Love Triangle: Three Sides to the Story by Brenda Barrett Read Free Book Online Page B

before and they could not refuse to attend at this time so they were there as a couple, the first time they were going out together since The Problem.
    He was beginning to think of their life together as before The Problem and after The Problem. Her family was speculating about them staying together for much longer, his children were picking up on the tension in the air and were gradually becoming withdrawn.
    They were not fooling anybody by showing up today at Tricia’s wedding.
    Marie laughed at something that her sister Laura said and her whole face lit up, she looked animated as she used to be before the whole problem with Karen. She looked so beautiful and carefree that his heart ached in his chest. A gentle wind blew and tossed strands of her hair across her face, he wanted to smooth them back into the chignon that she sported for the occasion.
    Timothy held on to her hand, his little body pressing into her as she spoke animatedly to Laura. In that moment George felt an acute loss over what he had given up when he went into the arms of another woman.
    “George old boy.” He almost choked on his wine Marie’s father, Peter, slapped him on his back. His grin was a mile wide and did not reach his eyes.
    “Hi, Peter I … I … ”
    “Cat got your tongue, George.” Peter was still smiling that polite smile that looked as if it was painted on.
    “I have not spoken to you since the … I did not know what to call it … the upset in the relationship between Marie and I.”
    “I miss you, George,” Peter said, suddenly looking sad. “I have no one to argue the finest points of cricket with, and it’s the season.”
    I realised Peter’s tactic. He was a father of three girls; he was good at using the art of distraction. He was lulling me into a comfortable conversation, and when I was well and truly hooked, he would deliver the hard stuff.
    I went along with him anyway. “I know I missed the game against South Africa, but I heard that the West Indies won fair and square.”
    Peter nodded his head. “The bowling left a little bit to be desired, but there was an improvement in the game. The worst thing in cricket though is a man who can’t bowl and lets down the rest of the team. Imagine this, a team needs a few wickets and they send out an able bowler. After twelve overs, the man fowls up, the batsman swings the ball and it hits him right in the balls.” Peter’s smile was back again, as if the thought of the ball hitting the cricketer in the balls was a good one.
    “Obviously you are talking about a test match,” I said to Peter as I took a drink from a passing waiter.
    “Oh yes … yes,” Peter nodded, “all of life is a test match. Ah … whenever there is a lousy bowler the team is displeased. I always remember that the bowler was not always lousy and that he did a good job in previous matches, his only saving grace really, especially, if he had a couple of maiden overs, and the batsmen were getting frustrated with their little runs. You know what I hate most, George?”
    “No,” I said puzzled.
    “In cricket there are no guarantees. You start out with two of the best teams, but one has to come out on top. I don’t like the fact that my team doesn't always come out on top, but I anticipate the next match and hope they’ll do better.”
    I nodded but I could barely read between the lines of cricket wisdom. Still, I could deduce that he was telling me to keep batting. Or was it bowling? I grimaced and tried to stop thinking about Peter’s roundabout way of imparting wisdom.
    Peter smiled when he saw my uncertain expression, “I wanted to kill you when I heard that Carol or what’s her name was pregnant. I thought, how careless can one man be? But cricket put it together for me and the fact that my daughter still loves you, she just has a lot to digest. Don’t let it slip through your hands.” He slapped me on the shoulders and went to greet someone else.
    I should have felt like I was among