Wanderlust (1986)

by Steel, Danielle

  Chapter 36

  James came back from Cairo with lavish messages of love for Audrey. He and Charles had decided not to tell her that he knew of the baby she had lost. It would be better to let her tell him herself when she thought the time was right. But James did tell him about Charlotte being a lesbian and Charlie could hardly wait to come back and put the screws to her. It was high time she stopped torturing him, and if she didn't agree to let him go this time, he was going to threaten to tell her father about her. It had cheered him no end. It was time the bitch got her hooks out of him, he told James, with seething fervor.

  They reassigned James to the air raids on Germany, and Lady Vi was alone again. She and Audrey went down to visit the children several times, but during one of these trips, on their way back, Audrey startled her. She handed her a thick manila envelope when they got back to town, and Lady Vi looked at it in surprise.

  More photographs? She had taken some beautiful ones of the children and James, and Violet cherished them. But Audrey was shaking her head this time.

  No. My will. She looked deep into her friend's eyes. I want you to promise me that if something happens to me, you'll keep Molly with you, at least until Charlie comes home. And if something should happen to both of us ' Her eyes held Vi's, as Violet stared at her. She was obviously still being morbid about the lost child, and Violet was sorry for her.

  Why would something happen to you?

  You never know. And then she decided to tell her all at once. I've registered with the Home Office as a photo-journalist. I did it a while ago actually, as soon as I lost ' never mind. They seem to think they can use me as a photographer, and I'm leaving tomorrow night, Vi. She was almost sorry now. She hated to leave her friend. But it meant being with Charlie again, and she couldn't give that up. For anyone. They're sending me to Cairo. I requested North Africa.

  Does Charles know? Vi was horrified, as Audrey shook her head with a grin.

  Not yet. But he will. I'm hoping to hook up with him, and work on regular assignment with him. The man at the Home Office knows we've worked together before. He seemed to think it was a good idea.

  Is he mad? You're a woman. My God, that's dangerous!

  Audrey sighed. No more than sitting here amidst the bombs every night. James wanted Violet to go to the country now for a while, and without Audrey she probably would. I'm sorry, Vi. She felt as though she were deserting her. I have to be with him. Her huge blue eyes filled with tears and Violet held out her arms to her.

  You're a damn crazy girl, you know, Aud. But most of all, she knew she was crazy about him. Audrey wanted to be with Charlie every hour of her life, and in a way, Violet couldn't really find fault with that. She loved James too, but Audrey and Charles shared something even more intense. It was as though they breathed the same air with one breath, and she knew how desperately Audrey had been missing him. Can I see you off?

  She shook her head. They're putting me on a military flight, and you know how they are about that.

  Yes, I do. Violet smiled. Suddenly, everything was changing. The war had affected all their lives, and she couldn't help wondering if it would ever be the same again.

  They kissed each other good-bye the following afternoon, and Audrey finished packing her bags. She was leaving the house as it was, empty, locked up, like so many other homes in London.

  And as she left for the airport that night, she felt a thrill that she hadn't felt in years ' not since the Orient Express or the trains climbing the mountains of Tibet ' or the streets of Shanghai ' or the wonders of Peking ' . She was on the road again, to a place she had always dreamed of, to be with the man she loved. And she smiled happily to herself, as their plane took off for Cairo.

  Chapter 37

  The Douglas DC-3 set down at Cairo Airport at six o'clock the next morning. They had stopped three times to pick up troops, mail, supplies, and to refuel on the way. Audrey was still surprised at how nice the Home Office had been to her.

  She had a feeling that they already had a file on her and knew who she was from when they had checked out Charlie during their investigation before allowing him to become a war correspondent. And she also wondered if they weren't anxious to have the American press join them at every opportunity, hoping to sway the United States to enter the war, not that Roosevelt seemed inclined to help them. He had been sitting on his hands for almost a year, and there was no sign of American involvement in the near future. Audrey often wondered herself what it would take to convince them. But she wasn't thinking of her country as the plane set down sharply on the runway. The soldiers who had traveled with her chatted amiably among themselves, told a few more jokes, and collected their gear as they prepared to unload the plane.

  Where are you staying? one of them asked. He had been admiring her since he boarded in London, and wondered what her legs looked like when she wasn't wearing trousers. She had worn sensible gray tweed pants, a sweater, and one of Charlie's leather jackets. She had even bought boots that she thought she might be glad to have if they went into rugged areas to work, and she smiled at the young man now, knowing how odd she looked in her costume.

  I'm going to try and get a room at Shepheard's. It was where Charlie was staying, and she wasn't entirely sure if it was reserved for military use only. Charlie had raved about it to her in his letters, and she knew James had stayed there too when he went to Cairo.

  I'll look you up sometime. The soldier smiled and Audrey looked at him pleasantly but offered him no encouragement. She had thought about buying herself a wedding band for the trip, but she had never hidden behind ruses like that, and she didn't want to start now. She was thirty-three years old and independent. She didn't have to feel married to feel safe. After all, she had survived the ordeal of the miscarriage without the benefit of being married. She was still shaken by it and she wasn't sure what she would tell Charlie about it.

