Alice's Long Road Home

by Rosie James

  ‘Well, grab it while it’s going,’ Fay said cheerfully, ‘and anyway, you could see how happy Mrs. Miles was…she was in her element, talking about it…obviously transported into a world she obviously loves. So – I’m sure she’s as thrilled about everything as you are, Alice.’

  Back home in Bedminster, Fay and Alice got ready for bed.

  ‘What a day,’ Alice said, yawning. ‘Thanks for everything, Fay, and for the ride there and back,’ she added.

  ‘My pleasure,’ Fay replied, getting into her bed and pulling the cover up around her, ‘which I expect reciprocated in the not-too-distant future… And I bet it’ll be in a much posher vehicle than anything I’ll ever be able to afford.’

  It wouldn’t be long before either of them got to sleep, and almost at once Alice heard Fay’s breathing become deep and regular. Alice turned over to face the window. She now had two more honoured guests to add to her ever-lengthening list…three counting Max. She gave a long, long sigh. It was true that she did not have a family of her own, not any more, but she had a treasured family of friends, and that had to be enough. It was enough.

  And best of all, there’d be no more shopping for dresses. Those troubles were over…they were over! Leaving plenty of space in her mind to go on worrying about other, much more important things…and whether she was doing the right thing, after all, in marrying the man of her dreams.

  Still, first things first. Alice screwed her eyes tightly shut.

  Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name…

  thank you, thank you, thank you…

  PS But there is one other thing, Lord…please somehow let me know that Sam and I really were meant for each other…thank you…

  Chapter Twelve

  9th August 1947

  My dearest Samuel

  It was so, so, lovely to be with you at the weekend – please don’t let’s leave it as long again if we can possibly manage it. At least your present batch of hateful exams are over for the time being.

  It was fortunate that Rose and Margaret were able to be at Clifton as well – we had one very important thing to discuss, which we did to the satisfaction of the three of us…so that is another matter concluded, and which, by the way, does not concern you in the slightest, so I will say no more about it! (Alice paused at this point, picturing again the bridesmaids’ dresses the twins had bought…they were straight-cut and semi-fitted with a dropped waist, the hip band extending into ties. And the shade was a deep, dark, holly-leaf green… Alice was certain that Mrs. Miles would approve.)

  I did enjoy our trip out to see the reception venue…an ancient building which I didn’t even know existed…and I can imagine how cosy it will look at Christmas time with all those log fires crackling away. I do hope there’s not a sudden fall of snow at the time which might prevent us either getting there – or getting back!

  When I got home on Sunday evening, Sam, I felt very sad about what the professor said regarding moving out of his rooms…and re-locating upstairs. I know it is his idea, and that he insists it’s what he wants to do…but I still feel that I am responsible for edging him out from the place which belongs to him. I would have been happy – very happy – for us to occupy the second floor, which of course was my home for such a long time. But he has convinced me (only just) that the first floor, which has the larger accommodation, should be ours, whether we’re in Clifton or not. (Alice stopped writing for a moment. She was not in a position to agree, or to disagree, with anything, was she. Not in her strange situation of one day becoming mistress where she had always been an employee. She shrugged to herself. She would just do what was expected of her. As she had always done.)

  By the way, I’ve decided to leave work at the end of November – Mr. Pennington is quite happy with that arrangement – then I shall leave Dorchester for the last time and go to Totterdown to prepare for my – for our – great day. Just thinking of that is making me shake – but with you there, right beside me, Sam, I shall be as cool as a cucumber! Probably! Well…I hope so!

  It’s almost midnight, darling Sam, so I’d better finish this now. But I always like writing to you last thing, because then you are with me all night.

  God bless, and sweet dreams, Sam.

  Alice

  PS. Almost forgot! I love you…

  The September days were turning out to be mostly balmy and pleasant, and as Alice made her way to work one Monday morning she felt, again, the twinge of sadness that her time here in this lovely town was drawing to a close. And she knew that Valerie was dreading the moment when Alice finally left.

