Two For Joy Read Online Free PDF

and sorry for herself, but there was nothing he could do about it. He’d done his best for her, he could do no more. He knew his mother of old. She was as stubborn as a mule, and sciatica or no sciatica if she’d wanted to be at his wedding she’d have been at it. But it would have stuck in her craw to watch Noreen become Mrs Oliver Flynn. That was too bitter a pill to swallow. She’d lost the battle and she’d never forgive either of them. In his mother’s eyes Oliver had betrayed her by marrying Noreen, and putting Noreen first. There was no going back. He’d just have to make the best of it.
    His Aunt Ellie had taken the seat where Cora would have been sitting and she was chatting away to the priest, in her element to have pride of place at the top table. She was a jolly, good-humoured soul who didn’t stand for any nonsense and she was well able to handle her sister. She had been a rock of strength these past few days for Oliver and he planned to bring her back something really nice from Malta. Perhaps a good piece of gold jewellery. His aunt loved jewellery, earrings in particular. The thought of buying her something special in repayment for her kindness made him feel better.
    He didn’t really like to be under an obligation to people. But Ellie was different. She never made him feel that way, and besides, he’d built a new kitchen for her and only charged her the cost of the materials, and she’d always been very grateful for that. Ellie never forgot a kindness but there were plenty of people around who’d been ready to take advantage of his good nature when he was younger, until he’d copped on to himself and stopped giving credit and waiting months for payments that he had to chase people for. Now he put his cards on the table with clients, got deposits and payments upfront, and if they called him a mean bastard behind his back, as he knew they did, he didn’t give a toss. He had a business to look after and if they didn’t like it, they could lump it.
    Oliver tried to be polite and pronged a prawn. Two mouthfuls later and he’d cleared his portion. His stomach growled. It seemed a long time since he’d grabbed a bacon sandwich at noon and it was after six now. If he didn’t get some proper food soon, he’d faint from hunger!
    *   *   *
    Cora Flynn lay in her bed and watched the late evening sun stream in through her lace curtains. It had been a beautiful afternoon, even if there was a sharp nip in the air. Oliver was probably at the hotel by now, tucking into his dinner. The wedding had been planned for two o’clock and it had gone six. She’d heard the chiming of the Angelus bell break the silence of the evening a while back. She tossed and turned restlessly and eventually threw back the blankets and quilt and eased herself out of the bed.
    She was stiff from lying in the bed these past few days, but the painkillers must have worked on her hip because all the twinges were gone. It hadn’t been that bad a pain compared to other times, she acknowledged guiltily, knowing that she’d have been well able to make the wedding if she’d wanted to.
    Cora wrapped her dressing-gown around her and walked slowly down the hall to her kitchen. Two big tears plopped down her cheeks. Maybe she was a bitter old woman but she just couldn’t bear to watch that sharp-faced rip become Oliver’s wife and take the Flynn family name.
    Noreen Lynch had chased Oliver and taken advantage of his good nature and in the process got a fine mansion up in the hills and Oliver ready at her beck and call. He, of course, couldn’t see it and got very snippy if she said anything critical about madam, so she had to bite her tongue frequently. It was all extremely difficult. She wiped her eyes, annoyed with herself for showing such weakness.
    She filled the kettle and stared out the kitchen window at the big bank of autumn heathers