Always Mr. Wrong Read Online Free Page B

and
herbs. Marjorie gets reflux from too many herbs and spices.”
    I watched as David placed the tray on the
work surface and lifted the tea towel, revealing a gigantic joint
of beef.
    “Why would Mum send me beef for
Marjorie?”
    “For Sunday, of course.”
    “Whoops.” Eleanor slunk down in her chair and
hid behind her magazine.”
    “Air head, you didn’t pass the message on,
did you?” He grabbed the magazine from Eleanor.
    “Sorry, I forgot. Rosie called right after
you with some hot gossip, and it slipped my mind.”
    Looking at my watch, I was now going to be
late meeting Guy at the restaurant.
    “Hello,” I lifted my arms, waving them in the
air as David and Eleanor began one of their spatters. “Would
someone please explain? I’m in a hurry?”
    “Okay, Okay, keep your hair on. You sound
just like Mum,” David sarcastically said. “Mum rang the library
today. Dad has been in the doldrums, missing work. Marjorie had
called that morning. She’s missing Dad. Can’t get used to working a
new way. Well, she’s worked with him for years, and we all know she
hates change. Remember when they installed computers...?”
    “DAVID, I’m in a hurry! Cut to the
chase.”
    “Sorry, well, Mum thought it would be nice to
ask Marjorie for Sunday lunch, but as it’s our turn and you know
what Victoria’s roasts are like...”
    “Shoe and leather come to mind,” joked
Eleanor.
    “Mum wants dinner here. Fine.” I could not
wait any longer for David to finish. Guy would now be waiting in
the restaurant. I picked up my bag to leave.
    “Oh, and one more thing. Mum’s doing a bit of
team building. Doctor Foreman will be coming, too.”
    Eleanor let out a great snort. “Well, just
when I was thinking of getting out of a boring Sunday lunch with
Marjorie, all of a sudden it’s just become exciting.”
    So that was what Guy was talking about
earlier on the phone. He’d had an interesting conversation that
needed us to talk about over dinner. I actually thought it was
about the offer he’d put on the house in Hampstead, and that was
why we were having dinner there...to suss out the local
amenities.
    I felt sick to my stomach, looked at my
watch.
    Guy would be ordering a drink right now,
wondering where the hell I was. I’ll call him from the car, tell
him to meet at his apartment. No way could I enjoy a meal now. We
had to hatch some plan.
    “I have to go. I’ll be late for the gym.”
    Shit, shit, and double shit. Taken off
guard, I just blew it.
    David looked puzzled. “You go to the gym
dressed up like that?”
    “She has a date,” announced Eleanor.
    “Button it, Eleanor,” glaring at my
sister.
    “You have a date? Clare, that’s great.
Victoria and I were just saying the other night you should get
yourself back out there.”
    “Has no one got anything better to do than
discuss my love life?” I yelled, throwing my bag on the table in
anger.
    “So who is it? What does he do? When can we
meet him and give him the Coleman family third degree? Or is it
someone we already know and approve of?”
    “NO!” I yelled at the same time as Eleanor
said yes .
    “Oh, Clare, he’ll find out soon enough. How
long can you go sneaking around? Better David knows now so he can
get used to the idea.”
    David’s eyes shot from Eleanor to me in rapid
succession. “So do I know him or not?”
    I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “If
I tell you, you’re not to judge me, and most of all you can’t tell
Mum, Dad or Victoria.” I held my breath then quickly said, “It’s
Guy Foreman.”
    Eleanor and I watched as David mouthed the
name to himself a few times. Surely my brother was not that dense.
He had only just mentioned his name.
    “Oh, my god! As in the Doctor? Are you crazy?
You are dating a man who could be a grandpa? He’s what twenty odd
years older than you?”
    “Sixteen actually, and for your information I
really care for him.”
    “Yes, when you were a teenager maybe. Clare,
this is