Conditional Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

doesn’t want to be loved? But leaving the will out of it for a moment, would you have wanted to meet your dad if you had the chance?’
    I opened my mouth, but Jess continued her diatribe. ‘No, you wouldn’t. And I wouldn’t blame you. It would break your mum’s heart.’
    Jess smiled, a trifle patronisingly if I was honest, and patted my knee. ‘And this inheritance – money, a house – would force you to face up to the future. And I don’t think you’re ready for the future just yet.’ She picked up her red pen again to carry on with her marking.
    ‘Bollocks.’ Emma walked in, handed me a cup of tea and rolled her eyes. ‘Just meet the man, take the money and move on. Simple as.’
    Emma pushed the ironing pile off the comfy chair by the window and dropped into the seat, slinging her long slim legs over the arm.
    I groaned. They were both right. I was convinced that one day I would know exactly what to do with my life and then my nest egg would help me build a fulfilling and satisfying career and fund a home of my own – or our own, if I’d still been with Marc.
    But while I waited for that moment of clarity, I was happy coasting along and procrastinating. If I inherited Aunt Jane’s money, I would have no excuse for not moving out of my comfort zone and getting on with it: a prospect that frightened the life out of me. Especially now I didn’t have Marc to hold my hand. Even I realised how pathetic that made me sound.
    Emma had a point; even though meeting the condition of the will would mean going through a huge pain barrier, inheriting that house would change my life.
    The two sisters were glaring at each other. I decided to change the subject.
    ‘Tell you what, if Great Aunt Jane is anything to go by, I’m in for a good innings,’ I said, taking a sip of tea. ‘She was nearly ninety and still living on her own. The solicitor said she refused all offers of help and was fiercely independent.’
    ‘She sounds as tough as old boots,’ said Emma. ‘Glad someone in your family has some balls.’
    I stuck my tongue out at her. ‘She died peacefully in her sleep. Her neighbour went round the next day and found her in bed. Apparently they used to phone each other every morning to make sure they’d both made it through the night.’
    ‘Ah, that’s so sweet,’ said Jess, looking up from her books. ‘Will you call me when I’m old, Sis, to check I’m still alive?’
    Emma raised an eyebrow. ‘I doubt very much that you’ll die alone. You’ll probably kick the bucket in bed with a toy boy.’
    Jess smiled primly. ‘Well, you’ll be on your own, so I’ll phone you. Every day.’
    ‘At least I won’t need a Y-shaped coffin.’
    I felt my eyelids droop. I yawned and heaved myself up off the sofa. ‘Goodnight all.’
    Emma pulled a disappointed face. ‘I was going to crack open a bottle and toast your inheritance.’
    My heart sank. I felt a bit churlish not being more upbeat about this unexpected turn of events, but it was too soon to start celebrating. ‘Sorry, Em, can we take a rain check on it for now?’
    ‘Finished.’ Jess snapped the final exercise book shut and put her pen down. Her face fell. ‘You’re not going to bed? Aww, I thought we could all watch Fiddler on the Roof tonight?’
    I suppressed a giggle as Emma pretended to slash her wrists with an imaginary blade.
    ‘You’ll watch it with her, won’t you, Em?’
    Emma narrowed her eyes and glared. ‘Traitor.’

six
    With scented candles lit and the main light off, the mildew around the bath was hardly visible and I could almost forget that I was in the flat’s grotty bathroom. I relaxed down into the bubbles until only my head was above the water. I transported myself to another world, imagining that I was luxuriating in a roll-top bath like in chocolate adverts, surrounded by acres of marble tiles and piles of fluffy towels.
    Perched next to me, on top of the loo seat, was the letter from Great Aunt Jane. I knew it