Read Online When Night Closes in by Iris Gower - Free Book Online

as ever.’ Her mother spoke edgily. ‘You know Charles, he likes everything cut and dried, his drink in his hand the minute he steps in the door, his every wish obeyed. I had to get away for a few days.’ She laughed to soften the words. ‘Nothing ever changes. Anyway, how are you? Are you going to tell me more about this strange man you were living with? Why did you split up?’
    â€˜I wasn’t actually living with him,’ Lowri said. ‘Though as good as, I’ll grant you.’ She sighed. ‘Turned out he was married and now he’s gone missing. Same old story, I suppose.’
    Lowri did not care to go into details. ‘I’ve got a nice salad for lunch and then if you like we can spend the afternoon on the recliners in the garden, catch the sun.’
    â€˜No fear!’ her mother said. ‘After we’ve eaten you and I are going on a shopping spree up at the enterprise zone.’
    â€˜I know what that means, Mum, you are going to spend your money on me. Well, I don’t need it, honestly. I’m a big girl now, I can look after myself.’
    â€˜Don’t take one of my few small pleasures in life away from me, Lowri.’ There was an edge of sadness in her mother’s tone and Lowri nodded.
    â€˜All right, I give in, a spending spree it is.’
    That evening, to Lowri’s surprise, Sally called. ‘God, you look awful!’ Sally said with her usual tact. ‘Heavy night with the lovely detective, was it?’
    â€˜Come in,’ Lowri said, ‘meet my mother.’
    Sally put her hand over her mouth. ‘Oops! Sorry, have I put my foot in it?’
    Rhian Richards looked up with a smile as Sally came into the room. ‘Hello there, Sally,’ she said.
    â€˜Oh, you were in the office earlier today, weren’t you?’ Sally said. ‘I could hear you and old . . . er Mr Watson arguing.’
    â€˜Sally!’ Lowri said, ‘don’t be silly. My mother’s only been in town a few hours and we’ve been shopping since she arrived.’
    Sally shrugged. ‘There I go again, opening my big mouth and putting my foot in it. What did you buy? Come on show me.’
    It was a pleasant evening. Sally kept them amused with her talk about her boyfriend, about some of the clients who came into the office and she even poked gentle fun at the trio of solicitors.
    It was about half nine when Rhian rubbed her eyes, put down her glass and rose to her feet.
    â€˜Think I’ll turn in,’ she said. ‘I need an early night.’ She kissed Lowri and hugged her warmly. ‘We can talk more in the morning, darling.’
    After she’d gone, Sally leaned forward. ‘Come on, tell me, what happened?’
    â€˜Between me and Jim? Nothing happened.’
    â€˜Come on! You seemed very keen last night, you were positively drooling.’
    â€˜Don’t rub it in.’ Lowri felt uncomfortable. ‘I thought Jon was the love of my life, the man I could settle down with.’ She looked up at Sally. ‘Then I flirt with the first handsome man I see.’ She sighed. ‘I still can’t believe Jon took me in so completely, I must have “easy lay” written across my forehead.’
    â€˜You’re behind the times, love, everyone does it now, didn’t you know? Did you sleep with the detective?’
    â€˜Of course I didn’t!’ Lowri said.
    â€˜Why are you blushing then?’ Sally pushed back her hair impatiently. ‘I mean when you phoned the office you said the police were with you. He wouldn’t call round this morning just to pass the time of day.’
    â€˜It was business.’ Lowri made an effort to change the subject. ‘You say my mother was in the office earlier? She didn’t mention it.’
    â€˜Aye, that’s right,’ Sally said. ‘Anyway,’ Sally tucked her legs up under her. ‘I won’t be sidetracked, what