior and said so.

  Max filled a kettle from the tap in the small but compact kitchen area. ‘Yes, it’s really well designed.’

  There was a settee in the window with a table, a small toilet with a shower and at the back another settee, both which could be turned into beds. Jeff looked around with interest.

  ‘Is it easy to drive?’

  ‘No problem at all. The only problem is finding enough space to park,’ Max told him, ‘but we can park on the street if we like. But out here in the mountains, space isn’t a problem.’

  ‘You an artist too?’ Jeff asked.

  ‘Yes, it’s my life really. But I work from home in New York in advertising too.’

  Whilst the men were getting to know one another, outside the girls were catching up. At Gracie’s insistence, Valerie was telling her how she started painting again after meeting Max, about her exhibition and about her cover in Vogue, which Gracie had asked about.

  ‘When I saw you on the cover I couldn’t believe my eyes!’ Gracie exclaimed.

  ‘I couldn’t believe it when they asked me to do it,’ Valerie confessed. ‘Now tell me, are you happy. Did it all turn out well for you?’

  Gracie hesitated. She hadn’t anyone to share her worries and now Valerie was here it was as if one of her own was asking the question.

  ‘Not really,’ she said quietly, ‘but I can’t say any more just now.’

  As she spoke the two men emerged with the coffee.

  The next few hours passed in easy conversation until lunchtime when Valerie said she’d prepared a cold lunch and they sat outside and ate that. Afterwards, Valerie said she’d leave the men to clear away as she and Gracie would take a walk.

  Once they were clear of the men, she and Valerie found a wooden bench and table in a picnic area and sat down. ‘Now Gracie, tell me what’s wrong.’

  It was like offloading a huge weight as she explained to her friend what had befallen her since her arrival and how she was determined to save enough money to go home.

  Valerie was full of sympathy and told Gracie about her situation. ‘Fortunately I’m making money from my paintings and now I have Max.’

  She saw the bewilderment on her friend’s face.

  ‘We are in love, Gracie. I’ve left Ross and am living with Max. Ross is going to file for divorce, which will be unpleasant. But I have found real happiness, just sadly not with the man I married!’

  ‘Will you stay out in the States?’ Gracie asked.

  ‘Oh yes. I love New York, I’m happy there and at the moment my work has met with success, so I’d be foolish to move away. Are you certain you want to go home Gracie?’

  She nodded. ‘Jeff will always be a gambler and when he’s been drinking, he scares me if he’s been losing. Today he’s like the old Jeff, but it won’t last once he starts playing poker again.’ She then told Valerie about the bad feeling between the brothers and how Rick had helped her find a job – and the consequences.

  ‘Oh, Gracie I am so sorry. We and the other GI brides came out here with such high hopes. I wonder how many made it work?’

  With a sigh, Gracie said, ‘It couldn’t go wrong for everybody I’m sure, but who knows?’ The two walked back together.

  During the afternoon, Max and Valerie showed their visitors the work they had done during their time in the mountains. Both were very impressed.

  ‘These are beautiful,’ said Gracie as she looked at the canvases, filled with awe at the artistry.

  ‘Valerie has a great talent,’ Max stated. ‘I see her becoming a major name in today’s art world.’

  ‘How does your husband feel about that?’ asked Jeff, staring across at Valerie. ‘Does he mind?’

  Gracie looked appalled. ‘Jeff! What a question!’

  ‘That’s all right,’ Valerie assured her, ‘it’s a valid question, but answer me this first Jeff. Why would he mind?’

  ‘Well, after all, he’s the man of the house, doesn’t he object to your certain notoriety?’

  She started to laugh. ‘I’d never thought of it as notoriety, Jeff. That sounds a bit naughty. Wouldn’t you be pleased if this was Gracie, making a success of her life?’

  He looked scornful. ‘Gracie’s success is she’s married to me!’

  Max intervened. ‘There you go! What greater vocation could there be?’

  Jeff missed the mild sarcasm of the remark. ‘Got it in one!’

  Gracie just looked at her friend with an expression of resignation on her face. She looked at her watch. ‘I think we should make tracks,’ she said reluctantly. ‘We both have to be up early in the morning.’

  Jeff was ready to leave. It had been a pleasant change but he’d had enough. He shook hands with Max, thanked Valerie for the food and walked towards the car. Valerie slipped a card into Gracie’s hand.

  ‘This is my address at Max’s. I’ll let you know when I’m back. If you need a bolthole, Gracie, we have a spare bed any time. You can call me for a chat whenever too.’ She hugged her friend and walked with her to the car and waited until they drove away.

  Max came and put his arm round her shoulders. ‘Lovely lady your friend, but unless I’m very much mistaken, she’s in a mess of trouble with her man.’

  Gracie blinked away her tears as they drove away from the camping site. It had been wonderful to meet up again with her friend and to be able to share her troubles, but even after a lovely day, Jeff had spoilt it with his male domination theory. She was sorry Valerie’s marriage had broken down but Max seemed a lovely man and she was happy, she was glad of that. It made her all the more determined to go home and lead her own life.

  Jeff’s voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘Sorry, what did you say, I was miles away?’

