4 Weeks Later On A South African Morning…
Alice walked down the hallway running her hands through her hair she halted at Rosie's bedroom door and pounded on it for the third time this morning, "I mean it Rosie get up for school!" and headed into the kitchen saw a bacon sandwich sitting there inviting her in. "Nom you're a star!" she murmured picked it up and bit into appreciatively.
"She not up again?" Caroline asked incredulous.
"What do you think?" Alice drawled between bites. "A nuclear war head would have to time its schedule against Rosie!" she took a gulp of coffee. "It's the third time this week and its only Wednesday! I'm at a loss as to what to do, see if I send her to bed earlier it doesn't mean she goes to sleep. I ground her from going over to see Grace so she sneaks out, I cut off her pocket money so she did chores for Vanessa….." Alice growled her frustration. "Teenagers!"
"Don't look at me for advice, I had ways to control my children." Nomsa shook her wooden spoon with a smile.
Alice smiled in return and took another bite of her sandwich, "Suppose I will have to go in there and lift her out of bed." She groaned. Rosie tended to hit out with unerring accuracy! She exhaled, "Remind me why I wanted permanent custody of the demon child."
"Because she is your little sister." Carline told her, this routine was old hand now.
"And you love her." Nomsa added.
"Plus underneath you know she's a little kitten…."
Alice raised an eyebrow at Caroline's assertion, "Kitten?"
"Yes, with very sharp claws." She added with a grin. "She just needs to be trained that's all."
"Good save." Alice drawled and approached Rosie's room.
Dupe appeared at the door holding the answer to all her prayers. She grinned at him, "Is that…."
He nodded, "Yup."
"Dupe that's evil!" she laughed, "You're a genius, I love it!" she hurried to him and kissed his cheek. Took what he held and returned to Rosie's room. She knocked briskly, "Rosie this is your last chance, get up or face the consequences!" when Alice heard no sound or evidence of movement she opened the door a crack and looked inside. She found Rosie sprawled face down on her bed, mouth open slightly, "Rosie!"
Her sister opened on eye, snorted unceremoniously when she saw her then went back to sleep.
"I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice, she pushed the door open raised the hose in her hand and squeezed the handle. Water gushed from the pipe rapidly. It hit Rosie square in the face, the shock caused her to scream and jump from the bed. "What the…?" she spluttered shaking her head, water dripping into her eyes.
When Rosie was up Alice stopped spraying and looked at Rosie's soaked form. "I see you finally managed to drag yourself out of bed."
"What is wrong with you!" Rosie yelled.
"Nothing is wrong with me." Alice replied humour in her tone. "You however seem to have a little problem remaining dry in bed."
Rosie swore at her profusely using words Alice hadn't heard before. In reply Alice raised the hose and sprayed her face again in a quick burst, "What was that?" she asked her little sister pointedly, "I didn't quite catch it."
"This is child abuse!" Rosie shouted holding up her hands to try and stop the flow. "You can't do stuff like this!"
Alice shrugged, "It achieved its purpose, you're up. Now shower and get ready for school!" Alice told her simply.
"I'll get you back for this!" Rosie vowed.
Alice smiled at the blatant challenge in her voice. "I have no doubt you will! Try it; I can get my hands on spiders."
Rosie's eyes widened and she paled, "S…Spiders?"
Alice nodded, "Yep, big hairy ones, so push me little sister!" Alice really hoped it didn't come to that, she hated spiders….
Rosie knowing she was defeated went to her wardrobe and pulled out a clean uniform. "I bet Vanessa doesn't do this to Grace!" she moaned then stomped past her sister looking at her as she did. "I hate you!" she spat. "And any spiders that come near me will meet the flat end of my boot." she muttered as she sailed into bathroom slamming the door.
"Yeah yeah sis." Alice breathed. "I love you too."
An hour later Rosie was sat at the breakfast table sipping a glass of juice, although she was dressed for school she could still be heard muttering under her breath about how early it was.
