The Excitements by CJ Wray
Author:CJ Wray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-10-30T00:00:00+00:00
Twenty-Seven
1949
More than six years had passed since Penny said goodbye to Frank in Arisaig. Throughout that time sheâd been strangely certain they would meet again, but she had not for one moment expected that their grand reunion would take place in an East End pawn shop.
âBruna?â Frank blinked theatrically, as though he couldnât believe his eyes. He wasnât the only one.
âFrank,â Penny stuttered. There was no point putting on a foreign accent now.
âWell, isnât this a nice surprise. Youâre the last person I expected to see today. And what a getup!â Frank said, referring to her Buckingham Palace outfit. âIâd never have believed youâd scrub up so well. You look almost presentable.â
âGet lost,â said Penny.
âLovely to see you too,â Frank rejoined. Penny presented her cheek so he could kiss her hello. When he got close enough, he hissed in her ear, âWhat on earth are you doing in this place?â
âIâve got a bracelet to sell,â Penny told him. âIt was given to me by an admirer.â
Frank glanced at the bracelet glittering on the counter.
âNice admirer. You should engineer a proposal at once.â
âHow much will you give me?â Penny addressed the pawn shop owner again.
The man quoted a price. It was enough to rent a flat big enough for a family of three in Manchester for a year. Penny was about to accept it just so she could get out of there when Frank interrupted.
âI think the lady would like a moment or two to think about your offer,â he said, picking the bracelet up and dropping it into Pennyâs palm. âCome on.â Frank put his hand on Pennyâs elbow and guided her back onto the street.
âWhat do you think youâre doing?â Penny protested once they were outside. âI can handle myself, thank you very much.â
âClearly you canât. I can see from half a mile away that youâre hawking a serious piece of jewellery there and that old bastard was going to rip you off.â Frank prised the bracelet from Pennyâs fist and looked at it more closely. He whistled through his teeth. âThis beau of yours must be smitten.â
Penny snatched the bracelet back. âHe is. Thank you very much.â
âUnlucky guy, since he clearly canât mean that much to you if youâre flogging his gifts to one of the cityâs lowest scumbags. Or have you hit upon hard times? You donât look as though you have.â
âI donât have to tell you anything.â
âOf course not. Do you think your beau would object if I took you for a coffee?â
âI donât have time.â
âPlease, Bruna. Iâve only just found you. I canât let you disappear again.â
TRUTH WAS, PENNY didnât want to let Frank disappear again either, not that she would tell him that. The surprise of seeing him in such an incongruous settingâand in a policemanâs uniform at thatâwas giving way to something else. She wanted to throw herself at him, hitting his chest with her fists and screaming out her anger, before sinking into his arms and staying there all night. It took
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African American | Contemporary |
Divorce | Domestic Life |
Friendship | Mothers & Children |
Single Women | Sisters |
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