Rumours and Red Roses Read Online Free PDF Page A

coming to a drinks party at my place next Friday, like it or not. You’ve got to get over that Terry guy. You were wasted on him. You could tell that a mile off. You’ve got to raise the stakes, believe in yourself a bit more. You’re not your average scrubber,’ she added cheerfully. ‘I can’t think what you’re doing in a job like this. You’re a very bright girl, a hell of a lot brighter than I am anyway. I can’t think when I last read a book, trashy romance or otherwise.’
    Guiltily, Becky rammed the book, definitely fitting into the category of light-hearted reads, back into her bag. She very nearly started to offer excuses but stopped herself. Marina only ever read glossy fashion magazines or Hello! -type ones.
    ‘Why didn’t you go to college, get some qualifications?’ Marina asked, checking her perfect nails for imperfections.
    ‘Why didn’t you?’
    ‘Because I couldn’t be arsed,’ Marina said with a yawn. ‘And Daddy never pushed me. I sometimes wish I had. I could have been a businesswoman , a lawyer perhaps. I would wear one of those gorgeous smart suits, understated but sexy, of course, and I would wear my hair up, tone down the make-up and have all the executive guys drooling over me. I might pick up a barrister.’
    Becky smiled. ‘It’s not too late,’ she said.
    ‘There is a problem. I’m thick, darling, and I’m totally unable to concentrate. I couldn’t pass an exam if my life depended on it. But it’s not too late for you, though. You could do it, couldn’t you? You could become a mature student.’
    ‘Well, thanks a bunch,’ Becky said, dwelling on the ‘mature’.
    Marina laughed. ‘Why don’t you?’
    She just didn’t get it, did she? How could Becky afford to take time off work? When one of the girls had left recently because she was expecting, Marina had fluttered a twenty pound note in the collection box making Becky feel unbearably mean when she added a fiver.
    Becky could hardly tell her the truth that, even though she could have got into the arts course over in Manchester with one hand tied behind her back, she hadn’t wanted to leave her mum stranded. The pair of them needed each other, like it or not. Her mum could get terribly depressed when she was alone. She had taken her husband’s death hard, been worryingly out of it for months afterwards, even to the extent ofgoing out without her make-up on. Becky, even as a little girl, had noticed the difference. And then one day, just like that, she seemed to snap out of it and Becky had never been so relieved to see her appearing at breakfast all dolled up and smiling.
    Becky, only a child at the time, caught up in her own grief, had never quite realized the extent of her mum’s but from then on things bucked up and, on the surface at least, her mum was cheerful enough. Shortly after that, Uncle Alan had appeared on the scene. Becky had not thought it the least odd that he should move in and sleep in her mum’s room, in the big bed. That was what grown-ups did.
    The walls were thin in their house, paper thin, which was why she had never taken Terry back there. He had rented his own place, a one-bed flat, but they had intended to move to a bigger place when they got married. He was an electrician and had earned quite a decent crust and, to be fair to him, he had lavished quite a bit of money on her. He had been generous with material things but short on emotional commitment .
    ‘It really is time you got over him,’ Marina’s voice broke through her thoughts. ‘That Terry guy.’
    ‘I am over him. It was me who broke it off, remember? Sorry, Marina, but I don’t think I’m up for a party,’ Becky said, smiling to soften the blow.
    ‘Why not? Have you got something else on?’ Marina kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes. ‘Don’t you dare tell me you’re washing your hair or doing your nails.’
    Becky laughed. ‘No, but I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for your sort of parties,