Who is Alice?

by Miranda Manning

“And are you?”

  “No, but I did my best, encouraged by the fact that many of the top players at the time were left-handed and so am I.”

  “I never noticed. Do you still play?”

  “Sadly, no!”

  “What put an end to your tennis career?”

  “I was playing with the best player in the club and I missed a shot that cost us the match and me a boyfriend.”

  “Why would that cost you a boyfriend?”

  “He was my tennis partner and when we came off the court one of his friends was commiserating with him and remarked that I had played well. He was furious with me for missing the shot and he said to his friend: ‘She looks good but she can’t hit the ball.’”

  “Not very gallant!”

  “Somehow, so far I’m not good at achieving gallant when it comes to boyfriends – but better luck next time!”

  “Hopefully,” Cassandra agreed but as they walked towards their hotel neither of them held much hope that Nicola’s luck with men might change.

  Having booked into their hotel and freshened up, the women armed themselves with a map and began their search.It was not difficult. Before too long they had located the PR company where Lizzie worked, the school her children attended and also the street where she resided in a flat in a large Georgian housewhich gave no impression of undue opulence despite the posh address. It was a quiet tree-lined street which had an old-fashioned atmosphere of genteelpoverty, being quite shabby without being dilapidated.

  They were walking back to their hotel when they saw a woman who could only be Lizzie walking along the street with two boys – identical twins – who looked about nine years old.

  “Look at that!” gasped Cassandra. “She’s the absolute image of Hugo.Let’s go and speak to her.”

  “No,” Nicola whispered.“No. We’ll stick to the plan.We’ll wait until she has gone home and has had time to settle in and then we will knock at the door.If we accost her now she could just refuse to speak to us and walk away. It would almost certainly upset her.It is bound to be a bit of a shock.No.She is more likely to speak to us if we call to the house.”

  “You’re right, as usual,” Cassandra agreed.“We’ll wait.It will probably pay off.”

  They went back to the hotel, had tea and scones in the bar and at six thirty left and headed for Lizzie’s flat.They were both extremely nervous.

  They pressed the bell which said Lynch and the door was opened by one of the boys.

  “Who is it, Simon?”they heard Lizzie’s voice call from upstairs.

  “Two women,” he answered.“They want to talk to you.”

  “What about?”Lizzie appeared, coming down the stairs, a spatula in her hand. The resemblance to Hugo was uncanny.

  Initially Nicola was lost for words.

  “We’re from Galway,” she said eventually.

  “Oh.” They saw a shadow cross Lizzie’s face.“Simon, would you go up and set the table and then help your brother tidy your room.”

  Nicola was relieved.This probably meant that she was not going to throw them out – not immediately at any rate.

  “Is there any chance we could come in?”she asked.“It’s a bit cold out here.”

  “I suppose so, but I’m cooking dinner so I haven’t a lot of time.”She held the door open and admitted them to the communal hallway.

  “We’re sorry to have disturbed you,” said Cassandra, “and we appreciate that this is an intrusion but we wouldn’t have done it if it were not important.”

  “Iguessed that,” Lizzie answered.“Are my parents okay?”

  Nicola looked at Cassandra. “Well, not exactly,” she answered.

  Lizzie drew in her breath sharply.

  “Your mum has breast cancer,” Cassandra said. “She had a mastectomy a few days ago and the prognosis is very good but we thought you would want to know.Your father is well and is a tower of strength.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”Lizzie sounded dismal.Tears started to flow slowly, gently, down her beautiful face.

  “That’s understandable.We befriended your parents a few weeks ago for reasons which are too complicated to go into now, but Eliza was diagnosed very soon after that,” Nicola explained.“We know that she would really love contact with you and your children and I thought that if my mother was undergoing a mastectomy I would want to know about it. So we set about finding you.”

  “I behaved so badly.I was so angry with them.I am so ashamed.I don’t feel I could face them.”The tears were still flowing.

