A HAUNTING WARTIME ROMANCE
This 1940s love story comes with an unexpected twist
Ayoung man sat alone. He smoked slowly, pensively, two cigarettes in a row. The tobacco lulled and dulled his senses, creating a temporary, false sense of well-being. His cigarette lighter bore the insignia of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Nicholas Oxford’s mind’s eye was occupied with the alluring image of the beguiling Allanah Dell. The trouble was that Nicholas wanted to take life lightly. He was not interested in marriage. After what he had recently witnessed during the war, and after all the hardship, and strict discipline he had endured throughout his short life, this young fighter pilot wanted to be foot-loose and fancy-free.
Allanah was a somewhat serious woman determinedly intent on marriage. According to Miss Dell, there were two types of men—marriage prospects or non-marriage prospects.
Nicholas and Allanah had been dating, dining and dancing for over five months. Allanah would only allow good night kisses but each kiss was deeper, sweeter and lasted longer. Nick had a kind, handsome face with vivid green eyes and a seductive full-lipped mouth. His thick dark hair was worn in a modern upswept style, slightly too long. Nick wore expensive silk ties, stylishly baggy suits and possessed a sharp sense of humor, tempered with keen intelligence. He’d recently inherited a fortune from his paternal grandparents, which enabled him to discharge himself from the RCAF and purchase a small airplane. Nicholas took up residence at the Hotel Vancouver.
The old hotel had seen better days, and her demolition was planned for the following year. The Hotel Vancouver was home to quite a few veterans, courtesy of the government’s shortage of veteran housing. Nick knew he was living at the end of its era and he was extremely fond of the old hotel. He was familiar with nearly every nook, cranny and corner. The hotel was rumored to play host to a few ghosts. Nicholas settled temporarily into room 605.
Nick signaled to a waiter who brought him a glass of orange juice, into which he discreetly poured an illegal measure of Canadian whiskey.
“Cheers!” said Nick as he lit another cigarette and continued his musings on Allanah.
Allanah Dell’s eyes were pale blue and twinkly, set deep in her beautiful face. Her high cheekbones and exquisitely fine features bespoke her aristocratic lineage. Allanah was a rebel of a woman, years ahead of her time (barring the marriage desire.) She was blessed with a gorgeous singing voice. Great Aunty Dolly from London provided a modest income in the form of monthly deposits. This stipend of $72 a month
combined with money earned from singing, enabled Allanah to reside at the hotel as well.
Nick took the elevator to the fourth floor. He rapped boldly at Allanah’s door.
“Who is there?” called out Allanah. “Your lover man,” replied Nick.
“Oh, Nicholas! I have just stepped out of my bath and cannot invite you in now.” “Miss you, darling” said Nick.
“Hmmm...” replied Allanah.
“Meet me on the roof in 25 minutes.”
“Your wish is my command my lady,” said Nick. “Oh and Nick, next time you should call ahead first before you come knocking on a lady’s door.”
Nick thought she did not sound displeased. He took the stairs up to his floor in high spirits. After changing, Nick pushed the button to the penthouse floor, surprised at the absence of an elevator operator. The elevator came to a shaky halt on the 14th (actually 13th) floor. Slowly the elevator door opened and Nick stepped out, planning on taking the stairs all the way up to the roof because the elevator seemed a bit dodgy to him. A beautiful brunette stood outside the elevator. She was alone and crying, tears streaming down her rouged cheeks. She wore a formal, red velvet, floor-length ballgown. Her feet were bare—and dirty. Nick gallantly reached out to comfort her. She looked right through him and then, unbelievably, walked right through him. The lady in red ran down the elegant hallway and rushed away, weeping hysterically.
Nick, overcome by curiosity, followed her. The woman ran out onto Georgia Street through the revolving lobby doors. Nick chased after her for a few blocks, but she was too swift for him. She disappeared into the rainy night, clad only in her scarlet ball gown.
Nick returned to the hotel, where the woman in red suddenly re-appeared, muttering, “Where is it, where did I leave it, where is he?”
Nick glanced at the grandfather clock in the lobby and gasped in surprise. Two hours had elapsed. He was puzzled and, moreover, worried about Allanah’s reaction to his lateness.
With a thumping heart Nicholas arrived at the roof top lounge, but there was no trace of Allanah. Frantically, Nicholas pounded on her door where he could hear her sobbing.
“Just go away,” said Allanah.
She was embarrassed to be stood up by him. As she had waited alone, several eager men had approached her oering companionship, which only made it worse. “I will never speak to him again!”
She did forgive Nick the very next morning. They made up over buttered brown toast wrapped in a linen napkin, strawberry jam and strong, milky coee. He then tried to explain his encounter with the strange woman, and the odd time lapse.
To his surprise, Allanah was quietly amused. Nick had expected jealousy!
Nicholas immediately dropped to one knee and, gazing into Allanah’s eyes asked, “Allanah, will you be my wife?” She happily accepted his proposal.