Sunday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page B

downcast at the thought of missing out on her trip. So much for picking a neutral subject, Cal Nice one. “Won’t that leave you on your own if he goes?”
    “He’s talking about possibly getting someone in to help, but...” She shrugged. “I’ll just have to see how things go I guess.”
    “Is your holiday booked?”
    “I’m staying with my aunt so it’s flexible. As far as he’s concerned, it’s just driving to the coast and staying with family and not a holiday. Therefore it’s not booked in the proper sense of the word and doesn’t count.”
    “If it was booked anywhere else, or you had flights or something, you wouldn’t be able to change it so easily.”
    Hattie held his gaze. “I know. And yes, he does take advantage, but he’s my brother and—”
    He nodded. “It makes it harder to put your foot down and insist on some me time, doesn’t it? But everyone needs a break. Even you. So pick another week, book it and don’t tell him where you’re going.”
    “That’s an idea. Maybe I will.”
    “You could still go stay with your aunt, just don’t tell him that until you get there.”
    Hattie nodded. “I might just do that when I get home. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” A faint smile crossed her lips.
    His heart leapt at the thought of having made her smile. The gravel path crunched under his feet as they began to walk along the river. He undid his jacket and checked his camera and phone were secure in the inside pocket. “I don’t remember the last time I had a holiday.”
    “Really?” She sounded amazed. “Surely you’d have gone away during the off season?”
    Cal laughed. He pulled off his tie and rolled it, before sliding it into his pocket. “There rarely is an off season in football anymore. Especially with all the European, and World Cup matches there are now. Not to mention the friendlies and even Olympics.”
    Her grin lit her face. “Even when England always got knocked out in the first round?”
    “Especially then.” He smiled back, moving aside to let a woman jogger pass them. “You may mock, but it’s not easy having the hopes and dreams of an entire nation on your shoulders all the time. Every British tennis player will tell you that.”
    “True. It’s been a long time since we won any singles titles. At least on home soil.”
    He undid the first two buttons on his shirt. “But winning isn’t everything. It’s the taking part that matters.”
    Hattie looked at him, brows arched in shock.
    “What’s that look for?” He stopped and sat on a bench. He patted the space beside him.
    She sat, her perfume wafting over him. “I just didn’t expect to hear you say that. I thought winning would mean everything to you. The ‘be all and end all’ kind of everything.”
    “At one point maybe. You get so caught up in the whole—” he gesticulated, trying to think of the correct word “—shebang, that it’s just a massive cycle it’s not easy to break out of. It’s like your whole life is dominated by being here simply to score and win matches. Some players are just so driven by the bonuses that they do anything to win.”
    “Like cheat and dive all the time to get penalties and free kicks?”
    He took a deep breath, looking back out over the river and the ducks swimming on the surface. “Some do, I never did. The whole ‘ref he tripped me up’ routine used to annoy me something chronic and it still does. In fact, when I was captain, I used to forbid the team to do it. I’d make a point of telling them that if they go down, unless they’re physically incapable of it, they get up and carry on.”
    “Too right. That’s why I prefer rugby.” She paused and put her hand over her mouth, blushing in a most delightful manner. “Oops.”
    He roared with laughter. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
    She laughed with him. “Sounds good to me.”
    Cal opened his backpack and pulled out the sandwiches he’d bought. He offered her one. “I hope