| While David was soaking in the bath and wondering how to turn his life around, his thoughts turned to Alfie Clark, the son of his ex lover. David had not only assumed that he was Alfie’s Father but also that Alfie knew this to be the case. As David started to think straight for the first time in 20 years he began to doubt the likelihood of Alfie believing this assumption to be true. The last time he'd seen Helen Dennison she was with the lad that so closely resembled her; there could be no doubt as to them being Mother and Son. They were laughing in the Street outside Ede & Ravenscroft and looking in his direction; a week later David recognised the lad outside Kilgour parking up a scooter and they’d had words. David had also believed the confrontation with the lad had lead to his dismissal from Anderson & Sheppard, but he now realised his cards had been marked long before, due to his own attitude towards the customers who in effect paid his wages. Tracie relaxed in the sumptuous leather seats in the back of Johnny Allen’s Dad's Daimler on the way to the airport, she was exited about visiting Paris for the first time, flying for the first time, and getting away from London for the first time in two years. Johnny and Alfie were talking shop, earlier that morning Johnny had collected the two pairs of breaks (tweed trousers) that David St John had made to be worn with the Jacket Alfie had just finished. “My Father says 'the thing about St John is for all his faults, he’s one of the best trouser makers in the business', and Huntsman only uses the best.” Johnny explained to Alfie, “So does that make me one of the best coat makers?” Alfie enquired. “Put it this way, it’s become almost a standing joke that it’s always a Kilgour boy that wins the tailoring competitions. This year we thought we’d got it in the bag, our lad is brilliant, but when you turned up with the outfit you’d made; everyone knew from the off you, were the better tailor. After a hearty full English, David St John decided to grab the bull by the horns and call on Alfie to straighten things out once and for all. To say he was surprised when he got to the small cottage at the Whetstone end of the Lane was an understatement. He felt ashamed at what he found out from Alfie's Mother who was looking after the place for the week , and realised he still loved her. |