Everything to Gain and a Secret Affair by Barbara Taylor Bradford Page B

control, and he’s roped in all the men to do the barbecuing. Nora and my mother and Diana will help me to fetch and carry.”
    â€œI’m hoping I’ll feel better by lunchtime, that I’ll be able to pitch in.”
    â€œIt’s not necessary, Sash. Just relax. And in any case, I’m setting up a buffet table here. It’ll hold most of the other food, such as the salads, the breads, the baked beans, baked potatoes, and corn. It’s only the hot dogs, hamburgers, and chops that’ll have to be brought over from the barbecues on the kitchen patio.”
    Sarah nodded but didn’t say anything for a few minutes. She sat staring into space with a reflective expression on her face. Eventually, she said slowly, “Your mother looks like the cat that’s swallowed the canary this morning.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œHer eyes are bright and shiny, and she did nothing but smile at me when I was having my toast. And I couldn’t help thinking that it was a very self-satisfied smile. Even a bit smug.”
    â€œI guess I can tell you,” I began, and then I hesitated.
    â€œSure you can, you’ve been telling me everything since the day you could talk.”
    â€œIt’s supposed to be a secret.”
    â€œSo what, you’ve always told me your secrets, Mal. Yours and everybody else’s, actually.”
    â€œWell, so have you too!” I shot back.
    â€œI bet it’s to do with a man.” Sarah grinned at me and winked.
    â€œI’m impressed. How did you guess?”
    She burst out laughing. “She has that look. The look, the one that says, ‘I have a man and he’s all mine.’ A guy might not recognize it, but every woman does.”
    â€œMy mother’s getting married.”
    â€œGolly gee whiz! You’ve got to be kidding!”
    â€œNo, I’m not.”
    â€œGood for Auntie Jess. Who’s the man?”
    â€œDavid Nelson. I think you’ve met him once or twice when he’s been at my mother’s.”
    Sarah let out a low whistle. “He’s quite a catch, I’d say.Very good-looking and successful, and younger than her.”
    â€œAre you sure he’s younger?”
    â€œYes, I am. My mother said something to me a few months ago about Aunt Jess and David, and she mentioned he was about fifty-eight.”
    â€œOh, only four years, that’s not much. Anyway, my mother looks a lot younger than he, don’t you think?”
    â€œYes, she does.”
    â€œI can’t imagine why she wants to get another face job, though. She doesn’t need it, in my opinion.”
    If Sarah was startled by my comment, she did not show it. She said, “No, she doesn’t, but she may feel insecure, worried about her age. That’s the way my mother is now that she’s turned sixty, always attempting to look younger. A lot of women think that’s a milestone, I guess.”
    I shrugged. “Maybe. On the other hand, sixty’s not old. In fact, it’s considered young these days. This morning, when my mother mentioned she wanted to have a little nip and tuck, I tried to convince her she didn’t need it. But she’ll do what she wants. She always has.”
    â€œI wonder if she’s told my mother? About getting married.”
    â€œI don’t know. But don’t say anything, Sash, just in case she hasn’t. As I said, it’s a secret. Mom hasn’t even informed my father yet, nor has she talked to her lawyer about a divorce. She just made her mind up in the last couple of days . . . at least, that’s the impression she gave me.”
    â€œI won’t tell a soul, I promise, Mal. And I’m really glad for Auntie Jess, glad she’s happy.”
    â€œI am too.” I paused, staring at Sarah without saying anything for a moment, then I flopped down opposite her.
    â€œIs something wrong?” she asked, frowning slightly,