5 Peppermint Grove Read Online Free PDF Page B

answered the door. He leaned forward, expecting a peck on his cheek, but an air-kiss was as much as he got.
    “Julia, how nice to see you again!” he said in cool low tone.
    “I didn’t know that you were going to be here!” she exclaimed, taking off her coat and placing it at the end of the banisters.
    “That’s a lovely welcome for your brother-in-law!”
    “You are my sister’s brother-in-law but we , I am pleased to say, are not related!”
    “Better put the smile on before we go in to the Brady Bunch,” Dylan quipped. “They’re in the front room.”
    How Craig’s brother infuriated Julia! He was always so smart and chirpy in such a condescending manner. Odette assured her that he didn’t behave this way normally and it was an effect that Julia had on him.
     
    Odette unloaded the clean cutlery and crockery from the dishwasher. She felt so lonely in the kitchen now. Craig was upstairs putting the children to bed. She would never have believed that it was possible to feel lonely in a house with a husband and two beautiful children – but she did. She wasn’t able to speak with Craig about things that mattered any more. He was usually grumpy when he came in from work. The presence of her sister and his brother earlier had diverted the discomfort between them for a while but when they left the peculiar ennui that had settled between husband and wife for the past two years had returned.
    She wanted another baby – she was sure that she did. However, she was well aware that she needed to be having sex in order for that to happen. The truth was that Craig hadn’t touched her once over the last six months.
    It was probably her fault to start – her way of punishing him for not wanting a baby. She would never have believed that she would use sex as a weapon – she had read about women doing it in Cosmopolitan and similar magazines and she had laughed, thinking she would never be like that. She tried to think back to when her life had become humdrum. Why couldn’t she be happy? She had so much to be thankful for and yet she was miserable. Maybe it was the long hours that Craig worked – maybe it was the competition of the mothers at the school – maybe it was the fact that she had never travelled or had adventure in her life. She had never wanted adventure but now she was feeling unchallenged and stifled by the fact that the only sense of self-worth she got was from her children’s spelling-test results and participation in activities. Another baby would keep her busy and happy for now. Julia couldn’t understand – she was in a totally different world. Odette wished that she herself was as focused and self-assured.
     
    Carol settled down for her first game of the evening. She liked this time of the day. Several Australian bridge players who were early risers liked an online game after breakfast. The weather sounded divine – especially in comparison to the dark Dublin evenings. Bob was on and so was Helen. It was comforting to have a nice game with players who were like-minded and of similar ability. Suddenly she got a message from Greta in Monaghan. Greta was recently widowed so Carol liked to lend her a sympathetic ear – or the online equivalent. Greta lived alone but had a grown-up daughter and two sons who seemed to be in her house often. She and Carol shared a love of crime novels and often compared notes and suggested new titles. She had never actually spoken to Greta but they corresponded while playing bridge and she often made a new table to accommodate Greta.
    Julia entered the living room and started to speak but her mother interrupted.
    “I’m just playing out this hand, dear – would you put the kettle on and I’ll be in to the kitchen when we’re finished here.”
    It was hopeless. Julia had to control her tongue.
    Suddenly Carol’s phone bleeped.
    “Can you check that message for me, Julia, please – I’m expecting word from Treasa – she wants me to make up a table with