Read Online The Maxwell Sisters by Loretta Hill - Free Book Online

you. I want a future with you. And I know you feel the same way. We are perfect for each other, as you have shown me, in so many ways.
    Phoebe tore her eyes from the page to eyeball Eric. ‘Where did this come from?’
    Eric looked blankly at her. ‘I don’t know. I thought there was nothing but tea in there. What is it?’
    She scanned down the page for the sender’s name but there wasn’t one. The fact that the note was typed made it even more cryptic. She folded the letter up and put it in her pocket. ‘An important document. I’ll take it back to the house.’
    Eric closed the jar. ‘Okay.’
    Her thoughts in disarray, she quickly wrapped up her visit to the restaurant and left Eric to lock up. As soon as he was out of view, she whipped the note out of her pocket again and read the rest of it.
    I couldn’t tell you this in person. Every time I try, I get too nervous and the words stick in my throat. So I thought I’d send you this note instead. Now that I’ve finally come clean, will you please meet me at the Wildwood Bakery Sunday at three o’clock? We can grab your fav afternoon treat and talk about this, away from prying eyes.
    Her first instinct was to take the note to Spider and immediately demand answers. But who was to say he would have seen this before and know who it was from. In fact, it was more likely that he hadn’t.
    Your husband-to-be is not a cheater.
    Nor does he lead women on.
    Even as the thought surfaced, she glanced back at the note, chewing on her lower lip. She read the sentence ‘And I know you feel the same way’ at least three times.
    The eternal optimist in her wanted to throw it out. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Who had put this note in the kitchen? Had they known Spider would be working there tomorrow morning?
    And will they be at the Wildwood Bakery Sunday at three o’clock, waiting for my fiancé?
    She folded the note carefully, placed it back in its envelope and then back into her pocket. This wasn’t the only secret she had now. If there was one thing keeping secrets had taught her, it was that anything was possible. And nothing should ever be taken for granted.
    When she got back to the house, Spider was in the sitting room catching up with Eve.
    â€˜Eve! I’m so glad you’re here.’
    â€˜Me too.’ Her sister stood up to hug her. Eve looked tired and frankly just a little fed up.
    Phoebe pulled back, holding her at arm’s length. ‘Everything all right?’
    Eve nodded. ‘Fine. Fine.’
    Spider grinned. ‘Your mum’s already been on her case about eating right.’
    â€˜Really?’ Phoebe winked. ‘Was the theme pineapples or water?’
    Before Eve could reply, the subject of their debate walked in with a tray of antipasti and a bowl of quartered fruit. ‘Oranges,’ she announced. ‘They’re the best in the South-West. All the way from Nanup. It’s a long way to go to get oranges but I do it every week on principle. Once you taste these, you’ll never go back.’
    â€˜That’s okay, Mum,’ Phoebe waved the bowl away, ‘I’m all right for the minute.’
    â€˜But I drove an hour and fifteen minutes to get them,’ her mother protested. ‘They’re the juiciest you’ll ever taste.’
    â€˜I’m sure they are. I just don’t feel like an orange right now.’
    â€˜Eve had one,’ her mother announced waspishly.
    Phoebe glanced at her sister, who shrugged helplessly. ‘She insisted.’
    â€˜And what did you think?’ Anita prompted.
    Eve’s dancing eyes met Phoebe’s. ‘They were the juiciest I’ve ever tasted.’
    Phoebe grinned. Traitor.
    â€˜There, you see!’ Anita threw up her hands as though a bill had just been passed in the senate.
    â€˜Fine, I’ll have one already.’ Phoebe grabbed a quarter as her mother