Paradise Fields Read Online Free PDF Page A

in their eighties.’
    â€˜Really?’ This time it was Nel and Fleur sounding amazed.
    â€˜Of course, I don’t know that from personal experience,’ went on the thirtysomething Vivian, ‘but I’m sure it’s true. It comes from within.’
    â€˜There’s no point in my going on a course, then,’ said Nel.
    â€˜That is the point I am trying to make, sweetheart. If you
felt
you were the sexiest woman on earth, you would become her.’
    â€˜Would I?’ The man who had kissed her batted back into her mind like a persistent moth on a lightbulb. She realised she had taken in the fact that he had very curly eyelashes as well as the ability to affect parts of her she’d forgotten she had.
    â€˜Well, it would make a difference,’ said Vivian.
    â€˜I’ll have a look in the bookshop and see what they have in the self-help line.’ Vivian and Fleur were still regarding her in the way that made Nel feel nervous. They did tend to gang up on her rather. Any minutenow they’d insist on her having her colours done and she’d never be allowed to wear black again. To distract them, she said, ‘What I really need, of course, is a book called
Fit for an Affaire
. You know, that would tell you what to do to your body if you’re thinking about having sex again after years without it. I bet it doesn’t exist.’
    â€˜Mm, I could write it, though,’ said Vivian thoughtfully. ‘I could think of all sorts of good tips. And not just the ones everyone else would think of.’
    â€˜What like?’ asked Nel.
    â€˜You know, like putting leave-in conditioner on your pubic hair. Or in your case, a little hair dye.’
    Nel ignored this dig. ‘You don’t do that, do you? Put conditioner on it?’
    â€˜Yes! And why not? We all spend a fortune on our other hair. Why not pay some attention—’
    â€˜Honestly!’ Fleur, who by now had finished putting on her make-up, forced the zip of her bag closed and got up. ‘Sometimes being with you two is like living in an episode of
Sex and the City
.’
    â€˜Yes, you may take my eye-shadow to London,’ said Nel, who had spotted it in Fleur’s stash, ‘if you promise to ring me the moment you get there.’
    â€˜To London, or to Jamie’s house?’
    â€˜Both. And—’
    â€˜I will. I’ll phone, I’ll be the perfect houseguest, and I will be careful in London, and I’m only going for two days. Sam’s taking me to the bus.’ Fleur laid her cool cheek against her mother’s. ‘Love you. See you later. Well, Christmas Eve.’
    â€˜I think it’s time to move on to wine, now,’ said Vivian when the sudden quiet told them the house was now empty except for themselves. ‘Have you got any, orshall I pop out for some? There’s none in the rack.’
    â€˜There’s an emergency “bogof” behind the cornflakes in that cupboard. I have to hide it, or the children keep taking it to parties. People say life is too short to drink cheap wine. I think it’s too long not to. I’ll just finish this, then I’ll try to find a corkscrew.’
    â€˜The day I can’t find a corkscrew, I’ll become teetotal. It’s in this drawer, isn’t it?’
    â€˜It might be. It should be, but it doesn’t necessarily follow,’ Nel said doubtfully.
    â€˜It is!’ Vivian was triumphant. ‘So, are you and the kids going to eat all that cake?’
    â€˜Good Lord no! It’s for the hospice Christmas raffle. Viv, you don’t think there’s anything different about Fleur, do you? Not extra jumpy, or anything?’
    â€˜No. She’s lovely as ever, and getting more like you every day.’
    As Nel and Fleur were constantly told how alike they were, and as neither of them could see it, she ignored this. ‘It’s just that Simon thought she was the other day, and