Free Obsession by Susan Lewis Page B

anyone, when just about every face she saw was so blank, so unreceptive, and everyone was in such a hurry to get somewhere? The whoop and wail of police sirens, coupled with the hostile blasting of car horns seemed unsettlingly constant, and the overcrowded streets, clustered, dour-looking buildings and the unrelenting greyness were almost as menacing as the daily headlines of violent crime.
    Trying not to be daunted Corrie was slightly cheered when they visited Covent Garden and roamed about the weird and wonderful stalls packed with hand-carved wooden toys, ornately embroidered cushions and exotic jewellery. They went to a concert at the Albert Hall, where they spent as much time laughing at the way the baby sat curiously wide-eyed in her sling while seeming to tap her foot to the rhythm, as they did listening to the music. They visited Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and on Paula’s last night they went to the cinema where Beth slept through Cristos Bennati’s film starring Angelique Warne.
    ‘It’s funny how it all seemed somehow attainable when I was in Amberside, just dreaming about it,’ Corrie said when they came out into Curzon Street. ‘Now, even standing here, smack in the middle of it all, it feels like a zillion light years away. Am I doing the right thing? Or am I completely insane?’
    ‘Both,’ Paula laughed. ‘But you have to give it a try. And once you find a job, well, you’ll have more friends than you can handle, you see. And you can always come home at weekends, if you get lonely. It’s not far on the train.’
    ‘I don’t suppose you and Dave would consider moving down as well, would you?’ Corrie asked glumly.
    ‘Strap-hanging on the tube’s not for me,’ Paula winced. ‘In case you hadn’t noticed I’m just the right height for my nose to fit comfortably into the nearest armpit. I’d end up suffocating in BO.’
    Laughing, Corrie hugged her. ‘Just be thankful you’re not a midget,’ she said. ‘Oh, I’m going to miss you.’ She didn’t add how terrified she was of Paula leaving tomorrow.
    ‘I’m going to miss you too,’ Paula said, swallowing the lump in her throat. She’d never said so to Corrie, but the very idea of life without her seemed intolerable. Dave knew that, which was why he had let her come to London, but how on earth was she going to say good-bye? Even worse, how could she let Corrie stay here alone in this dreadful place?
    When Corrie got up the next morning Paula was on the telephone to Dave.
    ‘I’ve just asked him if I can stay until the end of the week,’ she said when she put the phone down. ‘Until after you’ve met your father. He said it was OK, but I have to go back at the weekend.’
    ‘Oh Paula,’ Corrie gasped. ‘That’s terrific. I was really dreading you leaving.’
    ‘I thought you might be,’ Paula laughed, and taking the toast Corrie had buttered for her she sat down at the gleaming white formica-topped breakfast table. She watched Corrie as she made more tea. Behind her the windows were steamy and a drizzly rain trickled down the outside. Paula had thought it rained a lot in Amberside, it seemed never to stop in London.
    ‘Corrie,’ she said after a while, ‘you don’t
have
to stay here you know. I mean no one will think any the worse of you if you change your mind.’
    Corrie turned round, pulling the belt of her dressing gown tighter then stuffing her hands in the pockets. ‘It really is bloody awful, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘It’s so gloomy, so depressed.’
    ‘It’s the recession,’ Paula said. ‘Not a good time to be looking for a job either.’
    ‘Just what I’ve been thinking. You know ninety per cent of me wants to go home with you – ninety-five per cent. But the rest of me would never forgive me if I didn’t at least give it a try now I’m here. But I’m not up for flogging a dead horse. I’ll give Uncle Ted a call, get him to set up a meeting with my father, then I’ll take it from