  “Your feelings are completely understandable, but believe me your parents would welcome you with open arms.” Cassandra’s tone was warm and reassuring.

  “They don’t talk about you unless they are asked but it’s easy to see that they love and miss you very much.They would just love to see you,” Nicola added.

  “I feel so badly.I never even sent them a photo of the boys.” Lizzie was becoming more distressed.

  “We all make mistakes in our relationships and they probably feel they were not completely in the right either,” Nicola assured her. “It’s possible they would say that they contributed to the problem, though they never told us exactly what it was.What is quite clear to us though is that they love you and would love to have contact with you.”

  “I don’t know! I don’t know!” Lizzie practically wailed.

  “Lizzie, this has been quite a shock for you,” said Nicola. “If you like we could go away.You and the boys could have dinner and we could come back later this evening when they are settled for the night and discuss it again.What do you think?”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Lizzie said.“I can stop snivelling and get my act together. Come back about eight. The boys usually get a DVD on a Friday – it’s a sort of treat – so they can watch that while we talk. Is that convenient for you?”

  “Of course it is.Our hotel is only down the road.When we come back we can chat and see where we can go from here.In the meantime don’t worry about your mother.She will be all right but we knew you would want to know.”

  “Yes.Thank you for coming.See you at eight.”

  Nicola was walking on air as they left the building. “That was easier than I had hoped.I’d say she will come and see Eliza.”

  “I hope you’re right. It’s hard to know.She doesn’t look as if she’s had it easy.I’d say she’s not exactly rolling in money.”

  “No, but she does seem interested in re-establishing contact with her parents.That’s the most important thing.”

  They strolled down the street, deciding not to return to their hotel but to look for somewhere they could get something to eat. They found a pizzeria and went in and ordered pizza because it was quick and uncomplicated and they could be back at Lizzie’s flat at eight without having to rush.

  At exactly eight o’clock they rang Lizzie’s bell at the Georgian house for the second time that evening.She opened the door herself and appeared quite composed, considering the news she had received that day.She led them upstairs and into a large sitting room with a high ceiling and indicated that they should sit down on a large comfy sofa.The two boys were dressed for bed.She introduced them as Simon and Mike.

  “They insisted on being introduced to you but they have promised that they will go their room and watch a DVD now.”

  “That sounds like a plan,” Nicola agreed. “We’re very happy to meet you, Simon and Mike.”

  “Gosh, we haven’t even introduced ourselves to you, Lizzie!” Cassandra said.“I am Cassandra Grey and this is Nicola McCarthy.”

  Happy to have been part of the excitement the boys said goodnight and went into their room.

  The three women sat in an awkward silence.

  “Where do we begin?” Nicola said, anxious to break the stalemate.

  “Tell me about my mother,” Lizzie said, her voice trembling with anxiety.

  Nicola took on the social-worker role and spoke calmly. “She was diagnosed with breast cancer about a fortnight ago
and had surgery a week ago. I went in to see her last night and Cassandra went the night before.We both thought she looked well and she is very positive.”

  “When do you think she’ll be out of hospital?”Lizzie asked.

  “Probably on Monday or Tuesday,” Cassandra answered.“I asked Hugo the night I went to see her.She is doing very well and probably won’t be starting chemotherapy until after Christmas.”

  “Is that normal?”Lizzie asked.

  “As normal as a situation like this can be, I believe,” Nicola answered.“The patient usually needs a bit of time to recover from the operation before the chemo which can be quite hard in itself.”

  “So I’ve heard. What do you think I should do?”

  “That is very much up to you.We know she would love contact with you, as would Hugo,” Cassandrasaid. “How you go about it, I suppose, depends on your circumstances here.”

  “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to ring her at this stage,” Lizzie said. “That would be too emotional.I’d like to go and see her.I might be able to go and see her next weekend.Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “Oh, yes!” Nicolawas pleased that Lizzie had not opted to make a phone call. After such a long silence that would have been too easy to mess up.“We could pick you up at the airport if you like.Will you bring the boys?”

