It wasnt that the girl annoyed her, no, but there was something… off-putting about her. Scruffy, with messy plaits, a wrinkled school uniform, and a crookedly sewn collar. The girl looked neglected, withdrawn.
Rose Williams frowned. Why had she even thought of that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclair. Where was George? Hed promised to come earlytoday was the anniversary of her late husband, Edward.
A knock at the door startled her.
«Whos there? George, is that you? Forgotten your keys?»
«Miss Williams, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Rose opened the door and saw… that same girl. What on earth?
«Sedley? What keys? How do you even know where I live? Have you been following me?»
The girl shook her head. Her worn-out coat had a stain on the pocket, her tights sagged at the knees, and her shoes were nearly falling apart.
Only now did Rose notice the girls striking blue eyes, framed by thick, dark lashes.
Shed recently started teaching English literature at the local school after retiring from the college. Couldnt stay idle. The girl was oddkept to herself. What was her name? AliceAlice Sedley.
«You left your keys on the chair, Miss Williams. I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«Oh! Thank you… goodness. Mustve forgotten to put them in my bag. Getting old, I suppose,» she joked weakly.
«Youre not old,» Alice said seriously. «Just in a hurry, maybe.»
«Thank you… Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Miss Williams.»
Rose closed the door thoughtfully, then hesitated. She opened it again, hearing quiet footsteps on the stairs.
«Alice?» Rose looked down; the girl peered up. «How did you know where I lived?»
«I live next door. I see you walking to work sometimes. Theres a stray dog near the cornerI stay close to you so he wont growl at me. He doesnt like the smell of cats. I feed them in the basement… I call him Rex.»
Rose blinked. «And the address?»
«I asked the ladies on the bench near the school. Told them you taught me. We take the same bus…»
What a strange child, Rose thought. Is she stalking me?
«Would you like some tea?» she asked suddenly, and the girl nodded eagerly.
Odd. A well-mannered child wouldve refused.
Rose poured the tea. «Are you… hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but Rose knew better.
«Tell you whatlets eat together. I hate eating alone, and George is late…»
She busied herself pulling food from the fridge. The girl ate neatly but ravenously.
«Thank you,» Alice said, eyeing the leftovers. «You cook really well.»
Rose packed the rest into a container and handed it over.
Three days later, walking home, Rose heard a scream. Alice was struggling with a snarling mutt, gripping her sleeve.
«Get off!» Rose shooed the dog away. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls eyes were wide with fear. «Hehe nearly got the kitten!»
Roses heart ached. «You cant take it home?»
«No. They wont let me.»
At school, Rose asked about Alice. The maths teacher, old Margaret, knew her. «Troubled home. Mothers gonedrunk stepfather, grandmothers no better.»
Later, Rose followed Alice. The girl sat on a bench outside her building, doing homework in the cold.
That evening, George came home, eyeing the girl. «Whos this?»
«Alice.»
He frowned. «Whys she here?»
Rose hesitated. «Shes your daughter.»
The truth unravelledGeorges brief, youthful fling with a girl named Diana. He hadnt known about Alice until now.
Rose clenched the girls hand. «Shes staying with us.»
Tests confirmed it. Alice moved in.
«Dad, can I live with Gran?» Alice asked later.
George feigned offence. «And leave me lonely?»
«Youve got Ellen.»
Rose walked hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shed found her joy.
George grew close to Alice. His relationship with Ellen ended, but he didnt regret it.
At parent-teacher evening, he met Alices teachernow his new love. Alice thrived, split between school and home.
Sometimes she visited her other grandmothercleaning, cooking, scolding her to stop drinking. The woman wept, kissing Alices hands.
«My girl, my blood,» she sobbed, swearing to change.
And Rose? She finally understoodlove isnt always where you expect it. Sometimes it finds you.
