Damned by Logic Read Online Free PDF

life would be very grey until she was next with him? He was already thinking about her and now that he had landed back to reality with a jolt, he found himself questioning the validity of their relationship. No, he must stop that, he chided himself. All would work out and she would get in touch when she could. Meanwhile, back to reality.
    â€˜Are you coming down?’ Eileen called out impatiently.
    â€˜On my way.’ He brought his present out of the suitcase. An attractive, tooled-leather handbag, in a pink coloured box – her favourite colour.
    He went downstairs and into the kitchen. ‘A little something, dear, to make up for your being left on your own.’
    She unwrapped the handbag, examined its interior. ‘It’s a pity there aren’t more compartments for all the things I have to carry. The meal’s in the oven, apple pie is in the fridge.’
    He ate in the dining room. There was room in the kitchen for a corner table and two chairs and he would have set them up, but ‘they’ ate in the kitchen, ‘we’ do not.
    The front doorbell rang. He heard the newcomer talking to Eileen, but had to guess who she was because the kitchen door had swung shut. Judy – fun but condemned for flirting with other husbands; Gertrude – her looks suited her name; Yvette – a keen member of the local dramatic society, not nearly as good as she thought herself. He helped himself to a second portion of apple pie, poured over it more cream than Eileen would have approved.
    â€˜David,’ she called out, ‘come on in and say hullo to Babs.’
    Barbara – avid collector of gossip, preferably defamatory in nature.
    He finished eating, went through to the drawing room, as Eileen liked it to be called. He would have considered Barbara attractive – in appearance – had she not used so much make-up and dressed for effect.
    â€˜Just back from your cruise, then,’ Barbara said, stating the obvious as if it was an unexpected surprise. She came forward for a cheek kiss-kiss. ‘Did you enjoy it?’
    â€˜Parts more than others.’
    â€˜Babs is booked on a cruise to the West Indies,’ Eileen said.
    â€˜One of the few places left which still has some class,’ Barbara observed.
    The two discussed the new shop which had opened in the High Street. Barbara judged the dresses as of very medium quality, but, of course, one had to spend in order to be elegant.
    She proved there was no connection between cost and elegance, he thought.
    Eileen said she’d bought a very pretty blouse at the established dress shop in Market Road and Barbara must see it.
    â€˜I simply haven’t the time. I’m meant to be giving Teresa help with organizing an appeal in aid of something-or-other.’
    â€˜It won’t take five minutes.’
    As he heard them going upstairs, he recalled the afternoon in Madeira when Melanie had bought two – or was it three – embroidered blouses.
    When they returned, he stood. One of his few habits to gain Eileen’s approval was his manners, installed by parents who had held that times might change, respect for others did not.
    â€˜What a strange looking monkey,’ Babs said.
    â€˜Sorry?’
    â€˜Where has your mind just been? The monkey on your bed. I’ve never thought you to be the kind of man who buys mementoes of trips. They’re always so mundane and badly made.’
    â€˜He has no taste,’ Eileen said hostilely.
    â€˜Does any husband? I really must get a move on or Teresa will think I can’t be bothered to help. Goodbye, David.’
    Cheek kiss-kisses.
    They chatted at the front door before Eileen returned to the drawing room. ‘What the hell’s been going on?’ she demanded.
    â€˜What’s the matter?’
    Her voice rose. ‘Don’t try to make out you don’t know. D’you think I’m blind?’
    â€˜Depends if you want to see what