A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online Page A

car.”
    â€œEveline? What’s going on?” Evie’s mother’s overly plucked eyebrows arched in astonishment. “How could I have missed it? I’m not that late!”
    â€œIt’s not happening. We called it off,” said Evie. “Well, I did.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous, you can’t have!”
    â€œWhy can’t I?”
    â€œYou wouldn’t do that. You’re not the type!”
    People didn’t change, did they? Lara inwardly marveled at Evie’s mother’s response.
    Evie simply shrugged and didn’t attempt to argue. “Well, the wedding’s canceled.”
    Exasperated, her mother said, “And it didn’t occur to you to tell me? For goodness sake, Eveline. I had to cut short an important meeting to get down here today!”
    â€œI know you did.” Evie nodded wearily. “You’ve told me a hundred times. But look on the bright side, now you can go back to work.”
    In response to Evie’s signal, Lara stuck her foot down and they shot off up the road. It was the kind of moment that would have looked great in a film. It would’ve been even better if they could have had a zippy red convertible, with Evie’s white veil flying behind them and her wedding bouquet being dramatically flung into the air as they sped off into a spectacular sunset.
    Instead, they were in a dusty blue Nissan and Evie didn’t have a bouquet to fling. Nor, since it wasn’t long past midday, was there any sunset.
    Lara saw that Evie’s fingernails were digging into her palms.
    â€œYou’re doing great,” she reassured her. “Now, we need to pick up some stuff for you. Then I’ll have to collect my things from the hotel.”
    â€œI’ve been staying with Joel’s parents. I don’t want to go back there.” Despite the heat of the day, Evie’s teeth had started to chatter. “Oh God, poor Bonnie and Ray. I can’t face them again, not yet. I just want to get away.”
    â€œNo problem. We can do that.”

Chapter 7
    Fifteen minutes later they drew into the parking lot of the Ellison and Evie’s heart sank. Every parking space was taken and girls in stunning jewel-bright outfits were picking their way across the gravel on the arms of men in top hats and tails. Irony of ironies, Lara had booked into a hotel where another glamorous wedding was about to take place.
    â€œLet’s hope things turn out better for this lot. Oh God …” Her feeble attempt at lightheartedness was scuppered in an instant by the sight of a tall blonde in a dress that resembled an emerald satin bandage. “That’s Emily Morris, she’ll wet herself laughing if she sees me.” Evie ducked down in the passenger seat. “ And she’s been after Joel for years.”
    â€œRight, what do you want to do?” Lara parked in the last available space, away from the hotel entrance and marked Manager Only. “Wait here or come in with me? I’ll be five minutes, max.”
    Evie glanced over her shoulder at the boisterous wedding party milling around the entrance. Accompanying Lara into the hotel would mean having to squeeze through them and would attract way too much unwanted attention.
    â€œI’ll stay here.”
    Lara jumped out of the car. Evie did her best to calm down. She was facing a high stone wall; there was no reason why anyone should notice her all the way over here. Too agitated to sit doing nothing, Evie switched on the radio and turned up the volume. Then she opened the glove compartment and found a packet of wet wipes. Pulling down the sun visor, she looked at the wreckage of her face; the foundation was all blotchy, her lipstick had melted in the heat, and the ill-advised attempt at eyebrow penciling looked as if it had been carried out in the dark. How stupid to have imagined she could do it herself.
    Evie pulled out a wet wipe and began scrubbing it