Rivers of Wrath: Cullen's Celtic Cabaret - Book 3 by Jean Grainger

Author:Jean Grainger [Grainger, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

NICK

Peter was getting too close to Aida. Nick could see it; everyone could. Nick was sure his friend wasn’t being unfaithful in the real sense of the word, but it would complicate things for everyone if it went any further.

Though he was loathe to say anything, he felt strongly that Peter might need a friend.

He waited until everyone was fed and watered after the show and then knocked on Peter’s caravan door. May was in Dublin, so he’d be alone. It was almost midnight, but Nick knew Peter, like himself, didn’t fall asleep until the small hours. Maybe it was to do with having fought in the Great War, the constant fear of your dugout being blown to bits while you were sleeping.

Peter didn’t answer the door, though. Where was he? Not in the tent – Nick had checked. As he was about to walk away with a heavy heart, he saw a shadow coming towards him across the field. Being the end of April, the days were really stretching now, but it was too dark to make out who it was. ‘Who’s there?’ he called softly.

‘Nick, it’s me. What are you doing up so late?’

‘Looking for you, as it happens.’

‘Well, you found me. Everything all right?’ asked Peter as he reached the caravan and opened the door. ‘Cuppa?’

‘Thanks.’ Nick followed his friend up the steps.

Peter lit the gas stove and put the kettle on as Nick sat on the opposite side of the van to the double bed. The van was tidy but smelled a bit damp. May being absent meant the van probably wasn’t aired properly; Peter worked long days, only returning here to sleep.

‘So what’s up that has you lurking about at all hours?’ asked Peter as he took out two mugs from the cupboard beside the cooker.

‘Nothing really, just c-c-couldn’t sleep.’

Peter poured boiling water on top of the two teaspoons of tea leaves he’d put in the mugs. ‘Celine all right?’

‘Yes, she’s fine.’ He still hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy. Celine wanted nothing said until she was three months gone, so apart from themselves, only Millie knew; Celine had told her before she told Nick. He felt a mild stab of resentment at the thought but pushed it away. It wasn’t Celine’s fault she hadn’t told him about the pregnancy before she told Millie. He’d been actively avoiding her, running away from any attempt at conversation. He was better at listening to her now.

Peter nodded. ‘Good to hear. Glad that big row between ye is over and she’s back in the nest. What was that all about? I didn’t like to ask at the time, but now that you’re getting on again…’

‘Oh, it was over nothing really, stupid stuff.’

‘Fair enough.’ Peter went on with getting the tea things together on a tray: milk from the local farm, sugar in a blue paper bag, a couple of delicious currant buns made by Delilah – the girl was such a talented cook.

As he watched his friend fussing about, Nick’s thoughts remained on Celine.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.