Brides of War (2 page)

They lay in each other’s arms. Jeff telling her how he longed for the war to be over so life could again be normal. Of the friends he’d lost, how futile war was. Talking about his home town and his family, she wondered if he would ask her to share his life, but he didn’t. Not then, but three months later, after an evening meal in a restaurant, he took her hand.

‘Do you think you could leave all this behind, your home, your family?’ he asked.

She felt a moment of panic, as she looked across the table at him.

‘What do you mean, leave it all behind?’

His eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘I’m asking you to come with me to Denver as my wife. I love you Gracie. Will you marry me?’

She felt as if someone had knocked every breath from her body. He was asking her the question she’d been longing to hear, but suddenly the consequences of saying ‘yes’ were staring her in the face. It was a huge step to take: to move across the Atlantic, to leave her family and the world she knew – and suddenly she was scared.

At her hesitation he spoke. ‘Do you love me, Gracie?’

‘Yes I do. Of course I do.’

‘Do you want us to have a future together, a place of our own, children?’

She looked into his eyes and knew she didn’t want that with anyone else.

‘Yes, I really do.’

He held her hand tightly. ‘I know it’s asking a great deal of you to come to the States. It won’t be easy for you to say goodbye to your family here in the UK, but it’s the only way we can be together. You know I’ll always take care of you, love you and, in a few years, we’ll save enough to come back for a vacation.’ He paused. ‘What do you say honey?’

She felt the smile spread across her features. ‘I say yes, darling. I will marry you.’

As she walked slowly around the deck of the ship, she re-lived the excitement of what had passed, the never-ending questions from the American military authorities before they eventually gave their permission. The wedding, her pale green utility suit bought with borrowed clothing coupons, the buffet in the local hall, with everyone making contributions to the food. The weekend honeymoon back at the hotel in Bournemouth and now … she was en route to her new life, filled with trepidation. She left the deck and made her way to her cabin.

Valerie Johnson climbed into her bunk and started to read, shutting her ears to the buzz of conversation from the other brides who were in the cabin getting ready for bed. She found reading emptied her mind of all the concerns she had about moving to America and starting a new life. Being at sea didn’t bother her; as a child she’d spent her childhood in Singapore with her family, as her father worked for the government and had been posted there. They had returned when war seemed imminent. She didn’t suffer with sea-sickness as some of her travelling companions did.

For her, the change of country was exciting and she had the comfort of knowing her father had opened a bank account in New York in her name, giving her enough money to come home if she wanted to. She remembered his words.
Life is full of uncertainties, Valerie. Ross is a good man but when you live together with a person it’s a different matter. Only then do you find out what they are really like. I just want to know that if you need to, you have the means to return. It’s a kind of security
.

She had thanked him profusely. Not that she had any
doubts about Ross. He had been a captain in the US Army and, when they started to see each other, it was a joy to find they had similar outlooks on life and shared interests. He was well educated, had attended Harvard, trained as a lawyer and would be able to keep her in the lifestyle she was used to. They both liked the theatre, opera and played bridge. But she was concerned about meeting his parents, not knowing how they felt about having a British daughter-in-law.

At that moment, Gracie returned. They chatted briefly as Gracie undressed for bed and settled down for the night.

The voyage was beset by bad weather and when the ship eventually docked in New York, it was later than expected. The women were packed, ready and waiting to be collected by their husbands with mixed emotions. Would their late arrival make a difference? Would their men be there? If they were, would they still feel the same when they saw them? The air was charged with uncertainty.

Gracie was called forward. Standing waiting was a man in a suit. It took a moment for her to recognise Jeff. She had foolishly expected to see him in uniform. He stepped forward, grinning broadly.

‘Gracie, honey, it’s me!’ He took her into his arms. She burst into tears!

‘Hey, steady now. Everything’s going to be fine.’ He held her tight, giving her time to recover.

Wiping her eyes, she looked at him and smiled shyly. ‘You look so different in civvies,’ she stuttered. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’

He chortled. ‘I’ve been out of the army for some months
now, honey.’ He picked up her bag. ‘Come on, we’ll get a cab. I’ve booked us in at the Taft Hotel for the night, before we make our way home to Denver.’

