Full Stop Read Free Page B

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    Loretta stared at her. ‘You mean you want me to look after ...’ She turned to the animal, realised how rude she must have sounded and tried to retrieve the situation. ‘I mean, of course, does she have any special ... No,
stay.’
She put out a hand as the dog heaved itself to its feet and began ploddingacross the sofa towards her, its paws sinking into the cushions. It sank back on to its haunches, giving Loretta the same reproachful look she had seen a few minutes before, and it crossed her mind that at least it seemed to be obedient.
    â€˜She won’t be any trouble, really,’ Toni said pleadingly. ‘I’m sorry to dump this on you at short notice, I called the theatre and they said maybe you could sell my ticket. It’s near the end of the run but there are always a few people who show up on the night –’
    â€˜Oh God, the theatre,’ Loretta exclaimed, too worried about the dog to have thought of it before.
    â€˜I’m
sorry,
Loretta. Didn’t you say you had a friend in town? Maybe he could –’
    â€˜John Tracey,’ Loretta said quickly. ‘My ex-husband. He’s flying up from Washington tomorrow.’
    Toni grimaced. ‘Shit. I booked a table for dinner after the show and I was hoping ...’ She went to a cupboard, her voice muffled as she yanked open the door and hauled a holdall into the room. ‘I feel so bad about this but there isn’t anything I can do. Jay fixed it with his parents weeks ago –’
    â€˜His parents?’ Loretta hadn’t realised that this was the purpose of the trip to Long Island.
    Toni seemed mildly embarrassed. ‘His father’s a Minister, I only met him once but he’s big on family.’ She laughed nervously. ‘Jay’s parents, they go to church like you and I go to the
bathroom.
They have a sign in the yard — you know, it lights up at night. “We want to share God’s love with you”.’
    â€˜You mean he’s an
evangelist?
Like Jim Bakker?’
    Toni shrugged. ‘Don’t ask me, I was raised Catholic. I don’t know much about these Protestant sects.’
    Loretta said: ‘You really have to go tonight?’
    Toni held out her hands, palm up. ‘I’m
sorry,
Loretta.’
    â€˜It’s my fault,’ Loretta said generously. ‘I should have given you more notice. I’ll be all right.’
    Toni gave her a regretful smile and changed the subject. ‘Is Christopher meeting you at Heathrow?’
    â€˜Christopher?’ Loretta sipped her tea, realising Toni was out of date about her love life. ‘That finished ages ago, before I went to California. He wanted us to live together and I really couldn’t ... I just don’t
want
to live with anyone. You know the old saying — you start off sinking into his arms and end up with your arms in his sink? Every relationship I’ve had starts as an affair and ends up with a row in Sainsbury’s on Saturday morning. You know, those stupid arguments about what to have for dinner and whose turn it is to put the rubbish out. I’ve had it with domesticity,’ she finished, suddenly and unexpectedly feeling better about Sean.
    â€˜You’re not scared of being lonely, Loretta? I mean, it makes a lot of sense in principle ... But what about when you’re old? Really old, I mean?’
    Loretta smiled. ‘Older than I am now? I have lots of friends, and you can be even lonelier in a bad relationship. I was amazed how much better I felt when my marriage ended.’
    â€˜I hear what you’re saying,’ said Toni, ‘but...’
    â€˜But what?’
    â€˜What about children?’
    Her voice was suddenly strained. Loretta shrugged and said lightly: ‘It’s not an issue for me.’
    â€˜Really?’ Toni sounded unconvinced, as though she was about to say something else, but instead she got up and began