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

pull the cork, presumably.
    Mark laughed. She was a strange woman. If he had to describe her, he’d call her a glamorous battle-axe, one he couldn’t help but admire. Last time he’d seen her, she was stopping traffic trying to get a new school crossing in place. Evelyn Thompson took on local causes as if they were her own. He doubted she’d allow herself to be put out to grass any time soon.
    ‘You’re on, Mrs B,’ he said, handing the open bottle back to Evelyn. ‘I’m yours, so long as you do me a favour in return.’
    ‘Oh, dear, been playing up again, has he, our Mr Independent?’ Mrs Bruce nodded towards his dad’s house.
    ‘No, he’s doing all right,’ Mark assured her. ‘Just a bit forgetful.’
    ‘And cantankerous.’ Evelyn added.
    ‘And that,’ Mark acknowledged with a smile. ‘I just wondered if you could keep an eye out for him?’
    ‘I always do.’ Mrs Bruce assured him. ‘Even though he obviously thinks I’m after his body and shuts himself in his loo.’
    ‘Ah.’ Mark said, a tad uncomfortable.
    Mrs Bruce gave him an affectionate pat on the cheek. ‘Stop worrying,’ she scolded. ‘I’ll check on him. Your mum would never forgive me if I didn’t. Though I’m not sure it will be a pleasure.’
    ‘Thanks, Mrs B. But don’t bother yourself tonight. He’s just going to…’
    ‘Batten the hatches?’ Mrs Bruce rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll pop around in the morning.’
    ‘Cheers Mrs B. You’re an angel.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Mrs Bruce, as Mark planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘And I’m sure I’ll get my reward in heaven.’
    ‘How’s Karl?’ she called after him as Mark headed for his car.
    Mark turned. ‘Good,’ he said, his stock answer, anything more being too complicated sometimes.
    ‘Bring him for tea one Sunday.’ Mrs Bruce waved him off. ‘And if you’ve got a young lady, bring her along, too.’
    She was fishing, Mark knew. Said the same thing every time she saw him. ‘Still looking.’ He smiled half-heartedly as he turned back to his car, wondering how it was he thought he’d finally found someone, and then lost her in such a short space of time.

Chapter Five
    Donna sighed, highly fulfilled by her scintillating night out — not. Couldn’t get much more enjoyable really, could it, she thought obliquely, as she puffed her way along the hard shoulder in her “not desirable footwear for Pilates” according to the instructor.
    Donna glanced down at her cheap feet. Cheek. She didn’t have the financial resources for prominent logos. And nor would the snooty instructor if she had a son who thought child abuse was not having a PS3.
    Oh, gosh, more joy. She glanced up. It was raining, again, a fat splat, followed by a deluge, landing on Donna’s head as testament to which. Perfect.
    Abandoning her car had been a no-brainer. Against the law to leave vehicles unattended or not, Donna had been out of there in a flash, minus all worldly goods, including her mobile. Breathing hard, she peered over her shoulder, just in time to see her car puke out an acrid cloud of black smoke. Oh, God, it was well and truly — terrifyingly — on fire! Carless of her juggling bum-cheeks on display to passing traffic, Donna cranked her sprint up a gear.
    Please, Lord , she prayed, as her feet pounded on the tarmac, don’t let anyone open the door and be burnt to a crisp, and please, please, let me reach the emergency phone soon.
    At last, there it was. Donna strode the last few yards like a gazelle — a heavily pregnant one, clutched at the receiver, and then paused to wheeze and pant.
    And then almost wet her sweatpants as a voice in her ear said, ‘Keep calm,’ before she’d even dialled. ‘The burning vehicle at your location has been reported,’ the voice went spookily on. ‘The emergency services are at the scene.’
    ‘They are?’ Donna glanced behind her, and there indeed were flashing blue lights. Two fire engines worth of flashing blue lights.
    ‘Are you all