Read Online Almost Perfect by Dianne Blacklock - Free Book Online Page B

from her. ‘Why don’t you go see what Gracie’s doing?’
    â€˜She’s in the sandpit,’ said Molly plainly. ‘See, she’s just right there.’
    Gracie was indeed playing quietly, as Gracie was wont to do, in the sandpit clearly visible through the kitchen window. Her older sister was not so quiet, nor easy to occupy.
    â€˜Okay, well, why don’t you go and practise singing “Happy Birthday” with her, for when Aunty Georgie gets here?’
    â€˜But I already know “Happy Birthday”.’
    â€˜Gracie doesn’t. You could teach her.’
    Nick watched Molly thinking that one over. A chance to order her little sister around at anything was too good an opportunity to pass up. She put herarms out to her father and he scooped her off the bench, setting her down on the floor.
    â€˜Are we going to shout “Surprise!” as well?’ she asked hopefully.
    â€˜I wasn’t planning to.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Well, it’s not a surprise.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Because Aunty Georgie knows we’re having dinner for her birthday.’
    â€˜How come?’
    â€˜Because we always have dinner together on birthdays, don’t we?’
    Molly nodded, thinking. ‘Can I shout “Surprise!” anyway?’
    â€˜If you want to.’
    â€˜Will Georgie get a surprise?’
    â€˜Probably.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Because she won’t be expecting you to shout “Surprise!”, will she?’
    Molly seemed satisfied with that and skipped off out of the kitchen and through the back door.
    Nick turned his attention to the mound of hundreds and thousands piled on top of the cake. He picked up the plate and started to tilt it as though he was panning for gold, in the hope of distributing the sprinkles more evenly. As he glanced out the window to check on his daughters he caught sight of his reflection in the glass, and he smiled at himself.
    Nicholas Malcolm Alexander Reading had once upon a time been meant for greater things. As ayoung boy he had displayed a talent for drawing, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would become an architect, fulfilling his ambitious but loving father’s dearest wish to have his only son follow in his footsteps. Even his mother, who would never have tolerated a child of hers being tethered to something he didn’t want to do, nonetheless encouraged the idea. Nick didn’t mind. Nick never minded anything. Everyone who knew him pronounced him the most easygoing person they’d ever met. He had ended up with his father’s patience but not his drive, and his mother’s love of life without her manic tendencies.
    Which was probably how he came to be house-husband while his wife was out building empires. Louise tried to tell him that a suburban bookshop was not exactly an empire, but Nick wouldn’t have it. She was a star as far as he was concerned, and he was happy to be the man behind the successful woman. Nick pottered around on various projects, made furniture, surfboards sometimes, worked the odd casual job. The ambition gene had bypassed him and gone straight to Zan. And that was just fine. Nick was content. No, more than content, he was pretty bloody happy. He had a smart, attractive wife whose company he actually enjoyed; he had two beautiful daughters, and he and his sisters appeared to have survived their harsh initiation into adulthood.
    Nick was twenty-two and three years into his degree when his parents were killed in the accident. So he was well and truly old enough to assume the care of Zan and Georgie, especially considering Zanwas no longer a minor. She had of course made dux, and while she could have chosen to do anything, she had been drawn inexorably towards architecture, despite herself. Zan hadn’t wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, but she was more like him than she cared to admit. She quickly assumed their