Until the Rivers Run Still

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – June 1950

"Clean accommodation for discerning tenants now available in Roseville. Lady or Gentlemen tenants welcome. Contact Mrs. Carstairs for details."

The week after starting work at the radio station Lucy saw a 'Room for Rent' poster on the bulletin board in the canteen. She had been thinking about moving out of home for quite a while since she felt she was too old to be still living with her parents. The new job gave her an excellent excuse to move out, without having to hurt their feelings; she could tell them she wanted to live closer to work.

She rang the landlady later that day. Mrs. Carstairs chattered on about the "splendid house" and the "pleasant tenants". Lucy could hardly get a word in edgewise, but eventually interrupted the stream of chatter and made an appointment to visit the house after work on the following day. Mrs. Carstairs gave her the address, accompanied by voluminous instructions on how to find it. With a happy smile on her face, Lucy hung up, hoping the house would turn out to be as good as it sounded.

Lucy caught the train to Roseville station after work on the following day. She enjoyed walking along the beautiful, tree-lined streets on the way to the boarding house. Although it wasn't far from the station, it was almost dark by the time she arrived. In the fading light, she saw a large rambling house in the middle of a huge block of land. The garden was filled with a profusion of coloured bushes, with a row of massive palm trees bordering the driveway. The house had two storeys, with the bottom level surrounded by broad verandas.

Lucy tapped the brass lion-head knocker tentatively against the door, afraid she would mark the wood if she banged too hard. After a few minutes, the door was opened by a short, stout old lady, with a mop of curly white hair atop a round smiling face.

'You must be Miss King.' The little woman, who Lucy assumed to be Mrs. Carstairs, smiled and tilted her head up, peering at Lucy through tiny wire-framed glasses that sat low on her nose. Lucy was relieved to see that Mrs. Carstairs' smile didn't waver. Lucy always steeled herself for judgemental stares when she met new people. Thankfully, there was no sign of disapproval in the old lady's friendly greeting.

'You must be Mrs. Carstairs,' replied Lucy with a smile and held out her hand politely. 'How do you do?'

'Very well, thank you.' Mrs. Carstairs returned Lucy's handshake vigorously, surprising Lucy with the strength in her stubby-fingered hand.

'Come in, my dear. I'm glad you're punctual. I've just made a cup of tea.'

Mrs. Carstairs was about the same height as Lucy, although much broader in the beam. Lucy followed her into the house, looking around with interest as they walked down the hall and through to a large sitting room on the ground floor. The ceilings were high with decorative mouldings, and the dark wooden floor had a thick red Turkish-style carpet. The lounges in the sitting room were old but very comfortable, as Lucy discovered when she sat in the chair Mrs. Carstairs indicated. Mrs. Carstairs sank into the chair opposite with an enormous sigh. On the little table between them was a fine bone china teapot with matching cups, set out on a silver tray.

'I'll be mother,' Mrs. Carstairs said as she poured the tea. 'Do you take milk or sugar, my dear?'

'Only milk thanks.'

'I take both, for my sins. I'm afraid I have a very sweet tooth. Three sugars it is for me. My dear departed husband used to say he thought I was sweet enough already.' Mrs. Carstairs giggled at the memory then her smile faded, and she sighed deeply.

'I still miss him, the dear man. Even after all these years I still expect him to walk through that door, calling for his dinner.'

'How many years has it been since he passed away?' asked Lucy, assuming he must have died.