Best Laid Plans Read Online Free PDF Page B

round the edges and spoke with a Lancashire accent but it was the twentieth not the eighteenth century and that sort of thing should not matter anymore. How foolish, because it mattered every bit as much. In the event, her parents mellowed over the years, loving their grandchildren, spoiling them, growing to respect Frank in turn although she was sure they never liked him but it was a relief in a way that they were no longer around because she would have hated to admit to them that perhaps with that wonderful thing – hindsight – she
had
been a touch hasty.
     
    After Frank was gone, she made herself a cup of coffee. The daylight or what had passed for it today was fading fast and although it was only mid-afternoon she switched on the lamps and drew the curtains over. They were not overlooked and they kept the whole house at a constantpleasantly warm temperature but it felt cosier to shut out the late afternoon gloom. She loved this room, the formal drawing room that had been off-limits to the children when they were young. This was the grown-up room with its silky striped sofas and beautiful pieces of antique furniture that she had lovingly collected over the years.
    Sipping her coffee, Christine sighed, catching sight of the family photographs on a side table. There was one of her parents and Frank’s parents, of Amy at sixteen, dark hair up in a ponytail, eyes shining, looking so pretty and one of Mike, a year younger, already struggling with his school work whereas his sister just sailed through.
    If only Monique would have a baby, then she could take on the role of grandmother with enthusiasm but she could hardly suggest it outright – although she had given more than enough hints. Frank was right yet again for she knew she was wasting her time with Amy. She was tempted to ring her right now but it was a work day for her and you never knew what important meeting she might be in. She rarely rang her at work, although that Janet woman sounded very nice and always put her through if possible.
    She would ring Monique instead, knowing that her beautiful, shy daughter-in-law would be much more agreeable to dropping whatever she might be doing for a girly chat. In the event the phone line was busy and she did not bother to leave a message. She would try later.

Chapter Three
    M onique Fletcher was on the phone to her lover Sol.
    ‘Hello darling,’ he said at once, when she picked up even before she recited the number.
    ‘How did you know it was me?’ she asked irritably. ‘I could have been anyone.’
    ‘There’s never anybody else there. You are neurotic these days.’
    ‘I wish you wouldn’t ring me at home on this phone,’ she persisted. ‘To be honest I’d rather you didn’t ring at all but if you do, use my mobile.’
    ‘You are joking? How could we have an intimate conversation if you’re in the middle of Tesco?’
    ‘Text me, then.’
    ‘Like hell. Texts can be traced, darling.’
    ‘And so can phone calls,’ she replied tartly.
    ‘What’s your problem? Is he having you watched? Is the phone bugged?’ His voice was full of derision and she very nearly slammed the phone down on him. Solomon Diamond – yes that really was his name – could be rude and arrogant, qualities she abhorred, but on the flip side there was this sexy languorous man that she found unbelievably exciting and attractive. One touch from him and she took leave of all her senses and she hated that she was so in thrall to him. ‘What’s your problem, Monique?’ he repeated. ‘It’s the middle of the afternoon. That husband of yours is at work,isn’t he?’
    He never referred to Mike by name, always a variation of ‘that husband of yours’.
    ‘He is but that’s not the point. He could have answered the phone and then what would you have said?’
    His laugh was low, untroubled. ‘Wrong number or I could have pretended I was calling about double glazing and he would have put the phone down pretty damned quick. What