Read Online To Have and to Hold by Deborah Moggach - Free Book Online Page B

Ollie gazed at the uncomprehending back of the man’s neck and turned to look at the advertisements for bulging underpants and American musicals –
Fourth Great Year
– and then a photo of a woman’s face and the words
Pregnant and Worried About It
?
    Ken entered his office, a Portakabin in the works yard. Archie was already there, sifting through the mail.
    â€˜What a day,’ said Archie. ‘What a bummer that was. I go home and I wouldn’t have been surprised if my old lady told me she’s expecting quads.’
    â€˜Quads?’ asked Ken, hanging up his coat.
    â€˜If she is, she’s keeping it dark.’
    Ahead of Ken lay a day of banter, and four site visits, and orders from the depot. How could it sound so normal?
    Viv sat beside Yvonne, whose essay she was reading. Yvonne smelt of eau-de-Cologne and cigarettes; it made Viv queasy.
    Mr Rochester is macho,
she read,
like a volcano which is about to explode.
She pointed to the page. ‘Shouldn’t that be “erupt”?’
    Yvonne shrugged. By turning her wrist unobtrusively, Viv could see her watch. Ten minutes before the end of the lesson. Then she could phone Ann and find out how Ken had reacted. Did he erupt or explode? Dare she phone at all?
    Ann tried to phone Viv, but the first time there was no reply in the staffroom and the second time someone told her that Viv was still teaching. Ann tried to concentrate on her work.
    The next time she looked up, there was her father. He was standing at one of the customer windows. She jumped up and hurried over.
    â€˜Dad!’ She smiled through the glass. ‘This is a nice surprise.’
    â€˜Just thought, well, I’d pop round.’
    She stared at him. For one moment she thought that he must know and that he had come here to talk about it. But that was surely impossible. She hurried round to the interconnecting door and unlocked it.
    â€˜Trying to keep me out?’ joked Douglas.
    â€˜Awful, isn’t it?’ she said, indicating the electronic lock.
    He came into the office and looked around. Lovely décor.
    â€˜We had it done up – oh three years ago. Would you like some coffee?’
    â€˜Putting you out?’
    â€˜Of course not.’ She smiled at him. She saw little of her father, and even then it was mostly at Viv’s house.
    He pointed to the customer windows. ‘I should be out there.’
    â€˜Of course not.’
    He paused. She poured the coffee. ‘What I mean is . . .’ He took the cup. ‘Well, there’s something I’d like to ask you.’
    â€˜What about?’
    â€˜A little . . . business matter.’
    She stared at him. ‘Oh.’
    â€˜I’ll come straight to the point. What’s the chance of me getting a mortgage?’
    â€˜Goodness.’
    She stared at his creased face and grey hair. Her mum was right about the sideboards.
    â€˜You going to buy your flat?’ she asked.
    He stirred his coffee, gazing into the cup. ‘Not exactly. I was, well . . . thinking of moving.’
    â€˜How exciting.’
    â€˜Just thinking.’
    â€˜Where?’
    â€˜Nothing’s finalized yet.’ he put aside the spoon and looked up. She thought: it’s years since he’s looked at me and actually asked me a question. ‘So what do you think?’
    â€˜It depends on the size of the loan and the repayment period,’ she said.
    â€˜It wouldn’t be out of the question, for an old dog like me?’
    â€˜If you give me more facts I’ll make some calculations.’
    â€˜Think you can put in a word for me with what’s-his-name, Derek?’
    â€˜I can look into it.’
    â€˜You can?’
    She smiled at him. ‘It is my job.’
    â€˜Yes, of course.’ He smiled at her hurriedly. She knew that at that exact moment, now he had the facts, he would get up to leave.
    He rose to his feet and put down his unfinished coffee.
    â€˜Do us