Thursdays in the Park by Hilary Boyd Read Free Book Online

give up a habit, even a stupid habit like hating your son-in-law.Part of her enjoyed it, although it shamed her to admit it, and enjoyed the fact that she could justify her sniping. Every fibre of her being resisted now. It was almost painful to smile at Alex without giving it a sardonic edge, but she made the effort. ‘The thing is . . .’
    ‘I know, you don’t trust me not to betray Chanty again.’
    Jeanie nodded.
    ‘The truth is, nor do I, but I’m giving it my best shot.’
    ‘That’s not exactly what a mother wants to hear, although as usual I can’t fault your honesty.’
    Alex’s black curls were snared in a loose knot behind his head. With his narrow face revealed he looked younger, more vulnerable.
    ‘But there are no guarantees, are there? Not in relationships.’
    Jeanie was forced to agree. ‘Why now?’
    If she hadn’t caught the slide of Alex’s glance, she would have decided reluctantly in his favour.
    He shrugged. ‘Does there have to be a reason?’
    ‘There doesn’t have to be . . . but there usually is.’
    Alex shrugged, ‘Have it your way. Does the truce still stand?’
    He held out his hand to her and she took it.
    When Jeanie drew level with the playground, she felt a twinge of disappointment not to see Ray and Dylan there.
    Ellie had forsworn the swing today and was on one of her circuits up and down the slide. A child in front of her wastrying one of those small boy show-off moves and came down head first on his back. Of course Ellie wanted to do it too, but couldn’t quite work out how to position herself to achieve it. So she stood at the top of the metal run, her head down, hands hanging by her side, and howled. Jeanie took her off and hugged her, but the child, for some reason, was inconsolable.
    ‘Let’s go and have a look at the new playground,’ she eventually suggested as a diversion, and Ellie was visibly cheered, taking off on her strong little legs at a run up the hill, her curls flying in the wind, while Jeanie hurried along behind with the buggy.
    She saw them immediately as they rounded the corner. Ray was perched on the edge of the light-wood climbing frame, guiding his grandson’s progress across the highest bar.
    Ellie shrieked with delight at the sight of Dylan, and clamoured to climb up to where he was, but the frame was meant for much older children, and Jeanie began to regret her decision.
    ‘It’s too high, darling. You’re not big enough.’
    As her granddaughter stood crestfallen, clearly deciding whether a tantrum would help her cause, Ray lifted Dylan clear of the structure.
    ‘Let’s do the swing, boy.’
    A gang of small children were already engaged in running backwards and forwards across the brand new rubber-covered mound beside the rope swing, and Ellie quickly forgot about Dylan and joined them.
    Jeanie sat down on the grass and Ray threw himself down beside her, sitting cross-legged and picking at the grass and fallen twigs.
    ‘How’s it going?’
    Jeanie shrugged. ‘OK, I suppose. You?’
    ‘That doesn’t sound so good.’
    ‘Oh, you know.’
    He looked at her. His grey-green eyes, so similar to his grandson’s, were very clear, very bright.
    ‘No,’ he said. ‘Tell me.’
    Jeanie didn’t say anything.
    ‘Listen, it’s your turn, you’ve listened to my boring tales of dysfunctional families.’
    For a moment she didn’t reply. Then something suddenly snapped in Jeanie, as if years of holding on had finally turned her resistance to dust.
    ‘Do you really want to know?’ she said, hearing the defiance in her voice with surprise.
    ‘Sure.’
    He looked taken aback but Jeanie breathed deeply, determined. For days now she’d felt irritable with those around her, on edge, with an overwhelming desire to unburden herself.
You’re it
, she thought, as she stared at this oddly sympathetic stranger.
    ‘OK.’ She took another breath, hesitated. ‘Well . . . I’m sixty in a few weeks, and my husband and daughter have decided