‘Fi said you’re living in some kind of commune.’
‘I am. How did you know I was here?’
‘Fi gave me your number, she’s still at the flat in Notting Hill. When can I see you? Are you ever back in Manchester? Or in the southwest?’ Her words were slightly slurred, as if she was drunk.
‘Not these days. You sound pissed.’
She laughed. ‘I am a bit, celebrating a promotion, we opened a bottle of bubbly.’ She chatted on, filling me in on the past years. She’d finished university, was living in Plymouth, got her first job as a researcher/runner at a TV station, was with a man called Tim who was doing his PhD and was madly in love. Her life and lifestyle seemed a million miles away from mine. ‘What are the men there like?’ she asked.
‘Men? Sweet. Not your type – or mine.’
‘Fi said you are all celibate? Why? Are you mad?’
‘It makes things easier when there are so many of us living together. If someone wants to be with someone, they can always leave but, to be honest, the celibacy rule? If you saw the men here, you’d realize it’s a blessing.’
Sara laughed. ‘But … you’re Mitch Blake, boy magnet. I can’t see you living that way. I don’t get it.’
‘I love it. I feel part of something big.’
Sara went quiet on the other end of the phone. ‘Mitch, I’m worried about you. You don’t sound yourself.’
‘You said that last time. You don’t sound yourself either. Look, I’m fine, I really am. The world needs to change, needs peace. You ought to come and check it out, maybe even join yourself.’
‘Me celibate? Not likely, thanks.’
‘You don’t have to live in the commune.’
‘Not for me, Mitch. There are other ways of changing the world, all sorts of ways – writing, journalism – you don’t have to live as you’re doing and to miss out on relationships.’
‘It’s my choice, Sara … It sounds to me that all you think is important is finding a man. I doubt if that’s going to change the world.’
‘Hey, that’s harsh, just because I haven’t joined some evangelical group.’
‘Is that what you think? That I’ve become evangelical?’
‘Yeah, a bit.’ There was an awkward silence for a few moments. ‘Let’s not quarrel. Will you stay in touch, Mitch? Write to me at least? Let me know how you’re doing? I do care about you, you know. And if I come to London, I promise I’ll look you up.’
I felt angry but took a deep breath. ‘Yes, do, come and check us out. I’d love to tell you all about it. I promise I haven’t become a religious maniac.’
Sara laughed but it felt hollow, and she didn’t sound enthusiastic about coming to check out the movement. All the same, I gave her the address and assured her that I’d write. Or maybe I’d wait until she came to visit. But what would she make of it? Maybe I wouldn’t show her round. Like Fi, I was pretty sure she would be appalled if she knew exactly how I was living, and I wasn’t sure I wanted the judgement, the criticism. She also seemed so far away, part of a past I no longer belonged to. I put down the phone and went back down to my new housemates.
In the meantime, the group was expanding, more people wanting to be a part of it, and the few small communes that had been set up were full to bursting, so more were opening nationwide. I got my marching orders and was sent to Devon.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ally
Present day, Febuary
Rebecca’s party was well under way by the time, Sara, Jo and I arrived at the hotel where it was beng held. It looked as though we’d walked into a madhouse, with people dressed as vicars, priests, a couple of popes, a cardinal, a group of nuns. Then I spotted The Bonnets by the bar and burst out laughing. Apart from Katie who, true to her word, was dressed as a Hindu god with a blue face, the others were dressed in wigs and trashy outfits worthy of Hollywood divas. Gabrielle was wearing a long blonde wig and a leopard-skin dress, Jenny a red curly wig and a long sparkly silver dress. Bridget was in a pink wig and pink dress and Rebecca in a turquoise dress and black Cleopatra-style wig.
‘Nice legs,’ I said to Gabrielle, who was at the bar and was wearing the shortest dress. She did, too, toned and with great ankles.
‘If you’ve got them, flaunt them,’ she replied. ‘Don’t we look awful?’ She handed me a glass from a waiter passing with a tray. ‘Here, have a glass of bubbly, I have to go and change.’
I was about to ask why she was changing her costume when Rebecca came over and hugged me. ‘Darling Ally. I heard about Michael. I am so sorry. How are you coping?’
I shrugged. ‘Good and bad days.’
She hugged me again. ‘I know.’ She indicated The Bonnets. ‘We’ve all been through it. It’s hard.’
‘It is.’
She indicated her friends again. ‘If it hadn’t been for this lot, I think I would have gone under. You must lean on your friends, let them help you. Of course there will be days when you want to hide away, but I remember Michael well from the times I met him. He wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.’
‘I know.’
‘Life goes on whether we like it or not … I would imagine your house feels very quiet.’
‘It does.’
‘Make the changes you need to and try your best to embrace a new life. Fact: we’re born alone, we die alone, and in between we’re bloody lucky if we have someone to mooch along with. They will come and go, but it’s not over yet for you, Ally. There will be happy times again.’
I laughed. Rebecca had always been one to speak her mind, and actually I didn’t mind. I liked
