Read Online A Gift to You by Patricia Scanlan - Free Book Online

why
I
feel this way.
I
did nothing to be ashamed about. It’s just . . . Oh, you know what I
mean, Izzy, my poor mother will be mortified. The first divorce in the family. What will the relations say?’ she hiccupped.
    ‘Don’t mind the relations or anyone. It’s your life and your business,’ Izzy snorted.
    ‘I’ve been on my own for months. I just couldn’t tell you. Can you understand?’ Mari managed a wry smile.
    ‘I understand
exactly
,’ Izzy said slowly. ‘Actually, Mari, I’ve been keeping something from you as well.’ She met her friend’s tear-stained gaze.
‘Bill’s been out of work for over fourteen months and it’s a bit of a struggle. Like you, I just couldn’t bring myself to say it out straight. I wanted to keep up
appearances. I’m sorry it was just silly pride,’ she admitted ruefully.
    ‘Oh, Lord. That’s awful for you and Bill,’ Mari exclaimed. ‘You should have told me!’
    ‘I know, and you should have told
me
!’
    ‘He’ll get another job,’ Mari soothed. ‘And at least the pair of you are as crazy about each other as ever. You can spot that a mile off. God. You can face anything when
you’re together. I was so gutted when I found out about Brett and that . . . that pea-brained, simpering idiot who’s got her claws into him. The thing that hurt most of all is that
she’s pregnant. Every time I suggested trying for a baby he said to wait another year. He didn’t want his cushy lifestyle disrupted by crying babies. I’ll probably never have a
child of my own now.’ Her voice wobbled and she burst into tears again.
    ‘Of course you will; you’ll meet someone new. You’re still a relatively young woman,’ Izzy reassured her, shocked by what she had just heard. Her own circumstances might
not be the best but they were a hell of a lot better than Mari’s. No wonder the poor girl couldn’t eat her lunch. No wonder she’d seemed so on edge for the afternoon.
    ‘I haven’t told the family yet. Mum will have a fit.’
    ‘She’ll get over it.’ Izzy assured her.
    ‘It’s such a relief to tell someone, Izzy,’ Mari confessed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘It’s been so hard being at home trying to pretend
everything’s normal. I told them Brett couldn’t come home because of work commitments. A bit feeble, I know, but no one’s questioned it. It’s bloody hard trying to keep up
the façade.’
    ‘Of course it’s been hard, Mari, but you’ve got to tell them. You can’t go around keeping that to yourself. You’d crack up. And I know your family –
they’ll be very supportive; it’s amazing how kind people are when the chips are down. I know,’ she added wryly.
    ‘Oh, Izzy, what idiots we’ve been, trying to put on brave faces. If we can’t tell each other our problems, then who can we tell?’ Mari said.
    ‘
Exactly!
’ Izzy agreed. ‘Now, look, why don’t you phone home and tell them you’re staying the night and we’ll open the brandy you brought and
we’ll have Brandy Alexanders and have a really good natter about things.’
    ‘Oh, Izzy, that would be
lovely
,’ Mari said, sighing, beginning to feel better already.
    ‘I’ll just run up an put the heat on in the spare bedroom, and fish out some towels and a nightdress for you.’ Izzy patted her on the shoulder.
    ‘Now don’t go to any trouble,’ Mari remonstrated.
    ‘It’s no trouble for an old pal,’ Izzy said firmly.
    She turned on the radiator and laid a clean, long-sleeved nightdress on Mari’s bed. That would keep her snug, she thought, and she’d put the electric blanket on later. To hell with
the electricity bill for once. Mari was undergoing a bad enough trauma without spending the night shivering.
    Izzy stood at the bedroom window, staring out into the night. A sliver of new moon hid behind a wisp of cloud. The lights of the Christmas trees in her neighbour’s window spilled out into
the darkness, adding festive illumination to the