The Songbird and the Soldier Read Online Free Page B

loads of affection and treats if they do things right. Remember that and you’ll have hordes of them eating out the palm of your hand.”
    “But I don’t want hordes of them. I just want one good one: a nice, kind, decent man, who’s easy on the eye and reliable. I want a little house with a bit of garden and two or three kids.”
    Kate’s mouth gaped open. “I so do not want any of that. I’ll tell you what. I’ll trawl through all the guys out there and if I find a boring one who fits the bill I’ll pass him over to you, okay? I want to live a little before I die. I want to travel, see the world. I want to get pissed in seventeen different countries and get thrown out of at least two.”
    “Good grief,” said Sam. “How are you going to manage all that? Sleep your way around Europe?”
    Kate feigned shock. “No. I’m going to win the lottery,” she said.
    “But you don’t even play the lottery.”
    “Then I’ll find myself a rich man,” Kate concluded.
    “Hussy!”
    “Mouse!” Kate shot back.
    The two girls grinned and giggled. “I can’t imagine you married with kids,” Kate said. “You’ve still got a rag doll.”
    “Says the girl with the Zac Efron bedding,” Sam replied.
    “Tea’s ready, girls,” Sam’s mum called up the stairs and Kate looked at her watch and got to her feet.
    The two girls peered round the door of the dining room.
    “Kate, love, there’s plenty enough for you as well, if you want to stay,” Mrs Litton said. Kate looked at Sam, who nodded eagerly. Mrs Litton smiled. “Give your mum a ring and make sure it’s okay.” Kate stepped out of the room.
    “I left your cheque on the dresser this morning, Mum. Did you get it?” Sam asked, passing the salt and pepper from the sideboard to her mother by the table.
    “Yes thanks, love. And do you want me to pick up a paper in the morning again? See if there’s anything new?”
    “Haven’t we got rid of her yet?” her dad asked, walking in with the large dish from the oven and winking at his wife.
    “No. I’ll probably still be here when you’re sixty, Dad. Sorry,”
    A groan escaped her dad’s mouth but he smiled. Kate walked back in. “Knowing my luck Kate’ll still be with us too,” he said.
    Mrs Litton bashed him and he smiled mischievously. “Don’t you take any notice of him, love. Did your mum say it was all right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Take a seat and ignore the grumpy one over there. He loves having you here, both of you. Don’t you? Now who wants some shepherd’s pie?”
    Sam’s dog, Humphrey, trotted in.
    “Oh no you don’t,” Mrs Litton said. “Sam, put him in the living room while we eat, love. You know I won’t have him near the food.”
    Sam walked Humphrey out to the living room, where his basket lay in the corner beside one of the armchairs. It was small and smart with a tartan blanket folded up neatly inside to make it soft. Up in her bedroom Sam had a squidgy old soft bed for him, but one of the conditions of her being allowed a dog in the house was that her mum’s living room would still look ‘presentable’. Sam told him to get in and lie down and then stroked his head affectionately. “You only had your tea an hour ago, Humph. You can’t possibly be hungry again yet. Good boy.” She walked away without a backward glance. She was hopeless at resisting the sad eyes he turned on her whenever he wanted something and had learned it was better simply not to look.
    “So, Kate, what exciting things have you been up to recently?” Mr Litton asked over dinner.
    “Oh you know… um…”
    “Still no luck on the job front then?”
    “No. I’ve got a bit of casual work next week. I’m helping out in a warehouse for a couple of weeks while they get a big order through, but that’s all. But, I did hear through the grapevine that Sally who works at the leisure centre is pregnant, so fingers crossed, there might be some work coming up there soon!”
    “Well at least that’s