Village Secrets by Rebecca Shaw Read Free Book Online

sense. It only needs Barry Jones to come hurtling round the corner like he frequently does and … and it will all be too late.’
    ‘This is arrogant interference in my domain.’
    ‘Broken hearts are my business.’
    ‘You’re being very dramatic.’
    ‘You didn’t see her face when she couldn’t find you when we got home.’
    ‘This is ridiculous. She loves Sylvia, she’ll be all right with her.’
    ‘It was I who made her go this morning, and I shouldn’t have done so. Look, Caroline, I don’t wish to discuss it any further. I shall be in my study if I’m needed.’ Peter stood up and pushed his chair under the table.
    ‘That’s right, hide in your study – you’ve had your say, trespassed where you shouldn’t, so off you go to avoid any further discussion.’ Peter looked down at her. It was her eyes which eventually avoided his. He turned on his heel and left the dining room.
    Caroline began clearing the table. She caught the sound of Beth screaming as she crossed the hall. By the time she’d reached the bedroom, Beth was hysterical. Caroline hugged her tight, talking to her and trying to calm her fears. ‘Have you had a nasty dream? Never mind then, Mummy’s here, hush, hush, darling. There, there.’ Caroline rocked her back and forth, back and forth and gradually the cries subsided. When she’d wiped her tears away for her, Caroline asked what the matter was. ‘Can you tell Mummy what frightened you? Tell me, darling, please?’
    ‘Mrs Neal, it was Mrs Neal.’
    ‘She’s a lovely lady, a friend of Mummy’s.’
    ‘Mrs Neal gave me a present.’
    ‘Oh, how nice! That was a lovely dream, not a nasty one, surely.’
    ‘She gave me lots of …’ Beth sobbed. ‘She gave me lots of worms, wiggly worms, all wiggly in my ha-a-n-n-nd.’
    ‘Oh darling, I’m so sorry. But it was only a dream, you know. There aren’t any worms here really, are there? Look, see, open your eyes. No worms. Just a dream. Mummy will lie down on the bed and wait till you go back to sleep. How’s that?’ Beth clutched hold of her and closed her eyes. ‘No worms, Mummy?’
    ‘No worms, darling.’ It was ten minutes before Beth relaxed enough to go back to sleep.
    Peter left Caroline with all the dishes to clear and stack, an activity which, if he hadn’t got an evening meeting, they usually did together. When she’d finished, she went in the sitting room to watch television. It was more than an hour before she heard Peter come out of the study. He didn’t come immediately into the sitting room but went to the kitchen. She could hear him putting on the kettle and getting out cups. This was his way, she knew, of making amends for his outburst. Well, he wasn’t going to get around her that way. Other women had careers and children! Why on earth shouldn’t she? She’d make it work. Beth would just have to get used to the idea that her mother had other things in her life besides children. Much as she loved her, she loved general practice too. She’d had to give it up when she and Peter got married and he’d moved parish; hospital work had been the easier option at the time. Though she’d liked the hospital, it wasn’t quite her métier. She was really enjoying general practice and nothing was going to stop her. Why shouldn’t she have two lives? They could well afford Sylvia …
    ‘Coffee, darling?’
    ‘Yes, please.’
    Peter put down the tray in front of her, and sat a moment in silence before he poured it. ‘Instant, couldn’t be bothered with the other. You don’t mind?’
    ‘No, not at all.’
    ‘Ralph tells me he’s been up to the Big House and persuaded Mr Fitch not to be president of the cricket club. But he’s giving two cups and his name’s going above the pavilion.’
    ‘Oh, good – Mr Fitch will love that. Says something for Ralph’s expertise in diplomacy, don’t you think?’
    ‘Exactly. I’m looking forward to the summer. I always liked cricket. Here’s your coffee – is that