Second Hand Jane Read Online Free PDF Page B

pang.
    Brianna patted
her on the shoulder. “Did you know that your accent always get
broader when you feel homesick? It must be hard sometimes being so
far away from your family.”
    “Yeah, it is
sometimes but then Mum phones me and I get over it pretty
quickly.”
    “What’s the
male-to-female ratio like in New Zealand?” Nora butted in,
producing a fancy looking silver foil wrapped bar from the depths
of her rucksack.
    “I don’t know
but I bet my Mum could tell you. She knows the stats for most
countries—I’ll ask her next time she phones.” She frowned, watching
her friend hoe into the unappetising-looking snack. “Nora, you’re
not doing the Boston Marathon. What’s with the bar?”
    “Protein bar.”
Crumbs spewed forth. “Low in fat and packed full of protein.”
    Brianna held
out a bag of chocolate chip cookies and Jess helped herself to
one.
    Nora suddenly
looked coy. “I’ve got another date with Ewan next Thursday and I
want to fit into that little black dress of mine—you know, the one
with the halter neck you two helped me pick?”
    The two friends
nodded and exchanged a glance; it was a gorgeous dress. If Nora was
pulling out all the stops on a second date for this Ewan, then they
needed to find out more.
    “So I’m
Dukaning myself.” Nora finished the bar and looked longingly at the
bag of chocolate chippies.
    “You’re what?”
Jess and Brianna chorused.
    “It’s this
four-stage French diet that’s all the go at the moment. You start
off by eating nothing but protein and then slowly reintroduce
vegies and other stuff. Kate Middleton’s done it. I’m on day three,
so girls, it might be advisable to let me bring up the rear because
you don’t want to be downwind of me at the moment. All that protein
can be a little bit constipating.”
    Her face was so
serious that Jess had to laugh before adding, “Say no more! And if
your friend Kate’s done it, then it must be the biz.” Her reply was
very much tongue-in-cheek. “Personally, I think all those diets are
a waste of time because losing weight is all down to exercise and
portion size.”
    “ Says the girl who hasn’t seen the inside
of a gym since the 1990s and who can put away two whole Big Mac
burgers and a large
fries in one sitting.”
    “Once! I did
that the one time! And you know I had the hangover from hell. I
needed stodge fast and loads of it.”
    “So what’s he
like then, this Ewan? He must have something about him if you’re
seeing him again.” Brianna butted in, successfully heading off any
further dietary discussion.
    “Well, put it
this way, girls: I knew right from the off I was looking at a
pretty good candidate to father my babies—yep, a top quality sperm
donor.”
    The other two women nearly choked on their
chocolate chips and Nora smirked. If there was a reality TV show
called The
Shock Factor, she’d have
a starring role on it.
    “You can be so
crass, Nora Brennan, but speaking of sperm, you just reminded
me—Mum told me my sister is thinking of having another baby.”
    “What would
that be then?”
    “Number five. I
think she’s mad, though she and Brian have a pretty good babysitter
to help ease the stress of it all.”
    “Who’s that
then?”
    “My Mum.”
    “Oh right, good
old Mum. Well, if Mr Good Quality Sperm doesn’t work out, I could
always ask your sister to be a surrogate.”
    “ Ooh, now that really is gross.”
    “All the
celebrities are at it.”
    “Not with my
sister they aren’t,” Jess muttered darkly.
    “Anyway, back
to my possible donor. How are you placed next Thursday night?
Because he has a friend…”
    “I will not go
down the blind date route, Nora.”
    “At least it
might get you a root!” This was a phrase Nora had picked up on her
year-long Australian overseas adventure a decade or so ago.
    “Give it a
rest, you two! Little ears are burning.” Brianna set off at a brisk
pace, sending Harry’s cheesy-corn snacks flying. “Come on, shift
it;