Broke Read Online Free Page B

‘What did you do that for? You know we can’t afford it.’
    ‘Yes, we can,’ Mark assured her, putting the boxes down on the ledge. ‘I got a bonus from work, so I thought I’d treat you.’
    ‘A bonus? What for?’
    ‘Employee of the month. Look.’ Mark took a wad of twenty-pound notes out of his back pocket and fanned them out. ‘Hundred squids.’
    ‘Wow, that’s fantastic,’ Amy trilled, throwing her arms around his neck. ‘I’m so proud of you.’
    ‘You can thank me later,’ said Mark, waggling his eyebrows to let her know that he meant in the bedroom. ‘Now, hurry up and get that pizza out, ’cos I’m starving.’
    ‘What are you going to do with the money?’ Amy asked, reaching into the cupboard for plates. ‘Only I could do with a bit for the electric, if you can spare it.’
    ‘It’s yours,’ Mark told her, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her waist. ‘I had to nick a tenner off you this morning, so I was going to buy you some flowers. But I figured I might as well just give you the dosh and let you get yourself something nice.’
    ‘I can’t take it all,’ Amy protested. ‘You earned it, you should have some as well.’
    ‘I want you to have it,’ Mark insisted, magnanimous in the knowledge that he had the same again and a little bit more still stashed in his pocket.
    Amy looked at the money thoughtfully. Marnie had lent her thirty quid to buy Bobby a new coat and Cassie some shoes off the market this morning, but Mark would hit the roof if he knew she’d been borrowing, so she’d hidden them in the cupboard under the stairs, intending to produce them after his next wages went in. But now he’d given her this money, she could bring them out tomorrow and pretend she’d just bought them.
    ‘Thank you.’ She turned and kissed him. Then, to cover her guilt, she said, ‘Why don’t you give Steve a ring and see if he fancies going for a pint?’
    ‘Are you sure?’ Mark gazed innocently back at her, even though it was exactly what he’d expected her to say. ‘I don’t mind staying in with you and the kids.’
    ‘No, you deserve a break,’ Amy insisted. ‘But get changed first,’ she added, sniffing at his jumper and wrinkling her nose. ‘You stink of sweat.’
    ‘Must be all that hard work I’ve been doing,’ said Mark, slapping her on the backside as she picked up the kids’ plates and carried them into the living room.
    Cassie and Bobby were sitting together on the couch watching TV. ‘What is it?’ Cassie asked, her eyes never leaving the screen as Amy held out her plate.
    ‘Pizza,’ Amy told her. ‘Daddy’s treat.’
    Both children twisted their heads at the mention of their father. When they saw him in the doorway, they jumped up and ran to him.
    ‘Steady on!’ Mark yelped, squatting down to catch them as they launched themselves into his arms. ‘I’m an old man, you’ll break my back.’
    ‘We haven’t seen you for ages and ages,’ said Cassie, hugging him tightly.
    ‘We misses you,’ added Bobby, wriggling to get closer.
    ‘Yeah, well, now you’ve seen me you’d best give me some air before you kill me and I have to get buried with grandad Taylor,’ Mark said, laughing as he pushed them gently off. ‘And then I’ll have worms in my eyes, and beetles in my mouth.’
    ‘ Mark! ’ Amy scolded, fetching in his plate in time to hear this. ‘Don’t say things like that. You’ll give them nightmares.’
    Mark exchanged a mock-contrite look with the kids and sat down to eat his dinner.
    Half an hour later, he was washed, dressed, and ready for the off. ‘I’ll try not to be late,’ he told Amy, kissing her goodbye.
    ‘Don’t worry about me.’ She pushed him towards the door. ‘I’m going to have a bath and go to bed with my library book. You just have a good time. And say hello to Steve.’
    Watching through the window as he strolled down the road, Amy sighed. When they were like this, life was blissful, and she felt