Tuesday's Child by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online

Price.’”
    Nate grinned. “I think my nan had the same guy. His name was Bill.”
    “That was him. Dark hair, always wore a green flat cap and had a dark blue jacket on with a blue money bag around his waist.” Adeline looked at him. “Wow. Where did your nan live?”
    “Onibury Close.”
    “You’re kidding.” Her eyes lit up. “Nanna lived at forty-five.”
    Nate shook his head. Incredible. So close all these years and never knew . “Twenty-six. Almost opposite.” He smiled. “Anyway, I must go drop Vianne off. I won’t be too long.”
    “Why isn’t she in school today?”
    “The teachers are on strike. No idea why. They just are.“ Vianne grinned at Adeline then looked at him. “Have you asked her yet?”
    “No.”
    “Go on, then.”
    “All right, all right. You’re an impatient pumpkin this morning.”
    “You’re the one wanting to leave.”
    Nate knocked her hat playfully and laughed when she grabbed it and readjusted it. “Miss Monroe, I have something to ask you.”
    “Please, Sergeant, call me Adeline.”
    “If you’ll call me Nate.”
    She smiled. “I can do that, Nate.”
    Shivers ran down his spine and twisted around him. Sudden warmth flooded him at the way his name sounded falling from her lips. For a moment he felt like a giddy school boy and this was before he’d asked her anything. Get with it. It’s not a date. It’s just dinner.
    “Then, Adeline, Vianne and I were wondering if…”
    Vianne cut him off and grabbed Adeline’s hand. “Would you like to come to dinner at our house tonight? Uncle Nate is making wormy mess.”
    Adeline’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she looked at Nate. “You’re making what ?”
    “Spaghetti bolognaise.”
    She appeared even more confused and shook her head.
    Nate pulled his notebook from his pocket and wrote it down.
    “Ah.”
    “It’s not a date,” he assured her. “It’s just a thank you for fixing the doll and watching Vianne the other day.”
    “You don’t have to.”
    “I know, and I know you probably don’t usually accept dinner from all your patients’ relatives, some doctor/patient thing no doubt, but Vianne would like it.” And so would I. He stood there, his whole body coiled like a spring waiting for her answer.
    “He can make other stuff if you don’t like worms,” Vianne added.
    “Spaghetti is good. I’d like to come very much, thank you.”
    Nate smiled, his heart doing somersaults. And this wasn’t a date. However would he react if he ever did ask her out? Where’d that come from? How did I get to this point, Lord? From women aren’t to be trusted to considering what it would be like to date her. In less than a week. And after she broke my nose.
    “Cool. Then we’ll see you about six.” He took Vianne’s hand. “And Dane and I will be back in a few for that statement.”
    He led Vianne out to the car and opened the door for her. As she did up her belt, he pulled out his phone. He shut the passenger door as the call connected. “Dane, it’s me. We’ve got a lead on the Herbalist. I’m going to drop Vianne off at the manse and I’ll come and get you. But hang on to your hat, because you are not going to believe me when I tell you. No, not over the phone. I’ll be with you in ten.”
    He hung up and hurried around the car. He climbed in and started the engine. “Let’s take you over to play with Lara for a bit. I have to work for an hour. Then we can cook dinner.”
     
    ****
     
    Adeline faced Nate and Dane across her desk. Funny, now she had to repeat her story officially, it sounded even more ridiculous than the first time, and she doubted herself.
    Nate pulled out his notebook as Dane laid the paperwork on her desk, to take the statement.
    “Just take your time,” Nate said. “Tell us everything you remember.”
    “It’s not much,” she said. “And it does sound rather farfetched.”
    “That doesn’t matter,” Dane told her. “If what Nate said is accurate, you know things