Faith In Love by Liann Snow Read Free Book Online Page A

bodies.  All that bleach!  They'd be bald before they were forty.  They'd have to wear wigs!"  She suppressed a smile.  She couldn't imagine forty-year-old women in one of those films.  The men would find them ugly, like they found their own wives ugly, though they wouldn't admit to it. 
     
    She knew it wasn't Spring yet.  The crocuses out the back were only just starting to show bits of green, but it was on its way!  The days were getting longer, the sun seemed to shine more readily at the dust on the shelves.
     
    She'd have to have a spring-clean; soon she would. 
     
     
    Wednesday, February 23
     
    On her way home from work, Faith slips into the corner shop.  She is not sure where to find what she wants, or even what exactly it is. 
     
    She lowered her gaze from the top shelf, only to meet the enquiring eyes of the newsagent. 
     
    "Twenty Silk Cut please," she said. 
     
    "Twenty, love?"  The young Indian handed her the pack.  She noticed his royal-blue sweater had a hole in the sleeve.  "Nice weather we're having, isn't it?"
     
    "Very nice," she said, buttoning her coat.
     
    She hadn't smoked in five years, she hoped she wasn't going to start now.  She put the unopened pack in a bin when she got round the corner.  She hoped the young man in the shop didn't see, he would think her mad.  He would probably be right too.  
     
    Where on earth was she going to find the kind of magazine that would tell her where women go when they want to find other women?  At least she'd had sense enough not to ask him, although clearly his curiosity had been aroused by this respectable-looking middle-aged woman, seemingly hypnotised by the kind of magazines that such women usually manage not to notice. 
     
    "Maybe I can find out from the library!"
     
     
    Thursday, February 24
     
    Never knew there was such a paper as this.  Such explicit pictures of men, too.  Funny how little impression they make, considering I'm married to one.  (Maybe that's why, though!)
     
    Oh, right here we are, in the back, lists of contacts, organisations, Lonely Hearts.  How do people ever get the nerve to reply to those?  I'm sure I couldn't do it.  You'd have to be ever so trusting.
     
    Got it!  "Greater London Switchboard, advice and all enquiries for Lesbians and Gay Men." Sounds perfect!  I'll call them up immediately before I get too scared.  Aren't libraries wonderful?  They've got a pay phone too.  And it works! 
     
    "Hallo?"
     
    "Switchboard.  Can I help you?" The man sounded young, friendly and brisk all at the same time.
     
    "I'm afraid I'm a bit nervous."
     
    "That's all right.  Take your time."
     
    "I'm not sure what to say.  It's very simple really, or I thought it was.  But now I come to do it.  You picked up the phone really fast."
     
    "Sorry.  Would you prefer to speak to a woman?"
     
    "Oh, no, really.  It's quite all right.  I didn't mean that.  I don't mind a man at all."
     
    "How can I help you then?  Information?  Advice?  Or d'you just want to talk?"
     
    "Information!  That's it exactly!  It really isn't difficult after all.  I only want to know where women go, Lesbians, I mean, in my area.  There, you see, I've said it.  I feel much better now."
     
    "There you are, then!  Better out than in, as they say!"  The young man sounded every bit as pleased as she was.  "Let me see now, where abouts are you?" 
     
    "I'm in a library." 
     
    "No, I mean, which area do you live in?"
     
    "Of course, sorry.  I live in North London –"
     
    "West or East?"
     
    "Not West – North East, I suppose, Hornsey!"
     
    "Oh, Hornsey – is that near Tottenham?  There's a good pub up there, bit rough though, not quite what you want –"
     
    "I want to find the nearest lesbian pub or dance or whatever to where I live, to go to at the weekend, as soon as possible."
     
    "This Saturday soon enough?"
     
    "Yes!  Is there something?"
     
    "I'm skimming through my list while we're