The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore Read Free Book Online Page A

Dawcomb and Shelton put to-
    gether!” said Sylvia.
    “Perhaps, but it’s cold. At least it’s sunny down here.”
    “Sometimes. You’ve just had it lucky.” Sylvia arranged her dress,
    pulling the neckline lower to expose her cleavage. Freddie lost himself there a moment. “I couldn’t live in a city for all the world. Much too
    noisy, and the people, oh, I couldn’t bear having to fight for space on the pavement. It’s bad enough in Dawcomb during the summer when all
    the tourists come down and fill the place to bursting. I like it now, when it’s quiet. Just us, the locals, empty beaches, empty sea, long, empty
    days.” She giggled as Freddie put his hand on her upper thigh. “And
    you, dear Freddie, with your empty head!”
    “Not empty. Full of you, Sylvia.”
    She wriggled with pleasure. “Fancy coming out for a ciggie?”
    Sylvia wandered slowly through the pub, her hourglass figure
    squeezed into a tight blue dress, causing the man in tweed to spill his beer as he swiveled around to follow her with lusty eyes. “Close your
    mouth, dear, you’re much too old,” said the barmaid with a cackle,
    reaching for the cloth to wipe the counter.
    “She’s quite something,” said Joe, shaking his head. “A real vixen.”
    “How long have they been together?”
    “Together isn’t a word I’d use. They’re lovers, plain and simple. He’s
    married with kids. She’s divorced. It’s going to get messy. About six
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    Santa Montefiore
    months, to answer your question. Snatched moments and I’m the
    beard.”
    “You’re very good to put up with it.”
    “He’s my mate. I’d do anything for Freddie. Trouble is, he’s in love. A man don’t use his head when he’s in love.”
    “I was very little when my parents divorced, but I know it’s dam-
    aged me. I mean, how could it not? Anyone who thinks children escape
    unscathed when their parents divorce is kidding himself. All through
    my childhood I dreamed of them getting back together. Even when
    Dad had married Submarine and moved down here, I still wished.”
    She leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “I wished Submarine
    would meet with an accident.”
    “Naughty girl.”
    “Very.”
    “Sounds like she’s still alive and kicking.”
    “Unfortunately. At least she hasn’t given Dad any children. There’s
    some justice, after all.” She knocked back her vodka tonic. “I’m still
    Dad’s only daughter. There’s consolation in that.”
    Joe laughed. “You’re funny.”
    “Gallows humor.”
    “Can I get you another drink?”
    “You most certainly can, Joe. Thank you.”
    He walked over to the bar. Clementine sat back on the bench and
    watched him sleepily. He was easy on the eye. A little coarse, perhaps, but she liked the way he laughed at her jokes and looked at her so appreciatively. When he returned with her vodka, he was grinning.
    “What are you smiling about?”
    “Us.”
    “How do you mean?”
    “Well, Sylvia and Freddie, they’ve set us up.”
    “Really?”
    “Of course.”
    “I thought they’d just gone out for a cigarette.”
    “No. They’ve gone out for a shag. But they’ve left us together on
    purpose.”
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    “She wouldn’t set me up without warning me.”
    “Of course she would. That’s Sylvia. She has a big heart. She wants
    everyone to be as happy as she is.”
    “So Joe, if you’re my date, we might as well order something to eat.
    I’m ravenous.”
    He stared at her eagerly, mouth twisting at one corner with anticipa-
    tion. “There are less stars in the sky tonight.”
    “There are?”
    “Yes, because the brightest star is sitting here at this table with me.”
    Perhaps it was the alcohol, or her lonely heart, which was ready to
    open for the first man with a key, but she laughed heartily at his lame line and took another gulp of vodka.
    When Sylvia and Freddie