The Paradise Trees by Linda Huber Read Free Book Online

voice was simply her own reluctance to deal with the situation that had developed here. Her father had been a terrible parent and with perfect justification she had broken
off contact. Now circumstances were forcing her not only to live in this house again, but also attend to her father’s intimate care. That was all. Not easy even for someone with nursing
training, but it would pass. Things would get better.
    Her mobile rang in the kitchen while she was still helping her father with his breakfast. She set the mug of tea on the mantelpiece where he couldn’t reach it, and gave him the slice of
toast in his good hand. He might eat it if he was holding it.
    ‘Hello?’ It was difficult not to sound harassed.
    ‘Hi, Alicia, it’s Paul. How are things with you?’
    ‘Paul?’ She repeated the name stupidly.
    ‘Your ex-husband? The father of your child? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten all about me?’
    Alicia sank onto a hard kitchen chair. Hell, this was the last thing she needed. Paul hadn’t been in touch for nearly a year and that suited her just fine.
    ‘Paul. We’re... okay. Visiting Lower Banford just now. How are you?’ There was no point going into details he wasn’t interested in hearing.
    ‘Very well indeed. I’m in England on business at the moment. Home’s in Singapore now, as you know, and, actually, Alicia, I remarried at Easter. A wonderful girl from China.
Siu-pen. So Jenny has a stepmum.’
    ‘Oh - congratulations. Jen’s not here at the moment, she’s um, out with a friend.’
    ‘Never mind. Alicia, I want Jen in Singapore for a holiday in the autumn. I want her to get to know her stepmother.’
    ‘No,’ said Alicia immediately. It was another gut reaction. ‘You have a
nerve
, Paul. She doesn’t even know you properly and that’s because you’ve
never bothered with her. No way am I letting you take her to Singapore.’
    ‘We’ll see about that. I have a stable home to offer her now, with a stay-at-home mum and a new little brother or sister expected at Christmas. I could get custody. Think about that,
Alicia.’
    The connection ended abruptly, and Alicia stared at her phone. He could never get custody, surely. Even if his wife was everything Jenny could wish for in a stepmother, that wouldn’t undo
the years of neglect that Paul had inflicted on his daughter. He’d been a useless father right from the start, leaving when Jen was less than a year old. Alicia had scrimped and saved by
herself ever since; the irregular and inadequate sums of money Paul sent them would barely have financed a cat, never mind a growing child.
    A crash from the next room jolted her attention back to the present and she ran back to her father. He was standing by the fireplace, looking down at the remains of the mug he’d obviously
managed to reach after all. The rug and his slippers were soaked with tea. Tired tears of frustration welled up in Alicia’s eyes, then she tilted her chin determinedly. If Paul sued for
custody she might have to prove soon exactly what a super-mum she was, so she would just start right now.

Chapter Six
    Alicia
    She was pegging out the washing when Frank arrived, emerging from the back door with Bob following behind.
    ‘He was wandering around in the hall,’ said Frank, and Alicia sighed. She should be keeping a better eye on him, she knew that. He could open the front door and walk off into the
sunset if he put his mind to it. Christ, if only he would. She watched as Frank lowered the old man onto the wooden bench by the back door. He sat there, clutching his cloth cap in his good hand
and sucking on his teeth.
    Frank straightened and stepped closer, concern on his face. ‘You’re tired,’ he said.
    Alicia shrugged. Not the best way to make a girl feel great. But then he was a doctor, he was allowed to say things like that and the mirror had told her exactly the same thing anyway.
    ‘Tired? I’m half dead,’ she said, hearing the gloominess in her own