Read Deceit of Angels for Free Online Page B

results and go out and celebrate.”
    “It
won’t be the same without you there.”
    Guilt
tore through Anna.  “I know, but I had to do this.  And please, Martyn, don’t
tell your dad where I am.  I don’t want him to find me.”
    “OK. 
Chris wants to talk to you.”
     It
was good to hear from her sons, but after the call, Anna felt slightly sick
that she had done this terrible thing to them.  Perhaps she should have waited
until they had left for university?  But this wonderful job had happened along
and she had to grab her opportunity when it came.  It might have been too late
if she had waited until the boys had left home.  She wouldn’t hurt them for the
world and when she met them again, she would try and make up for it.  Although
how she would do that, she had no idea, how do you compensate children for
breaking up their family?  The house filling with noise and laughter
interrupted her troubled thoughts.  Jason had brought Hollie to stay for the
weekend and for the next two days, there would be chaos.
    Hollie
was the spitting image of her mother with long dark hair and the most beautiful
big brown eyes.  It was obvious that everyone doted on her and Anna soon
realised why.  She was a happy, contented child, but loved playing pranks on
those she cared for.  Anna found the charming nature of the little girl hard to
ignore and was amused and secretly pleased when Hollie included her in her
naughty pranks. 
    One
exceptionally hot Sunday in the middle of July, Anna came into the kitchen to
be greeted by Mrs Wilby filling a large wicker hamper with all manner of fare;
pies, sandwiches, containers of salad and flasks of coffee.  Anna stared in
bewilderment.
    “Oh,
my dear!” gasped Mrs Wilby, rushing from cupboard to cupboard. “Could you get
your own breakfast this morning?  I’m so busy preparing for this picnic. 
Jason’s idea, with it being such a beautiful day.  We’re just waiting for him
to come back with Hollie then we’ll be on our way.  Ben is bringing the car
round in twenty minutes.”
    Anna
poured herself some coffee.  The thought of a picnic pleased her and she smiled
as she watched Mrs Wilby scurrying around the kitchen.  Jason arrived back with
Hollie who bounded into the kitchen excited by the news they were going on a
picnic.  Within the hour Anna was sitting beside the fidgety little girl and
Mrs Wilby in the back of the Mercedes, with Jason up front with Ben.
    “Where
are we going?” Anna asked, trying to remember when she had last been on a
picnic.
    “Oh,
it’s our usual place,” said Hollie with a bright smile.  “You’ll really like
it.  And we can play tennis.  Can you play tennis, Anna?”  Anna smiled and
nodded.
    “It’s
just in the foothills of the Mendips,” said Mrs Wilby.  “Such a wonderful spot
to have a day out. We often go there if the weather is fine.  It doesn’t seem
to matter what the season, the scenery is always so pretty.”
    They
parked the car and climbed a small hill.  Jason and Ben carried the hamper
while Anna clutched a folding chair in one hand and with the other helped Mrs
Wilby to puff and pant her way to the top.  Hollie ran ahead looking for the
best spot.  The view was glorious.  Spread before them were the meadows and
woods of the valley, sparkling in the warm summer sun.  Mrs Wilby made herself
comfortable in the chair and after shuffling about, pulled out her knitting
from a huge canvas bag.
    Hollie
unzipped the racquets from their bag and Jason threw her the ball that he had
tucked in his pocket. 
    “Play
tennis with me, Anna,” she said, pulling at Anna’s hand.
    “Hey!
What about me?” shouted Jason.
    “No,
Daddy!  I want Anna to play.  You hit the ball too hard and it goes down the
hill.”
    Jason
gave Anna a resigned smile and lay down on the rug, staring up into the vivid
blue sky, his hands behind his head.
    Anna
and Hollie started their game and in moments there were squeals of delight