A Walk in the Park Read Online Free

always loved her hometown, had missed it desperately for so many years.
    They could do it. There was nothing to stop them.
    Other than Flynn Erskine.

Chapter 4
    Evie was lying in bed watching shards of bright sunlight sneaking in around the curtains. It was eight o’clock in the morning and the weather forecaster had promised wall-to-wall sunshine today. Fingers crossed he’d got it right.
    Because she was superstitious, Evie crossed her fingers and listened to the birds singing outside her window. Then she heard another door along the landing being opened. Floorboards creaked.
    There was a tap at her door and she called out, “I’m awake.”
    The door opened and Bonnie appeared; fair hair rumpled, she was wearing a white cotton dressing gown and looking puzzled.
    â€œMorning, darling. I’m sure there’s something we’re meant to be doing today. Any ideas?”
    â€œNo.” Evie shook her head. “I’m just going to sleep-in. Maybe go shopping later. Any good films on at the cinema?”
    Another door slammed, they heard footsteps in a hurry and Marina raced past her mother into the bedroom. Taking a flying leap onto the bed, she sang, “You’re getting married in the morning!”
    â€œThat’s it.” Bonnie heaved a sigh of relief. “I knew there was something.” She broke into a grin and came over to envelop Evie in a hug. “Here we are, can you believe it? Happening at last. Now, you stay there and we’ll bring you breakfast in bed.”
    â€œOoh yes, we’re going to spoil you rotten.” Marina bounced off the bed in her pajamas and flung back the curtains. “Don’t move a muscle! Well, unless you need to go for a wee.”
    Evie lay back against her plumped-up pillows and listened to the two of them clattering downstairs.
    Lucky, lucky me.
    In just a few hours she would properly belong to the family she loved more than any other family in the world. Bonnie would become her mother-in-law, Marina her sister-in-law. Ray would become not only her father-in-law but the father she had never had.
    And she would become Joel’s wife.
    It was like a dream come true. Her life was about to become officially perfect. Gazing out of the window, Evie wondered how different things might have been if she hadn’t met the Barbers.
    Her own family was about as small as it was possible to get. Growing up, it had just been herself and her mother, who couldn’t have been more different from Bonnie Barber if she’d tried. Evie had never known her father. Nor had she known much fun. In order to provide a decent standard of living, her mother had sacrificed her social life for financial security. Every spare hour had been spent working. Evie had learned not to make a nuisance of herself, or to expect much in the way of attention. Her childhood had been lonely, which was why getting to know Lara in her early teens had made such a difference. Because Lara’s home life was pretty miserable too. Their respective problems had cemented their friendship. In many ways, she’d had it easier; at least her mother was still alive. Nor did she have a father and stepmother who ganged up on her and appeared to resent her very existence. Evie knew her mother didn’t hate her; she just wasn’t her number one priority.
    Like today. The wedding was due to start at twelve o’clock. And her mother, currently snowed under at the office, was driving down from Swindon for the ceremony. On the phone last night she’d explained that she could be a bit late getting there but that she’d definitely be at the church by twelve fifteen. “So I might miss a couple of hymns, but I’ll be there in time for the main bit.”
    Evie hadn’t even attempted to protest. I mean, what more could any daughter expect? If her mother managed to stay for the first half of the reception it would be a bonus.
    Was it any wonder she loved