She followed him down the gangway, gripping hold of his hand as they walked through the dock to a cabstand. Then, sitting in the back, still holding his hand, she looked at the tenements as they drove past, thinking how shabby they all looked and her heart sank. However, as they began to enter the centre of the city, she felt relieved. The shops were brightly lit, the traffic was heavy and there was a buzz about the place that filled her with excitement. At one set of traffic lights, she saw a couple of American police officers and was surprised to see they were armed. The guns in their holsters, worn on their hips, were a strange sight to her, as was the fact that the traffic drove on the other side of the road.

They reached their destination and, after Jeff paid the driver, they checked in at reception and left Gracie’s bag to be taken to their room before making their way to the café where Jeff ordered some coffee.

He gazed across at her and smiled. ‘You look great honey. I began to wonder just when I’d see you again. It seems such a long time.’

‘To me too,’ she confessed. She looked around. ‘I still can’t believe we’re here together.’

‘I thought a night in New York would be a good start for you. It’s a great place, very different from Denver but you’ll love the shops. I’m going to take you to Macy’s. You won’t need clothing coupons here, darling. Then tomorrow we’ll go home. You’ll get to meet my folks.’

Gracie felt her blood chill at the thought. ‘What do they think about us getting married?’

He hesitated for a moment. ‘Well, they were surprised of course. Mother felt a bit cheated not being at the wedding, if I’m honest, but Dad was fine.’

‘How long do we have to stay with them?’ she asked with some trepidation.

‘A couple of months maybe, until I’ve saved enough to furnish an apartment.’

‘Can’t we get one already furnished?’

‘We could, but they’re more expensive and I thought with our own stuff it will be a start for when we buy our own place.’

‘I see,’ she said, but hoped it wouldn’t take that long. She didn’t want to start married life living with anyone, especially Jeff’s parents.

‘Come on,’ he said, ‘let’s go shopping. We can catch a bus outside.’

Macy’s was a revelation to Gracie. It was huge and she could well believe it was the largest store in the world. As they entered the front doors, the smell of perfume filled her nostrils, then she saw the many counters displaying exotically shaped bottles and the women standing testing various brands. There was a whole floor selling lingerie, filled with the most glamorous negligees, bras, petticoats and panties in a vast array of colours, trimmed with lace.

Jeff bought her two nightdresses and two sets of underwear. The sizing was different here but the assistant came to her rescue and explained it to her for future reference. Gracie was delighted with her purchases. Two hours later, they emerged from the store with several bags filled with new clothes.

They stopped in at the Brass Rail for coffee and a snack and to rest their sore feet, and as Gracie sat down she started laughing.

‘What’s so funny?’ Jeff asked.

‘My father would die before he’d walk into a shop selling woman’s underwear!’

‘British men are more conservative, I’m American – we do things differently.’

‘Oh Jeff, that was so much fun. Thank you for my presents.’

‘Nothing’s too good for my wife,’ he said and, leaning forward, he kissed her. ‘We’ll go back to the hotel, have a rest and this evening we’ll go out for a few drinks and look around. You must see Times Square at night.’

They caught a cab back to the hotel and checked into their room. Gracie kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the bed exhausted – the excitement of the day catching up with her. Jeff removed his coat and jacket, and went to the bathroom. When he returned Gracie was fast asleep. He looked at his bride and smiled, then lay beside her, covering them both with a blanket before taking her into his arms, and he too slept.

Gracie woke with a start. The bedroom curtains were open and the lights from the street below lit up the room. She felt the arms of her husband around her.

Jeff too stirred. He looked at her. ‘Hello Mrs Rider,’ he said and he kissed her.

Their lovemaking was long and languid, neither of them wanting to rush this moment for which they had both waited so long. For Gracie it was like coming home, and any doubts
she had about coming to America were washed away as she lay in his arms. Tomorrow she’d have to face his parents, but tonight was hers to be enjoyed with the man she loved.

Enjoy it, she did. Well wrapped up against the cold, she and Jeff caught a bus to Times Square. The lights were something to believe. Times Square was bright and brash. The huge face on a billboard puffed smoke rings as it advertised a cigarette brand. The latest news flashed in a long strip around a building and the shops were still open.

They went into a nearby hotel bar and listened to a pianist playing, bought hot dogs from a barrow on a street corner and soaked up the spirit that was New York. Gracie had never experienced anything like it in her life before. Nothing could be more different from the quiet of Southampton. It was like walking through an American musical.

