Divided Loyalties Read Online Free PDF

worry, I’ll mind her,’ Davey assured his aunt as he followed his little cousin to the water’s frothy edge. Olivia joined them, having carefully wrapped her
deceased crab in a tissue and given it to Carrie to mind. The trio squealed and danced in the foam, Chloe completely unafraid. It gave Shauna enormous pleasure to see how protective Olivia and
Davey were of her.
    She was really going to miss Carrie and the kids. When all was said and done, family was more important than anything.
    ‘Will you come out and visit? You’d still be able to fly,’ she asked, suddenly lonely.
    ‘It would be a bit of an adventure, wouldn’t it? I don’t know if Dan could manage it. I don’t think he’d leave his precious crops for two weeks and there
wouldn’t be much point in going all that way for less, would there?’ Carrie said doubtfully.
    ‘He could come for a week and you could come for two,’ Shauna urged. ‘Come out at Easter when the kids are off school.’
    ‘We’ll see. And we’ll see how I’m feeling. If I was waddling around like a big whale it wouldn’t be very comfortable.’
    ‘No, probably not,’ Shauna conceded.
    ‘I suppose we’d better get a move on if we’re going to see Dad,’ Carrie said reluctantly.
    ‘Pity we have to go, it’s lovely here. I could stay all afternoon,’ Shauna sighed, inhaling the salty air, turning her face to the buttery November sun. The sky was azure,
dotted with little cottonbuds of clouds, and the sea whispered against the shore, its lullaby peaceful and soothing. Miles of white sand unfurled on either side of her and the Mountains of Mourne
were hazy in the distance, a backdrop to the beacon in Mornington at the end of the pier, which stretched like a long finger into the sea.
    ‘Look at the capers of them. Chloe’s having a ball.’ She turned her gaze on the children.
    ‘I know. It’s nice, isn’t it? In another couple of years the age difference between Olivia and Chloe won’t mean a thing. They’ll be like sisters,’ Carrie
observed.
    ‘Yeah, they will, won’t they?’ The thought comforted Shauna. ‘Let’s make sure they’re always close.’
    ‘God, Shauna, you’re terribly maudlin today. Have you got PMT?’ Carrie eyed her quizzically.
    ‘No, I’m just over them. Started a new Pill pack last night, unfortunately.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘I guess I hadn’t factored in how much harder it would be to go
abroad this time. I suppose it’s because of Chloe and the kids.’
    ‘Don’t go then,’ Carrie retorted.
    ‘If we don’t go before Chloe starts school, we won’t go at all. It’s a good opportunity for Greg. He’s got a great new job out there. There’s loads of
building and development going on at the moment. It’s too good an opportunity to miss.’
    ‘But what about the Iraq war? Does that not worry you?’ Carrie asked bluntly.
    ‘Will you stop going on about it?’ Shauna said tetchily. ‘Of course it concerns me. But everyone we’ve spoken to out there maintains that it’s making no difference
to their lives, except at the airports, and that’s affecting us all.’
    ‘True,’ Carrie agreed, backing off.
    ‘Look, the first hint of danger and Chloe and I will be home, and Greg can stay if he likes,’ Shauna said reassuringly.
    ‘Don’t mind me. I was always a worrier.’ Carrie grinned.
    ‘Don’t I know it. I shared a bedroom with you for long enough. Remember the time there was a small earthquake in Wales and you were afraid to go asleep in case we had one and the
ceiling collapsed on top of us? You kept me awake all frigging night!’
    Carrie giggled. ‘It’s probably where Olivia gets her dramatics from, although she’s much more of a drama queen than I was.’
    ‘You had your moments,’ Shauna teased.
    ‘We better get our asses in gear. Don’t forget we’ve a funeral to go to as well as a hospital visit,’ Carrie said.
    ‘She’ll forget all about that,’ Shauna assured her as she manoeuvred