This London Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

shop, and Meg, who’d been watching, swiftly turned her back.
    Kate flicked her head up to the sky and exhaled, breathing in the September sunshine. It was a gorgeous day to be alive and she was glad she was. She was also glad her Uncle Mike wasn’t, otherwise she’d never have gone into Fabulous Flowers.
    “I’m going straight to hell,” Kate muttered as she walked along the High Street. She could be at her mum’s house in ten minutes if she walked quickly. However, dealing with her mum and Aunty Viv when she’d just met a gorgeous woman, who was surely straight, wasn’t top of Kate’s list.
    Instead, she turned and walked the other way, back in the direction of the main road and the bus stop. Her sister Vicky’s house was within 15 minutes and the thought of a cup of tea with her was more appealing.
    ***
    Twenty minutes later, however, standing on Vicky’s doorstep, Kate wasn’t sure if she’d made the right choice. Perhaps she should have just gone home and spoken to her flatmate, Jess? But she was here now. She rang the doorbell and waited.
    Her three-year-old nephew Freddie was the first to arrive, pressing his face against the frosted glass and licking it. Kate knew that his four-year-old brother Luke would be sat on the sofa engrossed in some TV show and would pay no heed to her arrival. Eventually, Vicky arrived at the door and her eyes lit up when she saw her sister.
    “Hello stranger — anyone would think someone had died.” Vicky gave Kate a hug and invited her in.
    Vicky and Jack lived on a new build estate near Mill Hill, bought just after giving up on their dream of staying central after the necessity of space overtook the necessity of having a cool postcode. They were now safely ensconced in suburbia along with all the other commuting young professionals, their house boasting a garden, stairs and a garage. In London, that was true luxury.
    “Yeah, well - I’ve just sorted the flowers, so that’s one less job to do.” Kate followed Vicky into the kitchen and hung her jacket on the back of a dining chair as she sat down. She deposited a loitering Freddie onto her lap, and he picked up a glass of orange juice from the table and took a swig, smacking his tiny lips together.
    “Very tasty,” he told Kate, nodding.
    “Is it, sweetheart?” she asked, kissing the top of his head.
    Freddie nodded. “Yes it is. Very tasty.”
    “It’s his new phrase,” Vicky said. “Everything’s very tasty, isn’t it Fred?”
    He nodded. “Very tasty, Mummy.” He paused and eyeballed Kate. “Did you bring me any sweets?”
    Kate laughed. “I didn’t, I’m afraid,” she said. “I’m a terrible aunty, aren’t I?”
    Freddie thought about it. “Not terrible,” he said, before jumping off Kate’s lap and running into the lounge.
    Kate got up and walked over to Vicky. “Your son’s very forgiving.”
    “Takes after his mother.”
    Kate snorted. “Has Mum been on to you today?”
    “Onto me? All over me more like,” Vicky said, filling the kettle. “Her and Aunty Viv were round this morning to see the boys, then she’s been calling me about catering arrangements — like I’m the fountain of all knowledge on this.”
    Kate smiled. “You did do Dad’s.”
    “That’s what she said! But it was five years ago.” Vicky paused. “Besides, I don’t think food is a top priority at funerals. People aren’t turning up for a gastronomic feast, are they? It’s not a bloody wedding.” She grabbed two mugs from the mug tree and set them down on the counter-top. “And anyway, did Mike have any friends?”
    “Oh, you’re going to hell,” Kate said, laughing. “Along with me, by the way. I just went to organise the flowers and my oh my, the florist is smokin’ hot.”
    Vicky let out a hoot of delight as she made the tea.
    “I mean, properly gorgeous. But straight too, obviously.” Kate shrugged and took the biscuit tin from her sister.
    Seconds later, Vicky plonked herself down opposite