Alice was busy talking to Vanessa over the radio. Vanessa wanted all the details on how her dates had went with Terry in the two weeks she had been away. Alice was trying to convince her that it had simply been a few meals nothing spectacular but Vanessa was already talking about engagement parties! Not in this lifetime at least for Alice!
Dupe was engrossed in a paper trying not to listen too intently to what Alice was saying, it wasn't right for a young pretty woman like her to not want to get married and have a family. Ok yes she had been badly hurt once before but that shouldn't stop her from at least trying again!
And Nomsa and Caroline were busying gossiping about a very local neighbour, who was having an affair. Of course they were naming no names but anyone with half a brain knew who they were talking about….and Rosie was anything but stupid! They didn't want her knowing as the woman's child was in the same class as Rosie…..Rosie sat there and smiled. She and Grace were going to have some fun with this one! Rosie saw Alice put the radio down and was about to walk down the hallway when she called her back. "Alice can I ask you something?" putting on her sweetest tone.
Alice craned her head and looked at her suspiciously, "What?"
"Can you find me a new school?"
Alice closed her eyes said a silent prayer to whatever deity there was that Rosie hadn't done something stupid then turned and headed to her, "Why exactly? I thought you liked it, I thought you had settled." The school hadn't rang or sent a letter home yet anyway which was always good.
Rosie shrugged and began gathering the crumbs from her toast with her finger.
Alice narrowed her eyes, "Alright what you done?" if she's blew up the science lab Alice'd kill her! She'd heard her talking about that with Grace….
"Nothing!" Rosie yelped. "It's just….." Rosie began wondering whether or not to confide in Alice, after all she wasn't her mother she was her sister, she would understand, wouldn't she?
"Just what?" Alice asked crossing her arms.
Rosie exhaled, "There's no…." again Rosie quieted wondering whether she should say it….
"C'mon Rosie just spit it out, I'm growing old here!" Alice told her exasperated. "No what?"
"No cute boys." Rosie finally admitted.
Dupe lowered his paper and looked at Rosie. Alice was stunned for a moment then she frowned like she didn't really understand, "You mean you want me to get you a new school because the boys aren't up to your standards?"
Rosie grinned, "I knew you'd understand!"
Alice looked her clean in the face, "No chance!"
Rosie's jaw dropped, "But…."
"No buts!" Alice told her firmly. If there were no good looking boys all the better for Alice! Personally she was dreading that particular portion of puberty….and Alice herself didn't have a leg to stand on when it came to boyfriends and Rosie knew it! "Rosie you are thirteen boys are not important, especially at your age."
"You had a boyfriend at thirteen." Rosie said petulantly.
"Yeah and look at how that one ended" Pregnant at sixteen, married at seventeen and divorced by twenty!"
Rosie looked away shaking her head, I'm not gonna sleep with them or marry them, I'm not that daft!"
Alice arched an eyebrow then took a seat opposite her, "I wasn't that daft either Rosie, you think I wasn't careful either? Sometimes it just happens."
Rosie crossed her arms and she was shaking her head in disbelief.
"Rosie it's not that I don't trust you, I do. It's just…." Alice rubbed her face, "Look at me Rosie."
Rosie stared at the wall ignoring everything was saying.
"Rosie look at me when I'm talking to you please."
Rosie exhaled and finally looked at her sister knowing Alice wasn't going to release her til she said what was on her mind.
"I know what it's like." Alice started. "And I know how these things start. You think I went out there at thirteen looking for a boyfriend?" well actually she had hoped to see a cute boy playing football so um… she kind of had…she ignored that thought and carried on giving Rosie the warning she never heard. The warning she could have used back then! "You meet a boy and it feels like magic. You're so alike; he makes you laugh more than anyone you've ever known. You're totally in tune, it's so easy to be with him you can be yourself and not be embarrassed. Before you know it you're thinking of him all the time, you need to be near him all the time or you miss him. The thought of being apart makes you crazy and you count the minutes until you're back together. It's intense. It's unpredictable. It's like being on a rollercoaster that never ends. Everything you learn brings you nearer to him until you feel like he's part of you." Alice shook her head. "You don't want to be part of that Rosie, its encompassing until he is your world. Trust me on this having a boyfriend is over rated. Just be a kid first while you still can. Enjoy your life without complications. You understand?"
