Knit One Pearl One by Gil McNeil Read Free Book Online Page B

about Martin.”
    “Yes, but when Daniel rang you on her birthday, and then turned up bearing half of Toys ‘R’ Us in the car, are you really sure you’re okay with that? Because I think you’re mad. You should sue him for every penny.”
    “For what? It was my choice, Ellen, and anyway, the presents weren’t useless. Well, not all of them.”
    “Nothing for you though?”
    “Ellen, it was one night. A nice moment. Why would he be bringing me presents? He hardly knows me. I like it that he comes to see her. He’s not going to be a major part of her life, and that’s fine, Nick wasn’t much different for the boys, not when it counted.”
    “I know darling, but wouldn’t it be good not to have to work quite so hard?”
    “Says the woman who went back to work six weeks after having Eddie.”
    “Yes, but that’s different. The bastards are all after my job, you know that. If I’d left it any longer, I’d have been moved back to weekend slots. Anyway, don’t change the subject. All I’m saying is keep your options open, with everything, including Martin.”
    “Well, that should be easy; he’s not pushing me to do anything else.”
    “Do you want him to then? Ask if he can move in or something?”
    “God, no.”
    “Well then.”
    “I know, ignore me. I don’t know what I mean.”
    “It’s not enough, that’s what you mean, and I think you’re right, I’ve told you before. He’s sweet, but he’s not enough for you. You need someone who can give you a run for your money.”
    “What money?”
    “You know what I mean, someone more like Nick.”
    “Ellen, please. When I think how long I spent trying to work out what to do for Valentine’s Day that year, and if he’d get the new foreign correspondent job and whether we’d get posted to somewhere with good schools for the boys. It would be ironic if it wasn’t so tragic.”
    “I know, darling, but you were happy, at first.”
    “Until.”
    “Yes I know, until he came home and announced he was having an affair and then stormed out and crashed the bloody car. Bastard. But look how far you’ve come since then.”
    “I didn’t have much choice.”
    “Yes you did, darling, you could have gone under, especially with him taking out that second mortgage on the house and leaving you with no money and everything. You could have been in real trouble. But you didn’t. You picked yourself up and carried on.”
    “Yes, straight into the next disaster.”
    “Daniel wasn’t a disaster, darling, your first Christmas on your own was bound to be rocky, going to Venice to your mum and dad was a top plan. And having a magic moment with Daniel was just what you needed.”
    “Oh yes, perfect. Being wanton in a glamorous hotel. Very clever. Until I got back home and realized I was pregnant.”
    We’re both giggling now.
    “Yes, but I’ve told you that was just incredibly bad luck, that would never happen twice; condoms are usually completely reliable; trust me, I should know. God, if I’d gotten pregnant every time I had a magic moment I’d be like Old Mother Hubbard. But you don’t regret having Pearl, do you?”
    “Of course not, you know I wanted another one but Nick refused to even talk about it.”
    “Well then, and now Daniel’s calmed down and stopped sending those daft letters from his lawyer demanding tests, it’s all worked out fine.”
    “Yes, but it’s not exactly an endorsement for boys who can give you a run for your money, is it?”
    “I know, but Daniel was a proper match for you; he was an alpha male, that’s all I’m saying, and you’re an alpha female.”
    “Yes, but in case you’d forgotten, Daniel’s got a Diva of his own now, and I don’t think Liv will take kindly to his attention straying too far.”
    “She sounds like a total cow to me, and she’s definitely had work done, you can see it on her face. Quite recently, if you ask me.”
    “I think they all do, Ellen.”
    “Your Amazing Grace