Read Online The New Woman by Charity Norman - Free Book Online Page B

potholes on the drive. ‘Oh God,’ she groaned, downing her newly filled glass. ‘Here come Simon and Carmela. This calls for sedation.’
    ‘Why would you need Dutch courage to face your own brother?’
    Kate swept back her hair—what there was of it—and imitated Carmela’s voice. ‘Oh, Kate , I can recommend a marvellous hairdresser. He’s a magician!’
    ‘To be honest, love, you do look as though you’ve sheared your fringe with a pair of blunt nail scissors.’
    ‘They were quite sharp nail scissors, actually. And Simon’s not been interested in anyone or anything since he married her. He’s got no idea what makes me tick. He just makes snide little remarks. I bet you, Granny, he’ll find something sarcastic to say within the first three minutes.’
    Meg looked at the Jeep, which had just pulled up. ‘I’ll bet he won’t.’
    ‘You’re on. I’ll time it.’ Kate checked the second hand on her watch. ‘A tenner? Starting from . . . now .’
    Simon
    Mum and Dad needed to do something about that bloody drive. It was getting beyond a joke. Someone was going to break an axle.
    ‘Bumpety bump,’ yelled Nico. He was holding a toy Piglet up to the window. ‘Look, Piglet, there’s Grandpa’s shed. We’re going to make a plane in there.’
    ‘Kate and your grandmother are sitting on the bench. See? They’re just watching us,’ hissed Carmela. She was brushing her hair. ‘You’d think they could wave, or smile, or something. It doesn’t matter how far I extend the olive branch, Kate does not want to take it.’
    Simon brought the Jeep to a halt and yanked at the handbrake. ‘Let’s make a real effort this time. Keep the moral high ground. We’re here to remember Grandad, after all.’
    ‘I’ll drive home. You can drink.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Simon exhaled theatrically. ‘Okay, I’m going in. My orders are to carry out a section attack and take the guns. Give me covering fire.’
    ‘Will do.’
    He leaped out, grinning idiotically in his effort to exude cheerfulness.
    ‘Hi!’ he called, and trotted up the terrace steps to kiss Meg’s cheek. He was sure she’d shrunk since last time. ‘Lovely to see you, Granny.’
    Then he looked at Kate, and did a double take. Oh, for Christ’s sake! She had a stud in her nose! She looked like a lowlife. Why would she mutilate herself?
    ‘What’s this?’ he asked, pointing at the same place on his own nose. ‘Hormones playing up?’
    Kate glanced at her watch, turned to Meg and held out her palm. ‘Eighteen seconds. Has to be a record. You owe me.’
    Simon didn’t understand her full meaning, but he knew he’d put his foot in it. ‘Nah, it looks great,’ he lied. ‘Stylish. Um, how’s . . .’ He racked his brains, and then remembered. ‘Owen?’
    ‘It’s ex-boyfriend.’
    ‘Thank Christ for that! He was a total moron, wasn’t he?’
    He was relieved when Carmela joined them; she was much better at doing the family thing. She was from a massive clan herself—including four brothers and their wives and families—and at the slightest excuse they all met up in Madrid. Simon’s efforts to learn Spanish hadn’t been very successful, and he couldn’t tell furious argument from enthusiastic agreement. His policy was to nod and smile.
    ‘Meg! Kate!’ cried Carmela, kissing both women while Nico shot inside to look for his grandparents. ‘You look terrific! And, Kate, that haircut is simply . . . courageous.’
    Simon saw Kate stiffen. ‘Nice shoes, Carmela,’ she said. ‘I don’t suppose kept women actually have to walk anywhere.’
    He felt all his good intentions slipping away. ‘Kate, that’s just bloody rude.’
    ‘Drink?’ said Meg, intervening quickly. ‘And who’s this turning in? Ah! It’s Luke and Wendy.’
    Simon watched as Nico ran out of the house and bounceddown the steps to meet the car. Yes, there was Aunt Wendy in the passenger seat. Luke’s sister, survivor of a string of disastrous relationships, who’d