The Marriage Assignment by Lynn Patrick

Author:Lynn Patrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“WE OUGHT TO EAT TOGETHER more often, Gillian,” Rose Flannery told her older sister on Monday. Four of the Flannery siblings had gotten together for dinner at Rose’s Indianapolis apartment and were now taking a stroll through a nearby park. “You’re a good influence. Tonight was the first meal the three of us have shared in weeks.”

“You call take-out Chinese food a real meal?” Gillian was surprised. “Doesn’t anyone cook?”

“No, but I would if I had my pots and pans,” said Vicky, who seemed to be in an unusually irritable mood. She’d moved in with Rose and had slept on the couch since separating from her husband. The apartment’s second bedroom was already occupied by Ginny, who was going to school and waitressing part-time to pay her share of the rent. “I left the household stuff with Tim.” She sighed. “I get so tired of snacking and eating junk food.”

“What’s the matter with my pans?” asked Rose.

At twenty-seven, an editor for a local trade magazine, Rose was more freewheeling than conservative Gillian but a bit more established than twenty-four-year old Ginny and, at the moment, far more together than poor mixed-up Vicky.

“Your two—and I emphasize the word two—pans are disgusting. They’re not even lined with Teflon,” complained Vicky. “They’re impossible to clean.”

Dark blond curls bouncing as she strode along, Rose rolled her eyes skyward. “Well, excuse me, I’ll make sure I outfit the kitchen for you the next time you move in.”

A little tense, Gillian rubbed the back of her neck. Her sisters had bickered throughout the meal. “Why are you all so testy? I came to visit you to relax.”

Otherwise, she’d be wandering restlessly around her apartment and thinking about John. She could usually count on her siblings to be diverting, if not always supportive. Excluding their competitive oldest sister Hillary—who was married, working and the owner of a small building with three flats—the Flannery girls were fairly close.

“I’m thirsty. Too much monosodium glutamate in that food. Is there a water fountain around here?” Vicky asked, changing the subject.

“There’s one near the shelter in the center of the park.” Ginny removed a hand from her baggy pants’ pocket to motion in that direction.

“I’ll be back.” Vicky took off.

As soon as Vicky was out of hearing range, Gillian asked, “Has Tim called?”

“A few times,” Rose told her, “but I don’t know what they talked about.”

“Vicky was angry at him after he phoned last week,” added Ginny. She ran a hand through her cropped short brown hair. Very thin and narrow-faced, she looked least like the other Flannerys. “I eavesdropped for a minute, and she accused him of not taking her seriously.”

“Do you really think they’ll get a divorce?” inquired Gillian.

“Who knows? I just hope she’ll get into a better frame of mind,” said Rose. “She makes a big show of going out dancing and flirting around but she’s not happy.”

The subject of Tim and divorce was dropped quickly when Vicky came running up.

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