In the Name of Love Read Free

the thin scratchy ones you got in Economy, and watched in amusement as Zoe carefully removed her make-up, which must have taken ages to apply, and slathered Crème de la Mer all over her face and neck.
    ‘What?’ she demanded, catching Charlie’s amused expression. ‘Long-haul is so drying on the skin, I have to be fully hydrated.’ She held out the pot. ‘D’you want some?’
    ‘No, but I’d love some more champagne.’ And at that moment, as if he had heard her, a beautifully groomed steward with eyebrows to die for walked up to them carrying a silver drinks tray.
    ‘Good morning, Miss Porter. My name’s William and I’ll be looking after you on the flight. May I offer you something to drink? Orange juice, apple juice or champagne?’
    There was no contest. ‘I’d love a glass of champagne, thanks,’ Charlie replied.
    ‘Love the eyebrows,’ Zoe couldn’t stop herself from commenting, She did appreciate a well-shaped brow.
    ‘Threading, got to love it,’ William said discreetly, offering Charlie the drinks tray.
    She thanked him again, then glass in hand spent a very contented few minutes checking out the menu, which was full of delicious-sounding dishes, and the extensive list of films on offer. She was loving it! This was going to be like a very expensive girls’ night in, three thousand feet up in the air.
    She would have to remember every single detail to tell her mum, Lori, who had never travelled Business Class before either and would love to hear all about it. But thinking of her mum inevitably made her think of her brother Kris. Charlie sighed as she wondered what he was doing right now. Then she couldn’t help feeling guilty because here she was surrounded by all this luxury, with people – specifically William of the perfect eyebrows – to cater to her every whim.
    She tried to shake off the feeling of sadness that lately accompanied any thoughts of her brother. Even though they were twins she had always seen Kris as her baby brother, whom she looked out for, which had made it all the more painful when she hadn’t been there for him. Four months ago he’d been jailed for receiving stolen goods after the riots in Manchester. He’d done it as a favour for one of his best mates, a lad who already had a criminal record. It had been a stupid thing to do, a one-off, and boy, was he paying for it now. Kris had never been in trouble before. He’d been trying to make it as an actor and showing great promise. Charlie and her parents had been devastated when he was arrested. They were all terrified that this one mistake was going to ruin his life …
    ‘Are you okay?’ Zoe asked, her face shiny with expensive moisturiser.
    ‘Yeah, I was just thinking about Kris.’
    ‘He’ll be fine, Charlie. Your brother is strong. It will be over soon and then he can get on with his life.’
    She sighed, ‘I know.’ She didn’t add that every time she went to visit him in prison, he seemed more diminished as a person and more deeply depressed.
    The captain announced that they were preparing for take-off and William and his eyebrows made a last-minute seat-belt check and whisked away the glasses of champagne. Zoe looked across at Charlie and grinned. ‘Maybe you’ll have a holiday romance. It’s about time you moved on from TFB. Your vergina must have cobwebs from lack of use.’
    ‘Cheers for that lovely image!’
    ‘And did you get a Brazilian? No problem if you didn’t, they’re bound to do them at the hotel spa. I had a Hollywood, so I’m good to go.’
    Charlie rolled her eyes. ‘No, Zoe, I’m going to hit the beach with a full bush and terrify all the other guests.’
    Zoe giggled. ‘It’ll be Revenge of the Neglected Bush.’
    ‘The Bush strikes Back,’ Charlie retorted, to be countered by Zoe’s, ‘Night of the Living Bush!’
    ‘Evil Bush Two,’ Charlie shot back.
    ‘Return of the Living Bush.’ Zoe was giggling so much she could hardly get the words out.
    ‘Okay, enough