Babies in Waiting Read Online Free Page B

Rachel and Richard and endure a major family trauma, and I can’t even drink!’
    That Sunday, Louise and Simon took the train down to Oxshott. Richard roared up to the station in his 4x4 Porsche and whisked them along the winding roads back to the house. Rachel, as always, had created a perfect social setting. They walked into the house to be met with the scent of lilies and roses. She’d arranged a huge bowl of flowers in the entrance hall. Moving into the living room, the smell of roast lamb wafted to meet them, and soon that was blended with a waft of Rachel’s expensive perfume as she swept out to kiss them. She was very slim, Louise noticed. Her hair was an expensive shade of blondeand her skin was polished and much more bronzed than you’d expect for a chilly January.
    ‘You look lovely,’ Louise said. It was true. She liked to dress smartly and stay in shape, but even with all the time and money in the world, she’d never have Rachel’s expensive elegance.
    ‘Thanks, Lou. You look . . . fine,’ Rachel replied. She turned to kiss Simon. ‘Hello, gorgeous brother.’
    ‘Drinks?’ Richard boomed, rubbing his hands together. He and Rachel liked to play very traditional couple roles. He’d never dream of setting foot in the kitchen, and she wouldn’t have poured a G & T if her life depended on it.
    ‘A gin for me, please, Richard,’ Simon said quickly.
    ‘And I’ll just have a fruit juice,’ said Louise. Richard looked at her as if she’d just made fun of his golf game. ‘I’m on antibiotics. Teeth,’ she explained. He relaxed a little, although he was still clearly horrified that someone would miss out on a pre-lunch tipple.
    ‘And a sherry for me, darling,’ Rachel chipped in. ‘Simon, you must see the blinds I had made. The most perfect shade of duck-egg blue.’
    Richard got the drinks, and Simon walked around the living room with Rachel, making the right noises about the additions to her decor. Louise stood slightly awkwardly in the middle of the room, trying not to get in the way. Their plan was that they’d wait till lunch was underway before dropping their bombshell. They’d decided that if Richard had a few drinks in him and Rachel had been softened by an endless stream of compliments about herhome and food, the fallout might not be too ghastly. Still Louise found herself wishing it was all over already. She had a sick feeling low in her stomach, as if she was waiting to see the headmaster.
    Simon and Rachel had finished their grand tour and Richard had placed drinks in everyone’s hands. ‘Cheers, dears!’ Rachel said brightly and raised her glass. ‘Lovely to have you both here, for once!’
    Just as Louise opened her mouth to reply, the doorbell pealed.
    ‘They’re here!’ Rachel trilled. ‘Let them in, Richard!’
    ‘Who’s here?’ Simon asked as Richard went to open the door. He exchanged a quick glance with Louise. This was an eventuality that hadn’t even occurred to them . . . other guests.
    ‘Our dear, dear friends, David and Samantha Hamilton,’ Rachel explained. ‘David is Richard’s boss, and they play golf together
all
the time. So Sam and I are golf widows and console each other . . . although we’re on quite a few of the same committees!’
    So this was an aspirational lunch . . . Rachel and Richard were showing off for the boss and his wife, and Simon and Louise had been invited to provide some family colour.
    David and Samantha came in, with Richard rubbing his hands behind them like a toadying Dickens character. David was tall, with a mane of silver hair that he wore a fraction too long, and a handsome, if slightly hard face. Samantha was blonde and Louise suddenly saw where her sister’s polished new look came from: she was trying tobe a Samantha clone. There was air-kissing, introductions and drink-pouring, and everyone sat down in the living room. Simon squeezed Louise’s hand surreptitiously. Their announcement would obviously have to wait.