To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online

telling. I’m making a helpful suggestion. You could do that sauce I used to like.’
    Ellie’s stomach rumbled. He was nagging her, but he had a point. She made the tomato and red wine sauce, stirred in fried onions and garlic, and left it to simmer on the hob. God, there was nothing to watch on television. She felt herself weakening, her eyes drifting over to the box of DVDs pushed up against the wall.
    â€˜Don’t do it,’ said Jamie, effortlessly reading her mind. Of course he could read her mind; he was in it.
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜It always makes you cry.’
    â€˜And?’
    He looked at her, shook his head. ‘I hate it when you cry.’
    â€˜Oh well, too bad.’ Ellie sorted through the DVDs, found the one she wanted. ‘Sometimes I just want to. You don’t have to watch.’
    Jamie shrugged and left. She bent down and slid the disc into the DVD player.
    Was this cathartic or a form of self-torture? Putting the box of tissues within easy reach, she pressed Play and sat back to watch Jamie and herself on the beach in Cornwall two years ago. Not imaginary Jamie, real Jamie, actually on the TV screen, captured by Todd with his camcorder as they’d mucked about in the waves, chased each other in and out of the water, and ended up rolling around on the sand. Back when life had been normal and happy, because it had never occurred to them that what they shared could be ripped away without warning and—
    Bbbbbrrrrrrrbbbbb.
    The doorbell. At eleven thirty at night. For heaven’s sake, she hadn’t even had time to start crying yet.
    Bbbbbbrrrrrrrrbbbbbb.
    Was this some kind of joke? In disbelief, Ellie clambered off the sofa and went over to the intercom. Curtly she said, ‘Yes?’
    â€˜Are you awake?’
    She closed her eyes. ‘What?’
    â€˜Sorry, I know it’s kind of late. I saw your light was still on. You weren’t asleep, were you?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Oh good. Now listen, was I a bit rude earlier?’
    Ellie leaned against the doorframe, listening to the anxiety in the girl’s voice. ‘Possibly, yes, a bit.’
    â€˜Oh, bugger, I knew it! Did I not even say thank you for my keys?’
    â€˜Now you come to mention it, no, you didn’t.’
    â€˜OK, so will you let me tell you why? The thing is, I was so bursting for the loo that I thought my bladder was going to explode . I could hardly speak, let alone make it up your stairs. When you threw the key down and I had to bend over to pick it up, I thought that was it, I was going to flood the road! And I’m not even exaggerating. I’ve never been so desperate in my life. So that’s why I forgot to thank you. And I’m really, really sorry if you thought I was rude.’
    Ellie smiled and felt herself relax. ‘Apology accepted.’
    â€˜Hooray!’ The girl gave a little whoop of relief. ‘I’ve got something for you too. OK if I come up?’
    â€˜Only if you think your bladder can stand it.’

Chapter 6
    Having pressed the buzzer, Ellie opened the door and waited for her visitor to appear.
    Within seconds the girl with the cropped, white-blond hair came clattering up the stairs. ‘Hi, I’m Roo! I bought you a little thank-you present. Only from the late-night supermarket, but everywhere else was shut.’ Up close, she was tanned and goose-pimply in her strappy red dress, bare legs, and skyscraper heels. Bursting into the flat, she said, ‘Ooh, smells nice in here,’ before dumping her carrier bags on the coffee table and pulling out two bunches of bright orange roses. ‘These are for you.’
    â€˜Thanks.’ Ellie was touched by the gesture. ‘You didn’t need to.’
    â€˜Shut up. Here, this is for you too.’ With a flourish she produced a bottle of Chablis followed by a box of chocolate truffles. ‘And these.’
    Ellie shook her head. ‘This is way too