Free 1848453051 by Linda Kavanagh Page A

she joined at charity luncheons and on visits to health spas or nail bars, or at the golf or tennis club. Could Alan be having an affair with one of those women?
    Sylvia’s eyes narrowed. Perhaps it was with that minx, Janette Walker. Whenever she and Alan encountered Janette and her husband – the permanently inebriated Matthew – the woman was always quick to slip her arm through Alan’s, and flirt outrageously with him, regardless of Sylvia’s presence. On the other hand, could it be someone from the factory? And if so, did the rest of the staff know? Her face reddened with shame at the thought of such duplicity on Alan’s part, and such humiliation on hers.
    But then, with a feeling of enormous relief, Sylvia remembered that her own birthday was only two weeks away – no doubt the ring was intended as a gift for her! Smiling, she replaced the receipt in one of Alan’s other jackets. She wouldn’t spoil the surprise by letting him know that she’d discovered what he’d bought her.
    On the morning of her birthday, Alan was already up by the time Sylvia awoke. Slipping on her dressing gown, she padded downstairs to the kitchen, where she could hear Alan whistling as he prepared breakfast.
    He was smiling broadly as he greeted her. ‘Good morning, love. Happy birthday!’
    ‘Thanks – I didn’t expect to sleep quite so late.’
    Warily, she eyed the breakfast table. Alongside the morning papers, Sylvia could see two gift-wrapped boxes. She guessed that the bigger one was a gift purportedly from young Pete to his mummy. A smaller box stood beside it, and Sylvia’s heart did a quick somersault. Thankfully, it looked exactly like the kind of box that would contain an expensive gold and diamond ring. Relief flooded through her. She’d been silly to worry, and everything was going to be fine.
    Smiling, Sylvia sat down at the table, just as Alan began singing ‘Happy Birthday’ as he carried two plates of scrambled eggs and buttered toast to the table.
    Leaning forward, he kissed her. ‘I’m hoping we might manage to have breakfast together before Pete wakes up.’ He looked at her expectantly. ‘Go on – open your presents!’
    Taking a deep breath, Sylvia picked up the bigger gift box, the one whose label read: ‘To Mummy from Pete xxx’.
    She smiled as she unwrapped a pair of pretty gold filigree earrings, ornately shaped in the letter ‘S’.
    ‘Obviously, I had to help him,’ Alan joked. ‘I mean, he hasn’t learnt his alphabet yet!’
    ‘They’re lovely,’ Sylvia replied, standing up and crossing to the mirror where she slipped on the earrings and stared at her reflection.
    ‘Aren’t you going to open my present?’
    ‘Yes, of course.’
    Returning to the table, Sylvia’s heart was beating so wildly that she felt certain Alan must hear it. She smiled as she lifted up the small box. All she had to do now was open Alan’s present, find the ring inside, and all would be well again. She could abandon all her silly suspicions and enjoy the rest of her birthday. Flowers had already been delivered from Daddy, and she knew he’d slip her a cheque later that evening when they all met for dinner. It would be for a generous amount too but, right now, all she was concerned about was the contents of the box she held in her trembling hand.
    Her fingers shook as she tore off the gift-wrapping, and her heart sank like a stone as she gazed at the bracelet lying on a bed of soft tissue paper inside.
    ‘Oh!’
    ‘Don’t you like it?’ Alan asked anxiously.
    ‘Yes, yes – of course. I love it,’ Sylvia assured him. It was beautiful, but it wasn’t the ring she’d been expecting.
    ‘Are you sure you like it, darling? If not, I can change it for something else, you know that.’
    Although her heart was breaking, Sylvia reached up and kissed her husband’s cheek. ‘It’s perfect!’ she told him. ‘It’ll go beautifully with the new dress I’m wearing tonight. What time have you booked the