Our Kind of Love by Victoria Purman Read Free Book Online Page A

disapproving camp, even though she was a least a decade away from falling into that demographic.
    ‘Anna!’ She turned in her chair at a familiar voice. And came face-to-face with one of the biggest baby bumps she’d ever seen.
    ‘Adriana?’ Anna leapt to her feet. ‘My God, look at you!’
    Adriana Selvanera had lived on the same street when they were in primary school and they’d spent entire summer holidays obsessing over New Kids on the Block and Madonna.
    Adriana stretched out her arms for a hug. ‘I saw you from across the room and had to come and say hello. And, wow, you look incredible, Anna. How are you?’
    ‘I’m great, but look at you.’ Anna smoothed her hands over Adriana’s swollen belly and swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘You must be right on term. When are you due?’
    Adriana answered through gritted teeth. ‘Seven days ago. I don’t think this baby actually wants to come out.’
    ‘Believe me, they all come out eventually. And I’m sure this one is going to be beautiful.’ Anna urged Adriana into the empty chair. The chair formerly known as Alex’s. Anna quickly lined up in her head her standard answers just in case someone asked her: when are you going to have a baby?
    ‘So how’re you feeling, besides about to burst. Is your blood pressure okay? How are those ankles?’
    Adriana beamed and wiggled a finger in Anna’s direction. ‘Yes, Dr Morelli, it’s fine. But may I remind you that you’re not in a consulting room right now? You’re at a party.’
    ‘Sorry, occupational hazard.’
    ‘How’s Alex? Where is he?’
    Anna’s pulse shimmied to life. ‘He’s good. Yep. But more about you. Have you picked out names yet?’
    ‘We’re having a girl and she’s going to be called Francesca.’
    ‘Oh,’ Anna breathed, and clutched a hand to her chest. ‘Francesca. That’s beautiful.’
    Adriana beamed. ‘It’s my Nonna’s name.’
    Anna’s vision blurred, her pulse was throbbing now in her wrists and in her head. She quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes before they fled down her cheeks.
    Adriana rose slowly to her feet, belly first, trying to find her balance. ‘It’s been great to see you, but I’ve got to go. I was on my way to the loo for a safety wee before we go home. It’s been too long, Anna.’
    The two women hugged. ‘I hope everything goes well, Adriana. Give my love to Carlo.’
    Anna sat down. Her whole family had disappeared to socialise, leaving her to sit at the table by herself and Anna suddenly felt how alone she was. She’d been bearing her personal problems on her own and knew that her decision to hide the truth was isolating her even further. The longer she waited, the bigger it became, this burden. She wanted to move on, had vowed to do it when she’d walked out of the café after meeting Alex. But seeing her family tonight, knowing how much the news would hurt them, meant she’d closed in on herself again. While she hid the truth, she still had them and their love. The whole evening seemed to be bearing down on her. Family. Happy couples. Babies to be.
    There was only one thing for it.
    She grabbed the pocket of a passing waiter. He stopped and looked at her with disdain. ‘Yes?’
    ‘Vodka,’ she demanded. ‘Immediately.’

CHAPTER
8
    Anna twisted the key in the ignition and the throbbing engine of her Italian sports car rumbled to a stop. She gripped the leather steering wheel so tight she could feel the muscles in her fingers pull and stretch and her nails dig into her palm. She needed to think but within a few moments the heat of the sun had transformed the car interior into a mobile sauna, so she powered down a window to let the fresh air in.
    With a weary sigh, Anna took in the view across the esplanade to the low, shrubbed dunes, to the wide flat beach and the blue, blue ocean of Middle Point.
    A breeze off the water found her through the car window and fluttered her long hair, tickling it across her cheeks. Anna laid her