  ‘I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like here with someone else in charge,’ Valerie had said, more than once. ‘Why, when life seems to be going well, does something have to change and ruin everything?’ she grumbled. ‘Why can’t good things just stay as they are?’

  Alice had looked rueful. ‘Sorry – I realize I’m the one to blame, Valerie…but there are still two whole months before I leave. And don’t worry too much about your future here. Mr. Pennington will make sure that you’ll like whoever he chooses to take my place. After all, it’s important that employees in a small office get on well together, and he’s very aware of that. He’s wise, and I know he likes you, Valerie. He’s more than happy with how you’ve learned the ropes so quickly.’

  Valerie wasn’t convinced. ‘Hmm. Well, I hope he allows me to vet your successor, Alice,’ she’d said, ‘because when I’m not happy, I sulk. And clients won’t appreciate a long face when they come into the shop, will they?’

  Alice had smiled. She had never seen Valerie looking miserable.

  It was still early, and Alice was just rearranging the advertisement panels in the front when Valerie walked by and made faces at her through the window. Alice grinned back, thinking that she, too, was going to miss all this, miss her young assistant. It had been a happy time here…

  Then Alice shook herself angrily. What was the matter with her! She had spent much of her life longing for the thing, the person, she had never dreamed would one day be hers…and now that her wish was being granted she was managing to find something not to be glad about. It was like giving an indulged child a delicious bar of chocolate, and then being asked for a bag of sweets as well.

  Valerie entered then, slipping off her jacket as she went by. ‘Morning, Alice,’ she said cheerily, ‘I’m sure there’s no need for me to ask if you had a good weekend because you saw Sam, didn’t you?’

  Alice nodded. ‘Yes – he came down to Dorchester, so we were able to chat, and talk over everything. It was…it was lovely,’ she added, ‘and the weather was so nice we took a picnic to Maiden Castle.’ She glanced up from what she was doing. ‘What about your weekend?’

  ‘It was OK,’ Valerie replied casually. ‘I went shopping with Mum…looking for something for me to wear to your wedding, actually.’

  Alice made a face. ‘Oh sorry, Valerie…what a palaver for everyone. Did you manage to find anything?’

  Valerie shrugged. ‘There were a couple of possible dresses,’ she said, ‘but of course it’s bound to be cold in December, isn’t it, so it’s finding a decent coat that’s the problem.’ She paused. ‘Thank goodness your troubles are over, Alice! I can’t wait to see you in your dress…after all our trudging around, your friend’s mother being able to provide the material, and offer to make it for you, was like a miracle, wasn’t!’

  Alice didn’t reply for a second. Then – ‘Yes. It was…it was – a miracle,’ she said thoughtfully.

  As Mrs. Miles had informed them, she would only need three fittings, and when Alice had finally seen her dress, and the bridesmaids’ ones as well, she’d almost lost her self-control for a second time in that house. Because the three garments were beautiful, expertly made, each one finished with meticulous care. Mrs. Miles could have pursued another, very different, career, if she’d wanted to, Alice had instinctively thought…

  A long mirror had been placed in the corner of the room f
or the three girls to study their appearance in the finished garments, and it had been obvious that Eve’s mother had been pleased with her work.

  ‘I think you’ll all do,’ she’d said, not bothering to hide her satisfaction, while Fay and Eve had just gazed at Alice in admiration.

  ‘To think we spent all that time searching for blood…for dresses,’ Fay said, just managing to stop using one of her normal expletives in front of Eve’s mother, ‘when it turns out with you looking like this, Alice. Samuel the Great is going to be bowled over,’ she added.

