Read Online Design For Loving by Jenny Lane - Free Book Online

a minute or two and went back to her table and Lyall.
    ‘ Fraternising with the opposition?’ Faye enquired as they collected their refreshments.
    ‘ Trying to find out if she knows Jack, but if she does she’s not admitting it.’
    Faye did a balancing act with several plates of sandwiches. ‘If you want my advice, Luv, I’d put Jack out of your mind and concentrate on that exhibition. Life’s got to go on.’
    Dylan, obviously getting hungry, signalled to them just then and they hurried back to their table. Turning her head, Katie caught a glimpse of Lyall and Olivia, whose arm was linked through his, as they spoke with the vicar and his wife. Katie felt a slight pang of envy, as she noticed the ease of the relationship and the way they laughed at some shared joke together.
     
    * * *
     
    By the time Lyall arrived on Monday morning, Katie and Shelley were already hard at work. ‘I thought the Wine and Wisdom was a good evening,’ he remarked, settling himself at the workbench. ‘Olivia enjoyed it immensely.’
    K atie didn’t look up. ‘You surprise me. I thought she considered it to be rather parochial.’
    Shelley got up to make some coffee and he said, sotto voice. ‘Mrs Mason found a message on the answer ‘phone from Jack last night. He must have left it while she was at church.’
    K atie felt her heartbeat quicken.
    ‘ Where is he? What’s happened?’
    ‘ I’ve no idea where he was calling from, he used his mobile. Mrs Mason reckons he sounded very remorseful. Said he was sorry for all the trouble he’d caused and that he’d like to see her before he finally moved on, but didn’t know if that would be possible.’
    ‘ I wish he’d just go, and then perhaps we could all get on with our lives,’ she said vehemently.
    Lyall shot her a puzzled look. ‘Do I take it he’d been in touch with you, too?’
    She swallowed, realising there was no point in denying it now.
    ‘ Yes, as a matter of fact he has, but not recently. Anyway, it really doesn’t matter because, from today, I’m making a fresh start and putting him out of my mind.’
    He gave a slight smile. ‘I’m glad to hear it. You’ve got to move on.’
    Katie examined the necklace she had just completed. ‘Was Aunt Alice upset?’
    ‘ Well naturally a little, but older people sometimes seem more able to accept things as inevitable. I think she found Jack rather a restless individual. He turned up out of the blue and now he’s vanished back into it again.’
    She gave him a searching glance. ‘And I suppose that’s exactly what you’ll do in a few weeks’ time.’
    His expression was impassive. ‘I’m not sure I follow you.’
    ‘ Mosey off into the sunset, back from where you carne from.’
    ‘ And is that what you’d like me to do, Katherine Mead?’
    She considered, head on one side, blue eyes serious. ‘I’m not sure yet. If it’s going to mean letting us down all over again then I’d rather get it over and done with, but if you’re serious about us and our venture and really want to stay in Lyndhurst then, obviously, that would put a different complexion on things.’
    He set down the cuff links he was working on, sensing that Katie desperately needed his reassurance.
    ‘So all it takes now is for you to begin to trust me, Katherine Mead and then we can take it from there.’
    Before she could reply, Shelley came back into the room with the coffee. ‘Time for a pow wow,’ Lyall said taking the tray from her. ‘This exhibition is looming ever nearer and the time scale is bothering me. It seems we need a bit of strategy if we’re going to be ready on time.’
    Shelley, who looked as if she hadn’t got the remotest idea of what he was talking about, munched on a chocolate digestive and nodded in agreement. She was an affable girl and organisation was not her strongest point.
    ‘ Now wait a minute! Shelley, don’t just sit there and let Lyall make all the decisions. What do you think?’
    Shelley gazed into