Riding the Storm Read Free Page B

fit in with his plans. He might have been a desk jockey – a lawyer, like me.’
    ‘Either way, it just didn’t happen. And a year or so later, some busybody told him Joanne had given Peter a son – Ryan – making him more angry and resentful than ever. He was furious that his younger brother succeeded where he had failed. It was an awful time. He wanted sex every night, trying to get me pregnant; but I was miserable and he was tense, so it never happened. After a while he gave up altogether and blamed me for that as well. And then – after a long, lonely time—’ Valerie hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to go on with her story or not. Finally she sighed. ‘I had an affair. And was stupid enough to own up to it when Robert found out.’
    Chrissie blinked, rendered speechless for the moment, forcing herself to concentrate on her driving. It was hard to believe that her mother, who never did anything worse that max out her credit card, should fall in love with someone and have an affair.
    ‘Who was it?’ she said at last.
    ‘Nobody in our immediate circle, thank God. A visitingtrainer from England – here for the Spring Carnival. He kept urging me to leave Robert and go back to England with him. I wanted to, I really did, but I wasn’t quite brave enough to leave home and face an uncertain future with him.’
    ‘And you were scared of what Dad might do?’
    ‘That was part of it. But I couldn’t risk losing you. Your father might have taken you just to spite me.’
    ‘I doubt it. He’s never had much time for me.’
    ‘So we parted and that was the end of it.’
    ‘Do you still hear from him?’
    ‘Sometimes he sent me a Christmas card to tell me he hadn’t forgotten. He’d had an unhappy marriage for years but his wife wouldn’t divorce him. When she died unexpectedly, he asked me once again to join him in England.’
    ‘Oh, Mum, why didn’t you go?’
    ‘For the same reasons as before. And I wasn’t certain he would welcome you – he kept talking of boarding school.’
    ‘I wouldn’t have minded. I like the idea of an English boarding school.’
    ‘Hmm. Forget those old-fashioned, starry-eyed school stories. Some of those places are more like institutions where people dump their kids when they can’t be bothered to raise them.’
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘In the end he got tired of asking me to leave Robert and married somebody else. You should have heard your father crow about that.’
    ‘Oh, Mum. Why didn’t you leave him then?’
    ‘And go where? All the money I inherited from my father is tied up in the stables. Robert made certain of that. And I wasthe one who had the affair – I was never allowed to forget it.’ She glanced at Chrissie. ‘Don’t look so stricken – it’s OK. Over time we’ve learned to tolerate each other and rub along well enough.’
    ‘But it’s not really a life, is it?’ Chrissie thought for a moment. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right, Mum? While I’m in Europe with Tony?’
    ‘Yes, of course.’ Valerie managed a hesitant smile. ‘Robert has better things to do these days than waste time tormenting me.’
     
    They reached the shopping centre but, after all these revelations, neither of them could rekindle enthusiasm for the expedition. They looked around half-heartedly but nothing appealed so they decided to postpone the hunt for another day.
    ‘They won’t like it at work.’ Chrissie’s smile was rueful. ‘I’ll have to ask for another day off. As it is, I’m taking unpaid leave for the trip to Paris.’
    ‘It’s for your wedding. I’m sure they’ll understand.’ Valerie smiled.
    Chrissie returned it, wishing she could feel as sure. She hadn’t told Val there had been rumours of downsizing the office and, as the newest recruit, she was closest to the door. Her employers didn’t need another excuse to be rid of her.
    But they did stop for coffee to restore their spirits before returning home.
    ‘Courage, Mum.’ Chrissie grinned as she