The Last Maharajan (Romantic Thriller/Women's Fiction) by Susan Wingate Read Free Book Online Page B

radio newsman talked about Bush sending more troops into Basra.
    “That was rude.”
    “What was rude? I forgot something.” Euly didn’t like the way he tried to get her to respond to his off-hand remark. She rolled her eyes when she turned to re-latch the seatbelt.
    “Leaving the door open. It’s cold, you know.”
    “Sorry.” She spoke quietly and quickly.
    “What did you forget?” He put the car back into gear and pulled to the end of the drive.
    “I wanted to say goodbye to Jonathan.” She looked out the window.
    “You left me in the cold to say goodbye to the dog?”
    “Sorry.” She wouldn’t speak anymore, she resolved to herself. It was better they didn’t talk when Geoff was in a mood.
    “We’ll be lucky if we can see your mother for five minutes.” His comments added to the tightening sensation she felt in her throat and she pinched two fingers behind her head and began to massage as they drove away from the house.

     
    CHAPTER TWELVE
    “Geoff? Will you be a dear and get us all some coffee from the cafeteria?”
    “Sure Belle but we have to leave shortly.” He raised his eyebrows and stared strongly at Euly.
    She turned to her mother who was staring at her.
    “I wish you wouldn’t go.”
    “That makes two of you.”
    “What do you want from me, Euly? Haven’t I been a good mother?” Euly bit at her thumbnail. “Get your fingers out of your mouth. You’re not twelve.” Belle sighed and folded her arms over her chest with disapproval. She was wearing her pajamas still not normal for her mother who always made sure she was ‘up and at ‘em’ before the break of dawn. It was nearly ten in the morning.
    “Aren’t you feeling well this morning, mother?”
    “I feel fine. Why should you care about my feelings?” Belle had a knack for changing the meanings of things.
    “Mother. You still have a chance to come clean.”
    “I don’t have to tell you anything. I don’t have anything to come clean to.”
    Geoff reappeared with three machine-made coffees balancing in his hands. He placed Belle’s on the nightstand and handed Euly hers then sipped at his burning his tongue.
    “Kee-Rikey! These are always so freaking hot. I burned my fingers getting them here.” Euly arose.
    “Well, it’s now or never, mother.” Geoff looked at Euly then her mother.
    Belle turned her head away.
    “Euly, let’s go, you’ll miss your flight.”
    “Yes, I will. Goodbye mother.”
    Belle refused to look at her.
    “Come on, honey. Let’s leave your mother alone. Belle, she’ll be back in a week or so. Right Euly?” He gave her a strained look. “But, I’ll be over to see you.”
    Belle smiled at Geoff and nodded and when he walked to the door nearer to Euly, Belle glared at her daughter behind his back. Euly glared back.

     
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    Like most airports, SeaTac hummed with white noise. People talked on cell phones, a voice over the loudspeaker, children screaming, carts beeping, televisions broadcasters droning on about the latest news—the BP oil spill—and wheels rolling luggage along cold tile floor.
    Euly felt disoriented by the rhythm, not at all like a kid jumping back onto a bike.
    Back in the city, going back to any city, almost made her motion-sick from the sway of its rapid pace – a pace she’d long fought to get away from and found she was losing the battle every time she returned. It was borne in her, the stink of traffic and diesel from buses, the din of airplanes and no geese, like on the island. However, the city’s robust pace made her feel alive again in an upside-down sort of way – dangling in its web.
    She admitted, the trouble to simply get off the island had begun to wear her down. A bridge would help the situation but without one, people on the island were held captive unless they took a chartered a ferry or a plane.
    Euly needed this break, the time away. She was fighting the urge to scream, an urge to leave making her want to scream. She fought these