Soldiers' Wives by Fiona; Field Read Free Book Online Page A

of shit – you might,
might
, get asked to call her Mrs N. Even Julia Frenchay, the garrison commander’s wife, isn’t as stuffy, and her husband is a brigadier, not just a poxy lieutenant colonel.’
    Maddy nodded. ‘So she really
is
stuffy – it’s not just me.’
    â€˜Oh no. So you’ve met her then.’
    Maddy nodded. ‘She waltzed in here a couple of days after I’d arrived; took one look at me, Nate and the state of the house and, from what I could see, decided I was a lost cause.’
    â€˜That’s Mrs N. But don’t worry, she doesn’t think anyone can match up to her standards, so you’re in good company with almost all the other wives – well, the junior ones anyway. Some of the major’s wives try and compete. So, what else should I tell you about? I know, hair! There’s a nice hairdresser run by a woman called Zoë. She’s got a really great stylist called Jenna and if you ask Jenna nicely and quietly, she’ll do home visits. It makes life a lot easier, I can tell you. Probably a good idea if you get your hair done with her first at Zoë’s, because, if you don’t get on, you’re not committed to anything; but she hasn’t made a mess of my hair yet.’
    â€˜Thanks for the tip,’ said Maddy. She ran her fingers through her rich chestnut hair. ‘I really need a good cut. What with my old job, then Nathan and the move, I haven’t had my hair done for months. God, the idea of a bit of pampering…’
    â€˜Well, take up my offer of babysitting Nate and get yourself down there.’

4
    On Sunday, Chrissie finished sorting out the last of her kit from the exercise, got her uniform ready for Monday morning and, with little else to do to fill her day, took herself off for a run. She loped through the barracks, past the officers’ married patch, then the soldiers’ one, and on down the road that led to the nearest town. She planned to run round the ring road and then over the hill to the rear of the barracks and in through the back gate. Five miles, she reckoned, and not too much of a challenge.
    She jogged on at a steady pace, her iPod plugged into her ears, her thoughts roaming randomly, paying attention to the light Sunday morning traffic and her surroundings only when necessary. She reached a set of traffic lights that would allow her to cross a busy junction and was jogging on the spot as she waited for them to change. She leapt out of her skin when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun round, ripping her earphones out, ready to confront whoever it was.
    â€˜Lee!’ Despite the fact that her heart was already pumping from the run, it still quickened with pleasure at seeing a friendly face.
    â€˜Thank God,’ Lee panted. ‘I thought it was you. I’ve been trying to catch up with you for ages and then suddenly I thought I might have been chasing a complete stranger. That would have been embarrassing.’
    The lights changed. For a second Chrissie didn’t respond, while she assimilated the fact that Lee – gorgeous, hunky Lee – had chased her.
Her!
Then she remembered; he was
Jenna’s
gorgeous, hunky Lee. Oh well.
    The insistent beeping of the crossing brought her back to the real world.
    â€˜Come on,’ she said, not wanting to miss the brief opportunity the little green man offered them to get across. They jogged over, strides matching, and continued along the pavement towards the town.
    â€˜You run really well,’ said Lee.
    â€˜For a girl?’
    Lee laughed. ‘No, for anyone.’
    â€˜Thanks.’ Chrissie accepted the compliment and felt herself lighten up. ‘I ran for the battalion in the five thousand metres in the inter-unit cup.’
    â€˜Impressive.’
    â€˜I don’t think there were any other female contenders from 1 Herts,’ she answered truthfully.
    They ran on some more in silence.
    â€˜Jenna