Mothers and Daughters by Minna Howard Read Free Book Online

causing.
    ‘But Frank. It’s funny how you suddenly thought of him like that outside the car showroom. None of us have heard of him for ages.’ Margot glanced at Petra, who often kept tabs on the most attractive men.
    ‘Don’t look at me,’ Petra said, ‘I haven’t seen or heard a whisper of him either. It seems he’s disappeared into thin air. Probably married with lots of children.’
    ‘Perhaps Julian was sending you a sign to prove that you do have the strength to cope without him, Alice,’ Margot joked to ease the atmosphere.
    Alice remembered that she had asked Julian for strength as the passed the showroom, but it was romantic madness to imagine he’d sent her a message reminding her of driving with Frank in his glamorous car, especially as she’d barely thought of him for years.

5
    ‘You don’t much like Douglas, do you, Mum?’ Laura accused her almost as soon as she came into the house and the front door was shut behind her. She dropped her bag on the hall table, pulled a packet out of it and thrust it at her. ‘Bought you a scarf, there were masses in the market, but it’s pretty, I’ll have it if you don’t like it.’
    ‘I’m sure I’ll love it, you have such good taste.’ Alice unwrapped it; wishing Laura didn’t run herself down so much. She’d become so much worse since her father was no longer here to bolster her up.
    Alice hadn’t seen her since that infamous lunch over three weeks ago when she’d first met Douglas. Douglas and Laura had taken advantage of the children being with their mother on one of her brief visits and snatched a quick holiday together. She’d chatted with Laura on the phone, though both were obviously careful not to antagonize the other.
    ‘It’s perfect, thank you, darling. It will go with so many of my things.’ Alice held the scarf up against her blue shirt, before knotting it round her neck and tucking the ends into the front. It was made of a rose pink material, edged in matching lace and looked very pretty. She kissed her daughter and, hoping Laura would forget her question about liking Douglas, went on, ‘So how was the holiday? Did you have a good time? I’m longing to hear all about it.’
    Laura flung herself down on the sofa, ‘Yes, it was quite hot but we swam a lot and…’ She paused, fixed Alice with a determined look. ‘But tell me what you think about Douglas. I just feel you… well you weren’t your usual welcoming self when he came here to meet you for lunch.’
    ‘I’m sorry you feel that, darling, but I was quite stressed about Evie’s news. I don’t think she realizes that a child is a lifelong commitment and having one with a man who is so irresponsible, not to mention being another woman’s husband is a serious undertaking.’ She struggled to explain. ‘And you did rather spring your news on to me, but I like him, not that I know him very well… after only one meeting.’ She hoped she sounded sincere; it was difficult to enthuse over the man she’d thought dull, and her worry that in time Laura would think so too.
    It wasn’t as if she didn’t want her daughters to find love and have families of their own, just not with the people they’d chosen. But she could not say any of this, especially to Laura, without causing an emotional crisis.
    ‘I missed your father being there, both of us meeting your future husband together,’ Alice said.
    ‘Well he’s not,’ Laura said. ‘I want him here too, but we’ll have to get on without him.’ She studied her nails intently, her eyes glazed with tears.
    ‘We will, but… tell me about your holiday. You look wonderful, all tanned and rested,’ she went on, changing the subject before Laura could come up with more ways her mother had let her down when meeting her fiancé.
    ‘We spent most of the time on the beach. I told you all about it when I rang.’ Laura sounded impatient as if she didn’t want to be sidetracked from the matter she’d come to discuss.
    Alice