The Maxwell Sisters by Loretta Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

it’s not like he’s not coming to the wedding.’
    Tash cleared her throat. ‘We’ll just see how it goes, okay? Of course he’ll try his best to make it. In any event, I’m really looking forward to coming home. It’s been ages and this is exactly what I need right now.’
    Was it just her, or had her sister cunningly changed the subject?
    â€˜I’ll see you in a few months, all right?’ Tash added.
    â€˜Er … all right,’ Phoebe responded, still trying to process her sister’s words.
    â€˜Bye, Phee.’
    â€˜Tash –’ But the dial tone was already beeping at her.
    Phoebe stared at her phone for a long time. Something is off.
    â€˜Expecting a call?’ Spider asked as he walked into the room and placed a box on the coffee table.
    â€˜No,’ Phoebe shook her head, ‘just finished one. What’s that?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ he shrugged, dropping his body on the couch beside her. ‘Your mum dropped it off while you were at school. She said you’d understand.’
    Phoebe leaned forward and flipped the lid open. There were eight tall glasses inside. She shook her head.
    â€˜Why do we need glasses?’ Her fiancé peered over her shoulder.
    â€˜I’d rather not get into it. But it does put me in mind of something else.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜How do you feel about having forty strangers at our wedding?’
    Spider wasn’t particularly happy about it but given her parents were providing the venue, food and wine, he supposed he could concede the imposition. Phoebe was relieved. At least that was one worry off her hands. Organising a wedding, she was beginning to realise, was all about juggling.
    While hopping on one foot. And patting your head.
    She smiled to herself as she went to cook their dinner for the evening. Just as she was setting some pasta on the stove, her phone rang again.
    â€˜Hello?’
    â€˜Hi, Phee, it’s Heath.’
    â€˜Oh, hi! How are you?’ Her eyes widened in pleasure. ‘It’s been a while.’
    â€˜Yes, it has. You sound well. I know it’s late but congratulations on your engagement.’
    She laughed. ‘Thanks. Look I’m sorry I made you call back. I did end up getting hold of Tash and she said you were very busy with a big project on.’
    â€˜Oh, she told you that, did she? Did she say anything else?’
    Phoebe frowned at the weird inflection in his tone and that earlier feeling of unease gripped her again. ‘Like what? Is something going on between you two?’
    â€˜No.’ He gave a ghost of a laugh. ‘Absolutely nothing.’
    Phoebe bit her lip at this inadequate reply. ‘She did sound really depressed.’
    â€˜Well, you said you knew she lost her job.’
    That had to be it. There was no other explanation. ‘Yeah. What she needs is some cheering up and that’s exactly what I’m going to give her when she comes down to Tawny Brooks in a few months. It’s a real bummer you can’t make it to the winery early too, Heath. I could have used the extra set of hands.’
    He coughed, cleared his throat and then said slowly, ‘Well actually, Phee, turns out that project I’m on is winding down.’
    She blinked. ‘What! Really?’
    â€˜Yep, the government’s run out of money. So they’re dropping phase two.’
    â€˜Oh, well that’s a shame.’
    â€˜Not if you consider that I’m free now to come and help out at Tawny Brooks.’
    Phoebe grinned. ‘Of course. But are you sure? Tash seemed pretty adamant that your boss wouldn’t let you go.’
    â€˜Tash doesn’t know anything,’ Heath offered with a cheerfully conspiratorial tone. ‘Let me surprise her with this, won’t you?’
    â€˜Sure,’ Phoebe smiled. ‘I won’t say a word.’

Chapter 4
    Three months later.
    Phoebe was