by changing the subject and asking Davina about her own family. ‘Did you get to see them over New Year, if not Christmas?’ she asked.
‘It wasn’t possible for me to find the money to pay the fare for such a long journey. Besides, I left home years ago so it’s not as if we’re close any more.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. How old were you when you left home, Davina? Was there some sort of problem?’
‘Aren’t there always with families?’ her friend said, and quickly changed the subject to talk about how busy they’d been on the market stall over Christmas, and how she felt in need of a good rest.
Her answers were as vague as ever, but Cathie was at least thankful that their friendship remained intact.
Watching her so-called new friend wheel the baby away, Davina smiled to herself with satisfaction. What a naïve idiot Cathie was. Davina had never understood why Alex had been so obsessed with returning to the girl after nearly two years apart, particularly considering the many nights he’d spent in her own bed since they got together manymonths ago. She’d believed in her heart that he loved
her
, not this one-time fiancée of his, and that one day soon they would marry. Davina saw herself as the innocent victim in this ridiculous love-triangle, not Cathie Morgan.
He hadn’t even written to the girl much in recent years, let alone gone to see her, although whenever he spoke of Cathie, he said what a wonderful person she was. True, she was a pretty young woman, if somewhat shy and innocent, irresistible qualities to a man like Alex Ryman. No doubt she’d attempted to make a strong case for him to accept little Heather, but thankfully failed.
Davina was delighted her plan seemed to have worked and she’d won the battle to convince Alex that adopting this unknown child would be a bad mistake, which should put paid to any hopes Cathie had of a marriage between them. Nevertheless, she was already playing with further ideas, just in case he got it into his head to take the girl back.
Brenda might share her old friend’s faith in Alex, but Cathie’s mother clearly nursed serious doubts, which should help. Whatever steps Davina decided to take in order to permanently shatter this foolish girl’s dreams, though, she must tread carefully. It certainly helped that he could never find it in himself to resist what she had to offer.
Lighting a cigarette, Davina recalled with pleasure the moment he discovered she’d moved to Castlefield, which surely proved that her love for him was greater. She’d deliberately travelled to Crewe, carefully checked the time of his train, due to arrive at Manchester Victoria on thedot of eleven, so that she could meet him before Cathie did. Progressing slowly along the corridor of the rocking train, she’d carefully searched every compartment for the one man she was desperate to find. Packed with soldiers returning home, it had not been an easy task. Yet she knew Alex was in one of those carriages.
Davina had walked the entire length of the train, chatting and laughing with scores of servicemen when suddenly she’d heard his voice. She would have known the sound of his rumbling laughter anywhere. Smoothing down her hair, she tapped on the compartment door and, when his startled gaze met hers, gave him a seductive little smile.
Seconds later, he was by her side. ‘What in tarnation are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come to welcome you home, darling,’ she said and, wrapping her arms about his neck, gave him a long deep kiss, which brought forth a chorus of cheers and a huge applause from his buddies. Putting his arm about her waist, he drew her further along the corridor, out of sight of his comrades. Then, pulling her into an area between carriages, he lifted her into his arms and began to almost devour her with the urgency of his kisses, her breasts crushed against his hard chest. Triumph soared in her as she helped him fumble aside her coat and skirts and hitch her a
‘It wasn’t possible for me to find the money to pay the fare for such a long journey. Besides, I left home years ago so it’s not as if we’re close any more.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. How old were you when you left home, Davina? Was there some sort of problem?’
‘Aren’t there always with families?’ her friend said, and quickly changed the subject to talk about how busy they’d been on the market stall over Christmas, and how she felt in need of a good rest.
Her answers were as vague as ever, but Cathie was at least thankful that their friendship remained intact.
Watching her so-called new friend wheel the baby away, Davina smiled to herself with satisfaction. What a naïve idiot Cathie was. Davina had never understood why Alex had been so obsessed with returning to the girl after nearly two years apart, particularly considering the many nights he’d spent in her own bed since they got together manymonths ago. She’d believed in her heart that he loved
her
, not this one-time fiancée of his, and that one day soon they would marry. Davina saw herself as the innocent victim in this ridiculous love-triangle, not Cathie Morgan.
He hadn’t even written to the girl much in recent years, let alone gone to see her, although whenever he spoke of Cathie, he said what a wonderful person she was. True, she was a pretty young woman, if somewhat shy and innocent, irresistible qualities to a man like Alex Ryman. No doubt she’d attempted to make a strong case for him to accept little Heather, but thankfully failed.
Davina was delighted her plan seemed to have worked and she’d won the battle to convince Alex that adopting this unknown child would be a bad mistake, which should put paid to any hopes Cathie had of a marriage between them. Nevertheless, she was already playing with further ideas, just in case he got it into his head to take the girl back.
Brenda might share her old friend’s faith in Alex, but Cathie’s mother clearly nursed serious doubts, which should help. Whatever steps Davina decided to take in order to permanently shatter this foolish girl’s dreams, though, she must tread carefully. It certainly helped that he could never find it in himself to resist what she had to offer.
Lighting a cigarette, Davina recalled with pleasure the moment he discovered she’d moved to Castlefield, which surely proved that her love for him was greater. She’d deliberately travelled to Crewe, carefully checked the time of his train, due to arrive at Manchester Victoria on thedot of eleven, so that she could meet him before Cathie did. Progressing slowly along the corridor of the rocking train, she’d carefully searched every compartment for the one man she was desperate to find. Packed with soldiers returning home, it had not been an easy task. Yet she knew Alex was in one of those carriages.
Davina had walked the entire length of the train, chatting and laughing with scores of servicemen when suddenly she’d heard his voice. She would have known the sound of his rumbling laughter anywhere. Smoothing down her hair, she tapped on the compartment door and, when his startled gaze met hers, gave him a seductive little smile.
Seconds later, he was by her side. ‘What in tarnation are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come to welcome you home, darling,’ she said and, wrapping her arms about his neck, gave him a long deep kiss, which brought forth a chorus of cheers and a huge applause from his buddies. Putting his arm about her waist, he drew her further along the corridor, out of sight of his comrades. Then, pulling her into an area between carriages, he lifted her into his arms and began to almost devour her with the urgency of his kisses, her breasts crushed against his hard chest. Triumph soared in her as she helped him fumble aside her coat and skirts and hitch her a
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