The Unconventional Angel Read Online Free Page B

of the most generous friends I have. Please just let me treat you without even thinking like that. It’s a Christmas present, OK?’
    ‘OK, but I can’t drink much. I’m meeting Yves at the bottom of The Shard – and if we are going up there, I shouldn’t really get drunk.’
    ‘With your fear of heights, honey, I think you should have a drink. And anyway, I think it costs a fair bit to go up there, so I doubt if that’s what you’ll be doing.’ Bea chuckled. ‘I’ve been waiting on an invite to go up there. Mind you, it will be a brave man who asks if I want to be taken up The Shard, without repercussions.’
    Evie’s face remained deadpan. ‘Bea, you will never go to heaven.’
    ‘As if I’d bloody want to. I mean, nobody who’s any fun will be there for me to play with.’

Chapter Six
Freedom
    Evie snapped her laptop shut. She had no idea what time it would get dark tonight and thought she had better check. She didn’t want to be hanging around at the bottom of The Shard waiting in the cold. She was glad she had decided on just the one glass of wine with Bea as she had no wish to travel across London feeling tipsy. With an hour to kill, she walked to the kitchen to flick on the kettle. As she did so, her mobile rang.
    ‘Evie, hiya – it’s Greg.’
    She felt her heart lift a little.
    ‘I don’t know what happened yesterday,’ he went on. ‘I got tied up with Shell and then I couldn’t find you. I just wanted to say thanks SO much for all your help. You did a great job and loads of people sang your praises, including some of the homeless boys – and that doesn’t happen often, you know.’
    ‘Aw, that’s nice. Thanks for letting me know. Yeah, sorry, I… being honest, Greg, I got a bit upset and felt I had to go home.’
    ‘Oh no. You should have come to me. We all need a hug sometimes and evidently I’m rather good at them.’
    Evie went silent. The thought of being embraced by the big, handsome, kind Greg needed a moment of contemplation.
    ‘Anyway, I was wondering if you might be free another day this week as the Centre is open throughout the Christmas period and I always need some extra hands?’
    ‘Yes, yes of course. I can come tomorrow if you like and let’s go from there.’
    ‘Perfect. Don’t rush in – turn up, say, eleven at the same Bethnal Green site.’
    ‘No problem. See you then – and thanks, Greg.’
    ‘It’s you that’s helping me. See you tomorrow.’
    He hung up and Evie looked at her handset to check if the call had closed properly. Staring back at her was the screensaver of her and Darren. They had got a passer-by to take it on a long weekend to Amsterdam when they had first met. Love’s young dream, so many plans, hopes and dreams. She started to cry. Yes, he had been a bastard, but two years was a long time to spend with anyone and they had had their good times. He hadn’t even sent a Happy Christmas message – but then why would he? He was now ensconced in the cheating arms of Anna McShea, ten years his junior and a bitch! Evie knew she should really delete his number, but letting go had never been a speciality of hers.
    Puffing her cheeks out, she exhaled noisily. ‘ Onwards and upwards ’ was what her dear mum always used to say, and that was exactly what she would do. She would just have to get on and make the best of it.
    ***
    Yves waved and smiled as Evie reached the bottom of The Shard. (This is an iconic, landmark building on the London skyline, designed by master architect Renzo Piano. At a height of 310m one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe, The Shard redefines London’s skyline and will be a dynamic symbol of the capital, recognisable throughout the world.)
    When she reached him, he emptied his pipe and tucked it in the pocket of the heavy overcoat he had been wearing on Christmas Day.
    She looked up at the magnificent building and felt slightly sick at the thought of even going halfway up it. She hoped that Bea was right and