Read Online Clouds Below the Mountains by Vivienne Dockerty - Free Book Online Page A

front. There were children already running around the place. Some however had decided to jump up and down off the stage or show off their dancing prowess before the music started.
    â€œWhat shall we have to drink?”, asked Greg. “Gin and tonic, Kate? Bacardi and coke, Sonya? What about you, little one, would you like a glass of lemonade or an orange juice?”
    â€œLemonade please, Granddad, with a straw.”
    â€œGood boy, Evan. I’m glad to see you’ve brought your manners with you.”
    Evan looked puzzled, Granddad said some funny things at times.
    Greg went off to the bar to get the drinks, while Sonya and Kate looked around them.
    â€œIt’s quite big this room, isn’t it?,” observed Kate. “I wonder what it’s like in the summer here? I suppose they’ll have the entertainment outside.”
    â€œBound to,” replied her daughter. “Unless behind all those big blue curtains they have long opening windows, like patio doors.”
    â€œYou’re looking nice, Sonya. I wonder if one of those skirts would suit me, I’m not sure about this new bias cut?”
    â€œOh Mum, you could wear anything with your figure and now we’ve got Evan in nursery, you could start going to the gym’ after you’ve dropped him off in the morning.”
    â€œI was thinking about that, now you’ve mentioned it. They’ve got one at the side of the motor way, haven’t they? What’s it called, the Village or something like that? I might start going a couple of times a week.”
    â€œYou should, you’ll have to let me know what it’s like, then I can take out membership. I haven’t really lost my tummy since I had Evan, you know?”
    â€œOf course you have, there’s not a pick on you. I don’t know, you young girls. What will I do with you?”
    â€œFind me a rich handsome man, who’ll whisk me off into the bright blue yonder, Mummy.”
    â€œIf I find one of them, I’ll be off with him myself.”
    ***
    â€œLook, there’s Evan,” said Cheryl, as they all walked into the bar after their dinner.
    â€œShall we get some seats near him, Paul, then the two little boys can play together?”
    â€œYes, go on then, there’s a group of seats just at the side of theirs that are empty. Good Evening,” he said to Evan’s family. “Do you mind if we sit in these seats near you and then Evan and our Jack can play together?”
    â€œYes, do sit down,” said Kate. “It’s nice for Evan to have found a friend. Only children can get quite lonely sometimes.”
    When everyone had settled in their seats, with Jack and Evan having a great time chasing each other and Annabelle looking wistfully at the dance floor, but nervous of getting up and joining another two little girls, who looked to be near her age, Greg came back with the drinks and everyone was introduced to one another.
    â€œCan I get you and your wife a drink?”, he asked. “Perhaps the children would like one as well?”
    â€œTell you what, why don’t we both go to the bar together? We’ll have a snifter, shall we, then bring Cheryl and the kids their drinks?”, suggested Paul. “That all right with you, Cheryl, my love?”
    His wife nodded and pulled a rueful face at Kate and Sonya. “He only wants to have a drink at the bar, because he fancies a cigar without me moaning at him.”
    â€œI can sympathize with him,” said Kate. “ I’m an ex-smoker and sometimes when I have a drink, I feel like rushing out and buying a packet. I’ve given it up for a while now, but I’m sure it would be easy to take it up again.”
    â€œOh, I object to Paul smoking. The smell of cigars makes me feel sick and I hate my clothes and hair smelling as if I’ve sat in a pub’ all night. Still, he’s very good, makes sure I’m not in the vicinity and he