Homecoming by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online Page A

something.’
    â€˜They’re not infallible.’
    â€˜I’ve been telling you to get a Dutch cap for years.’
    She began to cry, great, fat tears that splashed on to her lap. She hadn’t been able to predict how Robin would respond to her news, but the last thing she’d expected was this cold, controlled anger.
    â€˜Are you absolutely sure?’ he demanded harshly.
    â€˜I’ve just missed my fourth period.’
    â€˜That doesn’t mean anything. All girls are irregular, the magazines say so.’
    â€˜Not me.’
    â€˜You’ve seen a doctor?’
    â€˜No. How can I when my doctor knows I’m not married?’
    â€˜Then it could be something else. The shock of your father, or your mother moving away – having to work long hours in that shop. That’s it,’ he cried fervently. ‘You’re not used to working or standing on your feet all day.’
    â€˜I don’t think so. I’ve talked to some of the girls in work …’
    â€˜You told them you’re pregnant?’ He was horrified at the thought of her discussing a possible pregnancy with a stranger, perhaps even mentioning his name.
    â€˜Of course not. But they talk about having babies all the time and one of the older women said your breasts are tender for the first couple of months and mine are.’
    â€˜I haven’t noticed.’
    â€˜There’s no reason why you would. And I’ve been sick in the morning.’ Her voice rose precariously. ‘Robin, I’m frightened. You will marry me, won’t you?’
    â€˜First we need to find out if you really are pregnant. I could get Pops –’
    â€˜No, Robin, not your father. I’d die of embarrassment if he examined me.’
    Robin hadn’t been about to suggest any such thing, but his father was a doctor and if anyone would know how to get him out of a jam like this, it would be a doctor. Then he realised his father was the last person he could go to. He’d been advising him to break off with Emily for months.
    He leaned forward over the steering wheel so Emily couldn’t read the expression on his face. One thing was certain; on top of what had happened to her father, this would keep the Swansea scandal machine in juicy titbits for months. None of the Murton Davies’s reputations had survived the ignominy of the court case. He could almost hear the Swansea matrons, his mother among them, rejoicing at yet another scandal that would prove the family weren’t the crache they’d pretended to be.
    â€˜Robin, please say something,’ she begged in a small voice.
    â€˜Like what?’ he snarled.
    â€˜That it will be all right,’ she pleaded, needing to believe it.
    â€˜Of course it will.’ He dismissed brusquely. ‘Leave it to me.’
    â€˜We’ll get married –’
    â€˜I said, I’ll sort it, Ems.’ He started the engine. ‘But for now, let’s go to the pub.’
    As soon as Helen heard the plug being pulled in the bath, she left the living room and went into the kitchen. The steaks were already in the pan; all she had to do was light the gas under them. The frozen peas were defrosted in water in a saucepan. The chips were peeled. It was time to heat the fat fryer. Or was it too soon?
    Did Jack shave before or after a bath? Or did he need to shave at all? His cheek had felt smooth when he’d kissed her. She walked to the foot of the stairs and called, ‘Jack.’ When there was no answer, she walked up the stairs.
    The light was off in the bathroom but she could feel the air, hot, clammy and steamy, as it blasted through the open door on to the landing. She looked down the passage to their bedroom. It was in darkness.
    â€˜Jack.’ She switched on the light in the master bedroom. Too late she realised he’d opened the shutters and was standing, naked, in front of the window.

Chapter