Read Online Second Time Around by Marcia Willett - Free Book Online Page A

looked so serious that Isobel took another gulp at her wine and picked up her fork again. ‘I’m longing to see her,’ she said, spearing a shrimp. ‘Have you mentioned anything to her yet? About … you know. Me longing to see her.’
    â€˜The thing is,’ he said slowly, ‘the thing is—she isn’t coming home.’
    â€˜Isn’t … ? But why not?’ Isobel felt a jolt of disappointment but, underneath the disappointment, a tiny hope flared up that she and Simon would spend Christmas together.
    â€˜A girl she shares with has parents who have a house in Italy,’ he was explaining, ‘and she’s invited a group of them to go home with her. There’s skiing, apparently and goodness knows what and naturally Helen can’t resist.’
    â€˜Well, I can’t say that I blame her.’ Isobel’s hope was expanding. ‘I can send her present to Durham. With luck she’ll get it before she goes.’
    â€˜I’m sure she will.’ He smiled at her, relieved by her philosophical reaction. ‘Anyway, she’ll be back after the New Year. She’s coming home then for a week or two.’
    â€˜Well then,’ Isobel grinned at him, warmed by his smile, confident that all was going to be well. ‘That just leaves you and me.’
    His face was suddenly suffused with colour. He looked so distressed that Isobel put down her fork, a sudden anxiety seizing her.
    â€˜I shan’t be here either,’ he said abruptly. ‘Sally and I are going to the Lakes. When I heard that Helen wasn’t coming down we decided to have a little holiday. Her parents live near Kendal.’
    They stared at each other. Her disappointment was so great that Isobel was silenced. She had been so sure … This is the second
time, she told herself. The second time I’ve made a fool of myself in a pub. Pride made her pull herself together and she nodded, trying to smile.
    â€˜I’m really sorry about Helen,’ he told her. ‘Maybe when she comes down later on …’
    She knew that he was offering her a way out; that she could pretend that it was only Helen she cared about.
    â€˜It would be wonderful,’ she said quickly. ‘It means so much to me, as you know.’
    â€˜Of course.’
    She couldn’t bear the pity in his eyes. ‘Well, I’ll send her present on, then.’ She racked her brain for something to say and smiled at him quickly. ‘Look, I really ought to be getting back. I must make supper for Mathilda and …’
    She was on her feet gathering her belongings together and he stood up awkwardly, unable to help her. Politely, like strangers, they wished each other ‘Happy Christmas’, uttered meaningless inanities, kissed briefly and then Isobel found herself on the quay, the cold frosty air cooling her hot cheeks. She hitched the long strap of her bag over her shoulder and stared down into the inky water which reflected the fairy lights strung along the embankment. The pub door swung open and a gust of noise and laughter spilled out, light shafting across the quay towards her. Hastily, lest Simon should come out and see her with the tears wet on her cheeks, she turned aside and hurried away to the car.
    Â 
    MATHILDA WAS SITTING AT the kitchen table, eating rice pudding directly from the dish, a book propped against the sugar bowl. She glanced up as Isobel came in, brows raised questioningly.
    â€˜I thought you were dining out,’ she said. ‘Oh dear. Have I got it wrong? I’m afraid I’ve nearly finished this delicious pudding.’
    Desperate though Isobel was she gave a short laugh at the sight of Mathilda’s comically rueful expression. ‘You might have put it on to a
plate,’ she said, ‘but at least you remembered to eat it. It’s too much to hope that you had some macaroni cheese first?’
    â€˜Much too much,’ agreed Mathilda