Homecoming by Catrin Collier Page A

away for the night.’
    â€˜Is she now?’ His smile reached his eyes.
    â€˜Yes, and she has no idea what time she’ll be back tomorrow.’
    â€˜You’ll be lonely.’
    â€˜And you, I saw Mike when I visited the town salon this morning. He told me you’d offloaded your shift on to him tonight.’
    â€˜Did he now?’ Sam’s smile broadened. ‘Is that an invitation for me to stay over?’
    â€˜I was thinking more of coffee on the way home.’
    â€˜Why stop at coffee?’
    â€˜Maybe a little more than just coffee.’ Her mouth went dry, as she realised what he was thinking.
    â€˜You promised you’d have a date for me.’
    â€˜After I’ve spoken to my mother.’ She conveniently forgot that she’d called in on her earlier.
    â€˜Then you can give it me when I bring you home.’ Taking her mohair stole from her, he dropped a kiss on to her naked shoulder before draping it around her.
    â€˜You know what Robin is like at a party, Ems. He and the boys always hole up in the billiards room.’ Angela went to her dressing table, picked up her atomiser and sprayed the toilette water she had bought on her last visit to France behind her ears.
    â€˜I know.’ Emily blotted her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘It’s just that – well, you know how foul everyone’s been to me …’
    â€˜That’s why Robin and I threw this party to get you back in with the crowd.’
    â€˜So they can cut me like Cicely just did.’
    â€˜Cicely’s a bitch,’ Angela commiserated. ‘I’m here, aren’t I?’ Replacing the atomiser, she went to her bedside cabinet. Opening it, she lifted out a bottle of brandy, poured two stiff measures, and handed Emily one. ‘Come downstairs.’
    â€˜You won’t leave me.’
    â€˜Not for one minute.’
    â€˜And Robin?’
    â€˜I’ll do what I can to entice the boys out of the billiards room, but you know what they’re like when they get together. Come on.’ Angela picked up Emily’s overnight case from the foot of her bed and carried it into the spare room. Emily trailed behind her, still dabbing her eyes. ‘I hope you’ll be comfortable in here.’
    â€˜Yes,’ Emily mumbled tearfully.
    â€˜It’s important to keep up appearances. I know you and Robin are engaged but with a house full, we don’t want to risk any gossip. That’s why I asked Mrs Jones to put you in here. Robin’s only next door, he can slip in and out without anyone noticing.’
    â€˜Thank you.’ Emily’s eyes shone with gratitude.
    â€˜Now drink that down and I’ll get you another one.’

Chapter Five
    â€˜You’ll love it in the nursing home, the staff are marvellous and nothing is too much trouble for them. Billy’s birth there was wonderful, so calm and relaxed it was a completely different experience to having Judy in hospital,’ Joy confided to Katie.
    â€˜Medicine has advanced in the last twenty odd years, love,’ Roy reminded her gently.
    â€˜Seeing as men know absolutely nothing about having babies, you’re not allowed into this conversation,’ Joy rebuked.
    Not in the least offended, Roy wandered off, beer glass in hand.
    â€˜So how are you keeping?’ Joy whispered to Katie. ‘Not that I don’t know exactly how you’re feeling. Between the backaches, the cramps, the baby kicking lumps out of your insides every time you try to eat, the heartburn, the varicose veins …’
    â€˜I haven’t had the varicose veins,’ Katie smiled.
    â€˜Lucky girl, but I’ll talk to you again when you are having your second.’
    â€˜I feel incredibly well,’ Katie insisted. ‘But then John hardly lets me lift a finger in the house. Mrs Jones does most of the housework and prepares the evening meal, and we eat out most Friday and Saturday