  “No, not this time, I think.It would take too much arranging.In any case, since I haven’t seen my parents since before the boys were born it might just be difficult for all of us. But hopefully there will be a next time.”

  “Who will look after them?Theirfather?”Nicola asked, immediately kicking herself for taking the social-worker role.

  Lizzie gave a hollow laugh.“No.He left us a week before they were born and I haven’t laid eyes on him since.It’s as if he has disappeared off the face of the earth. But I have very good friends two doors down from here so they can go there.”

  “When will you know for definite if you can come?”Cassandra asked.

  “I’ll have to clear it at work. I may need a day off but I could phone you on Monday evening if that’s okay.”

  “Great!” Nicola and Cassandra spoke together and all three laughed.

  “We will tell Hugo you are coming and he can decide if Eliza should be told before you arrive or if it should be a surprise,” Cassandra said.

  Lizzie was uncertain about this. “God, I hope the shock doesn’t kill her.”

  “It won’t,” Nicola assured her. “The fact that you are back in contact will definitely assist in her recovery.She will be delighted and by next Friday she will definitely be out of hospital and well on the road to recovery, if a bit sore.”

  “Should I book into a hotel?”Lizzie asked.

  The other two women laughed out loud.

  “You have obviously never seen The Coven,” Cassandra said between giggles.“It’s a mansion.”

  “No space problems then,” Lizzie agreed but inside she was very apprehensive. Space was not the only reason she had considered staying at a hotel.

  Nicola guessed exactly what she was thinking and felt sad for her.

  Chapter 17

  On the Monday evening immediately after the trip to London, Hugo phoned Nicola to tell her that he had met the woman who was prowling in the grounds and approached her.It turned out that she was an amateur ornithologist and had thought she had seen some rare bird on their land so she had returned several times in the hope of seeing it again.A hope that was not fulfilled as it turned out.

  “Do you believe her?”Nicola asked him.

  “Yes. If she isn’t telling the truth she’s a very effective spy.She seemed a bit batty to me really but her story is convincing.Sorry if I worried you, Nicola. As if you hadn’t enough on your mind!”

  “Never mind, Hugo. To be honest I didn’t give it much thought.However, I have something to tell you as well.”

  “What is that?”

  He listened wordlessly as she told him the story of the trip to London and the outcome.There was silence when she was finished.

  “Are you still there, Hugo?”

  “Yes, Nicola. There is a God!” He sounded shell-shocked.

  “Gosh, Hugo,”Nicola laughed, “I didn’t think you of all people ever doubted that.”

  “I did, but not anymore.I am totally shocked, but pleasantly so.”

  “I know,” Nicola said gently.“Have a think about it over the next few days and decide how best we should arrange the visit.Cassandra, Alice and I will be of whatever assistance we can in picking Lizzie up and you can decide when and if you will tell Eliza about the impending visit.”

  “Thank you, Nicola. I really don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything for the moment.”

  Nicola was close to tears when she put down the phone.

  About an hour after that call Nicola’s landline rang again.It was Lizzie.

  “I got Friday off and I have booked thelate afternoon flight from Luton to Galway, coming back on Sunday,” she said without any preamble.

  “That was quick.I can see you are a woman who acts fast when she knows what she wants to do.”

  “I did it before I thought about it too much and lost my courage.I can’t wait now to see my parents but I am scared.”

  “Don’t be scared.I only know them a few weeks but I know enough to be sure that seeing you on Friday will make up for the absence of ten years and whatever came between you in the past has faded out of existence.”She had no doubts about that.

  “I hope so,” Lizzie replied.“Will I get a cab from the airport?”

  “Not at all. I’ll pick you up.I’ll discuss with Hugo how he thinks we should play this.I have no doubt that Eliza will be delighted to see you but we don’t want to give her too much of a shock.”