  There were a thousand things she wanted to tell him when she arrived, but she had to find him first. A military jeep gave her a ride, and she found herself sandwiched between an Australian with a handlebar mustache and a belly laugh and a huge South African with bright red hair and a penchant for really filthy jokes. But she was in a war zone now, and she knew she had to get used to it quickly. It was better than sitting around London, spending every night in the air raid shelters waiting for the all clear to sound and wondering if she still had a house to go home to.

  Whatcha doing here, luv? The Aussie was the first to ask, and the driver told him to lay off in an accent that was pure Scots as he winked at Audrey. Came out here to see your boyfriend? He was teasing her, he had seen the huge pack she carried and the twin cameras around her neck, one loaded with black and white film, the other with color.

  Maybe so. She smiled.

  Or to find a new one? the South African suggested. They were all in desert uniforms, she noticed, in the yellows, browns, and grays that concealed them best here. All volunteer for that job.

  Audrey laughed. I have a friend here. He's a war correspondent. They all booed and hissed as the jeep darted on, avoiding women and children and camels. There were sheep and goats everywhere, and here the women were veiled, as they had been in Turkey and Afghanistan years before when she'd traveled through those countries on the way to China. She was faintly reminded of that trip now, although the atmosphere here was entirely different. But there was an aura of exotic excitement, just being far from London. The streets were crawling with European faces, and most of them British, and there was an incredible assortment of military personnel here. One saw everything from Indians to New Zealanders, Australians, South Africans, Free French, Greek commandos, and even Yugoslavs and Poles, many of them having fled the Germans and come here to join the British. The Australians and New Zealanders were wearing leather sleeveless army jerkins to protect them from the cold desert nights. And everywhere around them was a cacophony of sounds and smells. It had all the wondrous excitement of her trip halfway around the world seven years before, and sh
e suddenly wondered how she had been satisfied to stay in San Francisco and London for all these years. It was this that she loved so much, the distant and exotic, with all its magical visions and perfumes and promise.

  Want to take my picture, love? Two men darted at her from the street as they stopped to allow two camels to enter a bazaar and Audrey laughed and ducked as one of the men tried to kiss her.

  You're American, aren't you? the South African asked as they got under way again.

  I am.

  Ever been away from home before? He smiled at her patronizingly and she laughed. This was no place for an amateur traveler and she wasn't.

  I lived in China for a year several years ago, and I've been living in London for five years now.

  He looked suddenly impressed and she noticed that the others were listening with fresh interest. Where in China?

  Manchuria. Harbin. I ran an orphanage there for a while during the Japanese occupation.

  The Scottish driver whistled and the others looked intrigued as the Australian picked up the conversational ball with a deprecating look at his friend. That can't have been easy. She was obviously quite a woman. What did your husband say to all that? It was a question they all wanted to be sure of, particularly if she was going to be staying in Cairo for a while. It was nice to know a woman's status, and she laughed at the question.

  Don't have one, I'm afraid. And then she decided to shock them. These were the people she was going to live with from now on, men just like these, day in, day out ' if Charlie let her stay ' there was always that hurdle to cross ' but she wasn't going home, no matter what he said. She had already decided that on the plane. And she was prepared to do battle with him. I have a lovely Chinese daughter though.

  They all hooted at once, but the Scotsman caught her eye in the mirror with a grin. One of your orphans from Harbin? She nodded in answer. Good girl. How old is she now?

  Six. Audrey smiled, ready at the drop of a hat to show them her picture, and she showed a photograph she had taken herself as Molly grinned toothlessly at her. And the men quickly responded in kind. It turned out that despite their interest in her, two out of the three were married, and between them they had seven children. Photographs changed hands and were passed around, and all of them shook hands and introduced themselves, and by the time they arrived at Shepheard's Hotel, they were old friends. There was something amazingly friendly about comrades in wartime, and she was suddenly glad she had come. She wanted to do something useful here instead of merely marking time in London.

  All of them got out at the hotel, and Audrey followed them to the desk and asked for Charlie. The desk clerk checked for his key, looked at his notes and informed her that Mr. Parker-Scott was out.

  Is he away, or just out? She wondered if he would even know. The man had a smooth olive skin and beautiful black eyes and she was surprised at how many Egyptians she saw were actually very handsome.

  I believe he's out for the afternoon, madam. He spoke in impeccable clipped British tones and he sounded almost as though he had gone to Eton, as Audrey thanked him, and walked out onto the terrace to look around. The view was incredibly romantic as they looked out on the beauty of the city, and below them everything was teeming, as men in a dozen different uniforms raced by, calling to each other, and hurrying to their various tasks. Cairo was the center of all activity, headquarters for the Middle East and African operations, and she sat fascinated on the terrace for hours as she waited for Charles and finally dozed off, as she waited. And when she awoke the sun was setting on the horizon and she woke up with a start as someone grabbed her arm and shook her roughly. She couldn't remember where she was at first, and she looked into a face with familiar eyes, but the rest was not. And then suddenly she laughed as she realized who it was.

  My God, you've grown a beard! But it was not the beard she noticed now. His eyes were dancing with fury.

