The Long Weekend by Jane E. James

Author:Jane E. James
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784627942
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2014-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

*

THEY WERE HALFWAY around Blackbeard’s adventure golf course on the seafront, which included, among its many attractions, a rope bridge and pathways made of artificial mushy pea-green lawn that your heels sunk into. Judging by the boredom on Hazel and Yvonne’s faces, the eighteen-hole course was a tad over seventeen holes too long.

Armed with a club, Yvonne went glumly through the motions of being a willing participant as she teed off from the ninth hole. Every so often, she raked a hand agitatedly through her chestnut hair, a sure sign that she was feeling miserable. That it was only a question of time before she let everyone know it.

‘It’s not the same without Vee,’ she complained, ignoring the way her ball bounced off one of the life-sized pirate statues and spiralled hopelessly into the bunker.

Knowing that it would take forever for Yvonne to hit the ball back out, Hazel sighed and gazed longingly at the nineteenth hole in the distance. She wasn’t enjoying herself anymore than Yvonne, but at least she was making an effort. Her head was thumping and she could do with a cup of tea and a couple of painkillers, but after this they also planned to visit the Sea Life Sanctuary. It was the last thing she needed and on top of that, she had no idea what they were supposed to do with the dog while they were inside. Chain it to the railings, perhaps, in the hope that somebody would steal it? Hazel was slow getting over the fact that her granddaughter had been so stubborn, flatly refusing to leave the dog behind, but she supposed Una took after her mother in that respect. What could she do about it? She could hardly have changed her mind or refused to take them out on this agenda-filled day after all.

Her granddaughter was doing a “me-hearty” pirate laugh and squawking, ‘Shiver me timbers,’ while pretending to swing a sword, but Hazel was finding it hard to focus when every time one of them hit the ball the dog barked and lunged to the end of its lead, nearly pulling Una over each time. The child would have her arm pulled from her socket at this rate.

‘She didn’t want to come, Yvonne,’ Hazel stressed for the third or fourth time since their arrival in town, careful not to snap, even though her patience was fast wearing out, like a cheap pair of shoes in need of new soles. What was wrong with just spending time with her, she wondered? Surely they could, between them, manage one day without Venetia?

‘Well, I don’t know why.’ Clearly miffed, Yvonne was obviously taking her sister’s refusal to accompany them personally. ‘It’s not like she’s got anything better to do.’

The dog yapped as Yvonne took another putt, sending her ball deeper into the sand until only the tip of its grainy white surface could be seen, as if it were a bobtailed rabbit disappearing down a hole.

‘Well, whatever it is, she’s probably up to no good.

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.