Larkrigg Fell Read Online Free Page B

but Tessa only half glanced at her as she dealt with the baby, laughing all the while.
    ‘I don’t deny it.’
    Since she offered no further defence, there seemed nothing more to say on the subject, so Sarah sat down on a hard wooden chair while Beth politely enquired where Tessa had lived when she was married.
    ‘Paul and I rented a cottage over by the quarry, but since he took everything but the sofa and the proverbial kitchen sink, there seemed little point in staying there.’
    ‘Why didn’t he take the sofa?’
    ‘Because it reminded him of the time I caught him necking with someone on it.’
    ‘Oh dear.’ Beth thought Tessa barely seemed old enough to have had so much experience of life but the girl cast her a wry grin. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t bore you with talk of my pending divorce. I’m a free spirit at heart. Lone parenting holds no fears for me.’ She shaved the apricot gunge from James’s chin and stuffed it into his mouth. The baby smacked his lips and opened his mouth for more, rather like a small plump bird.
    ‘Just as well,’ said Sarah, grimacing.
    ‘The only thing I really miss is the telly. Meg doesn’t have one.’
    ‘What a pity!’
    ‘I was using it for my Open University course,’ Tessa replied, not rising to the dryness of Sarah’s tone. She finally scrubbed the baby’s face clean then lifted him from his chair and cuddled him close. James beamed, round face shining. ‘There we are, cherub. I’ll just put him down. Then we can talk.’ She paused at the door and looked from one to the other of the two girls. ‘Would you share a room or prefer to be separate?’
    The twins exchanged a quick glance. They hadn’t shared a room since they were small and didn’t much care for the idea. Tessa picked up their sense of unease.
    ‘It’s a big room, at the front. Separate beds. You won’t fall over each other.’
    ‘Sorry. It’s just that everybody expects us to be bosom pals, because we’re twins,’ Beth explained. ‘Only we’re really rather different. Not identical in any way.’.
    ‘And actually hate each other’s guts,’ Sarah laughed. Tessa waited for Beth to disagree with this blunt indictment of their relationship. When no argument came, she offered to make up beds in separate rooms and dashed off to settle her son in his cot.
    ‘We can’t say life isn’t interesting, can we pet?’ she asked him as she tucked in his sheet. ‘Never a dull moment here.’
    Half an hour later Meg and Tam arrived, bursting into the room in a swirl of fresh air and energy. With a squeal of delight Beth hugged them both. Sarah pecked a kiss on each proffered cheek.
    ‘It’s so lovely to see you again. I can’t quite believe it.’
    ‘How are you? Was the journey dreadful? Has Tessa looked after you?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Good. Oh, I’d kill for a cup of tea.’
    ‘Let me do that,’ Beth said, taking the teapot from her and pushing her gently down into a fireside chair. She thought how lovely her grandmother looked. The years had treated her kindly, for even at fifty-nine she was still a fine looking woman. Her skin might be weathered by an outdoor life but her face remained firm and beautiful. Her golden hair had grown pale but still shone like silk, and her grey eyes were as bright and alert as ever. But then, Beth thought, Meg loves life. ‘I think you’re wonderful,’ she said, popping a kiss on Meg’s brow. ‘You know we all love you. And we’re so glad to be here at last.’
    Meg laughed at this, pleased by the compliment. ‘And I’m delighted to have you, my sweethearts. Are we not Tam?’
    ‘Indeed we are. Just what we need to cheer us up. How can I object to lovely females about to wait on me hand and foot.’ He arranged his long legs comfortably as he sat in the rocking chair and everyone laughed. Then Meg got up and went to put a gentle hand on Beth’s shoulder.
    ‘Lissa wrote and told me how things didn’t work out for you. He clearly wasn’t the