Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox
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Название: Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird
Автор: Josephine Cox
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
isbn: 9780007515301
isbn:
Time alone would tell whether he’d made the right decision.
Just before one o’clock Jack drove to the little café in Bletchley, impatient to tell Molly the news. He was apprehensive as to how she would take it, now it was a done deal. Would she understand? Maybe overnight she had thought about it, and was ready to give way on her decision. He hoped so. Either way, for him there was no going back.
The café was a small, family-run business, with home-cooked food and a smile served with it. Jack found it a welcome oasis in the storm of life. He ordered a coffee while waiting for Molly to come.
‘Well, here you are again, Jack – deep in thought as usual,’ said Maria, the friendly waitress. She glanced about. ‘No girlfriend today, then?’
He returned her smile. ‘She’ll be along shortly.’
‘Same as usual, is it?’ She got her pad and pen ready. ‘Or would you rather wait for the young lady?’
‘I’ll wait,’ he decided. ‘Meantime, I’d love one of your special coffees.’
After two cups of coffee Jack realised that Molly wasn’t coming. With a sinking heart he paid the bill, and left.
En route to the office, he wondered if he should try to get hold of her at her workplace. Or maybe he should call Pauleen again. Perhaps she didn’t tell Molly he’d called earlier. Or maybe Molly just wanted to make him suffer.
Once inside the office, the manager approached him. ‘You’re late back from lunch again, Redmond. Don’t think you can start taking liberties, just because you’re leaving.’
‘Sorry, Mr Branagan. I got caught up, but I’ll make up the time, as always.’
‘See that you do.’ With a face that told its own story, he stomped off.
‘He’s jealous as hell because Curtis Warren likes you.’ Eagle-eyed Jan didn’t miss a trick.
Once inside his own office, Jack called the estate agency where Molly worked.
‘Banbury’s Estate Agency, Julie Hart speaking.’
‘It’s Jack here,’ he answered. ‘Could I possibly have a quick word with Molly?’
‘Sorry, Jack. Molly rang in to say she wouldn’t be in today.’ Julie gave a knowing little chuckle. ‘I don’t know what the pair of you got up to last night, but she sounded somewhat the worse for wear.’ Seeming to have suddenly realised something, Julie paused to ask, ‘Didn’t you already know she wasn’t coming in to work?’
‘No. I had an urgent meeting, so I had to leave early,’ he lied, to allay her suspicions.
‘Well, I’d give her a ring at home if I were you.’ She tutted. ‘Our Molly did not sound a happy bunny.’
Jack went along with her chatter. ‘You’re right,’ he said pleasantly. ‘That’s what I’ll do. Thanks, Julie.’
‘You’re welcome.’ There was a click and the phone line went dead.
Throughout the afternoon, Jack was run off his feet, but the minute he got a break, he rang Molly’s mother again, only this time it was her father who answered. ‘Hello, Ted. Is Molly there?’
‘No, she is not. And from what Brian just told me, she’s in no fit state to be anywhere. I’m sorry, Jack, but don’t you think it’s about time you and Molly sorted your differences out, once and for all?’
‘That’s why I want to speak with her,’ Jack answered honestly. ‘I’ll try to contact her at Brian’s. Thanks, Ted. Sorry to have bothered you.’
He rang Brian’s landline number. ‘Is Brian there, please?’ he asked. He suspected it might be wiser to speak with Brian before he asked for Molly.
‘’Fraid not. He’s in a meeting at his office this afternoon. I’m Malcolm Salter, his business partner.’
‘Oh, I see. The thing is, Malcolm, I need to speak to Molly. She is still there, isn’t she?’
‘Yes.’
‘Could you ask her if she’ll come to the phone, please?’
There was a pause, during which Mal seemed to be considering Jack’s request. Then he said, ‘OK. I’ll go and get her.’
After a few moments, Jack was relieved to hear Molly’s voice down the line. ‘What do you want, Jack?’
‘I want you, sweetheart. I need you to come home. I’ll try to get away early from work. I can come and collect you, if you want?’
When she gave no answer, he was hopeful. ‘I’m sorry we had that row. I love you, Molly. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Have you turned down that promotion?’ she asked sharply.
‘No. I’ve accepted it. You knew I’d made up my mind.’
‘So, everything I said, everything I feel about this business – none of it meant anything to you?’
‘Of course it did – it does! I know the score. I want to go and you want me to stay. But we’re intelligent, mature people. Surely we can find a middle way. We need to sit down and thrash it out, or we’ll never find a solution. Please, Moll. Come home. Let’s try again.’
‘I’m not coming home, Jack. We’re finished, you and me.’
‘Don’t say that! You can’t mean to throw away everything we’ve built up, just because I accepted the promotion?’
Suddenly Molly launched into a screaming attack: ‘It’s never just been about the promotion anyway – it’s the fact that you don’t care what I think! Look, Jack – I mean what I say. Some time tomorrow, when you’re at work, I’ll come and get the rest of my belongings, and that’s an end to it. I don’t want you calling me, and I never want to see you again. You’d better believe it, Jack. No more contact; no more talking. I don’t want you any more. It’s over. Have you got that?’
Before he could answer, she slammed down the phone, and he was left with her harsh words ringing in his ears.
Molly ran back up the stairs and into the bedroom. Concerned for her, Mal followed and he was surprised when Molly instantly wrapped her arms round his neck and drew him down onto the bed. ‘Make love to me,’ she urged, tantalisingly straddling him, ‘I don’t need him when I’ve got you.’
Mal held her off for a moment. ‘Do you mean that, or are you just saying it because you’re angry with Jack?’
She laughed out loud – a harsh, spiteful sound. ‘I’m angry, yes. But not because СКАЧАТЬ