The Fight for Lizzie Flowers Read Online Free Page B

into the parlour, pulling on her coat, and Syd was beside her in seconds. ‘You all right now, love?’
    ‘As right as I’ll ever be with that cheapskate about still.’
    No more was said as they all trooped out through the kitchen door and made their way into Lil’s over the broken fence.

Chapter Six
    Lizzie was relieved to find that their friends and neighbours were enjoying the occasion even if there was no wedding to celebrate. But it was Danny she was concerned
about.
    Going over to where he stood she reached down to run her fingers gently across his hand. His glance met hers and she smiled. Since their hurried departure from the registry office, they had only
had time to exchange a few words. Their wedding day had been turned on its head. Neither of them had found the sentiments to soften the blow.
    ‘So what do we do now?’ he said, frowning slightly, a question in his deep blue eyes. ‘I still want us to be together. Do you?’
    ‘Yes, that goes without saying.’
    ‘Then let’s go ahead. Move into March Street.’
    Lizzie looked up at him and tried to think of the right words to say. ‘We’ll talk about it later,’ she said. And knew they were the wrong ones, as Danny stiffened and pulled
away.
    ‘There never will be a later, will there?’ he said, his voice filled with raw emotion. ‘Not as long as Frank’s around. You’re still tied to him by a damned piece of
paper!’
    ‘Give me time, Danny, please—’
    Suddenly he left her, his broad shoulders disappearing into the crowd. Lizzie felt as though the earth was opening up and pulling her down into it. The happy future she had thought was beginning
as from today had gone and Frank had driven a wedge between them. She stared ahead sightlessly, then realized someone was talking to her. Putting on a brave face, she smiled and managed to get
through the pleasantries. Then as soon as she could, she left the room and made her way to the kitchen.
    She opened the door and to her surprise found Ethel and Cal standing together. They moved apart quickly, but not before Lizzie had seen the guilty expression on Ethel’s face.
    ‘Cal was just describing Australia,’ Ethel said nervously. ‘How big it is and how warm, even in winter.’ She paused, glancing up at Cal, and blushed.
    Cal tore his gaze away and smiled at Lizzie. ‘I’d better be off. We’ve got a few motors in for repair at the garage. The owners will want them for Christmas.’
    ‘Thanks for calling by,’ Lizzie said as he left by the back door.
    ‘Did I interrupt something?’ Lizzie asked her friend mildly.
    ‘No, course not. Why?’
    ‘You look like a girl of sixteen again.’
    ‘Oh Christ!’ Ethel blushed, much deeper this time. ‘Lizzie, I never wanted this to happen. But I knew the moment I saw him. It was as if we were old friends. Yet he’s
lived on one side of the world and me on the other.’
    ‘You’re seeing him?’ Lizzie rolled her eyes. ‘When did this start?’
    ‘The day he came over to your shop. Danny sent him to help us with the decorating, remember?’
    Lizzie nodded. She had never thought Ethel would be telling her this.
    ‘We just sort of clicked. Not that I don’t feel guilty. I do. Me and Richard were so young when we got married. Everyone expected us to wed, so we did. But when the babies came along
Richard just seemed to go his own way. It was as if he resented my attention going elsewhere.’ Ethel’s face clouded. ‘His mum was always there to provide the looking-after he
wanted. Sounds silly, but me and the kids never really came into the picture. Richard is the golden boy, always was, always will be. And now it’s like we lead separate lives. Funny,
I’ve played the part of a good wife. I tried to do my best but I always knew something was missing. I didn’t know what it was till I met Cal.’ Ethel took a long breath. ‘But
you guessed that, didn’t you?’
    ‘I just didn’t know how unhappy you were,’ Lizzie admitted.