Read Online Dream On by Gilda O'Neill - Free Book Online Page B

meant—’
    â€˜Look. You’ve got on me nerves enough tonight already. Now what did I tell you?’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Ted, I—’
    â€˜Don’t sorry me.’ Slowly, he rose to his feet and walked over to her. ‘I asked you a question. What did I tell you?’
    Her mouth was so dry she could barely get the words out and the cold, hard edge of the sink was digging into her back. ‘Not to talk about having kids.’
    â€˜And what did you just do?’
    â€˜I didn’t mean—’
    â€˜You didn’t
what
?’ Ted grabbed hold of a handful of her hair and jerked her head back.
    â€˜I didn’t mean anything,’ she gasped through the pain, desperate not to let the plate slip between her fingers and drop to the floor. That would only make him angrier.
    Ted drew back his fist and slammed it full into her cheek. ‘I told you last time. Why don’t you just keep that mouth o’ your’n shut? That’s another black eye you’ve made me give you.’ He stared at her already swelling face and blinked rapidly as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. ‘Look what you’ve made me do, you stupid cow.’
    Ginny opened her mouth to apologise, but said nothing when he yanked her hair even harder.
    â€˜Now, you ain’t gonna start making no noise and wake me mother up an’ all, are you?’
    Ginny gave a tiny shake of her head. Why
was
she so stupid? She felt so ashamed of herself. She’d done it again. Why did she have to go upsetting him all the time?
    Careful not to pull away from him, she stretched her arm behind her and put the plate gently on to the wooden draining board. Then, biting her lip to stop herself screaming out in agony, she let him drag her out of the room and up the stairs by her hair.

Chapter 4
1946
    â€˜TED . . .’
    â€˜Yeah?’ He sounded bored. He could never see the point in talking after sex.
    â€˜Have you read about them GI brides?’ Her voice was soft and cajoling.
    â€˜What about ’em?’ Ted stretched his arms above his head and drummed his knuckles rhythmically on the headboard. Here we go.
    â€˜They’re going to special camps to learn about what it’s gonna be like in America. Before they leave to go over to be with their new husbands.’ She sighed longingly. ‘Can you imagine what it must be like? Fancy having to learn about a whole new way of life because it’s so different from this rotten hole. They’ve got everything over there. Just like you see in the films. It must be smashing.’
    â€˜You got something to complain about, then?’
    She gasped at the stupidity of his question. ‘Are you kidding? With this new rationing lark it’s as bad as it was during the sodding war. It’s freezing cold out; there’s no coal; and I’m telling you, I’m sick and tired of bloody queuing for every single thing I want. And at least when the war was on there was a bit of fun.’
    A slow smile spread over Ted’s face. ‘I thought we just had a bit of fun.’
    Dilys snuggled up to him. ‘We did, but . . .’
    â€˜But you want some more little presents?’
    â€˜Well . . .’
    Ted threw off the covers and, unselfconsciously naked, he walked over to the wardrobe he shared with Ginny and pulled open the door.
    â€˜There’s no rationing when you’re with me, darling. Help yourself.’
    He picked up his jacket from the floor and patted the pockets to find his cigarettes and matches. ‘But don’t be too greedy, eh?’
    Ted hadn’t even finished speaking when Dilys, also naked, was beside him on her knees, raking through the pile of things that had been half hidden by the hems of her supposedly best friend’s dresses.
    â€˜These are lovely, Ted,’ murmured Dilys, tearing open a packet of stockings and draping the shiny