The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford Read Free Book Online Page B

anyone. He wouldn’t hold him, wouldn’t come with me when I took him to the shops or the park. I don’t think he could face the idea that he’d created something less than perfect.”
    Cathy bit her lip. “That must have been unbearable.”
    “Yes, it was: as if he’d stuck a knife into me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing them as if she was cold. “It wasn’t only him: I used to get it from other people too. They’d stop when they saw the pram and lean in, and then they’d tut under their breath and give me pitying looks.” Eva unfolded her arms, pushed her plate aside, and unwrapped a piece of chocolate. “I despised them for being so ignorant. But I despised Eddie more for not being able to love his own flesh and blood.”
    Cathy nodded. “Remember last week when Iris Stokes and Betty Pelham were coming out with all that rubbish about colored men?”
    “What about it?”
    “Is that why you got so worked up? Because of the way people reacted to David?”
    Eva huffed out a breath. “Was it that obvious?”
    “You do realize you’re going to get that all the time—if you start dating Bill, I mean.”
    “I know.” Eva broke the chocolate in half and pushed a piece across the table. “You didn’t see what happened to him at the dance, did you?”
    Cathy’s face clouded when she heard about the confrontation.
    “If I refuse to see Bill just because of what others might think, that makes me as bad as them, doesn’t it?” Eva’s eyes flashed rebellion.
    “Just as long as you can handle it.”
    “Well, I’ll find out next Saturday, won’t I?” Eva screwed up the foil from the chocolate into a tiny ball.
    “I don’t know—tall, dark, and handsome and a Hershey bar in his pocket—what more could a girl ask for?” Cathy leaned back in her chair. “Will you tell him about Eddie?”
    Eva shook her head. “Not yet.” She looked away, aware that the very thought of seeing him again was making her blush. “This probably sounds terrible, but when he kissed me, all of a sudden I wasn’t David’s mother or Eddie’s wife anymore. I was just . . . me.”
    “It doesn’t sound terrible .” Cathy smiled. “It sounds fantastic.”

Chapter 6
     
    “Hey, come and look at this!”
    Jimmy was emptying leftovers into the pig bin when Bill called him over. The cookhouse was deserted except for the two of them. He followed Bill past the stores and out into the yard where empty milk churns stood glinting in rows, waiting for collection. Bill dived behind them, pulling out a rusty bicycle with the tattered remains of a wicker basket strung from the handlebars.
    Jimmy’s mouth fell open. “Where in hell did you get that old wreck?”
    “From the farmer up the road,” Bill grinned. “Best bargain I ever had—all he wanted for it was a pack of Lucky Strikes and some nylons for his old lady.”
    “Man, you were robbed!” Jimmy shook his head, chuckling.
    “Well, I know it’s kind of rusty, but I’ll fix it up just fine, you’ll see.” Bill knelt down, inspecting the chain. “Got a couple of days before I’m going to need it, so . . . ”
    “Oh, I get it!” Jimmy snorted. “Boy, is she gonna be impressed when you come rolling up on that!”
    “Think I’m stupid or what?” Bill stood up, giving him a shove. “I’m not going to let her see it, am I? But how the hell else am I supposed to get to Wolverhampton and back on a Saturday night?”
    “Well, you got imagination. I’ll give you that!”
    “How about you?” Bill shot his friend a knowing glance. “I thought you might want to be hitching a ride on the handlebars . . . ?”
    “Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Jimmy smirked back. “My girl’s daddy, he’s some big-shot factory owner. She reckons on taking one of his cars, so she can meet me in Bridgnorth.”
    “No kidding?” Bill let out a low whistle.
    “Can I help it if women find me irresistible?” Jimmy batted his eyelashes.
    “Come on, lover boy.”