Cupid's Way by Joanne Phillips Read Free Book Online

glass roof lantern that Evie couldn’t help admiring.
    ‘It’s a bloody eyesore,’ Frank told her. His mood hadn’t improved much since lunch.
    ‘Is everyone here?’ Mavis had been fussing since they arrived ten minutes ago. She’d brought a flask of tea and a tin of custard creams. Evie could feel the tension buzzing around her like static.
    ‘According to Gramps, yes. Everyone except Stig. There’s no sign of him yet.’
    ‘Oh, he won’t come,’ Mavis said, tutting. ‘He hardly ever goes out anymore. I don’t think I’ve seen him in months.’
    ‘Shouldn’t someone check on him? An old man, living alone – I thought you were this big old caring community in Cupid’s Way.’ But Evie could tell her gran wasn’t listening – she was fluffing up her hair and looking over Evie’s shoulder with a very odd expression on her face.
    ‘There’s young Zac,’ Mavis whispered. ‘I told Frank he’d be here. He’s our newest resident. Very eligible young man, very good looking.’ She gave Evie a meaningful look. ‘He’s a real man – a builder, so he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty.’ She laughed, throwing back her head, then tipped her face forward and peered in Zac’s direction.
    ‘Gran! Are you trying to flirt with him?’ Evie turned around to see what all the fuss was about. There was quite a crowd gathered in the community centre, and Evie wasn’t familiar enough with all the residents of Cupid’s Way to know who was who. She recognised Bob Peacock, keeping out of Frank’s way by the looks of it, and she recognised Tim Woolly Robinson and Sarah Lowry, who were standing together by an enormous rubber plant. The community centre was packed; it clearly wasn’t only the residents of Cupid’s Way who had decided to attend. She spotted a few young families she assumed were from the new housing estate, and a whole group of suited businessmen. What happened here would have an impact on more people than just her grandparents and their neighbours. For the first time since she’d heard about the planning application, Evie began to feel worried.
    ‘Which one is Zac?’ she said, but Mavis hissed and pulled Evie down onto one of the fabric-covered chairs.
    ‘He’s talking to Councillor Martin. He’s the one who arranged this meeting. I don’t trust him, Evie. He has a hidden agenda. You can see it in his piggy eyes.’
    ‘Gran, you can’t judge people based solely on the size of their eyes. Look at what you were like with that financial adviser.’
    ‘And I was right not to trust him, wasn’t I? He ran off with all that money.’
    Evie shook her head in despair. ‘It was never proved, and you know it. You know, that’s one thing I don’t miss about this place. You lot can be very judgmental.’
    ‘It was in the papers,’ Mavis said, as if that proved the matter beyond any doubt. ‘Anyway, Councillor Martin definitely can’t be trusted. Look at his tie. It’s pink, Evie. Never, ever trust a man who wears pink.’
    ‘Well, I’m sure glad you told me that, Gran. To think I’ve been trying to make it in the world without that essential piece of information.’
    But despite herself, Evie leaned to the side to try and see the councillor. Truth be told, it was Zac she wanted to get a look at – she was curious to judge for herself her gran’s idea of a “real” man. Probably he was some shaven-headed thug with a vest and tattoos. She spotted the councillor’s pink tie, but her view of the man he was talking to was blocked by a couple wearing tie-dyed shirts in shades of purple. She got a glimpse of blue jeans and a white T-shirt, but that was it.
    She sat back and looked at her grandmother, who was pleating together the fabric of her trousers with pale fingers. Today’s leisure suit was cobalt blue, coupled with white furry snow boots. Evie said, ‘You know, it wasn’t my fault, what happened with James.’
    ‘Well, I know that.’
    ‘I tried my best to make him happy. It