Brides of War (14 page)

‘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.

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 asked.

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.

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.

‘That was really stupid,’ she said and went to open the car door.

‘I thought it was kind of nice,’ he said with a grin.

She looked at him. ‘You had better keep your distance Rick. Because you are going to get me into trouble and I don’t need it!’ She closed the door and walked away.

Back in Greenwich Village, Max and Valerie had returned home and were unpacking the camper van before Max drove it back to a nearby garage. They had been so happy during their time in Colorado, but now had to return to reality.

Valerie opened the window to let in some fresh air, picked up the pile of mail from the mailbox in the entrance and was sorting through it when Max returned with the groceries they’d bought on the way home.

‘I’ll make some coffee,’ he said.

Valerie didn’t answer. She was reading a letter from Ross’s lawyer telling her that her husband had filed for a divorce. She handed it to Max.

He quickly read it. ‘He hasn’t wasted any time,’ he remarked.

‘No,’ she agreed, ‘but it was expected. Have you got a lawyer?’

‘Oh yes.’ He put the letter down. ‘I’ll make an appointment
for us to see him later this week. Come and drink your coffee, then we’ll unpack. After, I’ll shower and then we’ll eat.’

She gazed at him with a worried frown. ‘He’s going to be very difficult, you know that don’t you?’

‘Of course, but we expected that. Come on darling, we’ll meet all that when we have to. Life goes on.’ He kissed her forehead and then poured the coffee.

As they sat at the table Max said, ‘You do realise that when this divorce is made public, the press will be on to it in a flash, don’t you?’

With a look of surprise she asked, ‘Why would they be interested?’

‘Because the Johnsons are amongst the A-list in this city and because you, darling, are also very much in the news. The reporters will have a ball! If I’m right, they’ll be photographing our every move. Scandal sells papers, Valerie.’

The idea appalled her. ‘Isn’t there anything we can do about it?’

‘You’re kidding right? No, we’ll just have to behave in a civilised manner, but there’s no way we should hide from them. You had your reasons to leave Ross, which will come out in court. I’m afraid we’ll just have to face them.’

Nothing is hidden in a city like New York and pretty soon Max was proved right, as one morning they left the apartment to find a photographer outside. The flash of his camera caught them by surprise. The photographer just grinned at them and walked away.

Max took her hand as they made their way to the shops. ‘It’s started,’ he said.

During the following weeks, pictures of Valerie and Max were often in the papers and those of Ross, leaving his office, entering his home – always alone. He made certain of this as the pictures of his wife were usually of her with Max. It strengthened his case he thought and so was careful to seem to live a solitary life. To be the victim. His family’s money and position helped too. The Johnson family had some pretty heavyweight friends in high places, so the press trod very carefully when handling them.

News filtered down to Barton where the New York society news was reported and Jeff very soon caught wind of what was happening. At dinner one night, he read the society column and looked at his wife.

‘Didn’t I tell you that your friend the artist was having an affair. It was blatantly obvious.’ He cast the paper aside. ‘Imagine coming here with her lover, that’s pretty low.’

‘I don’t know why you’re so worked up about it, it’s none of our affair!’ snapped Gracie.

‘I guess not, except she’s a friend of yours. Didn’t she tell you about it when you went for your walk?’

‘No, she didn’t,’ Gracie lied. ‘Why would she?’

His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. ‘I don’t believe you.’

She glared at him. ‘Please yourself.’

He stood up and took her arm in a vice-like grip. ‘Just as long as you don’t take it into your head to do the same. You double cross me, you’ll be sorry you did!’

‘Now you’re being ridiculous!’ She shook off his hold and went into the kitchen so as not to let him see she was shaking. If he knew she’d had a drink with Rick … well, she
didn’t know what he’d do. She would keep well away from her brother-in-law until she could leave this godforsaken country and go home. The longer she stayed in this loveless marriage, pretending to be the good wife, in bed and out of it, the harder it was becoming every day, especially now that Jeff was back to his old ways of gambling.