Mothers and Daughters Read Online Free PDF Page A

quickly, ‘I’ve been a bit scatty since I lost my husband.’
    He blinked at her like a wise old owl. ‘I’m so sorry about that, I would have liked to have known him.’
    There was a lump in her throat but she ploughed on. ‘So, where did you meet?’
    ‘We met through work,’ Douglas said.
    Laura broke in impatiently. ‘Mum, it is not important where we met, we know each other now.’
    ‘But for how long have you know each other, darling?’ Alice attempted to throw out a silent warning that as Laura was only in her early twenties, she didn’t need to rush into marriage, especially with someone they didn’t know. She’d feel differently if she’d chosen the son of one of their friends, someone they’d known since childhood.
    Laura ignored her flashing eye signals and said, ‘We’ve known each other on and off for over a year and…’
    Douglas then stirred himself. ‘I feel very sorry that I can’t ask Laura’s late father for her hand in marriage,’ he said formally, ‘but I shall ask for yours instead. I have a good job and a house and…’
    ‘Do you love her? Love each other?’ Alice interjected. He reminded her of the Prince of Wales when asked the same question at his engagement saying ‘whatever in love means’. She would not have been at all surprised if Douglas had mimicked him.
    ‘Mum…’ Laura blazed as if she’d asked something more intimate.
    ‘That goes without saying,’ Douglas cut in. ‘We are very happy together and my children love her.’
    ‘Children!’ Alice burst out in dismay. ‘What children?’ She turned accusingly to Laura. ‘You never said that there were children involved.’
    ‘Mum… I was… going to explain, but you didn’t give me… us… a chance.’ Laura’s jaw was set in the ridged way she had when she was trying to justify herself.
    ‘Mrs Garnet,’ Douglas began cautiously as if fearful that she might erupt and deluge him with molten lava. ‘I’ll explain about myself and my circumstances.’ He paused, sat back in his chair, folding his hands carefully on his lap as if he were about to embark upon a fairy tale.
    Alice poured out more wine, gulping at it while thinking of Cecily’s advice. Perhaps she’d take a gap year. She’d recently read an article about ‘empty nesters’ setting off themselves to explore the world. What if she set off on one of those trips and left her daughters to sort themselves out?
    ‘My marriage went wrong very early on,’ Douglas started. ‘I hung on for my children’s sakes, but now it is over and I have custody of them.’
    ‘How old are they?’ Alice could see the picture now. Douglas needed a wife and mother for his children – this was a job offer and, for whatever reason, Laura was about to accept it.
    ‘Eight and six,’ Douglas said, ‘and they love Laura already. And for you,’ he smiled the warmest smile she’d seen from him so far, ‘you will have two instant grandchildren and I knew the minute I met you that they will love you.’
    But will I love them? Alice thought, poleaxed at the thought of having acquired three surprise grandchildren, in less than a week.

3
    It must be all that digging and pruning in the open air that made Nick look so good for his age. Alice tried not to look at him as he sprawled elegantly in the cane chair in the garden, basking in the pale spring sun, a slight glaze of sweat on his face from his gardening activities, or perhaps… no, better not to go there. He wore a much worn, but once expensive pink and blue striped shirt, the sleeves rolled up, showing off his tanned arms, his legs too were on show from the knee down in his well-cut shorts. She didn’t want him to know she was covetously watching him, but he probably did, he probably expected it.
    Alice felt a squeeze of resentment at him being here even though she’d insisted on seeing him while she was in Suffolk. It was Nick’s attitude that annoyed her most. He was not the slightest bit contrite for