The School Gates by Nicola May Read Free Book Online Page B

to be like this. She was sad that she had broken up a marriage, but despite the age gap, the love between her and Mark had been so strong that she couldn’t let it pass her by.
    Her plan had been to travel as an au pair for a while to improve her English, then to apply for a degree in Film Studies and find work in that field. She would then settle down and have lots of children.
    But life, as it so often does, had taken a different path and she had reached her end goal a lot earlier than she had thought she would. Even her wish for a large family seemed blighted, as despite trying for the past four years, she wasn’t falling pregnant.
    ‘Dana,’ Tony called from behind the table. ‘Two lattes ready for table eight.’
    Dana sped over to get them.
    ‘Nice wiggle,’ Tony joked, his long dark locks curling over his collar like some sort of cool surf dude.
    ‘I’m not a snake!’ she smartly retorted.
    ‘But oh, what you could do with that pert little asp,’ Bruno, Tony’s brother, added out of her earshot.
    ‘She’s a married woman,’ Tony interjected.
    ‘An unhappily married woman, I reckon.’ Bruno’s dark brown eyes glinted. ‘The best sort.’
    ‘What do you know, and what does that matter, eh?’ Tony gesticulated wildly, his Italian accent becoming stronger.
    ‘Calm down, fratello mio. I was just stating a fact.’
    The café was so busy that time sped by and Dana couldn’t believe it was the end of her first week already. She cleared the last lunchtime table and went out to the kitchen to hang up her apron and get her coat. Tony followed her and handed her a small envelope.
    ‘Your first week’s pay, signora.’
    ‘I cannot tell you how excited I am.’ Dana grinned.
    ‘I’ll split the tips later and give you those in cash next week,’ Tony added.
    ‘Oh, is my pay not in cash then?’ Dana questioned.
    ‘It’s a cheque; I have to put it through the books. An honest unit we are here, you know,’ the handsome Italian smiled.
    ‘Of course I realise that. I want it to be above board but it would make my life easier if I had cash.’ She had no bank account of her own, so her intention was to squirrel the cash away, save up for a surprise weekend away for her and Mark and then come clean about her job.
    Tony held out his hand and she gave the envelope back; he reached into his pocket, pulled out some notes and counted £120 into her hand.
    ‘This is between you and me, Mrs Knight,’ Tony winked. ‘And only ‘cos I like you.’
    Dana blushed to her roots.
    Lily and Lola raced out of class and into Gordon’s arms. He
    swept them both up, causing Lily’s glasses to go flying.
    ‘Daddy!’ the little girls shouted in unison.
    ‘TFI Friday, my lovely ladies!’ he trilled loudly.
    ‘What does that mean?’ Lola asked, screwing up her pretty little face.
    Gordon realised what he’d just said and cringed inwardly.
    ‘Thank Flora it’s Friday,’ a broad Mancunian male accent intervened.
    Gordon looked up and smiled, as these timely words came from a guy who was quite a chicken.
    ‘Who’s Flora?’ Lola then asked.
    ‘The Princess of Weekends,’ the Mancunian butted in again and Gordon laughed out loud.
    The twins, followed by Eliska, then charged down the path towards the school gates and freedom.
    ‘Sorry – I haven’t seen you here before. But thanks for rescuing me!’ Gordon acknowledged his saviour, taking in his fitted black T-shirt.
    ‘I’m Robbie, Eliska Murray’s temp childminder, just helping out until her mother finds a full-time help.’
    Gordon held out his hand. ‘Gordon Summers. Nice to meet you, and I hope you have a good weekend. It’s the twins’ birthday party for us, so there’s lots to get ready.’
    ‘I’d get the wife on to that if I were you.’ Robbie winked and set off to find Eliska.
    Gordon had just got the children strapped in the car and was about to zoom off when there was a tap on the driver’s window. It was Inga.
    ‘Darling girl. Word at