Read Online Please Release Me by Rhoda Baxter - Free Book Online Page B

and take it around my work.’ Harry’s eyes were sparkling now.
    ‘My company will sponsor you,’ said Peter. ‘I can pledge, say a hundred quid, right now. I’ll even give you a lift there, if you like. So that you can ask me any questions about abseils that are bothering you.’
    ‘And,’ said Harry, giving her a meaningful look. ‘It would be really bold of you … And daring.’
    A few of the others piped up their support. Maybe Peter was right. The idea of getting back out there was scarier than the actual thing. Time to do something dramatic. Grab life by the throat. Something out of her comfort zone. Peter was watching her expectantly, as though willing her to say yes. If she backed down would he think less of her? Was she really so childish that she would do something so crazy just to impress a guy? Her eyes met Peter’s. He gave her a small smile. Yes. She would.
    Around her, the noise level had risen. She threw her hands up. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘Fine. I’ll do it.’ The grin that Peter gave her made her feel effervescent. She took the paper off Harry, who was beaming now. ‘But you have to all sponsor me. Guilt rates, okay?’
    There was a flurry of agreement and the paper was passed round so that people could put their names on the list. Grace looked up and caught Peter’s eye.
    ‘If this goes wrong, I’m holding you responsible.’ She pointed at him.
    His eyes widened a bit with mock alarm.
    ‘And Harry,’ Grace added.
    Harry gave her a mock bow. ‘You can. I think you’ll be great. I’m so proud of you my darling. Margaret will be too.’

Chapter Six
    By the time Peter came to visit her that day, Sally was annoyed at how late he was. She knew because she’d heard Coronation Street start and end. If he didn’t get a move on, he’d run out of visiting hours.
    When he finally arrived, he sounded completely unlike his usual self. He told her he’d been helping out with the redecorating again. She still couldn’t figure out what that was all about.
    ‘It’s quite nice just working alongside people,’ he said. ‘I’d forgotten what it was like to just do stuff and chat to people.’
    Well he could have fooled her. He did nothing BUT chat when he was visiting. She supposed she should be grateful, but something was niggling her. Peter seemed different for no reason. It couldn’t just be the fact that he was talking to people that was cheering him up. She listened carefully, in case he said something that gave her a clue.
    ‘There’s going to be a charity abseil down the side of the new hospital tower. You know, the one where ICU is …’ He paused. ‘Anyway, Grace, she’s one of the other people volunteering today, is going to do the abseil to raise money for the hospice.’ Another pause. ‘I don’t think she’s totally happy with the idea, but I think it’s very brave of her to take up the challenge.’
    It was the pauses that gave away the significance.
    Sally’s attention heightened. There was something else about this woman. He’d mentioned her, and then justified having spoken to her. It had occurred to her that if
she
had been looking for a man to invest in, other women might too. In fact, she knew a few who were. Most of them were too old and witchy now to attract a man as young as Peter, but it didn’t do to get complacent.
    ‘And I met a potential client. He runs a logistics business and sorting out systems for him could be quite interesting,’ said Peter.
    He was talking about work again. Sally stopped listening. She wanted to find out about this woman, Grace. But he didn’t mention her again. Sally could feel that there was something important happening. Perhaps Peter fancied this Grace. She would have to remember that name. She’d have to keep an eye on things. In case this Grace creature turned out to be a husband grabbing harpy.
    Sitting by himself in his kitchen, Peter wondered if offering to drive Grace to the abseil had been the wisest thing to do.