Public Secrets - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
drugs. Just as he'd had no idea, until he had slipped into her, there
on the floor with the candles guttering in their own wax, that it was
her first encounter with s.e.x.
She'd wept a little. Instead of making him feel guilty, her tears had
brought out feelings of protectiveness. He'd fallen completely, and
somehow poetically, in love. That had been more than a year ago, but he
had never been with another woman during that time. Whenever the
temptation came strongly, he would see Bev's face.
The marriage had been for her, and the child, his child, she carried.
He didn't believe in marriage, the foolishness of a contract on love,
but he didn't feel trapped. For the first time since his miserable
childhood, he had something more than music to comfort and excite him.
I love you more than anything.
No, he couldn't say that to her with the ease and honesty she could say
it to him. He probably would never be able to say that to her. But he
did love, and where he loved, he was loyal.
"Come on, my lad." Barely rousing him, Johnno dragged Brian to his feet.
"It's bed for you."
"Bev's coming, Johnno."
Brow lifted, Johnno glanced over his shoulder at the tangle of bodies.
"So's everyone else."
"She'll meet us in New York." With a half-laugh, Brian slung a rubbery
arm around Johnno's neck. "We're going to New York, Johnno. New
tucking York. Because we're the best."
"That's dandy, isn't it?" Grunting only a little, Johnno dumped Brian on
the bed. "Sleep it off, Bri. We've got to go through the whole b.l.o.o.d.y
business again tomorrow."
"Got to wake Pete," Brian mumbled as Johnno pulled off his shoes.
"Pa.s.sport for Emma. Tickets. I have to do the right thing by her."
"You will." Weaving a little, courtesy of the Jim Beam, Johnno studied
his newly purchased Swiss watch. He didn't imagine Pete was going to
appreciate being awakened, but he staggered off to do the deed.
ON HER FIRST transatlantic flight, Emma traveled first cla.s.s. And was
miserably sick. She could not, as Bev periodically urged her, look out
at the pretty clouds or page through any of the colorful picture books
Bev had stuffed into her carry-on bag. Even empty, Emma's stomach
pitched and rolled. She was vaguely aware of Bev's helpless little hand
pats and the stewardess's soothing voice.
It didn't matter that she had a new outfit with a short, bright red
skirt and a flowered fussy blouse. It didn't matter that she'd been
promised a ride to the top of the Empire State Building. The nausea was
so unrelenting that it no longer mattered that she was going to see her
father.
By the time the plane banked over JFK airport, she was too weak to
stand. Frazzled, Bev carried her through the gate. After clearing
customs, she nearly gave way to tears when she spotted Pete.
In his impeccable Savile Row suit, he took a long look at the pastyfaced
child and the edgy woman. "Rough trip?"
Instead of tears, Bev found laughter bursting through. "Oh no. It was
a delight from start to finish. Where's Brian?"
