Sunday's Child Read Online Free PDF

guest house at all and let him cope on his own. She hadn’t even had ten minutes to herself all week, except when she slept, and he was begrudging her this?
    But her sense of duty prevailed and kicked in hard. Just because Steve was being an idiot of the first degree, didn’t mean everyone had to suffer. She loved her brother, she always would, but he really could be thoughtless at times. With him it was himself first, then money. Or was it money first, then self? It was hard to tell sometimes. Despite being his twin, she seemed to rate bottom of the pile.
    She headed out into the bright sunshine and put her shades on to hide her tears. She shook hands with Pastor Jack on the door then crossed over to where Cal sat. “All done.”
    He nodded, sliding off the wall. “Shall we, Miss Steele?”
    “Yes, let’s.” She glanced over her shoulder as she felt her brother glaring at her again, and then turned her attention to the bloke who wanted to spend time with her. Nothing would come of it, she knew that, but like he said, he was here and so was she. And it was just a walk. “And it’s Hattie.”
     
    ****
     
    Cal smiled at her. “Then you must call me Cal.” He’d noticed the too bright and glistening eyes, as Miss Steele—Hattie he corrected— left the church, before she’d hidden them behind her shades. But being a gentleman he wasn’t going to mention it. He assumed her brother had said something from the look he’d given the pair of them from the doorway, but again he wasn’t going to ask.
    “Cal?”
    “Short for Callum. It’s what my friends call me. And I’d like to think you’re a friend, Hattie.”
    “Thank you, Cal. Did you get lost on your way here again, this morning?” Her voice wobbled slightly before she managed to get it on an even keel.
    He laughed. “No, I remembered the map this time. I’m one of the rare breed of men who learn from their mistakes.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “Along the river, if that’s all right? And I brought a big enough picnic for two. Although I’m not averse to eating it all if needs be.”
    “Both sound wonderful.” She eased her shoulders slightly. “I could do with a break.”
    “Busy week?”
    “No more so than usual, but with Penny away since Tuesday, the work load increased a fair bit.”
    “I didn’t think I’d seen her. She isn’t sick, is she?”
    Hattie pressed the button at the road crossing. “No, her sister is though. Her brother in law has gone away on maneuvers with the TA. Penny’s gone to look after Di and the kids.”
    “Did she have to go far?”
    Hattie nodded. “Not too far away. They live about forty-five miles from here. Normally Di manages fine by herself when Brendan’s away, but with a small baby, and being sick, she needed a hand this time.”
    “I can understand that.” He paused. “I know people sometimes mock the TA’s, but they are just as important as the regular army blokes.”
    She nodded. “Yeah, they are. Brendan loves doing it. Says it gives him a focus outside of home and work and is a way for him to give something back to his country.”
    The lights changed and they crossed the road. “How many children do they have?”
    “Five, including the baby. Penny says Di’s rushed off her feet with the four little ones as it is, doesn’t know how they’ll manage with five. The oldest is eleven.”
    “Wow, that’s a lot of kids.” Cal glanced at her. From the look on her face it was a painful subject so he changed it. “So, where does an hotelier go on holiday? Another hotel or is that too much of a busman’s holiday?”
    “Definitely a busman’s holiday and not my scene.” She paused. “I was meant to go away fairly soon, but whether that will happen now I don’t know.”
    “Oh?”
    “Steve’s talking about going to go and help Penny, the week I wanted to go away. And he doesn’t like us all being away at the same time.”
    He glanced at her. Her shoulders had slumped and she looked