Read Online The Paradise Trees by Linda Huber - Free Book Online Page A

opposite her father in his chair, and just for a moment on waking she’d been back in this house as a child. It was the same phone, the same ring tone, and her stomach shifted as fear gave way
to tiredness. Hell. Another memory, half-disguised as a dream this time. A teacher had caught her and a little group of friends smoking after gym class one day and had threatened to call all their
parents. He had, too. How terrified she’d been when the phone rang that evening and her father had answered it. Okay, thirteen-year-olds shouldn’t be smoking but it had been the first
time, they’d only been trying it out and what kid didn’t do that? She had been grounded for a month and made to read some section of the bible, all about sins and vices, every night for
an hour. All month. Over and over, her father listening righteously. However, he hadn’t touched her, and the punishment would have been fitting if there hadn’t been so much of it.
    ‘Mummy? It’s a lady for you.’
    Jenny put her head round the living room door and Alicia struggled to her feet. After a night chasing after her father every time he’d woken – four times – and then a day spent
sorting through some of her mother’s old things she was completely knackered.
    She took the receiver from Jenny and sat down on the bottom stair.
    ‘Alicia? Hi, honey, it’s Sonja. Frank told me you were back in Lower Banford.’
    Hot tears of pleasure rushed into Alicia’s tired eyes. Sonja. Her old friend. Sonja and Cathal had been the best parts of her life back then.
    ‘Sonja. You sound like... like yourself!’ she said. ‘It’s lovely to hear from you, how are you?’
    ‘Great. We’ve been in Paris for two years now so the kids can chatter away in French, be a big advantage for them later. We’ve got a really nice house just up from the Champs
Élysée, huge rooms and a fantastic conservatory which is marvellous for all the entertaining we have to do for John’s job. And as you can imagine the shops are brilliant. But
tell me about you, Frank said your Dad’s been ill?’
    Alicia grinned to herself. Even as a child Sonja had been keen on the posher side of life and it sounded as if she really was living the dream now. She peered round the bannister to see if
Margaret was in the kitchen, but the back door was open and there was her aunt halfway up the garden, heading towards the rasps with a colander in one hand. Good. She could talk openly.
    ‘He’s had a few strokes, plus he’s got dementia. I’m looking into a home for him but unfortunately Margaret’s dead against it. Frank’s been great, he’s
a big support.’
    ‘Oh poor you. How awful. I’m glad Frank is there for you, how is he, do you think he’s okay? I was worried when he moved back to Lower Banford, I was afraid he was chasing the
past and you know you can’t go back. He was distraught when Nell died and I really think he should have made a fresh start in a completely new place.’
    Alicia pictured Frank’s thin face. ‘Well, he’s a bit skinny but he seems positive enough. I didn’t know him well back then, but if I didn’t know about his wife
I’d never have guessed he has such a tragedy in his life.’
    ‘It was a dreadful time for him. We were afraid he was going to lose the plot completely and end up in hospital himself. He and Nell were completely devoted to each other, he barely spoke
for weeks after she died. Sounds like he’s a lot better now so maybe moving back was the right decision for him after all. I’ll see you both for myself next week, Alicia, I can’t
wait to visit!’
    Happiness spread warmly through Alicia, an unaccustomed feeling in her father’s house. Sonja would soon be here.
    ‘Me too! And you can help me with some odd memories I’ve been having,’ she said impulsively.
    Sonja laughed. ‘Odd memories? Sounds intriguing. I’m sure your Dad never let anything in the least odd anywhere near you,’ she said. ‘We’ll stroll down