Off the Record Read Online Free Page B

Off the Record
Book: Off the Record Read Online Free
Author: Alison Rose
Pages:
Go to
Paul’s own mother hadn’t touched him as deeply as the English girl had. He’d realised that from listening to the album, and he thought that his mother had known it too. Which is probably why she and Dad had divorced; although she was never likely to admit that.
    ‘Not even for closure?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Have you thought about the possibility that other folks will start looking for the Dream Woman ?’
    ‘It’s old news, son. Just leave it, OK?’
    Paul could understand his dad’s reluctance, but he had a weird feeling about this. He didn’t think Johnson would appreciate it though, so he shrugged and lifted his hands in surrender. Maybe his own reaction to the woman’s daughter was colouring his judgement.
    ‘No problem,’ he said, ‘she’s history. Although I’d be interested in seeing a little more – scratch that – a lot more of the delectable Kate. ’
    Johnson looked startled. Even Paul was a little shocked at himself. What was it about this woman?
    ‘Really? A journalist?’
    He could understand his dad’s surprise. Maybe it was a case of keep your friends close, but your enemies closer? He needed to keep tabs on this woman, just to make sure she wasn’t out to make life difficult for his dad.
    ‘Yeah. No. Jeez, I don’t know. Maybe to be safe we should double date,’ he joked.
    Johnson groaned. ‘Hell no,’ he laughed. ‘You go ahead, son, but leave me out of it.’
    ‘I guess I never took you for a scaredy-cat, old man.’ Paul gave his dad a playful punch on the shoulder. ‘But right now I’m hungry. So how about taking your son and your security team out to an authentic English pub and introducing them to the delights of fish and chips and ye olde ale? I just know I’m going to love warm beer.’

Chapter Three
    Alexandra finished planting summer bedding plants on David’s grave. She sat back on her heels and peeled off her gardening gloves as she surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction. It felt good to feel the sun again after a miserable spring, and to see the flowers blooming around the churchyard. Her gaze took in the gentle clutter of headstones and monuments around the old church. She had never expected to bury her husband here, at least, not for a long time. But then again, the inscriptions all around her bore witness to other unexpected and unwanted losses. With a sigh she rose, rubbing soil and grass off her knees and stretching out her aching back.
    She usually found a measure of peace here, but today she felt oddly restless. As she walked home through the village, she finally realised what was wrong. She was lonely.
    Oh, she knew that there were people around she could count on. Good friends, who had supported and comforted her after David’s death. But they’d all got lives and families of their own, so she didn’t expect them to fill the emptiness. She missed her daughter too, but Kate was grown up now and building a career in London. Alex couldn’t expect her to come running home to Mum.
    No, Alex knew that she had to sort herself out. She just wasn’t sure that staying here, in the same job and house, was helping her to move on emotionally. Perhaps it was time for a change.
    When she reached home she went up to her bedroom to get out of her gardening clothes. As she shrugged out of her shirt she caught sight of herself in the wardrobe mirror and frowned. When had she begun wearing such dull colours? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn a skirt, or shaved her legs for that matter, she realised with a grimace, and her eyebrows could do with reshaping.
    Her friend Maggie had been urging her to cut her shoulder-length hair for ages. Alex ran her hands through it, mourning the loss of the rich chestnut colour it had been in her youth. It had gone white quite quickly when she’d hit forty, just as Gran’s had. She’d considered colouring it, but hadn’t bothered in the end, and didn’t want to start fussing with tints now. But a shorter style might

Readers choose

Eric Kraft

Elvira Dones

Desiree Holt

Molly Ann Wishlade

Rebecca Yarros

Holley Trent

Lila DiPasqua

D. B. Reynolds-Moreton