Deceit of Angels by Julia Bell Read Free Book Online

as
they ran backwards and forwards.  After a while, Hollie had had enough and went
to join the others on the rug.  Anna felt the need for solitude to put her
thoughts in perspective.  Making her way further along the hill, she finally
reached a spot that was absolutely breathtaking.  The peace and quiet seemed to
ease her mind.  Her sons were coming home in a few days and she had made plans
to meet them.  She hoped Dave would tell them the truth and not leave the
terrible burden to her.
    “It’s
lovely isn’t it?”
    Anna
turned to find Jason standing behind her.  “I’ve never seen anything so
beautiful.  You’re very lucky to live here.”
    Jason
came to her side.  “But you’re not far from the Yorkshire Dales or even the
Lake District, surely?” he queried, frowning slightly.
    “Oh
yes! But we...I mean.... I never seemed to have the time to go anywhere.”
    “I
suppose you wouldn’t, with nursing your husband.”
    Anna
tried to change the subject.  “I’m having a wonderful time.  Thank you for
suggesting a picnic.”
    “I’m
glad you came.  All the way from Bristol, Hollie kept asking if you were coming
with us.  I wasn’t sure if you’d want to so I had to tell her so.  She seemed
very disappointed with the idea you might not come.”
    “I
wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
    “She’s
very fond of you and that’s good considering the circumstances.”
    Anna
paused for a moment before asking,  “Is the divorce really definite?  You seem
so suited when you’re together.”
    Jason
glanced away and then looked towards his daughter who was now making a daisy
chain and insisting that Ben try it on.
    “Appearances
can be deceptive.  But we decided to stay amicable for Hollie’s sake.  Kiera
has settled down with…Well, she’s decided she wants to marry and who am I to
stand in her way.”
    “It’s
so sad.”
    Jason
shrugged indifferently.  “No, it’s just life.”
    Hollie
called to say it was eating time and they joined her for the picnic.

CHAPTER
THREE
     
    T he
letter arrived for Anna two weeks later, when she felt at her happiest.  The
boys had returned home and she had managed to meet up with them.  Elaine had
brought them down and they had had a wonderful lunch together at a pizza
restaurant in Bristol.  They had talked endlessly of their trip to Romania with
just a slight hint of worry about their impending exam results.  Anna wasn’t
surprised when they said they had decided to work for the rest of the summer.
    “Marks
and Spencer’s have taken us on,” said Martyn, almost in amazement.
    Chris
nodded.  “We stack the shelves but I’ve been on check-out and I’m quite
brilliant at it.”
    “The
trouble is we can’t help spending what we earn.  Working in a shopping centre
like the Ridings is too tempting,” complained Martyn.
    There
was uncomfortable silence until Anna asked, “Have you spoken to your dad?”
    The
boys glanced at each other before Martyn replied.  “We asked him why you had to
move out and he said that there were problems in the past, but you were making
a fuss over nothing.”
    Anna
felt her blood boiling.  “He said what!”
    Elaine
reached out and squeezed her hand.  “I told them what those problems were.” 
Anna looked at her in horror.  “I felt it only right that they know and since
Dave wasn’t going to deliver the goods, someone had to say something.  They’re
not children.”
    Anna
sat back in her chair.  “Well, now you know.  So, what do you think?”
    Again
Martyn answered for them both, his lip curling slightly.  “We asked Dad if it
was true and he admitted that ages ago he…” He looked at his brother.  “We’ve
decided to move in with Grandma.  She said it would be OK.”
    “Yes,
that might be for the best,” breathed Anna with relief.  “She’ll look after
you.”  She gave a bright smile.  “When you get your results, then we’ll meet up
again to celebrate.”
    She
didn’t