A Twist of Fate Read Online Free

that,’ I quickly corrected. ‘I just didn’t put you down as the history sort. Physics or maths, maybe.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, you’re half right. I did physics and design technology, too.’
    â€˜Interesting combination. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. What was your favourite period to study?’
    â€˜I liked learning about the wars and conflicts. And medieval history, too. The Plantagenets. Edward III. Pretty canny fella.’
    I laughed.
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Here I am stranded on a desert island discussing Edward III with an ex-army builder.’
    He smiled softly at me, causing my belly to flip, before turning to throw a pebble in the sand and sighing. ‘Didn’t amount to nowt though.’
    â€˜How do you mean?’
    â€˜Never got to take the exams, despite doing most of the work for them. My ma had been ill for several years, cancer. My dad couldn’t cope. When I were younger I spent a year in care while he dealt with things as best he could. When I were older, she seemed to get a little better, responded well to treatment, and I came back. Then she took a turn for the worse and Dad had to stop working to look after her. He’d never agreed with me studying. I hoped to go to university, do engineering, but he made me quit school in the Upper Sixth and go to work. My ma put up a good protest – she wanted me to carry on, but …’ He shrugged. ‘We needed the money. And folk like me didn’t go to university. My dad was a miner, my ma a cleaner. I just walked out of my class one day, never went back. I got a good job for a local building firm. Did very well, learnt my trade, supported my family.’
    â€˜And your mother?’
    He stared ahead and threw another stone. ‘Lasted another year. I lost her twelve year ago next month.’
    â€˜I’m so sorry.’
    He looked over at me and studied me intently. I felt myself growing pink.
    â€˜When you say that, you sound like you really mean it,’ he said.
    I smiled softly. ‘I do. I lost my aunt, who I adored, very early to cancer.’
    He shrugged resignedly. ‘Everyone’s affected by it.’
    â€˜And for everyone it’s hell and it’s unfair and horrific.’
    He looked steadily at me. ‘Aye, it is. That’s when I needed out. Joined the army.’
    â€˜Which regiment?’
    He smirked. ‘That important to you?’
    â€˜No, I’m just curious.’
    â€˜Started out with the Yorkshire Regiment, then moved onto Special Air Service.’
    I looked at him blankly.
    â€˜The SAS,’ he added.
    â€˜Oh. Right.’ I was impressed into silence.
    My appreciation of his survival skills grew, and, although I hated the immediacy with which it happened, so did my attraction.
    â€˜What about you then, Callie Frobisher?’ he asked.
    â€˜What about me?’
    â€˜Why d’you talk so posh?’
    â€˜Is that your first impression? That I’m posh?’
    He shrugged.
    â€˜Why do I talk like this?’ I continued. ‘I don’t know. Parents. School. Friends.’
    â€˜Do all your friends sound like you?’
    â€˜Yes, I suppose they do.’ I blushed, suddenly ashamed of it.
    â€˜Where’d you go to school? Cheltenham Ladies’ College or something like that?’
    I laughed. ‘No. My school was much lowlier. But … it was fee-paying.’
    â€˜Fee-paying? Rich people’s school, y’mean?’
    I resented his immediate prejudice. ‘I didn’t choose it. I just went where I was put.’
    â€˜And I bet you don’t teach in your local comprehensive now neither.’
    More embarrassment. ‘No.’
    â€˜Another “fee-paying school”?’
    â€˜Yes. But I work very hard. I’m always taking work home with me.’
    â€˜And getting nice long holidays in the Maldives.’
    His assumptions, which hit closer to the mark than I