Read Online Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt - Free Book Online

“I think seeing Claire again after all this time brought it back. So it’s not her. It’s just . . . that time of life.”
    Which sounded plausible, although Juliet didn’t look as if she was buying it. And the truth was, it
was
about Claire, at least in part. Claire with her perfect hair and teeth and clothes and family; Claire with parents who’d bought her a car and a flat in London and who were
there
. Who took care of her. Who made her life easy.
    But that was a dangerous way to start thinking. “Anyway,” Rachel said, injecting a cheerfully brisk note of moving-on-now into her voice, “what’s up with you? How are things with Peter?”
    Just the mention of Peter Lanford’s name caused Juliet’s cheeks to turn pink and her eyes to brighten. Rachel suppressed a laugh. Before Peter, Juliet had never been so obvious. So
happy.
It was cute, if a little saccharine.
    â€œThey’re fine,” she said. “Just fine.”
    â€œThat’s all you’re going to tell me?”
    â€œWhat do you want,
details?
”
    â€œWell, yes, actually. A few, at least. Come on, Juliet. For ten years you’ve lived in this village and barely said boo to anyone.”
    â€œThat’s not fair—”
    â€œAll right,” Rachel conceded, “you’ve growled boo to a few people. You haven’t been the friendliest—”
    â€œI tried,” Juliet protested. “I’m still trying. No one changes overnight, you know. And if you think I’m going to just go ahead and spill all the details of my love life—”
    â€œOoh,” Rachel couldn’t resist teasing.
“Love life.”
    Color deepened in Juliet’s cheeks as she rose from the table. “Right, then. This conversation is officially over.”
    â€œAre you and Peter serious?” Rachel pressed. “I mean, it has been six months, and neither of you is getting any younger—”
    â€œThanks very much for reminding me.”
    â€œAre you thinking marriage yet?” Rachel asked, grinning. “The whole nappies-and-bottle routine? You know . . .” She propped her elbows on the table, leaning forward as she made her eyes go wide.
“Babies.”
    Juliet gave a shudder. “
Don’t
mention babies.”
    â€œYou don’t long for the pitter-patter of little feet?”
    Juliet stared out the window at the muddy pasture, her gaze turning distant. “It’s not that. But it’s . . . complicated. I’m not sure babies are in the cards for me. I’ve got limited fertility as it is.”
    â€œOh, I didn’t know that,” Rachel said, dropping the joking tone. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt’s fine, honestly.” Juliet cleared their mugs and dumped them in the sink. Rachel saw something brittle in the way she moved, and she wished she hadn’t pressed quite so much. Clearly Juliet had sorrows in her life she hadn’t shared with Rachel, which was hardly unexpected. The woman had been a completely closed book until six months ago.
    â€œWhat about you?” Juliet asked. “I hear you were getting rather cozy with Rob Telford at the pub quiz.”
    â€œWhat!” Rachel sat up straight. “Lucy again, I suppose?”
    â€œNo, not Lucy.” Juliet’s mouth curved in a small smile. “Kate Barton, from Hillside Farm. I buy eggs off her.”
    Rachel let out a groan. “She was in the year above me at school. Is
nothing
private in this place?”
    â€œYou’ve lived in this village all your life and you’re only realizing that now?”
    â€œNo,” Rachel conceded with sigh. “Just having a moan about it.”
    â€œKate said you were wearing a sexy top and leaning over the bar while you talked to Rob.”
    Rachel could tell her friend was enjoying this. “And that constitutes flirting, I suppose.”
    â€œNot just