Chocolate Girls by Annie Murray

Author:Annie Murray [Murray, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Sagas, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780330527149
Google: AJCuhKzfvxUC
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2009-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Eight

A week after Nellie Marshall’s funeral, Janet sat at her desk in the buying department, fingers flying over the keys of her typewriter. The sun shone in from outside, though more weakly, now the afternoon was waning. It had been a bright March day, and on the way to work she and Edie had enjoyed the sight of clusters of crocuses and daffodils in Bournville Lane just beginning to open in the morning sun.

She finished the latest order, rolled the paper from the typewriter and sat back for a moment, flexing her aching fingers. She felt tense, coiled inside as if the slightest thing might make her explode. When she and Alec had parted in Corporation Street that Saturday afternoon he’d said, ‘Look Janet – I know this isn’t an ideal situation – for either of us. I only wish things could be different. But I have to say, I miss you like mad.’ As he said that he reached out and touched her cheek. ‘Remember Wednesday night was our night? Well it still could be. I’ll go for a drink in the Midland, usual time, if you want to join me. I’ll leave it up to you.’

Of course she had not rushed to join him. There had been Edie’s troubles over her mother, and she had no intention of ever seeing him again. Of course she didn’t. But then the notes started arriving. Not many, or with any regularity. Three had arrived now, slipped through the door, since she met him. Frances saw one of them and Janet made an excuse for it. Something about the Bournville tennis club, she’d said. Lies, again. They were short notes. ‘Meet me – please.’ ‘I’ll be there – Wednesdays, as ever . . .’ The latest had come yesterday. ‘I’m waiting for you . . .’ And she just couldn’t seem to get him out of her head, the way he looked at her, eyes full of wistful desire. The disturbing, primitive effect he had on her had not faded completely. He excited her – had done from almost the moment they met. And she needed excitement through all the drabness of the war, single at her age in a house full of children and Martin so very distant. She just wanted a bit of male company. Sometimes life felt so bleak and stifling.

The ridiculous thing is, she railed to herself as she prepared to begin her new piece of work, amid the ringing of telephones and clacking of other typewriters, that I don’t even like Alec very much. Everything about him is at odds with our morals – he’s a philandering husband, a manipulator! Fancy writing those notes when he knows I’m engaged. How dare he! I shouldn’t want the first thing to do with him. Oh, if only I hadn’t run into him again! Oh, I do wish I could talk about this to Edie, but she’s so straight and honourable, she’d never even think of doing something like this – and she’s got quite enough on her mind.

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