BooksBarbecue
Back The Widow
Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PART I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. PART II
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. 82
  87. 83
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. MORE FROM VALERIE KEOGH
  90. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  91. The Murder List
  92. About Boldwood Books

A shiver of pleasure had slid over her when Allison had raised her glass in a toast to new friends, pleasure combining with a shot of relief when she’d insisted on paying the lunch bill. Jo hadn’t been sure how it would work, whether they’d split the bill in a spirit of fairness or whether, as it had been her suggestion, she’d be expected to pay. She’d calculated she could have done although it would have meant penny-pinching till her unemployment benefit came through at the end of the month. When Allison asked for large glasses of wine rather than the cheaper standard, it took every ounce of control to appear perfectly happy with the order.

When the waiter came with the bill, Allison’s my city, my restaurant choice, so I insist on paying sent a shiver of relief through her.

When she asked if they could chat on the phone rather than tapping out messages, Jo took the squeeze on her arm as assent and sighed, speeding up when requested, appreciating Allison’s concern that she didn’t miss her train. It was all going so much better than Jo had anticipated. At the station, they exchanged goodbyes and she stretched her neck for the obligatory cheek-kissing, echoing Allison’s mwah, mwah as if she’d been doing it all her life, as if she hadn’t spent the previous days practising with a pillow so she wouldn’t bump heads. ‘Have a great night tonight.’

‘Have a safe journey. I’ll message you soon.’

With a wave, Jo joined the moving throng of travellers heading towards the elevator. She looked back at the last minute, using the hand she’d raised for a final farewell to push the hair back from her face when Allison was no longer in view. Jo stepped back and scanned the area, spotting the figure hurrying away. Was she so desperate to get away? Perhaps Jo had got it wrong and Allison hadn’t enjoyed the lunch after all, hadn’t intended to meet her again. She’d also never replied to Jo’s comment about ringing rather than messaging. Anger and disappointment pirouetted in tandem. Stupid woman, if she thought she was getting away that easily.

Jo’s plans were dynamic, ready to respond when the perfect opportunity arose.

As she watched Allison vanish into the crowd, she smiled.

19

Allison pulled her arm free from Jo’s rather clingy grip and accepted the kiss on both cheeks, trying not to grimace as she felt wet lips brush her skin. ‘Have a safe journey. I’ll message you soon.’ She hoped her emphasis on message wasn’t too obvious… or too subtle. A final hug and a wave, and they separated.