Fraser's Line Read Online Free Page B

don’t care if I don’t speak to anyone all evening. I shan’t be happy until I go home – and then I won’t be anyway.’
    Aware that he sounded like a spoiled child Fraser felt mildly ashamed, but still couldn’t find the resources to lift his spirits. Margaret dutifully sat there and chatted about the family. First she mentioned Marjorie, and, as always, expressed her strong opinion that they must now consider putting her into a care home. Fraser found it difficult to contemplate this, realising how much she would hate it. Then Margaret asked him about Sarah and Joanna, and he responded monosyllabically. People came up in ones and twos and tried to offer condolences. Fraser felt awkward – he didn’t know what to say. He must be putting a great big damper on this party, and that thought made him feel even worse.
    Suddenly he realised Margaret had gone – the chair next to him was empty, and he was alone. He was about to get up and make his escape when he saw Marion, the hostess, bearing down upon him with a somewhat well built woman trailing behind. He did not think he had seen this woman before – she was perhaps in her fifties, with a slightly swarthy complexion and long, dark hair.
    ‘Fraser!’ Marion’s tone was hearty and Fraser cringed, guessing what was coming. ‘I’m so glad I’ve found you! I don’t think you’ll have met Angela. She’s a new acquaintance of mine, and hasn’t long been living in the area. She was widowed fairly recently.’
    Fraser dutifully rose to his feet and held out his hand. They both sat down awkwardly, and neither spoke. Then Angela said, ‘Isn’t this absolutely awful!’
    ‘Not much of a party,’ agreed Fraser.
    ‘Oh, I didn’t mean the party. I meant the way friends have this terrible compulsion to bring together two people who are on their own. Just because we are now single is no guarantee we are going to have anything in common at all, but they feel compelled to introduce us. Do you find the same thing?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Fraser. ‘This is the first time I’ve been out since I lost Edie, and I’ve been regretting it ever since I got here.’
    ‘Why did you come in the first place?’
    ‘My sister Margaret is Marion’s friend, and she got me to come. I didn’t want to at all, but my sister doesn’t take no for an answer – I learned that pretty early in life.’
    ‘Which one is she? Wait, don’t tell me. I think I see a resemblance between you and that rather slim and handsomely featured woman in the black dress.’
    ‘Are you always that flattering? I’d have said she had rather daunting looks and hasn’t much awareness of how to dress.’
    ‘Yes, but you’re her brother, so you probably don’t see her in quite the same light as other people do. My guess is she terrorised you when you were a small boy. Am I right?’
    ‘She was certainly a very bossy sister, and she hasn’t stopped yet.’
    ‘Marion tells me you recently lost your wife. I’m so sorry.’
    ‘Not half as sorry as I am,’ said Fraser. Then, realising that sounded rather rude, he wondered how to retrieve the situation. ‘Do you live near here?’ he asked.
    ‘In Twickenham, about half an hour’s journey. Anyway, I’ve no desire to inflict small talk on you. I’ll go and find someone else to bother for a little while, and as soon as I decently can I’ll slip away.’
    Suddenly he felt frightened of being abandoned, but on the other hand he didn’t think he could bear staying much longer.
    To his own surprise he heard himself saying, ‘Look, I’m hating being here, and possibly you are too. I’d much rather be sitting away from any public gaze in a pub with a beer. I know a place up the road that’s quite pleasant. Do you fancy a quick drink there?’
    She hesitated for a moment, and then agreed that it sounded like a sensible idea.
    ‘What’s the pub called?’
    ‘The Good Companions.’
    She laughed. ‘A touch optimistic, perhaps,’ she replied,