  ‘I said a strange set-up there with her and her … mentor, wasn’t that what she called him?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Oh come on, Gracie! He might be her mentor but he’s also her lover! Who did your friend think she was kidding?’

  ‘Why do you say that?’ Gracie was not going to let her husband know the true situation.

  ‘What woman would leave home to paint with a man other than her husband and share a camper? You can’t tell me that is just a professional arrangement, no way! I wonder if her husband knows?’

  ‘I’m sure he does, in any way it’s none of our business and I don’t want to hear any more. I’ve had a lovely day with my friend so don’t you go and spoil it!’ But, she thought, you spoilt it anyway.

  Rumours had started to circulate within the New York art community when it was known that Valerie and Max had taken off together, and eventually it was mentioned in print in a gossip column in one of the newspapers.

  Is Ross Johnson, the eminent lawyer, feeling lonely now his beautiful English wife has taken off with Max Brennen, supposedly on a painting trip?

  Gloria Johnson saw the article and read the words whilst she was having breakfast. She immediately picked up the phone and rang her son in his office.

  ‘Good morning Mother and how are you?’

  ‘More to the point, how are you?’ she ask
ed.

  With a puzzled expression he said, ‘Fine, why wouldn’t I be?’

  ‘You obviously haven’t read any papers this morning.’

  ‘No, I’ve been too busy, why, what’s that got to do with my health?’

  She read the article to him.

  ‘So what the hell’s going on, Ross?’

  He figured there was no point in lying now. ‘Valerie has left me and gone to live with Max Brennen.’

  ‘She what?’

  He let out a sigh, this wasn’t going to be easy, his mother would be like a dog with a bone until she was satisfied she’d heard everything.

  ‘It seems she doesn’t like my work ethic, thinks I’m only interested in money, not making a life with her, so she’s left!’

  He sat back and listened to the diatribe from his mother until she’d run out of steam.

  ‘So what are you going to do about it?’ she demanded.

  ‘I’ll sue for divorce and name him as correspondent of course.’

  ‘There! You wouldn’t listen to me. Oh no, you had to go your own way and marry a foreigner, not one of your own!’ Her strident voice echoed in his ear.

  ‘Now don’t start that all over again, I don’t want to hear it. My marriage hasn’t worked out, end of story and I’m busy. I’ll talk to you another time.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do, Ross?’

  ‘Yes, Mother. Leave me alone!’ He put the receiver down, wondering how much time it would take before the news spread – knowing the city, it wouldn’t take long. He was correct in his assumption. By the afternoon, everyone in his office knew. Word soon spread among his peers and when his father arrived home that evening, Gloria showed him the article.

  Leo Johnson sat reading the paper. ‘Well, that’s another mistake he made! I’m sure that woman was behind his leaving our company. Yes she was charming and beautiful, but we obviously misjudged her. Imagine leaving Ross for that artist. She must be out of her mind!’

  ‘I met him once at their apartment,’ said Gloria. ‘She said he was there to hang a picture Ross had bought for her. Now I wonder … Has Laura seen this do you think?’

  ‘Now Gloria! Don’t start interfering with this. Let Ross sort out his own mess!’

  But later that evening, Gloria went to her bedroom and picked up the phone.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The following morning, Gracie was regaling her meeting with Milly, who was anxious to know how things had gone.

  ‘Oh Milly, you should have seen the paintings they had done. So clever, I was frankly in awe of their talent but you know, Valerie hasn’t changed a bit.’

  ‘Gee, that’s great, I’m so happy for you, but who is this Max?’

  ‘He’s the artist who discovered her and now he teaches her and acts as her agent. He said she’s going to become really important in the art world. Imagine that!’

  ‘Wow! You never know what life is going to throw at you, do you?’

  ‘No, we wondered how the other GI brides made out. Some I expect are fine but some I suspect will have been in for a bit of a shock,’ Gracie said, thinking of her own experience.

  ‘Did Jeff enjoy the day?’

  ‘Yes, it made a nice break for the two of us. It was so peaceful at the camping site and their camper is great. Mind you, it’s a bloody great thing. I wouldn’t like to have to drive it!’ She started to sort out some summer tops.

  ‘Have you heard anything from Rick?’ she asked Milly. ‘He’s starting his own business in a couple of days.’

  ‘I haven’t, but Chuck met him for a beer last night. He has already got some jobs lined up, he said. Rick’s all right you know. He used to be a bit wild but he’s settled down some now. What he needs is a good wife and a couple of kids.’

  This amused Gracie. ‘Rick married? I don’t think he’s ready for that for a while yet. I think he’s still out looking for a bit of fun.’

  They started to be busy so no more was said about her brother-in-law. But towards the end of the day, the telephone rang. Milly answered it then held out the receiver to Gracie.

  ‘It’s for you,’ she said.

  ‘Hello.’ Gracie couldn’t imagine who would call her here.

  ‘Hi! How’s my sister-in-law?’

  ‘Rick! Why are you calling me?’

  ‘Chuck told me you were off to meet your friend from England yesterday, I wondered how it went?’

  She enjoyed telling him about her meeting. ‘She’s happy in New York and doing really well with her art.’

