Lifelong Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

"Where did vou get that impression, Mr Hammond?'
    'Glenna
was very proud of your first English televised role,' he drawled. "Wc were
all made to watch your undoubted talent as Mary-Beth Barker.'
    That
was what she had thought. 'Talent is the right word, Mr Hammond,' she taunted.
'I was acting a part—I thought you were intelligent enough to realise
that.'
    'Maybe
I am,' he nodded. 'But I have no reason to believe Courtney would be happier
with you than with us. You must work very hard, very long hours. I doubt you
would have a lot of time to bring up a young child.'
    She
dismissed the wisdom of his words. Glenna had wanted her to have a part in
bringing up Court, and that was what she was going to do. 'I have a plane to
catch, Mr Hammond,' she told him briskly. I have to get to the airport.'
    He
closed his briefcase with a decisive click. 'I'll come with you.'
    "That
won't be necessary.
    'It's
very necessary,' he told her grimly. 'I have a seat on that plane too.'
    'Oh.'
Her eyes were narrowed. 'You didn't intend staying long. Or were you so sure of
what you thought my answer would be that you just expected to come here, have
me sign those documents, and then return home?' Her eyes took on a dangerous
sheen as she saw by the tightening of his mouth that that was exactly what he
had thought. 'Glenna wasn't happy with your family, Mr Hammond,' she told him
frostily. 'I'm beginning to understand why.'
    'Indeed?'
he bit out grimly.
    'Yes!'
    'And
I'm beginning to see that you're as un compromising as your sister was. Oh yes, we knew of Glenna's
unhappiness,' he mocked her gasp of surprise. 'She made no secret of the fact.
But I think I should point out once again that Glenna gave her son two
guardians; she didn't cut the Hammonds out of Courtney's life as if she hated
us.'
    Morgan
wondered if this man had a habit of always being right; if he did it was an
annoying habit! 'Instead of arguing I suggest we get to the airport—I
wouldn't want to miss the plane. I'll just go into my bedroom and call my
mother at the hospital. She's been as anxious as I have.'
    If
Alex Hammond was affected by her deliberate move to shame him he didn't show
it, settling his long length into a chair, sitting back to close his eyes with
a weary sigh.
    Guilt
instantly washed over her. This man might seem like a cold robot to her, but
his brother had just died, and he had just spent all those hours on a plane; he
must be exhausted. 'Can I get you some coffee?' she offered huskily. 'Or
something to eat?'
    His
eyes flickered open, silver-grey, showing no sign of the tiredness she
suspected. 'Tea?' he queried hopefully.
    Morgan
smiled, and the tension instantly eased between them. 'I have tea,' she nodded.
'It's a habit I picked up when I went to England for the wedding. Milk, sugar?'
    'Thanks,'
he nodded.
    Her
mother came to the telephone straight away once she had been paged, and it was
the hardest thing in the world to tell her that Glenna really was dead; her
mother finally broke down now that she knew there was no hope of ever seeing
her eider daughter again. Morgan broke down and cried with her, offering no
resistance as Alex Hammond came in and took over, too overcome by grief herself
now that her shock was passing to talk coherently.
    'Your mother is overjoyed by her grandson's
existence,' Alex Hammond rang off to assure her. 'She hopes she and your father
can go to England to see him soon. In the meantime, I don't think you're in any
condition to fly to England. Maybe it would be better      '
    'I'm
coming with you,' Morgan told him deter minedly. 'I want to sec Court-ney, and also I have to—to
attend Glenna's funeral. Someone from the family should be there.' She went to
the bathroom and washed her face in cold water. 'I take it the funeral will be
in England.'
    'As
soon as—Yes,' he substituted abruptly. 'Eventually.'
    Her
spine stiffened at the addition of the last word. 'I understand,' she said
heavily. 'I'm ready to leave now.'
    'Are you