  What the hell are you doing here? The desk clerk had told him only that there was a lady waiting for him on the terrace, and he had found her in a corner, slumped over, her bag on the floor beside her, her camera pack on her lap, a hat pulled low over her eyes, and her cameras around her neck, wearing what he considered was a ridiculous outfit. And for one second he had been pleased by the vision she presented, and then suddenly a wave of anger had swept over him. He didn't want her here. It was a war zone, and she didn't belong here. He wanted her back in London, in relative safety.

  I came to see you, Charlie. She held out her arms as she stretched and smiled angelically at him. She had known he would be angry, and she knew she could handle it. He'd calm down eventually, and she knew she had done the right thing. She could never have continued to sit the war out in London, while he trotted around the world, writing for assorted newspapers. Aren't you going to say hello? She was fighting not to laugh he looked so enraged. I like the beard.

  He stood before her almost trembling with fury. Don't even bother to unpack your bags, Aud. You are leaving here on the first plane out tomorrow morning. How did you ever con them into letting you come?

  I told them I was a free-lance photographer, and then she smiled at him for the clincher, and that we always work together.

  What? And they believed you! The damn fools ' . He threw his own hat on the ground, and stalked across the terrace as the people closest to them smiled, and Audrey waited for him to return. He'd calm down sooner or later, and when he walked back toward her, she suggested that they have a drink. But there was something more in his eyes now.

  As long as I'm only staying one night, we might as well celebrate a little bit. She eyed him in just the way that always melted his heart, but he only growled and slipped uneasily into a chair. He knew better than to trust her. She was far less docile than that, and if she had said she was leaving the next day, he wouldn't have believed her. Molly sends you her love.

  How is she? His eyes softened just a little bit, but he was not going to let down his guard, he told himself.

  She's fine. She's with Alexandra and James at James's father's place in the country, and she seems to love it. He breeds Saint Bernards, and she's found one she loves. She wants to bring one home with her when she comes back to London. Audrey and Charlie exchanged a smile, the first genuine one since he had discovered her sleeping on the terrace.

  We'll have to let a flat just for the dog. He laughed softly. But his eyes were filled with worry. He couldn't keep it from her anymore, and it was part of why he didn't want her in Cairo. He assumed that she should still be taking it easy. Though in fact, the trip to Cairo was the best thing that had happened to her since the miscarriage. There's something you didn't tell me about, Aud ' before I left ' . Her heart pounded, wondering how he had heard, and then suddenly she knew ' James ' .

  Oh? She tried to look nonchalant as she turned away and ordered another drink. Not really.

  Yes, really. He took a firm hold of her arm and waited till her eyes met his again. Why didn't you tell me?

  In spite of herself her eyes filled with tears. I didn't want to worry you. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. And without another word he took her in his arms and held her as she began to cry. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I keep thinking that if I hadn't done this or that ' maybe ' She couldn't go on, but he understood.

  You can't do that to yourself, my love. It happened ' and I'm so sorry ' but there will be another time. I promise you that. He smiled tenderly at her, his own eyes damp. Next time I hope you'll tell me. She nodded and smiled as she blew her nose in the handkerchief he gave her. And then his brows knit again. In a way, it was a relief to see her. He had been so worried about her ever since he'd seen James. James said it was pretty awful. Are you all right?

  She didn't deny it. I'm fine. And Vi was wonderful.

  I can imagine. He touched her cheek with his long fingers, and gently kissed her lips, suddenly happier to see her than he would have cared to admit. I'm so sorry, Aud ' I'm sorry I wasn't there.

  You couldn't have don
e anything. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes again. It's been awfully hard ' with you and Molly gone ' that was all I could think of. She turned sad eyes up to him, and he could see that it had taken its toll. I had to come. He nodded. He understood, and perhaps she hadn't been wrong. He signed for their drinks after that and they went upstairs. He carried her bags, and when they reached his room, he carried her over the threshold and deposited her on the bed.

  Welcome home, to the future Mrs. Parker-Scott. He grinned, and she raised an eyebrow.

  Do you know something I don't? Have you heard from Charlotte? She didn't even dare hope and he shook his head.

  No. But James had an interesting little tidbit. Did he tell you? She shook her head. It appears that my charming wife has an interesting secret.

  Oh? Audrey was intrigued and he grinned more broadly. He had been in high spirits since James told him, except for his worry about Audrey. But it would be wonderful if they could get married as a result of his applying a little pressure on Charlotte.

  Apparently the dear lady has peculiar taste. She prefers women.

  She's a lesbian? Audrey was not as shy as Lady Vi and she looked at Charlie in amazement. Are you sure?

  Fairly. Apparently Vi saw her kissing some woman on a back street. I'm surprised she didn't tell you.

  It may have been at the wrong time, which of course it had. That's amazing. Now what?

  I threaten to take an ad in the London Times if the bitch doesn't give me a divorce, what do you think? They both laughed and Charles settled down on the bed next to her with a smile and a moment later they forgot everyone ' Charlotte and James ' and Lady Vi ' they remembered only each other and how happy they were to be together again.