Something About Joe Read Online Free PDF Page A

never taken a moment’s responsibility
for his son, and his grandparents on that side had never even laid
eyes on her baby. She would never be able to understand how Peter
could reject Mitchell. But she never gave up hoping he would change
his mind.
    At this moment, in a lifetime where
loneliness had never been a stranger, Allison felt more alone than
ever. Never had she felt so distressed about the demands her job
placed on her. Joe Martin had berated her for not staying at home
to look after her child herself. But that wasn’t an option.
    Peter’s
gambling and dishonesty, and her own short-sightedness in not
realizing what he was up to, meant she either worked in an
executive job where she earned good money or declared
bankruptcy.
    That was something her background and
beliefs made it impossible for her to do. And if she were bankrupt
she would never get another job in banking. She knew she had to pay
back every cent of those debts to ensure her future—and Mitchell’s.
This deal with the Hong Kong bankers might help her do that.
    She dragged
on her jacket, heaved her briefcase—jam-packed with papers she had
to review this evening for tomorrow’s meeting—into her hand and
closed the office door behind her.
    The last
thing she felt like doing was taking work home, but if this deal
went through she’d be in line for a substantial commission. She
could pay off most of the debts Peter had burdened her with, and
start making changes to her life. Maybe step down to a less
stressful role or work as a consultant. A changed life, where she
could spend more time with Mitchell. She had to get that
commission.
    As she
steered her car through the heavy traffic, for the hundredth time
she thanked heaven she had managed to find, for a manageable rent,
the little terrace house in McMahons Point, a small harbor-side
enclave nestled at the northern foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
She had very little use for its trendy cafes and restaurants; its
proximity to the city was its attraction. Traffic permitting, she
would be home to Mitchell ten minutes after leaving the
office.
    She gritted
her teeth as she imagined just what she might find when she got
home. Joe Martin certainly hadn’t looked the house-proud
type.
    That was
another reason she wanted a female nanny. Her father and Peter—the
only men she’d lived with—had been far from competent housekeepers.
She knew it was a prejudice, even as she thought it, but would this
male nanny be any better?
    The place would no doubt be a pigsty and
she’d have to spend the evening cleaning up after him. She just
hoped he’d given Mitchell his dinner and a bath.
    Her hand was shaking with exhaustion as she
fitted her key into the lock of her front door. She pushed it open
and braced herself for the scene she felt certain awaited her.
    The first
thing she noticed was the toys she’d left scattered around the
living room floor had been neatly packed away. The second was the
delicious aroma of cooking wafting from the kitchen. Mitchell had
eaten, and eaten well by the smell of it.
    The heating
was on to guard against the cool spring evening and the house
seemed somehow more welcoming than it had in a long
time.
    She heard
the sound of delighted laughter and splashing coming from the floor
above. So Mitchell was being bathed right on schedule.
    She walked
up the stairs. “Hello-o,” she called, as she headed for the
bathroom.
    “Momma,” cried Mitchell as she pushed open
the door.
    Mitchell
crowed contentedly in his bath, obviously as well cared for as he
could be. She smiled at the sight of his chubby little body and his
spiky hair slicked down with damp. Having Mitchell in her life made
every difficulty she faced worthwhile. “Hello, my angel,” she
said.
    Joe Martin
was crouched next to the bathtub, a toy boat in his hand. He
dropped the boat and stood up as Allison came into the
room.
    His powerful, muscled body took up half the
bathroom and instinctively Allison stepped back.