Read Bond of Fate for Free Online Page B

unrepentant Celia to giggle.
    It definitely didn't look too old for her, she thought, as she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror, and it did suit her, she told herself as she gathered up her beach bag and towel and left to join Celia on the beach, seeing no sign of Julian as she went through the apartment.
     
    Once on the beach, a long strip of glorious white sand, Melanie sank down on to a deep, comfortable beach-lounger with a matching parasol, several of which were scattered around the beach for the use of the guests. No hunting for deckchairs in this establishment, and no ticket collector demanding payment the minute you had accomplished such a feat, Melanie thought with an inward smile as she glanced across at Celia sitting beside her and at that moment searching in her beach bag that contained books as well as the usual paraphernalia one takes down to the beach.
    `You're not going to study, are you, Celia?' she asked, as Celia dragged one of the books out.
    Celia's dark eyes met hers contemplatingly. 'I get bored, you know,' she said. 'When Dad joins us, I'll have a swim,' she ended, as she settled down to the book.
    At that moment, a girl's voice cut across the white sands. 'Celia Cridell! I didn't know you were here!'
    Celia and Melanie both glanced up to see a dark, chubby girl of Celia's age bounding towards them, and Celia looked pleased to see her. 'Hi, Podge,' she said disrespectfully, but the girl grinned.
    `Thank goodness you've come!' she said. 'I was getting bored stiff on my own.' She glanced back at a blonde woman a little behind her, and who now joined her. 'It's Celia, Mother,' she said. 'Now you can go off to your bridge if you want,' she told her happily.
    The mother gave Celia a nod, and looked around. `Isn't your father here?' she asked, as her glance flickered over Melanie.
    Celia smiled. 'He'll be around later,' she said. `Business as usual, you know. Oh, this is my mother—well,' she corrected herself, 'stepmother, Melanie Cridell. Melanie, this is Mrs Winsome and Podge—I
     
    mean Diana,' she amended quickly, seeing the look of annoyance this introduction brought from Mrs Winsome.
    Celia's offhand introduction had caught Melanie by surprise, and she found herself undergoing a swift and calculating appraisal from Mrs Winsome, who looked as surprised as Melanie felt. 'Good gracious !' she said, then, suddenly collecting herself, murmured something on the lines of it being nice to meet her and took herself off back to the hotel.
    Melanie noticed with a touch of exasperation that Celia was very amused at Mrs Winsome's quick departure from the scene. Her guess at the reason was cemented by Celia's light, 'Well, that saves us a lot of introductions,' giving Podge, as she called her, a wicked grin; at Melanie's look of rebuke as she glanced apologetically at Podge, Celia replied, `Oh, Podge doesn't mind, do you, Podge?'
    By the answering grin her friend gave her, it appeared that she didn't, and the two friends wandered off towards a group of teenagers watching the preparations of a team of canoeists entering the races that were to be held the following day, according to the notices put up in the hotel lobby.
    Melanie, still a little disturbed by the quick introduction and the ensuing results, settled back in her lounger, glad of the parasol over her head, for the rays of the sun were really strong. She would have to get used to that sort of thing, she told herself. Things would soon settle down again, she thought. It was only the initial stage that would be uncomfortable for her. Whether it was her imagination or not, she wasn't sure, but it did seem to her that she was attracting a lot of notice from the passers-by as they went down to the shore for a swim.
     
    She was just drifting off into a sun-soaked doze when Julian's voice awakened her, asking why she hadn't gone in for a dip, and casting an experienced eye over her neat sundress.
    Melanie sat up, now fully awake. 'Oh, I'm afraid