Versace Sisters by Cate Kendall Read Free Book Online

she forced
herself to tune back in to the conversation and focus on
helping Chantrea with her mohair scarf.
    'Oh my . . . well . . . those nibbles do look absolutely
intriguing, but I think I'll say no,' Jacqueline said with the
tiniest of shudders, as Mallory passed around Sera's kitsch
hors d'oeuvres.
    'So Chantrea, how was work today?' Sera asked.
    'Oh, it was a fairly standard Honkers flight, complete
with vomiting child and blocked toilet, but back in time
to pick up Sally, which is always a plus,' Chantrea said with
a faint smile which didn't quite reach her tired eyes.
    'I can't imagine how awful it must be to have other
people bring up your child,' Jacqueline said.
    'Excuse me?' Chantrea demanded, her face flushing
with instant anger. 'What do you mean by that?'
    Sera and Mallory swapped nervous looks while Sam
bowed his head over his wool.
    Chantrea was a prickly sort at the best of times, but
particularly defensive about the amount of time Sally spent
in child care.
    'Why nothing, darling,' Jacqueline replied, all wide-eyed
innocence. 'I'm just saying –'
    'Yeah, well don't, Jacqueline.' Chantrea's spiked hair
seemed to bristle with energy. 'It's all right for some whose
work week doesn't get more stressful than Thursday bridge
morning and a weekly appointment with Mr Sheen but
some of us have a bit more on.'
    Mallory wanted to laugh, but one look at Chantrea's
face told her that this wasn't the time for girlish giggles.
    'Oh dear, I'm sorry if you thought I was attacking
you. I wasn't, I was just sympathising with your situation,'
Jacqueline replied quietly.
    'More hors d'oeuvres girls,' Sera thrust the tray of
nibbles between the women in an attempt to ease the
discomfort.
    Chantrea sighed and ran her hands through her hair, her
short burst of anger spent. 'Oh, I'm sorry, too, Jacqueline.
I know I'm touchy about childcare.'
    'So are your girls at school yet, Sam?' Jacqueline asked,
happy to focus on a safer topic.
    'The older one, Isabelle, is in Prep this year but our –'
a look of pain crossed his faced and he corrected himself
'– er, my little one, Alexandra, is in the kindergarten room
at Baby Face Childcare with Chantrea's Sally.'
    'How lovely, and does their mother share custody?'
Jacqueline asked.
    'Jacqueline!' Chantrea said sharply.
    'No, that's okay, Chantrea,' Sam reassured her. Turning
to Jacqueline he explained, 'Their mother died two years
ago so I'm doing the single parent thing.'
    'Oh, my dear, I am so sorry.' Jacqueline touched
her fingertips to her temple with concern. 'And it's so
much harder for a man to do the work–kids thing than a
woman.'
    'JACQUELINE!' This time, a chorus of voices admonished
her.
    'Okay, I think it's time for some pav,' Sera announced,
carefully checking to ensure her leg was fully covered
before she rose from the table. Jacqueline needed distracting,
and her giant airy meringue was just the thing for
the job.
    Thankfully, Jacqueline became distracted with the serving
of her dessert. And with the help of more wine, the
group relaxed into laughter and idle chatter, the big issues
of life put to one side for the moment.

~ 6 ~
    The white light stippling across the charcoal carpet told
Joan it was still night time. She'd long accepted she would
never again enjoy the luxury of a full night of unbroken
sleep.
    She stood up, slipped on her maroon velvet slippers and
shuffled down the hall to tend to her impatient bladder.
She was fully awake now, she realised, as she washed her
hands and squinted at the blurry reflection in the mirror. It
was truly a blessing that your eyes went at the same time as
your skin's elasticity, she thought. If you got a clear view
of what your face looked like after ten rounds with Father
Time you'd give up for sure.
    She shuffled down the hall to the kitchen to make
herself a cup of tea. In Joan's mind tea was the answer
to everything, a cure-all that never failed to remedy any
ailment – from conniptions to the shakes, that little black
leaf