The Departure
In 1953 New York City, Anne Deveraux’s world fractured once more. Married to Danny Deveraux, a charismatic bandleader known for his many infidelities, Anne decided to end the marriage after discovering yet another affair. With a resolve hardened by years of betrayal, she gathered her two sons, 15-year-old George and the older, more delicate Robbie, and left their life behind.
The Journey Westward
A plan was set in motion. Anne would traverse the United States, seeking a husband who could offer financial security and stability for her and her boys. George assumed the role of chauffeur, guiding their old car from city to city. Their first stops were Boston and Pittsburgh, where Anne’s attempts at securing a new partner quickly unraveled.
Disappointment followed when a once-adoring suitor deemed her too old to pursue. In a moment of despair, Anne struck up a conversation with a stranger in a bar, unaware he was an undercover detective. Accused of solicitation, she faced humiliation and yet another setback.
Fractures in the Family
Meanwhile, George met with Danny during one of his tours. Longing for the familiarity of home, George pleaded with his father to take him back to New York. Danny, too committed to his itinerant career, refused. From this rejection, George learned two things: his father had attempted to send money to help, but Anne had returned it each time; and more painfully, that Danny’s love was conditional and distant.
St. Louis and Shattered Hopes
The family’s dwindling funds forced Anne to seek refuge in St. Louis, where her estranged sister lived. Their reunion was strained, but Anne found work at a paint store and became engaged to the store owner. The brief hope was crushed when it was revealed that the man was both mentally unstable and already married. Anne accepted a payoff from his family and prepared to leave.
It was here that George made a pivotal decision. Tired of instability, he chose to stay behind with Anne’s sister, a move that sparked a bitter argument. Anne, masking her heartbreak with resignation, accepted his choice. Robbie, now stepping into the role George once held, accompanied Anne as they continued west.
Desperation and Theft
While near Albuquerque, Anne and Robbie’s fortunes worsened. Offering a ride to two drifters in exchange for gas money, they were instead robbed of their remaining possessions. Stranded and shaken, Robbie contacted George. Learning that Anne had left money to cover his care, George realized her sacrifices were deeper than he had understood.
With renewed loyalty, George retrieved the leftover money and boarded a bus, reuniting with Anne and Robbie somewhere in the Southwest. The fractured family, worn and tested, moved forward together.
A New Start in Los Angeles
The trio arrived in Los Angeles, settling into a shabby apartment that mirrored their battered hopes. One evening, Anne returned home to find Danny waiting. He extended an invitation to return to New York with him, asking if she still loved him. Anne replied not with romance, but with strength: she no longer needed him.
Danny departed, leaving behind the ghost of a life Anne had long since outgrown. She forged ahead, determined to find a way forward. The family secured work as extras in Hollywood films, clinging to dreams of success.
Unexpected Opportunities
Amidst the backdrop of movie sets, Anne caught the attention of a producer. A door was opened for Robbie to audition for a starring role, a chance that seemed to validate all of Anne’s perseverance. George, witnessing this momentum, began to believe in his mother’s instincts.
Hope was soon shadowed by tragedy. A phone call delivered the news of Danny’s death from a heart attack. Grief tempered their progress. George flew back to New York to attend the funeral, with Anne’s blessing to remain there and attend his former prep school on scholarship.
Homecoming and New Beginnings
But New York could no longer hold him. George realized his true place was beside his family. Without warning, he returned to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, he found Robbie struggling on a film set, attempting to deliver his lines. George, stepping in to assist, revealed a natural talent for acting.
The discovery shifted their paths. Robbie, recognizing where his true interests lay, left acting behind to pursue work in costuming. George, meanwhile, stepped into a new world, one he had not anticipated.
Legacy of Independence
In the closing chapter, George reflected on the journey that had shaped him. With a burgeoning career in Hollywood and a new surname, “Hamilton”—his father’s real name—he embraced a future built not on dependency, but resilience.
The road they traveled had been paved with betrayal, hardship, and loss. Yet in those struggles, Anne, Robbie, and George found something more enduring than security: the realization that they could survive, thrive, and carve out a life by their own hands.
Together, they had learned that they were enough. And together, they would be just fine.
