Homecoming Read Online Free PDF Page B

need the money,’ Emily blurted thoughtlessly.
    â€˜I can afford to live alone.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean to suggest you couldn’t.’
    â€˜No offence taken,’ Judy said evenly.
    â€˜And,’ Emily looked at the solitaire on Judy’s left hand, ‘you’ll be getting married yourself soon.’
    â€˜Possibly.’
    â€˜That will be Robin.’ Emily jumped to her feet as the doorbell rang, and ran down the stairs to the front door.
    Judy carried their cups through to the kitchen. Her flatmate’s babbling was interspersed with a slow, masculine drawl. The door closed and Emily darted back up the stairs ahead of a more ponderous step. Judy returned to her chair just as the living room door burst open.
    â€˜Judy, I’d like to introduce my fiancé, Robin Watkin Morgan. Robin, this is my landlady and flatmate, Judith Hunt.’
    â€˜We’ve met before,’ said Judy, stepping back as Robin leaned forward to kiss her cheek. Extending her hand, she kept him at arm’s length while he shook it.
    â€˜I hate to disagree with a lady but I would have remembered someone as beautiful as you, Judy.’ He gave her a charming smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
    â€˜And I hate to disagree with a gentleman, but you were at Joe Griffiths’ and Lily Sullivan’s engagement party. Not that they were engaged at the end of it.’
    â€˜They weren’t, were they?’ His smile broadened. ‘Ems said you’d been living with Joe’s sister. It must be a hundred years since I’ve seen the old boy. How is he?’
    â€˜Fine from what I hear.’
    â€˜Living it up in London, eh?’
    â€˜Presumably.’
    â€˜I’ve just had the most fantastic idea. Why don’t you come to the pub with Ems and me? You can fill me in on what’s been happening with Joe.’
    â€˜Much as I’d like to, I’m expecting my fiancé.’ Judy did something she had never done before; wave her engagement ring under a man’s nose.
    â€˜Too late, eh? Well, come on, Ems, you’re wasting good drinking time.’
    â€˜I only have to get my coat.’
    â€˜Goodbye, Judy.’ Robin reached for her hand. Before she could stop him he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. ‘I hope this is the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.’
    â€˜That rather depends on how soon you marry Emily.’
    Raising one eyebrow, he winked at her and followed Emily out through the door.
    â€˜My wife won’t like it if you strangle me,’ Jack smiled, disentangling Katie’s arms from around his neck.
    Moving away from him, she looked him up and down. ‘I didn’t hurt you, did I?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Your wounds –’
    â€˜I was joking.’
    â€˜I can’t believe it’s you. You’ve changed so much, I wouldn’t have recognised you. Would you have known him, John?’ She turned to her husband, who had retreated to the other side of the room.
    â€˜No, I wouldn’t.’ He took the hand Jack offered and shook it warmly. ‘Helen’s in for a surprise.’
    â€˜Which I’d better be on my way to give her.’ Despite Martin’s assertion that he wouldn’t have to go into Katie and John’s house, Katie had dragged him into her living room as soon as he and Martin had knocked at the door. And after seeing her swollen figure, the shadows beneath her eyes and the troubled look on her face, he hadn’t the heart to refuse.
    â€˜I wish …’
    â€˜Let him go to Helen, love,’ John demurred.
    â€˜Of course, I’m being selfish, especially when we’ll be seeing you tomorrow.’
    â€˜You will?’ Jack asked, as she and John walked him and Martin to the door.
    â€˜Pretend I didn’t say that.’
    â€˜You girls have arranged a surprise party,’ Jack guessed.
    â€˜You won’t tell Helen I