Free One Night Only by Emma Heatherington Page A

reache d th e fron t doo r .
    Gin a didn ’ t eve n notic e Ruth ’ s ca r i n th e drivewa y , such wa s he r eagernes s t o tel l he r dea r neighbou r he r most excitin g news . Sh e wouldn ’ t hav e care d tha t Poll y ha d a visito r , eve n i f sh e ha d noticed . Sh e wa s walkin g o n ai r . Sh e wa s gidd y wit h excitement . Sh e ha d t o tel l someone. Sh e ha d t o tel l Poll y .
    “I’v e don e it! ” sh e said , shakin g an d gigglin g i n shock whe n Poll y le d he r int o he r kitchen , minute s afte r T ess ha d left .
    Gin a wa s cling y an d gidd y an d sh e kep t coverin g her mout h wit h he r han d lik e a schoolgir l wh o couldn ’ t quite believ e he r luc k whe n sh e wa s announce d bes t pupi l i n the class .
    “ Y ou’v e don e what , love? ” aske d Poll y , glancin g from Gin a t o th e lad y sittin g a t th e table . Gin a ha d neve r seen he r befor e bu t sh e looke d lik e sh e ha d bee n throug h the w ars . “ Y ou’v e go t a job? ” Poll y kne w ho w muc h sh e wanted t o ge t bac k t o work .
    “No , no, ” sai d Gina . “It ’ s no t abou t work . Thoug h that migh t b e m y nex t move . I’v e lef t T revor ! I’v e don e it , Polly!” “Wha t th e – ” Poll y couldn ’ t tak e an y mor e drama .
    Thi s wa s certainl y a Frida y t o remembe r .
    “ W ell , I didn ’ t actuall y leav e hi m a s such, ” sai d Gina. He r eye s wer e wid e an d Poll y ha d neve r see n someone befor e wit h pupil s s o large . “ I tol d hi m t o leav e me . T o leav e us . He ’ s gone . T o he r . H e wa s gon e withi n minutes. I’ m free , Poll y . I’ m free! ”
    Poll y le d Gin a t o th e kitche n tabl e an d pulle d ou t a chai r opposit e th e othe r woman , wh o seeme d gla d t o be ou t o f th e spotlight , bu t Gin a wa s a s stif f a s a corpse . She wouldn ’ t si t down .
    “Gina , wher e i s we e Danny? ” aske d Poll y , totall y sure tha t Gin a wa s sleepwalkin g o r o n drug s o r something .
    “He ’ s wit h hi s gran, ” sai d Gina , a stupi d gri n sittin g on he r fac e lik e a baske t o f chips .
    “ W it h T revor ’ s mum? ”
    “ Y eah . Mr s Humphrie s ha s him . She ’ s a lovel y woman, i s Mr s Humphries . Mayb e T revo r wa s adopted! ”
    “Ho w lon g fo r , love? ” aske d Poll y . “I s h e stayin g for th e evening? ”
    “Sh e sai d a s lon g a s I neede d he r t o hav e him, ” replied Gina .
    Poll y beckone d he r ove r an d hel d he r tightl y . Poll y felt s o war m an d motherl y an d – well , sane .
    “That ’ s reall y nic e o f he r . Y o u nee d tim e t o think, ” said Poll y whe n Gin a finall y le t he r go .
    I t wa s th e firs t prope r hu g Gina’ d ha d i n months, mayb e eve n years . Poll y looke d a bi t ou t o f breat h when sh e finall y loosene d he r arm s fro m roun d he r neck .
    “ I jus t . . . I jus t nee d a break, ” whispere d Gina , looking int o Polly ’ s eve r -so-sympatheti c eyes . “Jus t a littl e break t o ge t m y hea d aroun d i t all , yo u know? ”
    Poll y scratche d he r head .
    “Oh , b y th e wa y , thi s i s Ruth . A n old , e r – schoo l frie n d o f mine. ”
    “ I use d t o bull y he r . I’ m s o sorr y , ” sai d Rut h an d she bega n t o so b again .
    “ Shhh , ” sai d Poll y . “No w , si t down , Gina , an d we’ll ge t yo u som e tea . Thi s i s turnin g ou t t o b e a ver y strange da y indee d bu t I thin k w e al l kno w th e solution. ”
    “ A solution? ” aske d Gina . “Bu t I’v e alread y foun d my solution . I’v e kicke d hi m out . He ’ s gone . N o mor e worrying abou t mil k o r dinne r o r frettin g ove r anniversari e s . I’ ve don e wha t everyon e hope d I woul d do . Wha t I hope d I woul d do . I’v e don e it ! Aren ’ t yo u prou d o f me , Polly ? I a m s o s o prou d o f me! ”
    “ Y es, ” sai d Poll y . “Bu t yo u als o sai d yo u nee d a break.” “ I do. ”
    “An d s o doe s Ruth . An d s o doe s