Falling Read Online Free PDF

gave to herself when she left the bank, and the last time she would spend serious money on something so utterly frivolous. She hasn’t taken it off since.
    Sophie is with her, rather more done up. Sophie has known about the Fat Hen all her life, but she hasn’t ever been to the bar before, although Rob has. He warned her she was a little too dressed up, but Sophie paid him no mind. She dressed for herself, she’d told her husband, not for the bar she was going to, and so she had, wearing towering platforms, white jeans, a flowing shirt. With dangling earrings and blown-out hair, she gets admiring glances from the men at the bar as she walks in, as tall and slim as a model, and so very much more glamorous than most of the women here.
    Dominic is chatting with a group at the other end of the bar, and as he looks over, he notices Sophie first, then lights up as he sees Emma.
    â€œHey!” He comes over with a grin, clearly thrilled they are here, thrilled to show off his workplace. “You made it!”
    â€œI did.” Emma finds she has to shout. “This is my friend Sophie.”
    They shake hands as Dominic turns to a couple of guys sitting on stools. “Hey! Get a move on, and let these ladies sit down.”
    â€œNo, no, it’s fine,” Emma starts to say, but the men immediately stand up and offer their stools. Smiling a grateful thanks, she and Sophie sit down as Dominic pours them a couple of shots and slides them over.
    â€œ
Salut
,” he says, pouring himself one, too. The three of them down the shots in unison. “Welcome to the neighborhood.” He smiles, instantly refilling their glasses.
    â€œBugger,” says Emma, as she lifts the glass to her mouth. “We’re not going to be driving home after this, are we?”
    â€œThat, my darling,” says Sophie, downing the second drink, “is what Uber is for.”
    Dominic, overhearing, snorts as he shakes his head. “You bankers,” he says. “Uber!”
    â€œI’m not a banker,” Sophie says defensively, although she’s smiling. “Anymore. If I were, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”
    â€œGood point,” says Dominic. “Another shot?”
    â€œNo!” Emma interjects. “No more shots. Let’s have proper drinks. I’ll have a vodka martini, up, with olives. Sophie?”
    â€œVodka and grapefruit juice.”
    â€œComing right up, ladies.”
    Sophie leans toward Emma as Dominic turns to pour the drinks. “He is very cute,” she says. “If I weren’t married . . .”
    â€œThankfully you are, and thankfully, I am not you.”
    Sophie looks up as Dominic approaches. “So, Dominic. I saw your very cute son today. How old is he?”
    Dominic’s face breaks into a smile at the mention of his son. “He just turned six, and thank you. He is very cute, I agree. Jesse. Light of my life.”
    â€œDo you have a sitter?”
    â€œI have a few. A friend’s daughter often comes over when I’m working, then there’s a high school student around the corner, and I have an old friend who fills in if I can’t find anyone else. They’re all great with him. He’s the kind of kid who will go to anyone.”
    â€œWhere’s his mom? Is she in town?”
    Emma tries to catch Sophie’s eye to give her a warning look—this feels far too intrusive to ask someone she doesn’t know—but Dominic is unfazed.
    â€œHis mom took off just after he was born. She didn’t want a kid, but by the time she found out she was pregnant it was too late. She had him, then left when he was about four months old.”
    Sophie’s mouth opens in shock. “Are you serious? She’s not in touch with you at all?”
    Dominic shrugs. “Nope. I tried. I used to e-mail her pictures of Jesse and updates about what he was up to, but then the e-mails started bouncing back. We