Read Online Queen of the Road by Tricia Stringer - Free Book Online
Authors: Tricia Stringer
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be hearing Ian’s version of the night’s events.
On her other side, a middle-aged couple were inspecting her down the lengths of their noses. Elevators were such confronting places.
Then she noticed the man in the corner behind them, and a sour taste filled her mouth. Nigel lifted an eyebrow as their eyes met. Angela’s head snapped back to face the front of the lift. The doors opened and she shot through them like a cork from a bottle, her hand clapped to her mouth. She felt sick and anxious and seedy. Not only was her life a mess right now, but so many people were witness to the debacle it had become.
Chapter 8
Angela lurched to a sitting position on the couch and nausea churned in her stomach. Somewhere a banging noise echoed the thumping in her head. She clutched her brow as the pain deepened and the pounding at her front door intensified.
‘Angela, are you in there?’ Janice’s high-pitched demand was quickly followed by another voice.
‘Mummy, open the door. Let me in.’ Claudia’s voice mimicked Janice’s irritation.
Angela staggered to her feet, rubbed at her face and tried to run her fingers through her hair but they jagged in the knots, causing even more pain. She pushed her tongue around her mouth in an attempt to create some moisture, then opened the door. Claudia rushed through and flung her little arms around Angela’s legs.
Janice pushed through the door behind her. ‘For goodness’ sake, Angela, look at you.’
‘Are you sick, Mummy?’
‘I’m just tired, pumpkin. I had a very late night.’
There was a snort from Janice.
Claudia dropped her arms and looked up. ‘Your hair looks funny and your eyes are black.’
‘Remember I told you I was going to Carmela’s wedding and that there was going to be a big party?’
‘Was it a dress-up party?’
‘Kind of.’ Angela squatted carefully down to Claudia’s level. ‘Did you have fun at Grandpa’s?’
‘I rode in Big Red but Grandpa wasn’t there much. Janice got me this.’ Claudia stooped to tug a doll from her backpack. Angela frowned, realising the little jacket her daughter was wearing was also new. ‘See, Mummy,’ Claudia said, pushing the doll at her. It wasn’t a baby doll, but one with makeup and jewels. Angela knew from the toy catalogues it wasn’t cheap. ‘Her name’s Bebe. She’s got some extra clothes.’
‘Grandpa is busy with so many drivers out of action.’ Janice looked down at Angela. ‘So we went shopping.’
‘I didn’t realise,’ Angela said, torn between her concern for her father and her annoyance at Janice lavishing money on Claudia.
‘He’d planned to take the day off, but he’s had to do a run to Adelaide,’ Janice continued. ‘I kept her as long as I could, but I’m meeting friends for an early dinner and a movie. You do realise it’s four o’clock?’
Angela peered at the clock on the wall and clicked her tongue. It couldn’t be. She’d only sunk onto the couch for a quick sleep after the taxi dropped her home.
‘Do you like my doll, Mummy?’ Claudia waggled the new toy in Angela’s face.
‘She’s very nice.’ Angela rose delicately to her feet, clutching the back of a chair for support. ‘Take your things into your room. I’ll help you unpack in a minute. Say goodbye to Janice.’
Janice bent down and they gave each other a hug and air kissed each cheek.
‘Thanks for having her,’ Angela said as they watched Claudia skip to her room. ‘I wouldn’t have left her if I’d known Dad wasn’t going to be there.’
‘I can look after her. She’s really no trouble.’
‘Well, thank you …’
‘I would have been happy to keep her longer, but I made this arrangement weeks ago with the girls. I tried ringing but your mobile keeps going to message bank and your home phone rang out.’
Angela glanced around for the handset. Surely she would have heard it. She licked her dry lips. What she needed was a big glass of water.
‘Are you sure you’re well
On her other side, a middle-aged couple were inspecting her down the lengths of their noses. Elevators were such confronting places.
Then she noticed the man in the corner behind them, and a sour taste filled her mouth. Nigel lifted an eyebrow as their eyes met. Angela’s head snapped back to face the front of the lift. The doors opened and she shot through them like a cork from a bottle, her hand clapped to her mouth. She felt sick and anxious and seedy. Not only was her life a mess right now, but so many people were witness to the debacle it had become.
Chapter 8
Angela lurched to a sitting position on the couch and nausea churned in her stomach. Somewhere a banging noise echoed the thumping in her head. She clutched her brow as the pain deepened and the pounding at her front door intensified.
‘Angela, are you in there?’ Janice’s high-pitched demand was quickly followed by another voice.
‘Mummy, open the door. Let me in.’ Claudia’s voice mimicked Janice’s irritation.
Angela staggered to her feet, rubbed at her face and tried to run her fingers through her hair but they jagged in the knots, causing even more pain. She pushed her tongue around her mouth in an attempt to create some moisture, then opened the door. Claudia rushed through and flung her little arms around Angela’s legs.
Janice pushed through the door behind her. ‘For goodness’ sake, Angela, look at you.’
‘Are you sick, Mummy?’
‘I’m just tired, pumpkin. I had a very late night.’
There was a snort from Janice.
Claudia dropped her arms and looked up. ‘Your hair looks funny and your eyes are black.’
‘Remember I told you I was going to Carmela’s wedding and that there was going to be a big party?’
‘Was it a dress-up party?’
‘Kind of.’ Angela squatted carefully down to Claudia’s level. ‘Did you have fun at Grandpa’s?’
‘I rode in Big Red but Grandpa wasn’t there much. Janice got me this.’ Claudia stooped to tug a doll from her backpack. Angela frowned, realising the little jacket her daughter was wearing was also new. ‘See, Mummy,’ Claudia said, pushing the doll at her. It wasn’t a baby doll, but one with makeup and jewels. Angela knew from the toy catalogues it wasn’t cheap. ‘Her name’s Bebe. She’s got some extra clothes.’
‘Grandpa is busy with so many drivers out of action.’ Janice looked down at Angela. ‘So we went shopping.’
‘I didn’t realise,’ Angela said, torn between her concern for her father and her annoyance at Janice lavishing money on Claudia.
‘He’d planned to take the day off, but he’s had to do a run to Adelaide,’ Janice continued. ‘I kept her as long as I could, but I’m meeting friends for an early dinner and a movie. You do realise it’s four o’clock?’
Angela peered at the clock on the wall and clicked her tongue. It couldn’t be. She’d only sunk onto the couch for a quick sleep after the taxi dropped her home.
‘Do you like my doll, Mummy?’ Claudia waggled the new toy in Angela’s face.
‘She’s very nice.’ Angela rose delicately to her feet, clutching the back of a chair for support. ‘Take your things into your room. I’ll help you unpack in a minute. Say goodbye to Janice.’
Janice bent down and they gave each other a hug and air kissed each cheek.
‘Thanks for having her,’ Angela said as they watched Claudia skip to her room. ‘I wouldn’t have left her if I’d known Dad wasn’t going to be there.’
‘I can look after her. She’s really no trouble.’
‘Well, thank you …’
‘I would have been happy to keep her longer, but I made this arrangement weeks ago with the girls. I tried ringing but your mobile keeps going to message bank and your home phone rang out.’
Angela glanced around for the handset. Surely she would have heard it. She licked her dry lips. What she needed was a big glass of water.
‘Are you sure you’re well
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