Club Wonderland Read Online Free PDF

of those details—and wanted Alice to drive up to Barrie to spend a week with her.
    “The doctor wants to run some tests. It would be nice to have my daughter there with me in case it’s something serious.”
    “Mom, I can’t take a week off work. I only have a bit of vacation left, and I’m going to need that at Christmas time. You wanted me to come up for Christmas, right?”
    “I’m sure if you spoke with your boss he’d give you some time to check on me. They’re lawyers, not animals, after all.”
    There was no way she’d win this argument. “I’ll ask Mr. Murphy tomorrow and see if there is something I can work out.”
    “Good.” Now that her mother had gotten her way, the conversation turned to the next item on her list. “Are you seeing anyone?”
    “No, Mom.”
    “No one you have an interest in?”
    Alice rolled her eyes. “Mom, of course there are men I’m interested in.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t want to assume. If you’re a lesbian, you know I wouldn’t care and I’d love you regardless. Unless you’re dating that Petra girl. I couldn’t handle having her as a daughter-in-law. With your looks and talent you can do much better than that.”
    “Mom! I’m not gay and Petra is out right now with a man. She’s who I thought was calling. She was having sex.”
    “Oh. Well good for her.” Alice could hear her mother’s frustration coming down the phone line. “I just don’t understand why you’re still alone in your life. You’re a beautiful, smart girl. You should have men tripping over themselves to be with you.”
    Normally, Alice would brush her mother’s comments off as little more than her normal parental berating. But there was something off in her tone, not to mention the time of night that this particular conversation was occurring. Sitting up a bit straighter, Alice switched the phone to her other ear.
    “Mom, are you okay?”
    “What? I’m fine.”
    “You just don’t sound like yourself.”
    The pause on the other end went on far longer than Alice would have liked. “I’m tired. I’ve been having trouble sleeping recently.”
    “Why don’t you take something?”
    “It’s fine, sweetheart. And don’t think you can get out of answering my question that easily.”
    Oh well. It was worth a shot. “I’ve been dating. A bit. I just haven’t met the right man yet.”
    Thankfully, her mother wasn’t here or she’d be able to tell what a complete and utter lie that was. Gael might be a bit distant and clearly not interested in starting anything up with her, but there was something about him that was just about perfect for her. Alice didn’t know why, but whenever she was in a room with him she could feel a tremor resonating deep inside her chest. An invisible string deep in her chest that tightened in his presence and his alone.
    “Well, I certainly don’t want you to settle. Any man who isn’t perfect doesn’t deserve you.”
    And just like that any annoyance she’d felt poofed away. “Thanks, Mom.”
    “You’re my baby and I love you.”
    They continued their chat much as they did every other conversation they normally had, until her mother yawned three times in a row.
    “Go to bed, Mum.”
    “There’s no point. I won’t last longer than an hour or two.”
    “Hey, that’s better than nothing. If this keeps up more than another day or so you really should go see your doctor.”
    “That man’s an idiot. If we had another family doctor taking patients in the city, I’d switch faster than—”
    “Mom...”
    “Fine. I’ll go. Though, I better be able to sleep. I’ve run out of books to read.”
    They said their good-nights, but even after Alice hung up the phone something still niggled at the back of her mind. Although her relationship with her mom had been a bit strained ever since she’d refused to continue her pursuit of a modeling career, Alice loved her. They talked frequently, and she made a point of seeing her whenever she could manage to