A Walk in the Park Read Online Free Page B

most fabulous parents anyone could wish for, warm and welcoming and wonderful in every way. Meeting them had felt like skulking outside in the cold for years, then finally being invited into a gorgeous house with a fire roaring in the grate. For Evie it had been love at first sight. What more could she want?
    And then, unbelievably, it got better.
    Having made his money in London’s square mile and worked his socks off for twenty-five years, Ray had decided life was too short not to enjoy the rest of it. Upon moving the family down to Bath, he had set up MadAboutParties, a company providing party goods and costume items to buy or rent. With Ray and Bonnie at the helm, the business thrived and expanded. Then three years ago, a vacancy had arisen at just the right time. Evie, working as a secretary for a husband and wife team of relationship counselors, discovered her bosses were about to divorce each other. The atmosphere in the office grew icier and more uncomfortable by the day. When Bonnie said, “Sweetheart, why don’t you come and work for us?” Evie had jumped at the chance.
    And thanked her lucky stars ever since. She truly loved her new job, helping in all aspects of running the business, both in the shop itself and on the Internet. Working with Ray and Bonnie had been a joy from day one.
    ***
    The bedroom door swung open and Bonnie came in, a tray in her hands and a red rose held between her teeth.
    â€œRight.” She laid the tray across Evie’s lap, took a bottle of water out of her cardigan pocket, filled a narrow vase with the contents, and placed the rose in it. “Ta dah! Now, you enjoy your breakfast while we run you a lovely bath. What time’s Kirsty getting here?”
    â€œTen fifteen.” Fabulously inept when it came to hair and makeup, Bonnie had hired a professional for the occasion; having Kirsty turn up to make the three of them look amazing was her treat.
    For the next hour Evie relaxed, ate her breakfast, watched a bit of enjoyably trashy morning TV, then had a long, hot bath. This week she’d been staying here at the house, having given up her flat in Batheaston. Tonight she and Joel were booked into the Royal Crescent Hotel, then tomorrow she’d be moving into Joel’s super-smart flat in Bannerdown. But Bonnie had insisted she spend the last few days of singledom with them and she’d been happy to do so.
    Another tap on the door. Marina, wrapped in a terry cloth robe after her own shower, said, “Do I put my bridesmaid’s dress on now, or is that supposed to happen after we’ve been tarted up?”
    Evie hesitated; this wasn’t her field of expertise either. But the one thing she didn’t want happening was eye shadow or lipstick being spilled on their beautiful dresses. She said, “Let’s put them on afterward. Keep them nice.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Marina grimaced at the cherry jam stain on the lapel of her robe. “We don’t want to mess anything up.”
    By ten fifteen the three of them were gathered expectantly in the living room in their dressing gowns, waiting for Kirsty to arrive.
    â€œHa, look at you.” Having helped himself to a glass of cava, Ray eyed them cheerily from the doorway. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
    â€œDad.” Marina pulled a face at him. “Bugger off.”
    He beamed. “Well, I must say, that makeup girl was worth every penny. You all look sensational, like a bunch of beauty queens.”
    â€œYou should be a stand-up comedian.” Bonnie beckoned him over and took a sip from his glass.
    â€œKirsty’s late,” said Evie. “She should be here by now.”
    â€œIt’s the traffic. She’s just been a bit held up. Don’t you worry.” Bonnie’s tone was unruffled. “She’ll be on her way.”

Chapter 5
    By ten twenty they were still waiting.
    At ten twenty-five, Evie reached for her