They walked along Broadway arm in arm, stopping to look in the shop windows, full of enticing things to buy. For Gracie it was such a thrill to see such displays after the shortages she’d suffered during the war. America was thought to be the land of plenty, and so it seemed to her that night as she soaked up the strangeness of this amazing city. If Denver were the same just how thrilling would that be! She couldn’t wait to write home to her family and tell them all about it. She’d do that once she was settled with her in-laws.

The following morning, they checked out of the hotel and took a cab to Grand Central Station, which seemed absolutely huge to Gracie. There were shops here too, and she wondered just how much money did the Americans have to spend.

Jeff bought their tickets and they climbed aboard the train and settled in their seats. It would be a long journey until they reached their destination and then she’d meet Jeff’s parents. She secretly sent up a prayer asking that the meeting would go well. She looked briefly at her husband, wondering if she disagreed with his mother over something, which side would he take? She knew that some of her friends had said their mother-in-laws were possessive of their sons. She hoped this wouldn’t be the case with the other Mrs Rider.

As the train started to move, she decided to put such thoughts to the back of her mind and enjoy the journey. After all, it would only be for a short time, then they’d move out to their own place and she’d have Jeff all to herself.

Valerie Johnson wasn’t surprised to see her husband in a smart business suit, as he’d sent her several photographs after he’d left the army. She’d thought he looked very much the well-dressed businessman and had been pleased to see how stylish he was. When she was called for him to collect her, she ran straight into his arms.

‘Hello darling,’ he said as he kissed her warmly. ‘God it’s been an age and you look just as beautiful as I remember!’

They took a cab to a prestigious-looking block of apartments in New York’s classy Upper East Side, with a uniformed doorman on duty who greeted her warmly.

‘Welcome to America, Mrs Johnson! I hope you’ll be happy in your new country.’

She was delighted. ‘Why thank you, I’m sure I will.’

He looked at Ross. ‘I could stand and listen to the British accent all day long,’ he said as he opened the main door for them.

Inside was a small reception desk with a uniformed guard sitting behind it. Ross walked over and introduced his bride.

‘Hank, this is my wife. Anything she needs you see to it if I’m not around. OK?’

‘Yes, sir.’ He smiled at Valerie. ‘Nice to meet you, ma’am.’

They took the elevator to the second floor and Ross took her along the corridor to the apartment that was theirs.

It was roomy inside and open plan, as opposed to her home with its separate rooms, and she liked it. It was light and bright, and the central heating was on, so it was warm and welcoming. He showed her the bathroom, which had both a bath and shower, and the two double bedrooms, beautifully furnished as was the living room. The kitchen was roomy and along one wall was a waist-high counter separating it from the living room so whoever was cooking could still be part of any conversation with her husband or guests who might be sitting relaxing, watching the television, which she saw immediately.

‘Oh my, the television!’ she remarked, ‘and so big!’ Not every home had a television back in Britain and those that did had a small cabinet housing a very small screen.

She ran into his arms. ‘Oh, Ross, this is just lovely.’

‘I’m so happy you like it darling. I’ll make some coffee and we can catch up with each other, then we’ll have a shower to freshen up and I’ll take you out to dinner, just the two of us, to celebrate. Tomorrow Mother is having a dinner party for you to introduce you to our friends.’

‘How very kind of her,’ Valerie said without too much enthusiasm.

‘Now you’re not to worry,’ said Ross sensing her reluctance. ‘After all, everyone is dying to meet the woman who stole my heart. My English rose as they call you.’

She forced a smile. ‘I just hope they like me,’ she said.

He drew her closer. ‘You are my wife and in time they’ll love you as I do. They just have to get to know you, that’s all.’

They sat and drank their coffee, exchanging news about what they’d been doing in the months they’d been apart.

Ross was telling her about returning to work. ‘It took a while I have to admit. Some things have changed since the war, of course, and after being in command in the army I had to learn to step back a little, which wasn’t easy at first.’

‘And now?’ she asked.

‘Now, I have my own clients again so I guess I am in charge of those.’

‘What about working for your father? Does it seem strange now?’

He paused. ‘We don’t always see eye to eye over how to run the business, I must admit. I’ve moved on, learnt a lot in the army, whereas he’s still stuck in the same rut. It makes for some heated discussions sometimes.’

Valerie sensed there was a tension in the office, but made no comment. She was used to mixing with people on all levels in her private life through her father’s connections, but beneath her ladylike appearance was a rod of steel. She would bide her time and see how things were. She was a good judge of character and felt she would be an asset to her husband in more ways than perhaps he ever imagined. And if things didn’t work out, she had the financial means to leave. This she kept to herself.

