The Reluctant Sinner Read Online Free PDF

Croucher frightened her enough without his mate. The two together would be too much. She’d have a nervous breakdown.
    As they finished their drink, Flo said, ‘Jim will walk you home, Daisy. It’s late and on a Saturday night around here I’ll feel better knowing he was with you.’
    ‘Come on, love,’ said Jim, ‘it won’t take long.’ Turning to Flo he said, ‘I’ll see you later. Don’t start without me!’
    She roared with laughter. ‘You cheeky bugger.’
    As Jim walked her from Oxford Street to French Street, Daisy had a strange feeling that they were being followed. She turned round once or twice but in the dimness of the street lights she didn’t see anyone.
    ‘You’re a bit jumpy, girl,’ Jim remarked. ‘You are perfectly safe with me I can assure you.’
    But she was more than pleased to get to her front door and to safety, and as she counted the large amount of the tips she’d made that night, she felt better.
     
    After a long sleep-in and a good lunch, Daisy was looking forward to seeing Jack. She decided she’d like to walk through the parkand get some fresh air. Then perhaps stop for a cup of tea somewhere. This would give her and Jack time to catch up with each other’s news.
    When he called for her and she suggested this, he agreed with her plan.
    It was a chilly afternoon and now, in October, the trees were shedding their leaves as they walked through the park. Both of them kicked away at the piles of them on the ground, like a couple of children.
    ‘This reminds me of splashing through puddles as a youngster, filling your wellies through being over enthusiastic,’ Jack remarked. He caught hold of her hand and asked, ‘What have you been up to? I feel I haven’t seen you in ages.’
    ‘I’ve been busy doing extra work and I’ve got enough money now to send Dad away for a bit.’
    ‘Blimey! You must have been working your fingers to the bone to do that.’
    Daisy knew she had to be careful not to give the game away as she spoke. ‘Fortunately there has been plenty of extra work to keep me going and I’m sorry, Jack, but I’ll be tied up on Saturday nights for quite a while.’
    He did not look pleased at this. ‘I look forward to our Saturday nights,’ he complained. ‘Can’t you do this work some other time?’
    She shook her head. ‘I can’t, no. I have to take all the work I can get, especially now I’ve got a bed for Dad. I want to let him have as much care as he can, so I must make as much money as possible as and when the work is there. And at the moment, I’ve plenty to keep me going.’
    Jack felt a bit guilty over his displeasure at this news, especially as he knew just how poorly Fred Gilbert was and he did admire Daisy’s tenacity, but he felt neglected in the process.
    ‘So when can I see you?’
    ‘Only on Sundays for the next while, I’m afraid. But my time is all yours then. It’s just for a little while, Jack. It won’t be for ever.’
    He saw the concern in her eyes and capitulated with a smile. ‘All right, Sundays it is. Come on, let’s go and find a cafe and have a hot cuppa. I’m getting cold out here.’
    As they walked out of the park and down Above Bar, Daisy saw the young officer from the club who had invited her out to lunch, approaching. Before she could look away, he saw her.
    ‘Good afternoon, Gloria,’ he said as they passed each other.
    Daisy gave a quick smile, lowered her gaze, and quickened her stride.
    ‘Gloria!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘That man called you Gloria.’
    ‘Well obviously he took me for someone else,’ Daisy swiftly replied. ‘Look, there’s a cafe open, come on.’ And she dragged Jack by the arm towards the place, thankful to find a refuge.
    Jack ordered tea and toast for them and then sat back in his chair, staring thoughtfully at Daisy.
    ‘What?’ she asked.
    ‘You don’t look like a Gloria at all,’ he mused. ‘No, the name doesn’t suit you one bit!’
    If you only knew, she thought.
    They decided