Uptown Girl by Holly Kinsella Read Free Book Online

asked about the mechanic and her worse fears came true.
    “He was lovely, adorable. I’m not sure how we got onto it but I found myself talking about Mum with him. He was really kind, sympathetic. And funny. He said that Mum was in a better place – an even better place than Chiswick. You were right about most of the soldiers tonight Em, but William was different. Your father sees it too.” Celia smiled to herself, as if still bathing in the glow of the mechanic’s company, as she spoke.
    For most of the evening Emma told herself that the William Flynn of tonight was just an act. She had experienced the real William Flynn at the garage – an arrogant, sarcastic grease monkey. She tried to convince her friend of this, as well as herself, as she recounted their first meeting to Celia. She painted the mechanic in an unpleasant light and also gave the impression that she was blameless during their exchanges. She also found herself dropping in some of Jason’s jokes and prejudices in relation to the working class soldier. Emma sat slightly open-mouthed however as her best friend took his side!
    “Perhaps you just caught him when he was in a bad mood, on a bad day.”
    It was here that Emma realised that she was the one who had been having the bad day – and had been in a bad mood – when she met the mechanic. Celia had also said that rather than being working class, he was in a class of his own. He was highly educated, but had not forgotten his roots.
    Emma opened the window and let the cool night air blow over her flushed skin. She googled “William Flynn” and found an article mentioning his name in a citation for bravery. The piece mentioned how the infantryman, from Bermondsey, had shown courage under fire to save the life of his commanding officer, Brigadier Robert Hastings.

 
    11.
     
    Celia left quite early in the morning, explaining that she had some marking to catch up on. Emma hugged her friend for that little bit longer. Perhaps she wished to provide further consolation for her mum having passed away. Perhaps Emma just felt more lonely than usual, after her sleepless night. As Celia left in the taxi Emma received a text from Jason to apologise for not replying to her messages, but his battery had died on his phone.
    Although her father had arranged for a cleaner to come in and put things back in order after the party Emma insisted upon helping her. She wanted to keep busy, take her mind off things.
    It was a bright summer’s day and Emma sat down with an iced tea and her kindle in the garden. Robert Hastings woke just after midday. His daughter offered to get up and make him breakfast but her father gruffly replied that he could make it himself – and somewhat sternly remarked that he wanted her to wait in the garden, as he wished to have a word with her.
    Robert squinted from the glare of the afternoon sun as he came out into the garden. His eyes were puffy and the retired officer smiled not as he sat down and took in his daughter.
    “Would you like to explain your behaviour last night?”
    “What do you mean?” There was a show of innocence in her voice, but ultimately Emma wasn’t ignorant as to what – or who – her father was referring to.
    “Your behaviour towards my former driver, Will. You seemed to be actively rude towards him throughout the party. I’d like to know why.”
    Emma proceeded to describe her first encounter with the mechanic at the garage. Unlike her account during the night before, to Celia, she tempered some of her prejudices and embellishments. Emma even concluded by saying that it was perhaps as much her fault as his that they had got off on the wrong foot.
    Robert Hastings paused before replying.
    “I’ve known William Flynn for many a year now. There may be sad bones in his body, but there are not mean or malicious ones. Your friends and set probably demand that you behave in a snobbish and superior manner to the likes of people who are not as well off as you, but I