"You felt that about Danny?"
Alice sighed, "Rosie you're missing the point."
Rosie gave her a pointed look.
Alice finally nodded, "Yes I did. I loved him so much I would have found a way to walk on water if he asked me to. But I wish someone had been around to tell me this warning, would I have listened?" Alice shrugged, "You never know but it would have been there in my head."
Rosie frowned and nodded considering, Alice had made all that sound so good!
"So for now you are sticking where you are. There is plenty of time for boys when you are thirty!"
"What?" Rosie yelped.
"Well c'mon; give your sister a break. You'll have me old before my time!"
"If you think I'm waiting til I'm thirty you're crazy!" Rosie told her.
"Twenty?" Alice negotiated.
Rosie refused to budge.
Alice stood up, "It was worth a try. You ready to go to school?"
"I just need to get my bag."
"I'll just sort a truck and meet you outside in five yeah?"
Rosie nodded a reply.
Rosie was dropped off at school without incident, Alice went onto Jo'burg paid all the bills regarding the surgery, flicked through a catalogue full of medicines and machinery she couldn't afford then moved on to the market remembering that she needed to pick up the ingredients Rosie had rattled off to her in the truck to school. She needed them for tomorrow. She admitted that yes she was given the list a week ago but she forgot…. Alice restrained a loud groan; the kid was trying to do her in! Why do people put themselves through the torture that is teenagers? They leave everything to the last minute oh and they don't stop growing either! Rosie was going to need some new school trousers soon as she was rapidly on her way to being taller than her! And shoes just seemed to fall off her feet, did she drag her feet across the ground….it suddenly hit Alice that these were concerns that she had never thought she would experience, even though she should have. After losing Thomas she had never planned to have other children, she was too scarred that it put her off completely, the same went for marriage.
It would have been his thirteenth birthday not too long ago. She was the mother of a teenager…well the birth mother of a teenager. Again the same questions which always plagued her began to run through her mind, how was he? Was he happy? And a new one, did he know about his real mum and dad? She cut the thoughts off abruptly knowing if she left them unchecked she'd end up a drunken depressed mess and Rosie didn't deserve that. She'd had a hard enough upbringing without Alice trying to replicate it too. Rosie wasn't her child but she deserved to grow up in a stable environment and having a sister depressed about being parted from her son wasn't the best. If she threw herself into raising Rosie, into making sure that didn't end up in the same situation Alice ended up in then hopefully the pain would begin to fade into a dull ache.
She quickly finished shopping getting everything Rosie needed and began to drive home. As the scenery passed she pondered about Danny and the fact that hadn't been in touch with her and since she heard nothing from him she hadn't got in touch with him either. There hadn't really been any news apart from her being appointed Rosie's temporary legal guardian. It had been empty platitudes, as soon as he was back to life in the UK he had forgot all about her…..and all the best for him too! The emotion she thought she was feeling weren't real.
In no time at all she reached Leopards Den and picked up the bags and began to carry them inside. She was on her third trip when Dupe appeared. He was looking at her intently.
Alice noticed it and it made her squirm a little, "You ok Dupe?" she asked trying to breeze passed him into the kitchen.
Dupe didn't speak, he simply nodded and took the bags from her and put the last of the groceries on the table. "Are you ok?" he asked softly peering at her with all knowing eyes.
Alice shrugged, "I'll live."
Dupe rubbed his chin thoughtfully and Alice couldn't take it anymore, "C'mon Dupe what gives? You're making me nervous!" began unpacking the groceries.
