My Heart Has Wings Read Online Free PDF Page B

puzzling.
    Breaking into her hesitant silence, Mike said, as if sensing her bewilderment, “It was quite a trip in the Arrow today. I didn’t feel much like facing Sheldrake, and an atmosphere of family problems.” His tone as he offered this explanation was faintly apologetic. Sheldrake Manor, with Erica entertaining her friend Paleski, introducing him to disapproving parents, was a place he wanted to avoid. So that was it. And he’d seized on her humble self as the nearest available distraction. It was all perfectly clear, Jan told herself. The tumult in her heart subsided, and she said quietly, a little flatly: “It’s awfully sweet of you to ask me out, Mike. I’d love to have supper with you, but I can’t very well be away from home this evening. It’s my young brother’s birthday and we’re having a mild celebration.”
    “A birthday party,” Mike said eagerly. “That sounds fun!”
    Was he hoping to be invited, Jan wondered, hardly d aring to believe it was possible. And if she did pluck up courage and ask him, how would she find things at home? Her father’s moods were uncertain these days—understandably; he was worried to death. If he happened to have struck a patch of inspiration and was writing hard, he’d hate the disturbance of a visitor, the effort of being polite. Her mind darted to the evening’s menu; not a very glamorous one, but the best she could manage in the present financial crisis. Cold boiled chicken ... an ancient hen if the truth must be told, from Mrs. Costello’s back yard. And would Mrs . Costello have had time to prepare the salad; remembered to order the ice-cream? Would there, Jan asked herself in silent ultimate panic, be enough of everything to go round?
    And she thought, too, Mike after all is almost completely a stranger to me ... and our home is a very ordinary place, how do I know he will fit in? I might be that her family would bore him to tears.
    In the late level sunlight her hazel eyes were all gold, and a little wild, regarding him. He turned to meet her glance, one eyebrow whimsically askew, his hard mouth oddly diffident. He looked ... a gentler Mike than usual, younger and, of all things, wistful. That lonely childhood Helen had spoken of; with no one probably to bother about birthdays, his own would have passed unnoticed, unmarked, in the cold impersonal world of school.
    He said, “Ah, well, if you’ve got a party on at home I suppose I can’t possibly expect you to come out with me. I’m sorry. It’s bad luck. Another time, perhaps ...”
    “I’d love to, another time. But I was wondering if this evening ... hesitating about asking you , in case you’d find it a bind. I mean, if you’d care to come along and have supper with us at Regency Terrace you’re very welcome,” Jan said all in a rush. It wasn’t perhaps, a too graciously worded invitation, but Mike’s lean brown face lit up.
    He said simply, “I’d like very much to come.” Jan drew in a great gulp of reviving air. She felt she needed it! The reckless invitation had been given—and accepted, and now she must brace herself for the domestic problems it might involve. But aloud, tranquilly, she said, “That’s fine then, I’m so glad. Though it isn’t,” she warned him, “a very exciting birthday party. Just ourselves ... ”
    He nodded. ‘That’s the way I like it. How old is your brother today?”
    “Fourteen,” she told him.
    “Oughtn’t we to stop somewhere and buy him a birthday present?” Mike suggested. And Jan answered firmly, “No.” They argued about it a little, lightly, companionably. The river to the left of them was a silver-blue loop, encircling wide water-meadows where cows grazed and skinny small boys ran naked and whooping to swim.
    “It will be a birthday present enough just for Peter to meet you,” Jan said. “He’s crazy about jets and supersonic bangs and all the rest of it, like most kids of his age. To have a test pilot in the flesh in the