Don't Turn Around Read Free

in your company. I was shocked when he suggested it but as you say, you’re a charming woman. It’s not surprising men would fall at your feet.’
    Viv softened at the compliment. ‘Please Charles, can’t you get promoted without my involvement?’
    Charles shook his head. ‘Burke can’t choose between Jeffery and me. The only thing that would swing it in my favour is you. He told me as much.’
    Viv folded her arms and sighed hard, looking down at her nice new patent shoes.
    ‘You’d be able to keep all these things and even buy that handbag you’ve always wanted,’ Charles coaxed.
    ‘Wouldn’t you be jealous? The thought of me … with another man.’
    ‘Of course I would, I don’t want another man touching you. But if it was just the once … and I mean, it’s not as if Burke is looking for a relationship, he’s a married man. I think I could live with it.’
    Viv sighed. ‘I … I don’t know.’
    Charles lay a hand on each of her shoulders, softening his voice. ‘For our family’s sake. Look at Frank, he’s growing so quick, he’ll need a new set of clothes soon.’
    Viv’s face contorted into a sneer. ‘It’s a waste of money buying nice clothes for him. He only gets them covered in mud.’
    ‘I know, sweetheart. But it would get us out of a jam. And then we wouldn’t have to bring these back to the shops.’ Charles picked up the bags and raised them to get his point home. ‘But if it’s asking too much … maybe I should just these refunded.’ Charles walked towards the door and Viv grabbed him by the forearm.
    ‘No, wait. Leave the bags. Call Burke and tell him I’ll do it. It’ll have to be quick, before I change my mind. And tell him … tell him I want to be taken out for dinner first.’
    Charles dropped the bags to the floor and embraced his wife in a bear hug, swaying from side to side as he lifted her off her feet. ‘Darling, you’ve just saved this family.’
    Frank wondered what they were talking about. Saved the family? By going out for dinner? His mother passed him on the stairs as she brought her bags to her room, barely giving him a second glance.

    T he next night was hot and sticky. Frank was unable to sleep, despite his father trying to coax him with some dark gloopy medicine he did not need. A car pulled up outside. He peeked through the net curtain onto the street below. Sounds of laughter filtered through the air as his mother stepped out of the car with a tall, broad man, bigger than his father and dressed very smartly. It had been a long time since he had seen his mother laugh. She looked so pretty in the tight-waisted dress with the ruffles underneath. His father’s footsteps creaked on the landing and Frank jumped into bed. Snoring softly, he pretended to be asleep as his father entered the room. He planted a kiss on Frank’s dark hair, which lay in contrast to the whiteness of the starched pillow underneath. Frank continued to snore as his father gently pulled the door behind him, leaving the faint smell of cigars lingering in the air. The muffled voices downstairs piqued Frank’s interest and he bided his time until he slowly turned the doorknob and crept onto the landing. The upstairs bulb was gone, so they would not see him. Frank smiled at his ingenuity. The dark was safer than the light. It harboured you, while all the light did was sting your eyes and leave you exposed.
    A deep voice boomed from the downstairs hall. ‘Charles, Vivienne has been the most pleasant company this evening. I really am quite taken with her.’
    ‘Thank you, Mr Burke. I see you have had a drink, Vivienne.’
    Viv giggled and ran her hand across Mr Burke’s arm. ‘So what if I did? I had a lovely time and I gather it’s not over yet. So if you’d like to make yourself scarce?’
    Charles coughed. ‘Yes. Of course. If you’re quite sure …’
    ‘Yes, Charles, I am quite sure, now off you go. Frank, is he …’
    ‘Yes, fast asleep. I gave him the medicine. He’s out