Free French Kissing by Lynne Shelby Page A

curls.
    â€˜So what do you think of Alex?’ I asked.
    Beth put her finger to her lips. For a moment, I thought I’d spoken too loudly and she was worried I’d disturbed Molly, but then she pointed to the baby alarm. Which was carrying my whispered words downstairs. Where Alex and Rob were still sitting at the dining table.
    I put my hand over my mouth. Beth grinned, and gestured towards the door. She blew a kiss at Molly, and went out onto the landing. I followed her, closing the door behind me.
    Still grinning, Beth said, ‘What do I think of Alex? Oh, my goodness, it can’t be legal for a man to be that attractive.’
    I laughed. ‘He does have a certain Gallic charm.’
    â€˜And he’s living in your flat! I don’t know how you can keep your hands off him. Nick had better watch out.’
    â€˜I’d never cheat on Nick,’ I said, more sharply than I’d intended. ‘I’d never hurt him like that.’
    â€˜I was joking, Anna.’
    â€˜Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just that Nick’s not too happy about Alex staying with me. We had a row about it.’
    â€˜But you and Nick are OK now?’
    â€˜I think we are.’ The morning after we’d argued, Nick had been a bit subdued, but he’d kissed me when he dropped me off at my flat on his way to the motorway, and he’d texted that he’d arrived safely at his hotel. And signed his text, ‘Love Nick xx’. ‘We’ll be fine once he’s back in London.’
    â€˜After all, what possible objection could your boyfriend have to your moving a hot guy like Alex into your flat?’
    I rolled my eyes.
    â€˜Seriously, Anna. I can understand if Nick’s feeling a little insecure.’
    â€˜He needn’t be.’
    â€˜Well, maybe make sure he knows that – when he gets back to London.’
    â€˜He tries to tell me which of my friends I can invite to my flat, and you think I should be extra nice to him?’
    Beth laughed. ‘If you want a successful relationship, then you have to be prepared to make sacrifices.’
    I said, ‘Nick and I are good together. But Alex’s friendship is important to me. And Nick needs to understand that.’
    A small voice said, ‘Mummy?’
    Jonah came out of his bedroom, clutching his teddy bear, a toy elephant, and a toy dog.
    â€˜Oh, for goodness’ sake, Jonah,’ Beth said. ‘You’ve been charging around the house since 6 a.m. Why aren’t you asleep? You go on downstairs, Anna. Tell Rob to make some coffee. I’ll be down in a minute.’ She led Jonah and his menagerie back to his bed.
    I went downstairs and being familiar with Beth’s kitchen, made the coffee myself and took it through to Alex and Rob. Beth joined us just a few minutes later. Suddenly, she looked very tired, which was, I supposed, unsurprising, if she’d been up since six o’clock running after Jonah. I wondered what time Molly woke up in the mornings. I knew very little about babies, but I suspected that they started the day fairly early.
    â€˜Both of them sleeping now?’ Rob said.
    â€˜Finally,’ Beth said, picking at the remains of her lasagne, before deciding it was no longer edible. She yawned, and then smiled at Alex. ‘You know, it’s remarkable how you and Anna have become such good friends through your letters. It makes me wish I’d kept writing to Fabienne, my French penfriend. I don’t suppose you know what she’s up to these days?’
    â€˜No, I don’t,’ Alex said. ‘As far as I remember, she wanted to become a doctor, but I’ve no idea if she went to medical college. I’ve lost touch with most of the people I was at school with. Though, I do hear from Gérard occasionally.’
    â€˜Gérard?’ Beth said.
    You must remember Gérard,’ I said. ‘He was arrogant and wild, and I fancied him