Read Online A Wish and a Wedding by Margaret Way - Free Book Online

is!”
    Up ahead Chrissy was waiting in front of the shelter, a suitcase at her feet. Tori had warned her in advance she would most probably be picking her up in a Rolls-Royce—something that had made Chrissy choke with laughter—so when she saw the Rolls approaching Chrissy began to wave a hanky very energetically.
    â€œAnd that is Chrissy?” Haddo turned his head over his shoulder to enquire.
    â€œMiss Victoria takes a real interest in the shelter,” said Brody, a long time confidante, with considerable approval in his tone. “No one could say Miss Victoria is lacking in heart,” he added fondly.
    â€œYou dark horse, you, Miss Victoria.” Haddo’s blue eyes mocked her. “You’ve been very careful to keep that to yourself, haven’t you?”
    â€œThat’s the way I am!” she retorted breezily. “I notice you don’t advertise all your numerous acts of philanthropy either, or all your good deeds. It’s a family thing. Now, let me do the talking, Haddo,” she said, as Brody pulled the big car into the kerb beside Chrissy, who was almost tap dancing in excitement.
    â€œGo right ahead,” he invited nonchalantly. “It’ll take me a moment to catch my breath anyway.”
    A beaming Chrissy awaited them, decked out in her finest. Some might have said they were extraordinary garments. Others might have mistaken her for a little bag lady. A red beanie was pulled down over brown corkscrew curls that stuck out at random. Her ears were pierced with several metal rings. She wore a fake diamond stud in her nose. Red stockings to match her beanie clothed her brolga-thin legs. A pair of substantial black boots weighted down her small feet.
    The two young women, who couldn’t possibly have presented a more dissimilar image, exchanged hugs while a fascinated Haddo took in Chrissy at a glance.
    Just what I need, he thought. Someone else to worry about. And as for Tori? Tori was constantly surprising him. Not that she hadn’t always had a tender heart. This poor little waif, who showed every sign of having had a tough life, was Tori’s friend—though he thought Chrissy could look a whole lot better minus the heavy metal, dressed in decent clothes and with more weight on her. They could take care of that part of it.
    It was obvious she was wildly excited, even kissing Brody, who had stepped out of the Rolls to store her small tattered suitcase—she wasn’t over-burdened with possessions—in the boot. Brody took the kiss well.
    My turn! thought Haddo, detecting from long practice the look of anxiety Tori was trying to hide behind big black Gucci sunglasses.
    â€œThis is Haddo,” Tori introduced him, rapid fire. Get it over.
    Chrissy blushed scarlet and gave him a nerve-strangled,“Hello. Pleased to meet you, Haddo. Or should I call you Mr Rushford?” Haddo noticed the broken front tooth.
    â€œHaddo will do,” Tori clipped off for him.
    He gave Tori a quick glance. “Well, you did say you’d do the talking. Nice to have you along, Chrissy,” he said. That tooth had to be fixed. He filed it away for future attention. He didn’t want to waste any more time, so he began to shepherd both young women into the back seat. “Better get going,” he murmured to Brody as he slipped into the passenger seat. “Before someone throws a rock at the Rolls.”
    â€œWill do, sir,” said Brody, surprised someone hadn’t already done so.
    Â 
    The flight into Mallarinka was the most exciting event of Chrissy’s young life. In fact it was the only flight Chrissy had ever taken. She had never been anywhere near a plane, much less seated in one, looking out at the white billowy clouds. It was all too fabulous! She had thought she was going to be apprehensive, but Haddo was a great pilot—and what was even more astonishing was that he flew his own plane. How cool was that? And so was