By the time they’d finished talking, it was well into the evening and they quickly showered and changed to be at the Four Seasons in time for their booking. Valerie loved
the look of the restaurant with its wall frescos, depicting spring, summer, autumn and winter. The meal was lovely and the champagne cooled. They both relaxed and, by the end of the evening, they were tired. A cab took them back to the apartment where they stood at the window overlooking the city, drinking a nightcap, arms around one another.

‘I can’t tell you how great it is to have you here by my side,’ Ross whispered against her ear. ‘I’ve dreamt of this moment for what has seemed like an eternity.’

‘I know,’ she replied. ‘Me too.’

They emptied their glasses and made their way to the bedroom and undressed. As Valerie picked up her nightdress, Ross caught hold of her arm.

‘What’s the point of putting that on sweetheart, I’ll only take it off again!’

Valerie laughed quietly, threw it on a bedside chair and climbed into bed.

Ross drew her into his arms. ‘God, Valerie, you have no idea how I’ve missed you.’

‘I know. After you left for the States, it seemed to me as though meeting you and getting married had all been a dream, and as the months passed the reality of being your wife seemed unreal.’

‘Well we can soon put that right darling,’ he said, slowly caressing her breasts and kissing her.

She returned his kisses, the hunger that was within her was overwhelming and their lovemaking was not slow and gentle, but full of passion that had been denied for so long until they lay, breathless and exhausted.

‘Now do you feel like a married woman?’ he asked.

She let out a deep sigh of contentment. ‘Oh yes! You have no idea how much I needed that.’

He laughed softly. ‘Indeed I do! I have been celibate for far too long.’

‘I should hope so!’

The following morning, they took a cab to Central Park and walked through the snow, wrapped up against the cold wind, stopping for coffee and a brandy to warm them. They took another cab back to Saks, Fifth Avenue, where Valerie enjoyed looking at the clothes and household goods before buying a dress to wear that night at her in-laws. She also purchased nylon stockings, which had been in short supply back at home. To her it was like Christmas with all its goodies. After such austerity at home, it seemed almost indecent, but she, being a woman, loved it!

Ross took her out to lunch and then showed her the sights. They went to the top of the Empire State Building so she could look out over the city that was to be her new home. She’d decided to buy a map of New York and, when Ross was working, would familiarise herself with the place, walking it block by block. It wouldn’t be difficult. The city was laid out in a grid system: streets running one way, avenues the other. She supposed in time, she’d get used to the skyscrapers, the hustle and bustle – the pushing and shoving of folk who always seemed to be in a great hurry. It would be interesting she felt sure and a necessity if she were living there.

They returned to the apartment and, whilst Ross read the paper, she unpacked the rest of her clothes, pressing her
new black dress and choosing her jewellery for the dinner that evening.

Valerie was tall, slim and elegant, with blonde hair and pale skin; a typical English rose, with fine features and wide blue eyes. Her classic good looks came from the genes of her mother and father, a handsome couple, and, as she applied her make-up and dressed, she turned and looked at herself in the mirror and thought,
yes, you’ll do
. She had no idea what her in-laws were like, but she’d be herself. She was used to formal dinners, having attended many through her father’s government connections, and decided to treat tonight as one of those. Be charming, be natural.

They took a cab to Riverside Drive, overlooking the Hudson River, where the Johnsons had a penthouse.

As Ross explained, ‘It’s easier to travel by cab in the city than to drive.’

It was obvious that this was an expensive block from the entrance and the doorman, who greeted Ross warmly.

‘Good evening, sir, your folks are waiting for you, they told me you were coming.’ He tipped his hat to Valerie. ‘Good evening ma’am.’

They took the elevator to the top floor. There was only one door here and Ross, taking her arm, walked towards it and rang the bell.

As it opened, Valerie held her breath. A maid stood there, smiling. ‘Evening, Mr Ross, come in.’ Behind her was a buzz of conversation, which stopped as they walked through the hallway into the sumptuous living room.

An elegant woman stepped forwards and Valerie caught a waft of expensive perfume. Gloria Johnson smiled at
Valerie. ‘Welcome to New York!’ But Valerie saw her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

‘Thank you, how nice to meet you.’

