Anyone Else But Me

Book Four of the Dace family saga. Time passes. A world at war marches relentlessly on, and on the home front, for Clarice Dace, hers is a whole new world. Free at last from the shackles of her restricting marriage, she begins to build a fresh life for herself. But how much has really changed? Reality continually fails to match her aspirations. The man in whom she had invested all her hopes is now a prisoner-of-war, far, far away, and loneliness soon undermines any initial sense of freedom. Meanwhile, for her husband, Benjamin, left behind in Littlehampton, his own aspirations – be they political, financial or romantic – are constantly thwarted, and the responsibility of looking after their two children weighs heavily on his shoulders. His son, Michael, a boy on the cusp of manhood, yearns to spread his wings and fly the coop. And Alice, his daughter, exhibits all the traits of a young girl, growing up. Traits which are quite beyond Benjamin’s comprehension. A further fracture in the family edifice is inevitable and, after being thrown out by his father following a particularly heated argument that escalates into violence, Michael has no choice but to join his mother in Worthing. The situation seems unsatisfactory for both parties but, for Clarice, it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. A new year brings fresh hope, giving her the resilience and determination to make an even more major change in her life, when the chance presents itself. A chance that Clarice grasps with both hands.