Read Online Somebody to Love: Sigh With Contentment, Scream With Frustration. At Time You Will Weep. by Sheryl Browne - Free Book Online Page A

eating anything unfamiliar were nil. His last tantrum in mind, when his food wasn’t arranged on his plate as he needed it to be, coffee cake would be more than Mark dared to put in front of him. He’d need to visit before then though, he suspected, his father forgetting — or more likely not bothering — to keep much else food-wise in.
    ‘Cheers. Looks good,’ he said, plucking up the cake to take a bite, and remembering that he hadn’t thought much about food himself that day. ‘Tastes pretty good, too.’ Mark checked his watch as he downed the last mouthful. ‘I’ve got to go, Dad,’ he said apologetically. ‘Will you be okay?’
    ‘Yes, of course. Go on.’ His dad waved a hand. ‘You get off. Karl will be waiting. All right, is he, young Karl?’
    ‘Yes,’ Mark assured him, dusting crumbs from his lapel and feeling much better for having broken bread of sorts with his father. ‘A handful, you know, but nothing I can’t cope with.’
    ‘Good. Good. And how’s that woman who looks after him, Gemma?’
    It was Jody now, but Mark despaired of his father ever remembering that. Gemma had retired to become a full time mum six months ago. And what an adjustment that had been for him and Karl. But it was over now, and Jody and Karl were getting on famously.
    ‘She’s fine, Dad. Got her hands full with Karl, too, as always, but doing okay. I’ll see if Mrs Bruce can pop round, shall I?’
    His father gagged on his tea. ‘Bruce the Brute!’ he spluttered. ‘Your mother would turn in her grave. And I’ll probably jump in mine if that woman comes around fussing and flicking her duster. Go on. You go. I’m not incapable yet. I can get myself fed and watered and off to bed.’
    ‘Okay, I’m gone.’ Mark held up his hands in surrender, as his dad clattered his cup up and marched to the sink. ‘Make sure you lock up though.’
    ‘Oh, I will.’ His dad assured him as Mark headed for the door. ‘Don’t want The Mighty Bruce sneaking in.’
    ‘To have her wicked way with you.’
    His dad shuddered. ‘God forbid.’
    Mark laughed as he left. He’d drop by tomorrow, but… He tapped on the next-door neighbour’s door, nevertheless. Better to be safe.
    Mrs Bruce squeaked her door open an inch. ‘Oh, it’s you, Mark.’ Her expression went from wary to warm when she recognised him. She flung the door wide and had him pressed to her ample bosom in two seconds flat.
    ‘How are you?’ she asked, finally releasing him before his ribs cracked.
    ‘Fine, thanks, Mrs B,’ Mark assured her, glancing past her to where her friend, business partner, and fearless leader of every local campaign, was shooing three barking dogs back into the kitchen. ‘Hi, Evelyn,’ he called. ‘How’s things in the dog walking business?’
    ‘Dog sitting,’ Evelyn corrected him, turning from the kitchen door and dusting herself free of dog hairs. ‘And business is slow with madam here…’ Evelyn rolled her eyes towards Mrs Bruce ‘… stopping to pee every time we pass the loo in the park.’
    ‘I do not!’ Mrs Bruce blustered.
    ‘Dot, you do.’ Evelyn collected a wine bottle and corkscrew from the coffee table and strolled towards the door, looking trendy and elegant, in a belted thigh-length jumper and leggings. ‘No point being embarrassed about it. No shame in old age, is there, Mark?’
    ‘Er, no.’ Mark glanced at his shoes.
    ‘So have you come to show an old girl a good time?’ Evelyn made suggestive eyes at him.
    ‘I’d love to. Unfortunately, my heart belongs to another, doesn’t it Mrs B?’ Mark gave Mrs Bruce a wide smile and a wink.
    ‘Oh, get on with you.’ Mrs Bruce blushed. ‘I’m old enough to be your grandmother. Mind you,’ she mused, ‘I could do with getting myself a boy-toy.’
    Evelyn sighed. ‘Toy-boy, Dot. Toy-boy. Honestly, how on earth is a girl supposed to pull any kind of man with her tagging along?’ She handed Mark the bottle with an amused smile, indicating he should