Ross’s father stepped forward, a tall, well-dressed man with firm features and a stubborn jaw. He kissed her on the cheek. ‘Hello, Valerie, my dear. I am Leo, your father-in-law, welcome.’ His greeting was genuine. He took her arm and introduced her to the other guests. She sensed a certain tension as he reached the last one, Laura, a younger woman, glamorous in a hard way, thought Valerie, but she was surprised at the hostility she felt behind the handshake and greeting and wondered why.

Ross’s brother introduced himself. ‘Hello, Valerie, I’m your brother-in-law, Earl and this is my wife Bonny.’

Bonny was petite and full of fun, Valerie could see that from the brightness shining in her eyes and her laughter as she hugged her.

‘Hi, Valerie! Am I glad to meet you. I’m longing to hear all about England and its quaint ways. I do hope we can be real friends.’

Valerie liked her instinctively. ‘I’d really like that. You can help me get used to everything American.’

‘Gee! I love the way you Brits speak! So ladylike.’

Cocktails were served with delicious canapés and the others approached Valerie, asking innumerable questions about Britain and the war until dinner was served.

The dining room was large and the table long enough to seat twelve people comfortably and set with great elegance. Valerie was seated with her father-in-law to her right and, on her left, one of his business associates who turned out to be charming.

She noticed that Ross was beside Laura and it was obvious to all that she was flirting with him, making him look uncomfortable and annoyed. Bonny caught her looking at them and winked at her. She obviously knew what was going on.

Gloria played the perfect hostess, bringing her guest into the conversation sometimes, but there was a definite coolness in her tone and Valerie knew instinctively that she would not be her friend.

At the end of the meal, Valerie asked to use the bathroom and Bonny jumped to her feet. ‘I’ll take you, I need to powder my nose too,’ she said and, taking Valerie’s hand, led her away.

The bathroom was like a first-class hotel, with two washbasins, a huge bath and a separate toilet.

Bonny collapsed on an easy chair. ‘Christ! I do so hate these family gatherings!’

Laughing at this sudden outburst, Valerie asked why.

‘Well, Mrs Johnson, our mother-in-law thinks she’s the first lady and as for that bitch Laura, I can’t stand her!’

‘Who is she exactly?’

Bonny sat bolt upright. ‘You don’t know?’

Shaking her head Valerie said, ‘No. Should I?’

‘Oh yes, you certainly should! It was expected that Laura and Ross would marry after the war. Oh my, when Ross wrote saying he was marrying an English girl, she went crazy! She’s the daughter of a very rich father who dotes on her every wish, but this was something he couldn’t fix.’

‘I see,’ said Valerie. ‘Ross never mentioned her to me.’

‘Well, of course not. Yes, they went out together but it was the two families who had planned their future, I’m not
sure they ever told Ross and, if they did, he wasn’t playing. You be careful of her Valerie, she’s trouble!’

Taking out her powder compact, Valerie now understood everything. The girl, Mrs Johnson’s coolness. She had ruined all their plans. ‘What about Leo? Was he in on this too?’

‘Probably not. Dad is a lovely guy. All he’s interested in is business and golf. He indulges his wife for a quiet life.’

Valerie started chuckling. ‘Well, Bonny, now I know what I’m up against. I can’t thank you enough.’

Bonny got up and stood behind Valerie and studied her reflection in the mirror. ‘If I’m not mistaken, I’m sure you can cope with both of them.’ And she laughed. ‘Welcome to the family!’

It was almost midnight when Ross eventually booked a cab to take them home. They said their goodbyes and Valerie thanked her hosts for a lovely evening.

Bonny kissed her goodbye. ‘I’ll give you a call and we’ll go shopping,’ she said.

‘I’d love that,’ Valerie told her.

Once in the taxi, Ross let out a sigh of relief. ‘There! I told you it would all be fine.’

‘Yes, it was lovely. Your mother went to a lot of trouble.’ She paused. ‘You didn’t tell me about Laura ever, why was that?’

He turned quickly and looked at her. She gazed back at him without blinking.

‘There was nothing to tell, that’s why. Sure we dated for some time, but that was all. I came to England a free man.’

‘I don’t think that’s how your old girlfriend saw it,’ she said softly.

‘I never made Laura any promises. We never spoke about a future together.’

‘What about your mother? Did she ever say you two would make a great couple?’

His jaw tightened. ‘My mother doesn’t and never has run my life.’

She smothered a laugh. ‘I don’t think she believes that for one moment, Ross darling, but she certainly will never run mine!’