All day long, Alice had been preparing for New Years Eve; dusting, polishing, cooking, and setting the table. It was to be her very first New Years not with her family, but with the man she loved.
Shed been living in Harrys flat for three months by then. He was fifteen years her senior, a divorcé who paid maintenance and fancied a drink more often than not… but she told herself none of that mattered when ones heart had chosen. No one could quite fathom what she saw in him: he was no ones idea of handsomerather the opposite, to put it truthfully. His manners were appalling, his stinginess legendary, and he never seemed to have a penny to his name. If ever he did find some loose change, it was only ever spent on himself. And yet, Alice had given her heart to this strange and difficult man.
Through those months, Alice nursed the quiet hope that Harry might see how mild and industrious she was and decide to marry her. Hed told her as much: Lets live together for a bit first, see what sort of wife youd make. Dont want you turning out like my ex. What, exactly, his ex-wife had been like remained a mystery; he was always vague about it. Determined to prove herself, Alice did everything: never quarreled when he stumbled in drunk, cooked, cleaned, and bought the groceries out of her own wages (Heaven forbid Harry ever consider her mercenary). She prepared the New Years table using her own moneyand, as a gift, had even bought him a new phone.
While Alice busied herself with the festivities, Harry too prepared in his own fashion: he spent the day drinking with his mates. He came home merry and quite unsteady, announcing that, by the by, his friends would be joining them for the New Year. These were his friends, of coursecomplete strangers to her. Alice laid out the feast; an hour remained before midnight. Her mood had soured, but she kept her tongueshe was determined not to be like his ex.
Half an hour before midnight, a posse of drunken men and women crashed into the flat. Harrys spirits soared: he plopped everyone down at the table, and the drinking rolled on. Harry didnt even think to introduce Alice to the rowdy crowd, who promptly ignored her. They sat chatting amongst themselves, laughing at inside jokes. When Alice at last pointed out that there were two minutes until midnight and perhaps it was time to fill the champagne glasses, a tipsy girl looked at her as if she were an unwelcome guest.
And whos she? the girl slurred.
Bedside neighbour, Harry sniggered. His friends burst into laughter, sniggering at Alice, calling her Harrys free cook and housemaid.
As the chimes of Big Ben rang in the New Year, they heaped praise on Harrys clever plan, and mocked Alices naïveté. Harry cackled along, ate the food shed bought and prepared, and let his friends trample what was left of her dignity.
Alice quietly slipped away, packed her things, and returned to her parents house. Never had she known a New Years Eve so wretched. Her mother gave her the usual I did warn you, her father let out a sigh of relief, and sobbing her heart out, Alice at last managed to see Harry for who he truly was.
A week later, when Harrys wallet ran dry, he knocked at Alices door as if nothing had happened, saying, What did you leave for, then? In a sulk, are you? When she gave him nothing, he blustered, Nice of youto be taking it easy at your mum and dads while theres nothing but cold air in my fridge! Youre behaving just like the ex!
His gall left Alice speechless. She had rehearsed a dozen scathing speeches in her head, but now faced with him could only slam the door and finally be done with him.
And so, from that New Years Eve, began a new chapter in Alices life.
