Read Online In The Name Of Love by Jendai Rilbury - Free Book Online Page B

slipped a heaped plate of
    shepherd's pie before him.
    "I'm going to be ever so upset to see you leave—I don't
    really know why you're going."
    "We don't want to leave, but my new job with Granite is in
    Stockport, and it's just too far to drive each day. Not only is it wearing out
    the car, but April and I are both exhausted with the constant driving in heavy
    traffic."
    "I started to get your things together, but then Mrs. Evans
    popped in for a cup of tea, and by the time she left it was lunch. After that I
    had to go to the shops, and then it was time to get the dinner on. I just don't
    know where the day has gone."
    "So, what you're telling me, Edna, is that you haven't
    packed out things yet?"
    "I'm sorry, I'll go and do it now," she said, starting to
    stand up.
    "Don't be so daft, it will only take me a few minutes to
    throw our clothes in the cases, and stuff the rest in those old boxes in the
    attic. So, sit down and eat your dinner before it goes cold."
    They ate in relative silence after that, but Grant felt her
    eyes on him during the meal, and it made him quite uncomfortable. She was a
    pleasant enough person, and he'd enjoyed her company when April was around to
    keep order, but without his wife there it felt strange. He scraped his plate
    clean, refused second helpings, and picking up his glass he said, "I'll just go
    in the front room and watch TV for a bit, to let my dinner settle, and then I
    will pack."
    She passed him another bottle of beer and said, "Well take
    this with you then, and it'll save me running in with it when that glass is
    empty. I'll wash up and bring in a coffee, later."
    Grant chuckled and went into the sitting room, turned on the
    television and sank into his favourite chair. He always felt comfortable in
    this room, which was warm and cosy with its dated furniture and old sailing
    prints on the wall. It settled around him like an old jacket, and he kicked off
    his shoes, put his feet up on the pouffe, and poured more beer into his glass.
    Ten minutes after finishing his beer he fell asleep.
     
    -o-
     
    Joyce came into the room, and said to April, sitting on the
    sofa watching TV with Cyril, "It's your mother on the phone; she wishes to
    speak with you."
    April sat on the chair in the hall and picked up the
    receiver. "Hello Mom, has he left?"
    "No dear, that's why I'm phoning you. He's fallen asleep on
    the sofa, and I've given him a shake, but he's in such a deep sleep it seems a
    shame to wake him."
    "Is the packing finished?"
    "Well, not exactly…and it's raining cats and dogs outside."
    "What's that got to do with the packing?"
    "Well, nothing really, but with him being so tired, it
    doesn't make sense to drive that old car in the dark in this dreadful rain."
    "Oh, alright, let him sleep for a bit and make sure he packs
    the cases before he goes to bed. Then in the morning he can get an early start.
    I want my things here so I can unpack and settle in. I'm going out with Joyce
    in the afternoon, so don't let him be late."
    "I won't, don't worry, I'll have him on his way bright and
    early."
    April put the phone down, and a smile came over her face as
    she walked back into the sitting room. She'd enjoyed a great day with Joyce,
    and now had a pleasant evening ahead with her and Cyril. The last thing she
    wanted to think about was her husband, or her mother, and she soon put them
    both out of her head.
    "Did I miss anything?" she said to Cyril as she settled down
    beside him on the sofa.
    "No, only some adverts."
    "You do like to watch TV, don't you?" said Joyce, with a
    warm smile.
    "These programmes are better than watching the boring
    documentaries that Grant is always staring at. By the way, he's fallen asleep
    watching TV, so won't be back until the morning," she said, hiding her surprise
    at the crestfallen look that came over Joyce's face. "That's interesting,
    why is she disappointed about that? Perhaps there's something I'm missing…" Pushing the thought from her head,