BooksBarbecue
Back Goodnight Lady
Chapters (60)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Praise
  4. Dedication
  5. BOOK ONE
  6. Prologue 1989
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. BOOK TWO - 1925
  17. Chapter Ten - 1925
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-one
  29. Chapter Twenty-two
  30. Chapter Twenty-three
  31. Chapter Twenty-four
  32. Chapter Twenty-five
  33. Chapter Twenty-six
  34. Chapter Twenty-seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-one
  39. Chapter Thirty-two
  40. BOOK THREE - 1947
  41. Chapter Thirty-three
  42. Chapter Thirty-four
  43. Chapter Thirty-five
  44. Chapter Thirty-six
  45. Chapter Thirty-seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-eight
  47. Chapter Thirty-nine
  48. Chapter Forty
  49. BOOK FOUR - 1968
  50. Chapter Forty-one - 1968
  51. Chapter Forty-two
  52. Chapter Forty-three
  53. Chapter Forty-four
  54. Chapter Forty-five
  55. Chapter Forty-six
  56. Chapter Forty-seven
  57. Chapter Forty-eight
  58. Chapter Forty-nine
  59. Chapter Fifty - 1970
  60. EPILOGUE

‘I can’t wait to become Mrs Thomas Lane. Let’s do it!’ She walked proudly down the aisle on her son’s arm, her face glowing with happiness.

At sixty-five years old she finally understood what life was all about.

Tommy kissed her gently on the lips. ‘I love you Bri.’

Briony snuggled into him in the warmth of the bed. ‘I love you, too, only I never realised how much.’

He cupped her breast gently and Briony slapped his hand away. ‘Do you mind Tommy Lane? I’m a respectable married woman now!’

Tommy laughed out loud. ‘I was really scared you know, Briony. I thought, if she knocks me back now, in front of everyone...’

Briony looked up into his face. ‘I thought you had someone else, I did.’

‘I know, I let you think it and all. Be fair, Bri, you’ve never let me look after you really, have you? And I wanted to. I admit that over the years I stepped in to help you, but without you knowing about it. You’re a hard woman to love, Bri, you are so self possessed, so strong! It’s like living with a bloke at times!’

Briony kissed his chest. ‘After all the trouble with the boys, my Boysie dying, Danny going away, I realised that I needed you more than anything. No matter what’s happened in the past, we have had each other. If that’s what marriage is, then I want it.’

Tommy kissed her again.

‘How did you arrange it all without me guessing?’

‘You can thank Mariah, Cissy and the whole family for that. It was hard I can tell you.’

‘Well, I’m glad you did. I think it was the nicest thing that ever happened to me.’

Tommy pulled her tightly to him and said, ‘Come here, wife!’

Briony started laughing. ‘You’ve called me a few things over the years, but I never thought to hear you call me that!’

They both laughed.

‘You realise one thing though, Thomas Lane: you got me by default!’

‘How’d you make that out?’

‘I was in shock!’

‘You’ll be in shock in a minute if you don’t stop rabbiting. Now get your nightdress off!’

‘Respectable married women sleep with their nighties on!’

Tommy laughed throatily. ‘Not in this bleeding house they don’t.’

Chapter Fifty - 1970

Chapter Fifty

1970

Kerry stood waiting to be announced, feeling the euphoria induced by vodka fighting with her nervousness. She could hear the muted sounds of conversation coming from the audience. She felt Liselle take hold of her and squeezed her daughter’s hand gently.

‘All right, Mum?’