The Ballroom on Magnolia Street Read Online Free

much. You just want him because Louise wants him,’ said Shirley.
    ‘Not true. I like him. He’s taller than me, for one thing.’
    ‘Oh, Kate! Anyway, he’s only a bouncer. I wouldn’t have thought he was your type. I thought you wanted a rich husband?’
    ‘I do want a rich husband,’ admitted Kate. ‘But I do like Alex. A lot. He’s only bouncing temporarily. Look, I’ll tell you a secret, but you must keep it to yourself. Alex stands to inherit a chain of jewellery shops from his elderly uncle, but nobody knows about it.’
    ‘Are you out of your mind? Come on, Kate. He’s not one of those Stones.’
    ‘He is. His mate, Jim, told me in confidence, but he swore he’d deny it if I let the word get out. So you see, I’ve got to be his girlfriend before the old uncle pops his clogs, otherwise Alex will think I’m only after his money.’
    ‘Aren’t you?’ Shirley asked.
    ‘Of course not. He’s a walking dreamboat, or haven’t you noticed?’
    ‘No. A bit muscle-bound, for me. I like men who are slightly underweight and over-educated, not the other way round.’
    ‘He’s got lovely hair, though. You’ve got to admit, he’s got a lovely head of hair. Natural blond. Thick as a thatch.’
    ‘Him, or his hair?’ Shirley laughed.
    ‘His hair . Will you stop asking questions and do your face!’ Kate almost shouted.
    Shirley pulled a black eyeliner pencil out of her purse and traced a thick line across the delicate skin beneath each eye. Kate shook her head. No foundation, powder or blusher ever settled on Shirley’s face. And she could do with it – she was as pale as death. They both were. Everyone in Belfast was; there were only five days of sunshine each year, on average.
    ‘I’m sure you’ll be very happy together,’ said Shirley, smudging the black lines with her index finger. The blue of her eyes was greatly intensified. She smiled at her sister. ‘Many’s the lasting marriage was built on far less than a fine scalp. But, you know, I wouldn’t believe a word that Jim says. Likely Alex put him up to it. For a laugh.’
    ‘No, it’s the truth. His uncle has the same first name, so Alex won’t even have to change the shop signs when he takes over. And I’m not going to wait for the bloody moon and stars to bring us together, either.’
    A car horn tooted outside.
    ‘There’s the taxi! Quick, are you ready?’
    ‘Wait! I think I’ll wear some lippy.’ Shirley took the lid off the silver capsule she also carried in her purse and quickly smeared on the sensual lip colour. Her lips were suddenly the lips of Joan Crawford about to murder some unfaithful man in a 1940s’ melodrama. ‘Just in case we decide to walk past Quigley’s. Do you think Declan will notice me in this gorgeous lip colour? It’s called Drama Queen.’
    ‘He couldn’t miss you if he was on the back of a runaway horse. Now put a smile on your fizzog and let’s hit the shops.’
    ‘Did Alex really believe that yarn? About the glass eye?’
    ‘Yes. Especially when I told him it keeps falling out when she’s weighing the sweets. Once, I told him, it was in the jar of mint imperials for two days before they found it again.’
    ‘You witch! If he’s that gullible, she’s better off without him.’ They both laughed. ‘You’ve got a great imagination, Kate.’
    ‘Here’s a wee tip for you, Shirley. If you’re going to tell a lie, make sure you tell a right old whopper . Add some detail, embroider it a bit. That way, it’s far more believable than an ordinary old lie.’
    ‘Thanks, Kate. I’ll remember that. I’m sure it will come in very useful, sometime.’ She dabbed her newly crimson lips with a tissue and looked at herself in the mirror. She was delighted with her new hairclip, 1950s’ original diamanté, only three stones missing. ‘How many marks would you give me for attractiveness, on a scale of one to ten?’
    ‘Five. Six. No, five. Hopefully, Declan has a poverty-fetish and he’ll really