The Maxwell Sisters Read Online Free PDF Page A

floor that she somehow managed to get it under control.
    â€˜I need you, Eve. Much more than you know.’
    She looked up into Phoebe’s eyes, which were glistening with tears. ‘Okay, all right,’ she whispered, not knowing whether to be grateful or insulted that Phoebe never thought for a moment that her reluctance to be too involved, too present, too near to this wedding and all it entailed was anything more than just her lack of confidence.
    By lucky chance, the sales assistant finally appeared with a dress on each arm. One was a lace creation, the other, satin. ‘Here they are! I’ve found them at last,’ the woman said as Phoebe stood up. ‘Shall we try them on?’
    Phoebe gave Eve’s arm one last squeeze before she followed the staff member into the change room.
    Eve dabbed at the wetness forming in the corners of her eyes.
    You can do this.
    You should do it.
    Her sister and her best friend deserved her support. Not only that, they expected it. Perhaps she needed this to cure herself of her feelings for Spider. What other choice did she have?
    She could hear Phoebe’s attendant speaking from behind the curtain.
    â€˜Wow! You’re absolutely tiny. Look at that waist. I think you must be the smallest bride I’ve seen today.’
    â€˜You’re joking,’ Phoebe’s voice sounded flustered.
    â€˜I swear it on my mother’s grave.’
    Her poor mother must be getting very uncomfortable in there by now.
    The curtain flung open and Phoebe came out, ethereally beautiful in lace. ‘That dress looks fantastic on you,’ the sales assistant gushed behind her. ‘Are you sure you want to try on the satin one?’
    â€˜What do you think, Eve?’ her sister asked. ‘You always know what looks best on me.’
    It wasn’t a false compliment. As teenagers, Eve, Phee and Tash had loved exchanging clothes and dressing up together. They were always swapping accessories and doing each other’s make-up. They’d had so much practice, you could say they were experts on what looked best on each other. Their wardrobes at Tawny Brooks had almost been completely interchangeable. So much so that it became difficult to identify what belonged to who any more. Their female friends used to marvel at the diversity of their clothes because they would all add things to the wardrobe that was their own particular style. The Maxwell sisters were never at a loss for any occasion.
    â€˜How can we get access?’ their girlfriends had always asked.
    Eve and her sisters would just exchange a look and laugh. ‘Club members only.’
    The memories caused a rush of warmth. ‘I think you look wonderful, Phee. But we’ll try on the other just to be sure. I wouldn’t want to give my sister an uninformed opinion.’ She paused before adding lightly, ‘Speaking of opinions, I guess I should be there to renovate the restaurant with you guys as well. I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to contribute my two cents’ worth.’
    Phoebe’s eyes lit up. ‘Seriously?’
    She nodded and Phoebe rushed forward, throwing her arms about her. ‘That’s brilliant, Eve! Thank you so much. You won’t be sorry you did.’
    Eve smiled sadly over her shoulder. Oh, I very much fear I will.

Chapter 3
    Phoebe Maxwell had a secret.
    A truly awful secret that wasn’t hers to share. If it was, she would have moved permanently to Tawny Brooks and shifted heaven and earth to find the appropriate professional help. Instead, she had to be content to watch from afar and suffer her own helplessness.
    She had sworn that she wouldn’t tell a single soul.
    Including her fiancé.
    That was a test of willpower on its own. She told Spider everything. He was by far the sweetest, most giving person she knew and would have stayed up all night holding her hand to keep her from crying herself to sleep. But she couldn’t