The Secret Love Letters. Dolores San Miguel

has been wonderful,’ said Mrs San Miguel. ‘In Seville, old houses have given place to beautiful modern hotels like the Alfonso the Thirteenth, where all the smart people go for tea between five and six o’clock, and dance afterwards. Wherever you travel now in Spain you find someone who can speak both French and English. The accommodation is excellent, cheaper than in England, and is cheap as in the rest of Europe. Americans travel there in hundreds. Everything is modernised. The Spanish dance all the modern dances beautifully. If you want to see the old Moorish dances you have to go to special cafes, where they are now a feature. Education is spreading among the poor of Spain. Girls and young women have more freedom than they ever had. Yes, many of them today choose their own husbands.’

      The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash on 29 October 1929, and rapidly spread worldwide. As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, low profits, deflation, and lost opportunities for economic growth. One of the casualties was the Ajax Tyre and Denby Motor Truck Agencies, including the Melbourne Suburban Bus Company. It affected Tony San Miguel very badly, causing him to have a complete nervous breakdown, and he was hospitalised for a number of weeks. He had lost everything he’d invested. Although Jaime also lost a portion, he hadn’t been a major player in the company, and immediately began looking for alternative employment.

      In early December, Jaime was given some wonderful news: he and Connie were expecting a baby, so now he would have a family to take care of. He obtained a job at the Dunlop Rubber Company, covering the sales of Solid and Pneumatic Tyres, including areas of their general lines to the mechanical section. Jaime was a natural salesman and loved his new job.

      On Friday 15 August 1930, Leon Jaime San Miguel was born, a beautiful, healthy baby boy. The couple were ecstatic, although throughout the pregnancy, Connie had been aloof and distant. Lovemaking had ceased altogether and six months after the birth, Jaime still hadn’t shared intimacy with his wife. He took his frustrations out by playing competitive tennis. He won a large number of trophies, and his golf games became more frequent. Having no interest in his hobbies, Connie would whinge and complain on his arrival home, hurting his feelings when she failed to congratulate him on winning a game. Heated arguments became a regular occurrence, and Connie’s depression again reared its ugly head. Despite all their problems, Jaime purchased a large property at 18 Stodart Street, Camberwell. The generous home with tennis court also included a self-contained flat above the garage. Not long after they moved in, Connie requested separate bedrooms.

      Jaime kept his marriage problems from his family. His youngest sister, Patricia had married Leslie Felix Henwood in 1926, and already had two children, Brett and Judy. Just before the birth of Leon, Lionel wed his fiancé, Myra Bullivant, while Ines remained a spinster. The one person Jaime did confide in was his old friend from Xavier College, John Cooke. John listened patiently to his good friend, but could not sympathise completely.

      ‘Jaime,’ he said shortly. ‘You married Connie on the rebound from Ally and you both had nothing in common. But you have a son now, so you must be patient with her.’

      Jaime tried, how very hard he tried, however, nothing he could say or do seemed to make Connie happy; indeed, not even their baby son could allay her misery.

      Jaime threw himself into his work, and soon became Dunlop’s top salesman. His salary increased with the money he was earning from his commission. Saturday afternoons he would spend on the golf course, often with brother Lionel, another keen player. Jaime adored his little boy and played with him often, but life with Connie was becoming unbearable. Shortly after moving into Stodart Street, he began attending Sunday morning mass at St Joseph’s in Malvern. Connie had not converted to marry Jaime, and therefore their marriage was performed in a side altar at Sacred Heart.

      One autumn Sunday he noticed a very pretty, vivacious girl chatting to a friend of his who belonged to the Malvern Younger Set, a social club for young residents of Malvern. He made his way over to his friend, hoping to gain an introduction.

      ‘Good morning Gerald, are we still on for that tennis match?’ Jaime reached out to shake his friend’s hand, adding, ‘I hope I’m not intruding,’ as he shot the young woman a beaming smile.

      ‘Not at all my good man. Let me introduce you. Fay Johnston, meet my tennis opponent and good friend, Jaime San Miguel.’

      Jaime extended his hand towards Fay, and their blue eyes met and held each other’s gaze. With a knowing smile, Gerald excused himself and left them chatting.

      The following Sunday Jaime encountered Fay again, and this time they spoke for an hour. Arrangements were made to meet for lunch in the city on Wednesday. Jaime felt a trace of guilt as he climbed into his A-Model Ford car to drive home to Stodart Street.