Read Lola's House (Lola Series) for Free Online Page B

lost some of its allure.
    ‘I know you’re more than capable of doing the house up and making it into a beautiful home.  Try not to be too hard on her, she does love you.’  He g ives my hand another squeeze and points towards the dessert with his other hand. ‘And we only ever get chocolate pudding when you visit because she knows it’s your favourite.’
    Small consolation though I think to myself as I put another forkful into my mouth, but the chocolate has lost all of its sweetness and now leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.
     
    The rest of the weekend drags along like a funeral wake until Sunday when I eat lunch at breakneck speed and say my goodbyes.  I can’t wait to get home and really chill out.  I need a weekend to get over this weekend.  And, quite frankly, I can’t believe she has spent yet another visit nit-picking at me.  I really don’t know what her problem is, I’m a good dutiful daughter, I turn up for her birthday with a nice gift and squashed flowers, yet Alex can’t even be arsed to show his face and he ends up being golden balls while I’m the antichrist.  I make a mental note to self to have a good excuse ready for next time so I don’t have to turn up at all.  Then I can send her some flowers, which I haven’t sat on (and are actually meant for her in the first place).
    I dr ive off like Jenson Button, happy at having made my escape.  I stop off at the supermarket on my way home to pick up some supplies, a big pizza and a bottle of wine.  I plan to have a nice long soak in the bath later, and then kick back on the sofa for the evening, with the wine for company.
     
    I let myself in through the front door and breathe a big sigh of relief at being back in my sanctuary.  I stand with my back to the door and let myself absorb the good vibes, taking a deep calming breath I feel the serenity washing over me.  Then I notice another considerably big hole in the wall where the light switch used to be in the hallway.  The hole runs a few feet upwards and then angles itself towards the stairs.  I step forwards and peer into it, taking in the dust and bits of plaster work, the crumbly old wiring and cobwebs.  I can feel the dust motes going up my nose and hold back a sneeze. 
    Great, just what I wanted to come home to.  Ned hadn’t said the y would get started - just they would have a look.    I go into the kitchen and there too are more holes in various places dotted around the room, like we have giant termites.  I can feel my good vibes starting to dissipate as I walk over to the table and drop my keys down on the top.  I shake my head in despair.  I don’t feel I want to investigate any more rooms for fear of what I will find, so I make a mental note to speak to Ned first thing on Monday morning.  I take myself off up to the bathroom to run a very hot bath.
    After an hour and twenty minutes of soaking in the bath my skin ha s pruned and the water has gone decidedly cool so I get out, towel myself off and wrap up in my favourite fluffy towelling robe.  Pizza and wine here I come.

Chapter Five
     
    The light is fading outside but it is lovely and cosy indoors.  I get myself settled on the sofa, chick flick on the DVD player, and a chilled bottle of wine to my left.  I press play on the remote and pick up my first slice of pizza, ready to sink my teeth into its hot cheesy goodness, when I hear a thunderous noise coming up the driveway.  I dump the pizza back onto the plate and hit pause on the remote, then go to investigate at the window.  I peer through the glass into the fading light and see a huge motorbike come to stop by my front door, together with a huge leather clad man positioned on top of it. 
    Who the hell is that , I think to myself?  I wrack my brain furiously searching to see if maybe I have ordered a kiss-o-gram and then forgotten all about it.  A light bulb goes off in my head.  Maybe Ned has had his quote couriered over, and then I quickly dismiss