  ‘And you, Gracie? How are things with you?’

  ‘Fine at the moment, thanks.’

  ‘Fancy a coffee after work?’

  ‘No, no thanks Rick. Jeff saw us last time and you can imagine what trouble that caused. He almost accused me of having an affair with you! It took some time to talk him round.’

  She heard him chuckle. ‘An affair? Now that’s a thought!’

  ‘You behave! Look I’ve got to go, we have customers and you’ll get me the sack. Goodbye.’ She walked away grinning to herself. Rick always made her smile.

  ‘What are you looking so happy about?’ asked Milly.

  ‘It’s Rick, he’s outrageous really, but he always makes me laugh.’

  Milly looked thoughtful. ‘Jeff was a nice boy but always a bit dour, even at school,’ she told Gracie. ‘He wasn’t often a barrel of laughs. There was always something deep inside him that stopped him really letting go. On the odd occasion when he did, when we were getting up to something naughty, he was like a different boy, but that didn’t happen often. I blame his mother!’

  ‘Really, why?’

  ‘She’s such a miserable woman as I’m sure you discovered for yourself, but of course, her husband rules the house, so maybe she hasn’t had a chance.’

  Gracie grimaced. ‘We didn’t get along at all, that’s why I found an apartment so we could move out. I am certainly not popular with Velda Rider! But you know, when I first met Jeff, he was a different man.’

  ‘Probably because he was away from here and that old biddy,’ Milly declared.

  As she went about her work, Gracie thought her mother-in-law would certainly be delighted when she returned to England. After seeing Valerie, she’d felt really homesick. Colorado was beautiful, but she longed for the verdant English countryside, rain, a ride on a tram, the news being read over the wireless in a clear educated English voice, fish and chips, a walk on the pier overlooking the Solent, her family. She found herself blinking back the tears as she wallowed in her nostalgia.

  Still feeling unsettled, she suggested to Jeff when he returned home that they go out to a diner. It wouldn’t cost very much, the food was good and she didn’t feel like cooking.

  ‘Not tonight, Gracie, it’s Friday, I’m off to play poker. The guys are together again, so I’m looking forward to it.’

  Filled with trepidation at the return of his Friday night’s entertainment, she cooked something for him, but when he’d driven away, she locked up the apartment and went for a walk, taking a magazine with her. She didn’t want to spend the evening cooped up inside, wondering what sort of mood her husband would be in on his return. It was a warm evening but there was a light breeze. She walked towards a park thinking to sit quietly and read. She missed a garden, like the small one at home, but the apartment was on the first floor, so there wasn’t one where she could relax.

  Lost in thought as she walked, she didn’t hear a car pull alongside her until a voice called, ‘Want a lift lady?’

  She turned and saw Rick, grinning broadly at her. He stopped the car. ‘Where are you off to?’

  ‘Just out for a walk, that’s all.’

  He thought for a moment. ‘Of course, it’s Friday, I guess Jeff is playing poker, right?’

  She nodded. ‘Right.’

  ‘Then get in and I’ll take you for a drink. Now don’t say no. Jeff will be out for hours, we’ll have plenty of time to get you home.’

  Feeling as down as
she was, Gracie didn’t hesitate and climbed into the passenger seat. ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘Away from here, we don’t want anyone to see us together and go running to my brother or he’ll go nuts.’ They drove out of the town into the arid countryside and stopped at a bar, went inside, where they sat in an alcove and ordered beer.

  ‘Well, Gracie, this isn’t something I expected to do this evening, but I’m sure glad I saw you.’ He clinked his glass with hers. ‘Let’s enjoy it whilst we can.’

  They talked again about Gracie seeing her friend. ‘Did she make you feel homesick?’ asked Rick.

  ‘Oh yes she did. Not that she’s going home, she’s happy in New York, but to hear an English voice made me long for home, everything that was familiar. America is so big! I come from a small island in comparison, life is gentle, people are more conservative.’

  ‘Are you saying we Yanks are brash, Gracie?’

  She flushed with embarrassment. ‘If I’m honest, then, yes. You Americans are so outgoing. At first it was overwhelming, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t unfriendly, just strange. During the war I suppose we were used to the GIs in the town who seemed to us a bit wild, but they were just passing through. Truth to tell, I suppose I don’t feel as if I belong here!’

  ‘You would if you were happy in your marriage.’ He stared at her. ‘You could be happy with me.’

  She was startled by his declaration. ‘No, I could not and don’t you start getting ideas Rick Rider. I’m already in enough trouble! I shouldn’t be here now. If Jeff found out well … I don’t know what he’d do.’ The very thought made her tense. ‘I want you to take me back – now!’

  No way could Rick change her mind. In the end he picked up the tab, paid and walked her out to the car.

  They drove in silence until they arrived at the point where he had first seen her.

  ‘I’ll drop you here, then no one will be any the wiser,’ he said, ‘but before you go …’ Before she knew what he was doing, he put his arm around her, pulled her close and kissed her.

  She was so surprised she didn’t struggle to remove his hold and before she realised what she was doing, she was kissing him back. Suddenly she pushed him away.