  And Alice couldn’t help agreeing with what Fay had said. Her dress was just perfect, its sweetheart neckline, decorated with a tiny edging of lace (which Mrs. Miles had discovered in the bottom of her workbox) allowing Alice’s gold anchor and chain to be displayed at her throat as usual. The sleeves were long, edged at the wrist by more lace, the close-fit cut of the dress over the dropped waist and hips accentuating Alice’s neat figure. And the generous skirt billowing softly to the floor gave the impression that the bride was floating on a cloud.

  At last Alice had been able to say something. ‘Mrs. Miles,’ she began, ‘how can I possibly say thank you for this? For all of this…’ she’d added, gesturing at the others. ‘But – especially for this.’ Alice gazed at herself in the mirror. ‘I can’t believe it’s me,’ she’d whispered.

  ‘You don’t need to thank me,’ Mrs. Miles had said firmly, ‘my thanks will be seeing you enter the church on the day, my dear –and I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to do some real dressmaking again. I was afraid I might be getting out of practice!’ She’d glanced at Fay and Eve. ‘And I’m pleased with you two, as well,’ she’d said, ‘I think we’ve made all the right choices, don’t you?’

  ‘You are really clever, Mother,’ Eve said, ‘well, you always have been. You’ve made me lovely things over the years, and you’ve just proved you haven’t lost your touch.’ There was a brief silence for a moment…the others thinking that it could have been Eve standing there, wearing the bridal gown…if things had been different for her…

  But Eve hadn’t been thinking that at all. And anyway, Max was going to love seeing her in her bridesmaid’s dress…who cared about white, anyway! Who cared!

  ‘Now then, regarding your veil,’ Mrs. Miles had gone on, ‘I did manage to get sufficient net to make you a short one, Alice – which will look good with your hair style, won’t it? We shall secure it in place with this white silk rose I have here…’

  Fay had intervened. ‘Alice is going to wear her hair mostly on top, but with just a frond or two left loose to follow the curve of her cheeks. And I will be doing it for her on the morning,’ she’d added firmly.

  Alice had been completely lost in her own thoughts for the last few moments, and forcing herself to come back down to earth, she opened the folder she’d been dealing with. Valerie stopped typing for a second and glanced over.

  ‘Anyway, don’t forget that my mother asked me to tell you – again – that you can have their clothing coupons if you still need them,’ Valerie said firmly. ‘After all, you’ve got to have a going-away outfit, and nice underwear, haven’t you?’ she added.

  Alice shook her head quickly. ‘No – I’ve got most of what I need, thanks Valerie,’ she said. (Alice hadn’t even thought about a going-away outfit. Cashmere dress…?)

  ‘My parents – and Ronnie and Joan – insist that they’re coming to see you get married, Alice,’ Valerie went on, ‘Of course, they’ll just slip in at the back – then they’ll be first out to take some photos of you afterwards. They’ve been going over and over this for weeks! They’ll be coming up with me on the train in the morning, and then we’ll have coffee or something in one of the hotels before getting to the church…my Mum loves weddings!’ Valerie paused for breath. ‘Well everyone loves weddings, don’t they, especially if it’s a friend, someone close to you…’

  Alice felt touched at the last remark. She was hardly close to the Gates family, she thought, but close enough to have witnessed some of their sorrow – and eventual happiness – which was close enough to call them her friends. She turned to Valerie.

  ‘Your family will be receiving an invitation – a formal invitation – to my wedding, Valerie,’ she said firmly. ‘So tell them not to make any other arrangements for the 23rd December!’

  Valerie almost jumped in the air in excitement. ‘Oh…do you mean it? My mum will be thrilled! Thrilled! None of us have ever been to a wedding at St. Mary Redcliffe, and to be there as your guests, Alice!… Are you sure…?’

  ‘Absolutely sure,’ Alice replied, turning away. ‘Now – can you get those specs ready before we have coffee?’

  10th November 1947

  Mr. & Mrs. Pennington, and Miss Pennington, are happy to accept the kind invitation from Miss Alice Watts, and Mr. Samuel Edward James Carmichael, to their wedding on the 23rd December 1947 at St. Mary Redcliffe, at l.30 pm and afterwards at The Grange, Blagdon.