He scratched his beard then put his hands on his hips. "Nomsa asked me to pass on a message." He took his hat off fidgeting uncharacteristically. "Some social worker from England called Sandra rang asking about you. Said she needed to talk to you about Thomas Spoor." he said hesitantly.
Alice's head shot up and she dropped the carton of milk she had been holding to the floor. "What'd she say?" Alice asked going from calm to almost manic in seconds.
"I don't know." He said putting his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Nomsa didn't say. She just said you have to phone her back about this lad."
"Did she take her number? Did she say why I had to call? When did she call?"
Again Dupe didn't know. Alice literally growled almost running down the hallway to the message pad kept by the phone. There in Nomsa's neat script detailed a short message from a Sandra Bullock for an Alice Trevanion nee Collins, if this was she, she had been trying to get in touch with her and could Alice ring her at her earliest convenience with two numbers at the bottom. Alice picked up the phone and was about to dial when she realised that it would be midnight on their end…..right that was it! And she slammed down the phone in frustration. She had to go to the UK, there was no other option. Thomas needed her! What happened to Lisa and Alan? She ran her hands through her short hair, her whole body felt charged. She saw Dupe watching her from down the hallway.
"Thomas Spoor is your son then." he stated.
Alice nodded, "I haven't heard a word from anyone in over ten years and now suddenly out of the blue they are phoning me? It can't be good Dupe."
"You think he's in trouble." again a statement not a question.
Alice shrugged, "They would only get back in contact after all this time for one thing Dupe! What if he has been hurt? What if he needs something only me or Danny can give him? What if he is ill?"
The older man scratched his head thoughtfully, "What if they are just checking their records to get up to date details from you? Doesn't mean he's shown interest in you. Doesn't mean he's been hurt either."
Alice sighed barely hearing him, "Wonder if they have got through to Danny."
"I suspect they have." Dupe surmised. "He'd be easier to find then you, being over here and all."
Alice hadn't thought of that! By the sounds of Sandra's message she was looking for her, not at all certain this was the Alice she was looking for. "Why didn't he tell them where I was?" she asked. "Why didn't he get in touch with me directly?"
Dupe made a perplexed face, "You want to go over there don't you?"
Alice nodded, "What if he needs me? I can't just abandon him!"
"What if he doesn't need you?" Dupe retorted. "How old is the boy now? Twelve? Thirteen? If it was me and something had happened I think you'd be the last person I'd want to see! I'm not trying to upset you just think before you go in there all guns blazing! Wait until you hear all Sandra has to say."
"This is the first time in ten years…." Alice stressed.
"So you can wait a few more hours can't you?" he went to her and patted her cheek softly. "I'm only trying to protect you Alice. I don't want you going over there and getting hurt. And what about Rosie? You're still going through spot checks from the social. It would look great if they came to find you gone!" Dupe asked. He also genuinely worried that the lure of that life and of course her son would be too much for her to bear and she wouldn't come home, he didn't want to lose the young woman he had grown to love like a daughter.
Alice clenched her fists oblivious to his fears, "He's my SON Dupe!"
"Just wait!" he stressed. "Try to get in touch with Danny. Do stuff in your surgery, call Sandra tonight. As a favour to me."
She exhaled wanting to scream. "Fine!" and she stomped down to her surgery.
Dupe rubbed his face wondering whether or not he should have told Alice or just destroyed all evidence of the fact the woman had called. If the boy was fine, brilliant, if he wanted contact, great! But what if he wasn't fine? What if he didn't want to know? Dupe knew that Alice wouldn't be able to take that. Regardless of how the boy felt Alice loved that kid, time and distance meant nothing to her. But things could be very different for this Thomas. This could open up a whole world of hurt for Alice and he didn't want her going through that un-necessarily.
A/N oooo rosie is after a boyfriend and alice is worried! but even bigger is that the social has got in touch with Alice, but why? and what about Thomas' parents? and most of all why hasnt danny got in touch with alice? hmmm