Almost Perfect by Dianne Blacklock Read Free Book Online Page A

him on the cheek, in that perfunctory husband-and-wife way, like they were a normal husband and wife greeting each other on a normal morning.
    â€˜How did you sleep?’ he asked as she turned around to the coffee plunger, neatly avoiding eye contact.
    â€˜Fine thanks,’ she returned, pouring herself a cup. She busied herself with milk and sugar, as though these steps required an enormous amount of concentration. She heard him fold the paper, rinse his cup and then he was beside her, and his lips were pressed to the side of her head. For a brief moment she relaxed against him, closing her eyes. She felt his arm coming around her, his hand squeezing her shoulder.
    â€˜I love you,’ she heard him say.
    â€˜Love you too,’ she said, in that same perfunctory way, without moving, without looking up at him. It wasn’t fair. He didn’t deserve this. But she couldn’t risk anything more.
    He was leaving the kitchen now. ‘Bye, have a good day.’
    â€˜Oh, I’ll be late this evening,’ she said, finally looking up. He was standing in the doorway and for the first time their eyes connected, and Anna could see the sadness. And worse, the resignation. She swallowed. ‘I’ve got supervision.’
    He nodded. ‘Okay, see you later.’
    And then he was gone. And he never saw the tears fill her eyes, and he never heard her sobs, or heard her say, ‘I’m sorry, Mac.’

The Reading Rooms
    Louise and Georgie were eating lunch in the office when Adam walked in and stuck his hand out across the desk in front of Louise.
    â€˜Ten bucks, thank you.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Lover boy’s back.’
    Georgie nearly choked on her focaccia.
    â€˜Woohoo,’ Louise cooed suggestively, reaching for her purse. ‘He’s keen.’
    â€˜Oh, get over yourselves, you two,’ said Georgieafter she’d managed to swallow. ‘Just because someone comes into the shop two days in a row doesn’t mean anything. You think he’s the first customer who’s ever done that? Did you ever imagine he might be interested in books, seeing as this is a bookshop after all? No, this poor, unsuspecting bibliophile, who probably doesn’t even remember my name, dares to walk into the shop more than once and you two catch the express train to fantasy land.’
    Adam sighed loudly. ‘He came straight to the counter and asked me if Georgie was in today.’
    Louise laughed out loud, passing a ten-dollar note to Adam. ‘You’ve got a live one, Georgie, go for it.’
    She winced, glancing uncertainly out into the shop.
    â€˜What’s the problem?’ asked Louise. ‘He looks all right.’
    Georgie pulled a face. ‘They never are though, are they?’
    â€˜Well, you won’t know unless you give it a go. Hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t even realise.’
    Georgie stood up and straightened her skirt, though she never could tell what was straight for this particular skirt. She had found the solution to her wardrobe woes when she discovered the hippy/new age/peasant look. It covered a multitude of sins. Matching colours and patterns didn’t matter, appropriateness of an outfit for an occasion was no longer an issue. And despite Zan claiming she looked like a reject from the set of Moulin Rouge , it only added to the perception that she was bohemian and eccentric, instead of seriously style-deficient.
    She ran her tongue across the front of her teeth. ‘Can you see any spinach?’ she asked Louise.
    Louise contemplated Georgie’s sandwich. ‘You weren’t eating spinach.’
    â€˜Doesn’t mean it won’t show up on my teeth,’ she declared, flicking her fingers through her hair. ‘Wish me luck!’
    Georgie walked out across the shop floor. Liam was standing gazing at a poster of Duck Egg Blue as she came up behind him. ‘Have you read it?’
    He swung around suddenly,