  Footnote: Dear Miss Watts.

  Rather than enquire as to your wedding present list, my wife has suggested that it would be far more sensible for me to send you the enclosed, to do with as you please. I am sure she is right – my wife is always right – so please accept this with our very best wishes.

  Wedding conversation at our own house is gaining momentum by the hour – and there is still a very long time to go for us! In fact, I am more than grateful to leave for work each day and let them make all the decisions in my absence.

  On a much more important matter, I intend coming to Dorchester at the end of the month so that I may introduce you – and Miss Gates – to the person who will be taking your place. We have interviewed several applicants for the post – there has been a lot of interest – perhaps because of the location – and I feel sure we have made the right decision. Only time will tell.

  Alice stared down at the cheque in her hand. It was for such a large amount that she made herself blink a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. But – this was for even more than the flowers in the church, the five bouquets – and the men’s button holes – even the presents for everyone – was going to cost! What had she ever done to deserve such generosity?

  16th November 1947

  Dearest Samuel

  I am writing this in front of the fire after what has been yet another busy week at the office. There are just two more to go before I leave for the last time, and I admit to already experiencing a strange sense of loss…is that stupid? Did you ever get that sensation when you left boarding school, and university? However, that sense of loss is nothing to the huge love and pride I know I shall feel when you slip that ring on my finger. Even though I get the jitters now and again – especially as, so far, all my invitations have resulted in everyone “accepting with pleasure.” I imagine it is the same for you, so I hope we don’t get trampled in the crush! I intend being very, very brave and smiling all the time…like the Royals have to do.

  As you know, I shall be going to Totterdown straight after leaving Dorchester, and will be staying with Gloria and her husband until I leave for the church. I know you are staying in London to do extra duties until the very last minute so that we can have two whole weeks together as husband and wife afterwards – but perhaps we can talk on the phone now and then? I’ve given you Gloria’s number and she’s quite happy for me to make and receive calls, so don’t forget, will you. Just to hear your voice will make the day come sooner for me.

  All my love, dearest Sam –

  Alice.

  18th November 1947

  My own dear Alice

  Thank you for your letter – and I fully appreciate how you must be feeling at the thought of leaving Dorchester. And yes, I have had similar thoughts over the years. But I can assure you that the present soon overtakes the past, and soon the next chapter will become the dear, familiar one for you.

  I have only just found out that my next round of duties will continue to be in London, but no longer at St.
Thomas’s – and here is the really good news. The colleague I shall be replacing at Great Ormond Street is leaving his mews cottage in Chelsea – and has recommended me/us to the landlord. So it really does look as if the housing question has been solved for us. I shall feel extremely smug when I tell my sisters this news – Margaret was convinced that we’d be sharing a tenement with half a dozen families.

  Of course I will ring you at Gloria’s. Prepare yourself for a string of telephone calls.

  Yours for ever and always,

  Sam.

  Alice stared into the near distance for a few moments before putting the letter away. So…now she knew where they were going to be living. Chelsea. She’d heard of it, but didn’t think she’d been there with Fay and Eve when they’d visited London on their day out during the war. Alice wondered how close it was to the centre of everything – and what she was going to do with herself once she got there. She wouldn’t know a single soul, but would there be neighbours? Or something, anything, to keep her occupied while Sam was at work? All Alice could imagine was watching the hours tick by and waiting for him to come home. She sighed briefly. Still, a mews cottage did sound pretty, and if Sam thought it would be suitable for them, then it would be.

  The 20th November dawned to a grey, dull, miserable day, the streets of London crammed with thousands of people hoping to get a glimpse of the carriages making their way to Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding. And hoping, eventually, to see Princess Elizabeth’s dress as she emerged as the wife of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten – soon to be known as His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.