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the next room,’ she said.
    ‘They are going to be in the next room every night,’ he said, ‘what difference does that make?’
    ‘Oh Jeff, I don’t know but somehow I can’t relax knowing there is only a thin wall between us.’
    ‘Now listen, honey. We will be living here for a while and you’ll have to get used to the idea. After all, we are married and married people have sex!’
    She knew he was right, but somehow the thought of seeing Velda in the morning, and her knowing they had made love, was enough to make her tense.
    She snuggled into her husband. ‘You just have to give me a bit of time to get used to all this, that’s all. Anyway I’m too tired tonight.’
    He chuckled. ‘Don’t you start having headaches on me.’
    ‘No I won’t,’ she promised, ‘but just not tonight.’
    ‘I guess I can hold out for twenty-four hours, but we have a lot of catching up to do Gracie. We’ve been apart for too long and I have ached to hold you in my arms.’
    From the tone of his voice, she knew he wouldn’t accept her reluctance again. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her thoughts were jumbled. She was going to live in a house where she wasn’t really welcome by Jeff’s mother and Jeff and his brother were obviously at loggerheads. It didn’t bode well for the immediate future. Eventually she fell asleep from exhaustion.

Chapter Five
    Whilst Gracie Rider was trying to sort out her difficulties, Valerie Johnson was enjoying her new surroundings. Ross had arranged for a cleaner to come in twice a week, which left Valerie free from too many household duties and, as Ross had taken a few days off to be with her, she enjoyed being taken around New York. They went to Radio City to see a movie and watch the Rockettes, a group of dancers whose precision was a joy to watch when they performed in the interval. They had been out to dinner, skated on the outside ice rink at Rockefeller Center and been shopping at Saks, Fifth Avenue. It had been a whirlwind and she’d enjoyed it tremendously.
    Near by the apartment were intriguing small shops. A delicatessen, which sold a vast selection of fresh food as well as pasta, cheeses, olives, nuts and many varieties of unusual ingredients, long gone from the shelves of British shops due to the shortages of the war. Alongside, a shop selling fruit and vegetables, a grocery store, a dry-cleaners and drugstore. Everything that she would need without having to travel far. She was delighted.
    Eventually Ross returned to his desk and Valerie planned to explore, but a call from her sister-in-law, Bonny, with an invitation to go shopping and out to lunch, delayed her plans. She’d liked Bonny when they met at her welcome party and looked forward to seeing her again.
     
    The two girls had a great time shopping in Bloomingdale’s then went for lunch in an Italian restaurant that Bonny recommended. After they’d ordered and the wine had been poured, Bonny looked at Valerie and raised her glass.
    ‘Here’s to a new friendship,’ she said.
    ‘I’ll drink to that,’ Valerie replied and they clinked glasses. ‘How long have you and Earl been married?’ she asked.
    ‘Three years, long enough to know how the land lies in his family.’
    ‘Oh dear, what does that mean?’
    ‘It means that Gloria thinks everyone should do her bidding. That whatever she says is right. She tries to rule everyone!’ There was a flash of anger in the other woman’s eyes.
    ‘But she doesn’t rule you, I imagine?’
    ‘Damned right!’ Bonny leant closer. ‘Don’t you let her rule you either.’
    Valerie leant back in her seat. ‘I’ve met her type many times over the years and I am certainly not frightened by my new mother-in-law, I can assure you.’
    Bonny laughed with delight. ‘I just knew you were a strong woman when we first met, but I have to warn you that she and Laura are joined at the hip and they will do their damnedest to destroy your marriage. Trust me!’
    ‘I’m