  “God, I’m scared,” Lizzie said again, her voice trembling.

  “Don’t be.It will all be grand.We just need to plan it well.I’ll see you on Friday and don’t worry.”

  Nicola’s mind was in a whirl when she hung up.

  There were only a few days in which to arrange this visit so Nicola called a summit.Eliza was to be discharged from hospital on Tuesday afternoon so Nicola arranged to meet Cassandra, Alice and Hugo for lunch at the Westwood Hotel close to the hospital that day.

  It wasn’t the best time to meet, as it turned out. Hugo had a distracted air, Alice was still worried about Grace, Cassandra was rushing to meet a client and Nicola had a case conference regarding a very dysfunctional family that afternoon.To say that they had other things on their minds was an understatement.

  Quickly they decided that they would not tell Eliza that Lizzie was coming.They would arrange a small dinner party on Friday, to which Cassandra and Nicola would be invited.They agreed that having others around for the homecoming would diffuse any possible tension. Alice would cook.It would make a change, cooking for eight, since when she was with Jack Madden she never cooked for more than four at a time.She said she looked forward to the challenge and it would be practice for the future.The others didn’t know quite what to make of that remark but they hadn’t time to be considering it at that point so they let it go.Nicola would pick Lizzie up and bring her to The Coven.They would have dinner and Nicola, Cassandra and Alice would leave at about nine so that Eliza, Hugo and Lizzie could make up for lost time.They would explain the dinner party to Eliza as a sort of welcome-home. Neither Nicola nor Cassandra would visit Eliza between then and Friday and Hugo’s main job would be to ensure that Eliza was well rested and got plenty of sleep.

  Alice also said that she would get a room ready in Eliza and Hugo’s quarters without Eliza noticing.Essentially she would be the mistress of ceremonies for the evening.In truth she was glad of a distraction from the worry of Grace’s escapade and she was delighted that she could do something for Eliza and Hugo since so far the giving had all been in the other direction.They had completed their plan and eaten their lunch in about forty minutes and they all left hurriedly and
went in four different directions.

  Lizzie looked absolutely petrified as she came out the door into Arrivals at Galway Airport.She looked around her apprehensively and only managed a wan smile when she recognised Nicola.

  “I forgot that things are so small in Galway,” she said with an air of unreality. “I don’t think I have ever been in this airport before.”

  “Well, it’s no Heathrow but it is a great boon to us Galwegians,” Nicola said cheerfully. “It’s a small airport but it covers quite a few routes to the UK and one or two to France and who knows what might happen in the future?”

  “Who knows, indeed,” Lizzie said glumly and Nicola knew that she was not referring to the development of the airport.

  “Get in and don’t worry,” Nicola said briskly, opening the door of the car.“Everything will be fine.Hugo is delighted and so will Eliza be when she sees you.”

  “I certainly hope so.I couldn’t deal with it if this goes wrong.”

  “Of course it won’t,” Nicola assured her though she knew that there were no guarantees when it came to families even if, in this case, it seemed that all would be well.

  As they swept up the drive of The Coven, Nicola watched as Lizzie craned her neck to take everything in.

  “It’s so different to the farm we had but it’s beautiful,” she said.

  “It’s lovely inside and beautifully restored.Your parents have great vision.And they are very kind.They have helped quite a few women in trouble.”

  “And I wouldn’t let them help me.I didn’t even let them know I needed it.”Lizzie sighed.

  “I think they understand that.But I am in no doubt that they would have helped you in every way possible if you had made contact.That is why I am so sure that this meeting will be grand. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Lizzie replied as they drew up to the door.

  “I’ll take your bag,” Nicola said as they got out.

  The front door opened and Hugo came out alone.He embraced his daughter as if he would never let her go.

  “We haven’t told your mother yet,” he said as he forced himself to step back. “She will be delighted.”