The Desperate Wife’s Survival Plan Read Online Free Page A

funeral yesterday but I didn’t know where else to go.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Julie. ‘Tell me everything.’
    She pressed her lips together and kept quiet whilst Charley poured out her heart.
    When she’d finallystopped, Julie asked, ‘So what happens now?’
    ‘We’ve got some kind of interview tomorrow with the Official Receiver.’
    ‘Sounds fun.’
    ‘I’ve got to get all our paperwork together today.’ As she spoke, Charley realised that it had been some years since she had really got involved in the business or even looked at the bills. She had left it all to her husband.
    ‘What about Steve?’
    ‘He disappearedfirst thing,’ she sighed. ‘I think he’s feeling guilty and can’t face me.’
    Julie patted her on the arm. ‘Typical man. They’re just like mascara . . . always running at the first sign of emotion.’
    The touch of humour caused Charley to disintegrate into more tears.
    ‘What do I tell everyone?’ she sobbed.
    ‘You tell them the truth,’ said Julie firmly. ‘If they don’t want to know you any more thentough luck. They’re obviously not true friends.’
    Charley nodded. ‘You’re right. But can you tell Caroline and Samantha for me? I’m having trouble getting any words out at the moment.’
    ‘Of course. Do you want to hang out here for a while? I’ll be at work until four but you’re welcome to stay here if you need time to think.’
    Charley shook her head. ‘I’d better head home, in case Steve comes back.’

    ‘Okay. But if you change your mind, just let yourself in.’
    ‘Thanks.’
    Julie watched Charley walk away and then called Caroline.
    ‘You’re kidding!’ she said. ‘I had been wondering how their shops would cope in the recession, though. Obviously not wishing them ill or anything. You know, it happened to one of the mums from the nursery. Came home one day to find the house boarded up and the lockschanged. Husband had never told her about their debts, until the bank took the house.’
    ‘So Charley’s lucky that she knows what’s going on?’
    Caroline blew out a sigh. ‘Not sure I’d use the word lucky. Look, we’d better warn her to get anything of sentimental value out of there, just in case the same thing happens to them.’
    ‘Good idea,’ said Julie. ‘She can put any jewellery in my safe.’
    ‘Poor,poor Charley. God, what a mess.’
    ‘Poor being the word,’ replied Julie, drily.
    She called Samantha next.
    ‘Do you think they’ll lose everything?’ asked Samantha, shocked.
    ‘Probably.’
    ‘Blimey.’ There was a short silence. ‘Maybe I could buy some of that designer gear off her. I’m sure she’s got some Stella McCartney in her wardrobe. I wonder what her shoe size is?’
    Julie was amazed by her friend’sreaction. ‘I think fashion is the least of her problems.’
    ‘I know that,’ said Samantha quickly. ‘I was just being practical. I mean, she’s gonna need the money. And she’s not going to need any cocktail dresses in the foreseeable future, is she?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Julie. ‘But don’t mention any of this yet, will you? She’s pretty cut up about it all.’
    ‘’Course not. God, I’m just grateful thatwe can help her out in some small way. I mean, it’s not like any of us have money problems.’
    Julie didn’t reply, thinking about the poor state of her own bank account. But her friends didn’t need to know about that.

Chapter Six
    ‘ CHARLOTTE? IS THAT you?’ shouted her mother down the phone. ‘I won’t have that thing in this house!’
    Charley held the phone away from her ear. Only her family called her ‘Charlotte’ these days.
    ‘Mum,’ she said, staring down at the paperwork in front of her, ‘I haven’t got time for this at the minute.’
    ‘It’s your father and his latest, you know, thing. What are you doing for dinner?Do you and Steve want to come over?’
    ‘I don’t think he can spare the time either.’
    But her mother wasn’t