‘Mitch was a bright girl, had an edge,’ said Tom. ‘We were friends in the early days when this place was called The Seventh Star but, as I say, it was a very long time ago and everyone went their separate ways when the movement folded.’
‘Was she happy in the communes?’ asked Jo.
‘I think so. I don’t recall her not being. She struck me as self-contained, kept herself to herself a fair bit.’
‘Were you in the commune?’ I asked.
Tom laughed. ‘Short time. The lifestyle wasn’t for me.’ He gave me a mischievous look. ‘I couldn’t do the celibate part.’
I raised an eyebrow and smiled. ‘Don’t think I could have done either.’ Hmm, if I was not mistaken, there was a bit of flirting going on here.
‘If you speak to her, tell her I say hi, and hi to Rosie too.’ He smiled in recollection. ‘I always remember Mitch as being very upbeat and committed. She was good-looking too, and a real grafter. All the blokes in the commune had a crush on her.’
Ally laughed. ‘So some things didn’t change.’
*
We made for the juice bar in Harvest and ordered carrot and apple. Once we were settled on stools, we took turns in calling the number that Tom had given us for Rosie.
‘No answer,’ I said after I’d tried. ‘So frustrating. After all these years to get so close and then a phone that rings and rings.’
‘We could always go to her address,’ said Jo.
‘That’s if it is still her address,’ I said. ‘Tom said he hadn’t been in touch for years, and people do move.’
‘It’s all we’ve got at the moment,’ said Jo.
‘And if she is there, it might be a bit much, all of us arriving out of the blue. Best find out if the number is still current before we think about turning up on her doorstep,’ said Ally.
‘She could be away on holiday,’ I said.
‘She could be anywhere,’ said Ally. ‘Out working, visiting a friend.’
‘Talking of which, I have to leave soon,’ said Jo. ‘I said I’d go and help Gary sort through some of the material he has for the programme in the series about animals being people’s best friends. He said they have a surplus and hasn’t a clue where to start, so needs a fresh pair of eyes to help him sift through.’
‘Sure, I said. ‘Though you know that really it’s just because he fancies you.’
Jo looked coy. ‘He did ask me out for dinner afterwards. My first date with a man in years.’
‘Nervous?’ asked Ally.
‘A bit. It’s the taking my clothes off that worries me.’
I laughed. ‘I thought you said it was dinner.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ said Ally. ‘Like riding a bike—’
‘Cheek,’ said Jo.
‘OK, wrong metaphor,’ said Ally. ‘Just go, have a glass of wine, enjoy it and don’t worry how you look.’
‘And don’t sleep with a man on your first date. How old are you?’
Jo laughed. ‘But there is chemistry there. I get the feeling it will be on the cards sometime.’
‘Gary probably can’t believe his luck. He thinks you’re gorgeous.’
Ally sighed. ‘I suppose it’s only a matter of time before people start trying to pair me off with widowed or divorced men. Why do people think you’d even want to replace your partner?’
‘Because some people do,’ said Jo. ‘Some people don’t want to be on their own. What about you, Sara? That Tom Riley chap back there clearly fancied you.’
‘I got the impression he’s fancied a lot of people in his life. I wonder if Mitch ever got involved with him.’
‘Hopefully we can ask her soon. Let’s try phoning Rosie again,’ I said.
Once more the phone just rang and rang.
‘Still no reply,’ I said. ‘Maybe she’s out of the country.’
‘Or it might not even be her number any more,’ said Jo. ‘Tom did say he hadn’t seen Rosie in ages. She might have moved.’
‘Then we’ll find her. I’m not giving up on this lead having got so close,’ I said. ‘We’ll try again tomorrow.’
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Mitch
October 1975
I was looking forward to being back in London, OK, maybe not my old stomping ground in Notting Hill, this time I was to be in the south somewhere, but this was a city that I knew, and to be back on familiar turf and be with old pals would be a welcome change to the disaster that the Rainbow school had turned out to be.
Andrew came to collect me from the station and it was a joy to see an old friend after living with virtual strangers.
‘A lot going on,’ he said as we drove south. ‘Big changes. We’re getting a new indigo. American chap. Adam Sorkin. You can meet him this afternoon.’
‘And what am I meant to be doing?’
‘Personnel. We need someone to oversee the communes. That will be you.’
‘But … I’m not sure I want to live this way any more,’ I said. ‘I’m done. I’ve had enough of sleeping on floors. The girls’ sleeping area at the school was a corridor. I want a home. I want a bed. I want some space. I know we’re trying to make the world a better place and all that, but I just don’t think I’m up to it any more. I’ve tried the monastic life, been there, done it – now where’s the nearest fecking bar?’
‘But don’t you see, Mitch, that’s why you must stay. We’re evolving as a group. You’re right, a lot of things need to change and you’re just the person to do it.’
I laughed. ‘Ever thought of going into politics, Andrew? You’d be good. But I’d prefer to leave making the changes to someone else. I really am done.’
‘Don’t make up your mind just yet. Please.’
‘OK,’ I agreed, though I had no intention of hanging around.
We drew up in front of a Victorian semi-detached house on a tree-lined street and got out. Before we got to the front door, it was flung open, and there was a very welcome sight. Rosie. She ran down the steps
