Read Online Her Last Love Affair: The Final Journey by Clara James - Free Book Online Page B

were ill, he asked me to pick up the paper for you. He also said
to say, he’s sorry. Umm,” he paused, he eyes closing in concentration, as she
tried to recall the exact word of the conversation. “He said he was upset, but
didn’t mean what he’d said and hopes that this,” as he stressed the word
‘this’, Reece tapped the paper with his index finger, “will make up for it.”
    Allie stopped eating, as Reece spoke. She was unable to full
enjoy her veritable feast and focus on what he was saying. She glanced at the
paper again when he’d finished.
    “So, umm,” Reece mumbled, taking a large bite of his own
piece of doughnut. “Are things cool between you two now, or do you need me
to...” he hesitated, shielding his mouth with his hand as he chewed. “I was
going to say beat him up, but let’s be honest, that’s not really my style,” he
chuckled. “Do you need me to talk to him or anything, though?” he offered,
before putting another large piece of doughnut into his mouth.
    “No,” Allie quickly said, shaking her head. “It was my fault
as much as it was his and...” she added, sighing. “He didn’t need to share this
with me.” Quietly, she continued to savor her breakfast, while reaching for the
paper with the other hand. She read it through carefully, recognizing passages
of it as her own writing from the version of the story she’d wanted to publish
weeks previously. However, there was a lot added. And she was pleased to note
how good Grant was. His writing was much more mature than she’d anticipated,
and he’d managed to merge his own style well with hers. In short, in her
opinion, the story was good and it was worthy of the front page.
    “Not quite how you would have written it?” Ros asked,
teasing her with a gentle nudge of her elbow.
    “Actually,” Allie replied, as she reached the final word of
the article and released her grip on the paper. “It’s pretty much exactly as
I’d have written it.”
    “I thought you said this Grant was just an office junior,
did lots of running and research?”
    “Yeah,” Allie nodded. “But he’s capable of much more.”
    “Well, he learned from the best,” Reece suggested, lifting
his coffee cup in a quasi-toast.
    Allie smiled at him, but shook her head dismissively. “I
don’t think I can take credit,” she mumbled. “I didn’t realize he had it in
him. I just thought he was a kid with big dreams, but not much in the way of
talent. I was wrong about him. Really wrong, and I owe him an apology.”
    “He didn’t seem angry with you,” Reece assured her. “He was
more worried that you wouldn’t forgive him for whatever was said.”
    “Still,” Allie said defiantly. “I need to talk to him. I’ve
got to thank him for this,” she added nudging the corner of the paper on her
lap. “Hmm,” she humorlessly chuckled. “This could be the last story ever
published with my name.”
    “Hey,” Ros blurted. “Don’t say shit like that.”
    Reece didn’t join his own voice to the protest, but Allie
could see in his eyes that he was very uncomfortable with the statement.
    “We all know it’s true though, don’t we?” Allie countered.
“I’m not saying that I’m giving up, I’m just looking at things realistically.”
    This time, both Reece and Rosalind remind silent. Allie’s
best friend simply shaking her head, while she chewed anxiously on her bottom
lip. Her boyfriend, meanwhile, drank his coffee in silence. The atmosphere
between the threesome was becoming oppressive and all seemed grateful for the
reprieve that came with the creak of the door.
    As the doctor entered, he smiled at Allie and nodded to her
visitors. Rosalind looked concerned that he might demand she leave, but he
didn’t seem bothered by the slight bending of the rules. Allie however quickly
wiped the back of her hand over her both, eliminating any traces of sugar that
still lingered on her lips.
    “Good morning,” he said, as he approached the end