Read Online The Grass is Greener by Loretta Hill - Free Book Online Page B

Franklin Estate. The Franklins .’
    Bronwyn’s gaze dropped to her hands, which were clasped firmly in her lap. ‘Your family won’t like it?’
    â€˜I think there would definitely be some unease,’ Claudia said slowly. ‘I mean, you know they love you, Bron. They talk about you all the time. Ask when you’re coming to visit and all that. But … you coming home instead of me? They’d be shocked and probably a little hurt too.’
    Bronwyn’s shoulders drooped. ‘That’s true. I guess I wouldn’t want to go somewhere I’m not welcome.’
    â€˜Not welcome?’ Claudia blew on her fringe. ‘No, it won’t be like that. Chris will love having you around. And Mum, you know her, she’ll be too consumed with excitement to see the wood for the trees at first.’
    â€˜It’s your dad I have to worry about, isn’t it?’
    Claudia frowned. ‘To be honest, he’s been grumpy since his retirement. Hasn’t agreed with most of the changes I’ve implemented at Oak Hills over the years. So that’ll be nothing new. But are you prepared to deal with him?’
    Bronwyn raised her eyes slowly. ‘I think I can certainly give it a shot if you’ll let me. Come on, Claud, take a chance.’
    A light, airy feeling entered Claudia’s chest, almost like it was filling with butterflies. To hand over all her obligations to another so that she could pursue her own dreams? It seemed too good to be true.
    Did they dare risk it?
    â€˜When were you planning on leaving?’ she asked breathlessly.
    Bronwyn leaned forward. ‘First thing in the morning. I can conceal Elsa in my apartment for one night perhaps, but not for much longer.’
    Claudia thought hard. It was all happening so fast, her head was beginning to spin. For so long, she had been trapped by what her family wanted. Bronwyn had too.
    Did they dare be selfish?
    It was such a fantasy. Such a risk to both their situations. And to Oak Hills as well.
    Her family would think she’d gone off the rails.
    Maybe she had.
    â€˜Don’t overthink it, Claud.’ Bronwyn grabbed her hand. ‘If you do, you’ll never agree. We just need to take what we can and prove that we deserve it later.’
    Claudia squeezed her best friend’s hand in return. ‘Are you sure you’re up for this? You don’t know how bad it’s become at Oak Hills. It really is a sinking ship.’
    â€˜Then maybe fresh blood is exactly what they need.’
    For a while they held each other’s gaze, caught in a rip of their own needs versus those of their families.
    Claudia knew the right decision was to say ‘no.’ Her obligations to her family were hers and hers alone. It was callous of her to pass them off to somebody else, wasn’t it?
    How many years have you already given to Oak Hills, Claudia?
    And how much more are you prepared to sacrifice?
    She knew how trapped Bronwyn had felt for so many years because the feeling was so close to her heart. Here was a chance for them both to get what they wanted and needed.
    â€˜All right, Bronwyn.’ She held her arms open for a hug. ‘You win. Let’s do it.’
    Bronwyn squealed and hugged her back.
    â€˜But remember,’ she added sternly, ‘at the first sign of trouble we call it quits, all right?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Bronwyn agreed.
    If only Claudia could have predicted then how impossible that would be.

Chapter 5
    Bronwyn stepped out of Claudia’s old ute, closed her eyes and lifted her nose to the wind. Who knew that freedom smelled both fresh and fruity?
    After a moment she allowed herself to take in the ramshackle home she was parked in front of. It was two storeys tall and leaning against the side of a hill, much like a tired old man catching his breath. In its heyday it must have been rather grand and stately. Now it looked a little too rickety to still be