The Australian by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

the truth: that she was dying because John didn’t care enough to write to her. That she couldn’t bear to see him with another woman.
    That night she called Renée and Adam from Margaret’s house.
    “Not coming home?” Renée gasped. “But, darling, we’ve made plans...”
    “I’m sorry,” she said, pretending cheerfulness, “but you remember I told you about Ronald George? Well, he’s invited me to this big luau at his friend’s home a couple of days from now, and he’s such a nice guy...well, I said yes before I thought.” She crossed her fingers against the lie.
    “He’s the British boy,” Renée recalled. She sighed. “Priss, we’ve invited some people over tomorrow night, kind of a homecoming party for you. John was coming.”
    She closed her eyes on a wave of loneliness and love. “With his new lady, no doubt?” she grated.
    There was a pause. “You don’t understand,” Renée began. “I need to explain—”
    “Yes, I understand very well,” Priscilla interrupted, sounding mature and sophisticated. “I had a wild crush on John, but being over here has cured me. I want someone younger, like Ronald, who can enjoy the things I do. I’m having such a good time, Mom. You don’t really mind if I skip this one holiday, do you?”
    “No, of course not,” Renée said, “if it’s what you really want.”
    “It is,” Priscilla said firmly. “Is Dad there?”
    “He’s working late tonight, but I’ll have him call you when he comes in if you like.”
    “No, don’t. I’ll call back in a day or so. Mom...?” She wanted to ask about John—if he was healthy and if he might marry that new woman—but she didn’t dare, not after the fabrications she’d just put forth. “I love you,” she said instead.
    “I love you, too, darling,” Renée said. “Priss, about John...”
    “That part of my life is over, and I’m sure he’s glad,” Priscilla said quietly. “It must be lovely for him, not being chased by me.”
    “He looks rather lonely, if you want to know,” came the soft reply. “He asks about you all the time. He said you were supposed to write to him.”
    She felt hot and cold all at once. “He...didn’t really want me to, you know. It was just that he felt sorry for me.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    “Mom, you and Dad have to meet Ronald,” she said enthusiastically. “He comes from a very upper-crust British family. He’s wildly intelligent and full of fun, and he’s going to come back to Providence with me when we graduate to teach! Isn’t that great? He’s super. You and Dad will like him a lot.”
    Renée sighed heavily. “Yes, dear, I’m sure we will. You must bring him home with you sometime.”
    After that the conversation became general, and John wasn’t mentioned again. But when Renée said good-bye and hung up, memories of him ran around and around in Priscilla’s head until she wanted to scream. He’d made all those comments about waiting for her and putting his mark on her, but he hadn’t meant them. Her mother was a hopeless romantic, and she loved John. It was no wonder she was still playing matchmaker. But Priss was through mooning over John Sterling. She was going to survive, one way or another, and close him out of her life and her heart. She was going to get over him.
    * * *
    The luau was wonderful, very Polynesian and exciting. Ronald’s roommate, Danny, was Hawaiian, an intelligent young man with liquid brown eyes and a quick wit. Priss liked him immediately. And Danny’s parents were as open and friendly as he was. Besides, several of the kids from college were there. Priss enjoyed herself. Yet part of her was still mourning John, as she had been since leaving Australia.
    “Priss, you’ve been brooding for days,” Ronald remarked as they strolled along the beach together. He glanced down at her in the late evening breeze, studying her drawn face. “It’s a man, isn’t it?”
    She glanced at him and sighed. “Yes.” She’d