1910s: New Years Eve in Del Sol Valley and the End of a Decade

 

New years Eve starts early for the Whittaker family as they gather outside their house to say goodbye to their girls. All three are leaving, Anna and Alice together, making the long journey to Del Sol Valley, and Josephine and Nash are headed for Britechester, where his stepfather, the reverend, has arranged a flat for them. They aren't leaving as early, but has gathered with everyone else to take their farewells to Anna and Alice. There are a lot of hugs and some sad faces, and William especially hugs Anna the hardest and says she's his favourite sister. 

Even though Josephine and Nash leave later in the day, they arrive in Britechester much earlier, as the trip is not nearly as long. Standing outside their new building, Josephine feels like her real life is just about to begin. She's almost nervous to go inside.

Once she is, she sort of want to go back outside. The apartment is cramped, with only two rooms and the smallest kitchen Josephine has ever seen in her life. It does not even have a separate dining room! She tries to hide her disappointment and tell herself that it's only temporary, until Nash has finished university and started a career. Two years, possibly two and a half, then surely they'll be able to move out and into a real home? She sets her mind to not complaining and making the most of the situation. As the neighbors comes to visit (and walks right in without knocking!!!) 

Josephine makes dinner and puts on a brave face. Nash will have no reason to be ashamed of his wife! Nash is not blind, however, and when it's time to pay up for this semester's studies, he opts to pay with a loan. After all, investments are lucrative, and economics is the subject of the future. Once he's through university he'll be able to pay back the loans in no time.

In the mean time, Alice and Anna have finally arrived in Del Sol Valley, and Alice takes quite a bit of pride in showing Anna around her apartment. It's also a one bedroom apartment, and the dining room is here - as in Britechester - in the same room. But it is a lot bigger than Josephines, with a hallway and a dressing room and a communal pool in the building. For Alice it's just the right type of place for her. Anna is duly impressed, and promises that she won't mind at all sharing a bed with her sister until she's off for Selvadorada.

The rest of the evening the two sisters spend getting ready for the new years party that Ms Ward is hosting that night. It's the kind of party Anna has never been to, far from the stuffy balls that the Duncans' hosts every year. Loud jazz music is playing from the stereo, a bartender has been hired, there is poker playing and dancing going around and every other person is someone that Anna has seen in magazines and in movies.

Anna is quite the success, and manages to truly impress one of the biggest actors in Del Sol Valley with her stories from the war (told without all the gruesome details).

But in all this, there are two who are looking a lot at each other that night. As the drinks go down, caution is thrown to the wind, and as Anna return to their apartment to sleep, Alice knocks on another door.

If Anna's tale of her and Maurice has taught her anything, it's that life is short and unexpected. She's done playing pretend and taking it easy. She's noticed the looks Cora is giving her. Once inside she does what she has wanted to do for some time, and kiss the woman who has caught her imagination. One thing leads to another, and Alice never does go home that night. As 1919 gives way to 1920 Alice truly discovers what two women can do with each other.