Read Truth Will Out for Free Online Page B

trouble.’
    ‘Your first time here, is it?’ He smiled at Maude.
    ‘Yes it is.’
    ‘You’ll be back, my dear lady. Mark my words, you’ll be back. Bracing sea air, entertainment on the pier . . . You can even swim in the sea if you care for that sort of thing. Not that we do – never fancied immersing ourselves in cold salt water – but there are plenty who do. Our amusement comes from watching their antics!’
    He was distracted at this point by the arrival of egg and bacon for himself and his wife, and Maude and Lionel were once again free to discuss their day.
    ‘After lunch you must have a rest, Maude. A sleep on the bed for an hour or so to let the meal go down.’ He held up a hand as she started to protest. ‘I know you slept well but you must allow me, darling, to know what’s best for you.’ He took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘Don’t I always, Maude?’
    She nodded. Outside the sun shone and everyone was predicting that the fine weather would continue. Maude decided not to criticize the holiday in any way at all. Lionel had planned everything so carefully with her happiness in mind. She must appreciate his efforts. She counted her blessings. She had a wonderful husband, a comfortable home, good health, no money worries – a life many people would envy. It was up to her to enjoy every moment of their holiday together. She would forget about Alice and Aunt Biddy, who would no doubt be enjoying themselves in their own way. Primmy would be well looked after and in a week’s time they would all be reunited again. Thus reassured, she glanced round the room.
    At the next table the young boy was refusing to eat the cornflakes that had been brought to him, insisting that they didn’t taste right. Discreetly watching him, Maude wondered, not for the first time, when their own first child would announce his or her existence. Lionel wanted a child as much as she did but so far there had been no sign that she might be expecting a baby. Neither she nor Lionel had referred to this fact but she was sure he was as anxious as she was to start their family.
    When they did have children, she wondered how she would cope. The woman next to her was being very patient but the father looked increasingly embarrassed and suddenly took away the offending cornflakes and asked the waitress to remove it.
    ‘There now, Billy!’ his mother said, disconcerted. ‘See what you’ve done! You’ve made Daddy cross.’
    ‘I want porridge, Mummy.’
    ‘You chose cornflakes, Billy.’
    ‘I meant to say porridge.’
    The father said, ‘You turned down egg and bacon and you turned down porridge.’
    His mother caught Maude’s eye and shrugged helplessly. Maude smiled in sympathy, wishing she could say something helpful but unable to think of anything.
    To distract from his son’s behaviour, the father turned towards Lionel and Maude. In a falsely cheerful voice he said, ‘I’m William Hurst and this is my wife, Susan. I hope you enjoy your stay at Romilees. We come every year for a week and always feel better for the break.’
    Lionel introduced himself and Maude, and they talked about Hastings and were told what it had to offer while Billy began to sniffle and then to kick the table leg. He cast sullen looks at his father and fiddled with the cruet and dropped his serviette on to the floor and tried to kick it under the table. These small rebellions were pointedly ignored but the waitress returned with a full breakfast each for Billy’s parents.
    Then the waitress said, ‘Compliments of the cook and she has made Billy some porridge – if that’s all right with you.’
    Mrs Hurst clutched her beaded necklace, Billy sat up straighter in his chair and Maude held her breath, wondering what would happen next.
    After a tense silence Mr Hurst gave a slight nod. ‘Just this once, then. Say “thank you”, Billy.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    The waitress placed the dish in front of the boy, smiled and walked away.