5 Peppermint Grove Read Online Free Page B

know that I have never been happier than when I was with her.”
    Julia loved her brother madly but she knew what a cad he was when it came to breaking women’s hearts – he was a total charmer and unremorseful in most cases. But he was family.
    “And what about Nikki? I thought she was the one last time you were home?”
    “She was too needy, Julia – even you said that!”
    “Yes, but that was partly your fault for chatting about your legion of female friends in Singapore!”
    Michael paused for a moment and then very quietly said, “You know that I really loved Lydia . . .”
    “Leave it with me – let me think about it!”
    “You’re a star, Julia!” he said with gratitude in his voice. “I knew I could depend on you. Love you to bits.”
    “Okay then, go before I change my mind – I’ll drop you an email later.”
    “Bye, sis.”
    “Bye.”
    Julia made her way over to the fridge and took out some milk for her tea.
    Suddenly the front door slammed and her mother appeared in the kitchen. She bounced over in the direction of the kettle and put it on.
    “Oh, I could smell Granddad’s Chinese from the hall. Is he in bed?”
    “Yes, how was bridge?”
    “Very good,” her mother said lightly. “Are you having tea?”
    “Yes – I’ll make it!”
    Julia took out the tea bags and made them both a brew.
    “I’ve just been on to Michael – he might come over early in December – doesn’t think he’ll get back for Christmas.”
    “Oh, that is a shame,” her mother said, taking her mug of tea in her hands. “I hope he doesn’t come while I’m at the Christmas Market in Germany.”
    It was Julia’s chance to quiz her mother. “Odette told me that you had plans – I didn’t know!”
    “Did I forget to say it? I’m sorry, Julia – I thought you would probably be busy with work and, well, you might mind Granddad?”
    “Of course I can mind Granddad. That sounds like a lovely trip.”
    “I can’t wait! Right, I’m off to bed. Goodnight, love!”
    With her mug in hand Carol was gone.
    Julia really was happy for her mother but would like to have more interaction with her. Did she realise how addicted she was to bridge? If she wasn’t playing it with the bridge club she was playing it virtually or meeting people that played bridge. She would have a word with Granddad the next day and see what his views were on the subject. She took her mug, turned off the lights and made her way up the stairs to bed. Her bedroom was a haven of peace and tranquillity, painted a warm peach with a cream carpet that her feet sank into as she walked. Parked against the wall was a king-size mahogany sleigh bed with cream satin duvet covers. She lit the tea lights on her antique dressing table and they sparkled against the huge oval mirror. It was style from another time but Julia loved vintage furniture – a trait she’d inherited from her father. She missed him sorely and every night before she went to sleep she said a prayer to him. She had been Daddy’s little girl and the two used to be the driving force in the family. But, since his passing, the dynamic of the family had changed so much that she felt herself flounder sometimes and wondered how things would be if he was still around. The first thing that came to her mind the day that she heard that he was tragically killed was the realisation that he would not be there to take her down the aisle. Once she realised this, a switch flipped in her consciousness: now that he was gone she wouldn’t need to be walked down the aisle. It had been a slim enough chance that she would find someone that would match up to her father but since his passing she had realised that day would never come – she would never meet anyone who could hold a candle to him. And after five years she was pleased that she had saved herself a lot of heartache and could continue her life without a man.
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Michael woke in a sweat. The humidity from outside had seeped