Read Tuesday's Child for Free Online

cake,” Adeline protested, patting her stomach. “These trousers barely fit as it is.”
    “So pretend they shrank in the wash and buy new ones. It’s what I do.”
    Adeline smiled. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nate come in. He looked gorgeous in his jogging pants and close fitting tee. It showed every line of his chest off to perfection. He caught her gaze and shot her a beaming smile. Her heart thudded and her breath hiked.
    Rachel nudged her. “You all right?”
    “Fine, why?”
    “You’re blushing. You like him?”
    “He wouldn’t give me a second look, so what’s the point?” Glad Nate couldn’t understand a word of their conversation, Adeline changed the subject. “I think he’s ready to start.”
    Nate glanced around the group. “Good evening ladies. I’ll start with a basic recap for those joining us for the first time tonight. The main aim of this class is to teach you how to remain safe on the streets. Carry your bag sideways across your body and under your coat if you can. Always have a phone with you if you have one. Yes, I’ll be teaching you how to defend yourself if an assailant comes up to you. But the most important thing is avoid the situations where you might be in danger in the first place.”
    Adeline watched his lips. He was speaking very fast, but she managed to catch most of what he said. She raised a hand to get his attention. “Avoid them how?”
    “If you’re on your own, and see something or someone shady or drunk, or a group of rowdy youths, for example, cross the road to avoid them. Or step into a shop. If you can’t cross the road or avoid them, pull out your phone and ring someone, anyone or pretend to make a call.”
    She nodded. “Thank you.”
    Nate smiled. “Welcome. Now we’ll move on to a few basic moves if someone does surprise you. Daphne, care to be my victim?”
    Daphne nodded and made her way to the center of the room. Adeline watched as Nate explained how to stamp on the attackers instep and then twist, bringing an elbow down sharply into his groin.
    “You should also use your head. If someone puts an arm around your throat and hand over your mouth, bite hard, and then shove your head back as far and hard as you can. Ninety-nine percent of the time they will then relax their grip enough for you to break free. And if you kick them as well, you should have time to run. Scream and shout at the same time, draw as much attention to what is happening to you as you can.”
    Nate glanced around the room. “Miss Monroe, would you like to try?”
    Adeline pointed to her chest. “Me?”
    He smiled. “Unless there is another Miss Monroe, yes, I mean you.”
    Adeline moved onto the mats. He stood in front of her. “Now I’m going to come up behind you. I know you won’t hear me until my arm goes around your throat, but that’s fine. Just do exactly what you’ve been shown. And remember to use your head.”
    “I’ll try.”
    “Good girl. Turn around.”
    Adeline turned around, tensing as she stood there. She glanced over at Rachel, who signed ‘don’t look so scared’ at her. She smiled faintly. An arm went around her throat choking her, and another arm grabbed her waist. Panic filled her and everything she’d been taught went out of her mind. She struggled hard, seeing Ben leap to his feet and come running across.
    She brought her left foot up sharply against Nate’s shin and then stomped on his foot. At the same time she flung her head back as hard and fast as she could, feeling something crunch as she did so.
    Nate let go and staggered backwards.
    Adeline stood there wondering why everyone else in the class looked horrorstruck. Nausea flooded her. What had she done? She turned around to see Nate sitting on the floor. His face was bright red, his eyes glistened, and blood poured from his nose like a never- ending flood.
     
     
     
     

3
     
    Nate pulled the car off onto the road.
    Vianne’s reflection shifted in the car seat behind him. She