Daffodils in March Read Online Free PDF Page B

had he overheard?
    Hanna jumped and spun around to face the door, her hand on her chest. “Oh, you scared me.”
    “I didn’t mean to. I was being quiet in case Marc was sleeping. I cancelled my meeting, so that I could take you.”
    “Thank you.”
    He actually smiled. “What time is the flight?”
    “Four thirty. Although the conference doesn’t start until Monday, so maybe I cancel the flight and go up tomorrow instead.”
    He shook his head. “You’ve had it booked for ages. No sense in paying a late cancellation fee on top of another flight. Besides, this way you can spend tomorrow in that spa you’ve been talking about. Or catch up on your beauty sleep.”
    Hanna tossed her teddy bear at him. “Are you saying I’m ugly?”
    David caught the bear and laughed. “Pretty ugly. Aren’t you taking him?”
    She shook her head. “No. About time I travelled without him.”
    “Awww, look at that.” He grinned and stuck the bear at the end of Marc’s cot. “My baby sister has finally got all-growed-up . Should probably leave soon, if you’re going to make check in.”
    For a moment, he seemed to be the David Eden knew. The full, rich laugh, and eyes that sparkled as he teased and joked with his sister. Then the shutters came down again and the dark, sinister man stood there once more.
    He took the case and flight bag. “I’ll go put these in the car.”
    Hanna hugged Eden. “Call if there’s a problem.”
    “I will, but there won’t be. You’re only going to be gone a week.”
    “OK.” Hanna picked up the baby. “Mummy’s going to miss you.”
    Marc smiled, reaching out and tugging her hair. He gurgled happily.
    “I don’t want to go.” Hanna hugged Marc tightly.
    Eden smiled. “You’ll be back before you know it.”
    “Come on, Han,” David’s voice echoed up the stairs. “If we hit traffic we’re stuffed. I don’t want to have to speed either. It’s raining cats and dogs out here.”
    Hanna kissed the baby one last time and handed him to Eden. “Be good for Auntie Eden.”
    “He always is.” Eden sat Marc on her hip and followed Hanna down the stairs. She stood in the doorway, helping Marc wave ’bye. She watched the car disappear then shut the door. “Let’s go and put some music on.”
    She headed into the lounge and shook her head, seeing Hanna’s favorite cardigan tossed onto the back of the sofa. “So much for taking it with her. Your mum would forget her head it if wasn’t screwed on.”
    ****
    David parked in the short-stay car park.
    Hanna looked at him. “You don’t have to stay. These places cost an arm and a leg and I’m sure you’ve got better things to spend your money on.”
    “I want to.” He pulled the case and bag from the boot.
    “You need to be nice to Eden while I’m gone.” Hanna picked up her flight bag and put it over the handle of the rolling case.
    He rolled his eyes. “Why?”
    “Because she’s my best friend and Marc’s aunt, that’s why.”
    “Is that why you employed her?” he asked, walking towards the departure hall with her.
    “Partly. Her previous employer dumped her with only a week’s notice and she needed a job. But there is no one I trust more with Marc than her.” Hanna sighed. “And you’ve been on her back since she moved in. You complain about her every move. She can’t even breathe without annoying you. What went wrong between you two? I honestly thought you were going to propose when Eric did.”
    He held in the groan. “You’d have liked that, wouldn’t you? It’d fit in with the plans you two had made. But stuff happens, you know. We broke up. End of.” He waited quietly while Hanna checked in.
    “Well, be nice to her—for me,” she said as she turned, holding her boarding card.
    “Fine,” he muttered, hugging her. “Have a safe trip. I’ll be here on Friday evening. Well, not here here because this is the departure lounge, but you know what I mean.”
    “I know. Thank you. See you then. I love