??t be too hard on him in the morning, he doesn’t make a habit of this behaviour.’
Kelly sat in the bedroom chair watching Jordan for what was left of the night. He muttered a lot in his sleep, incoherently most of the time, obviously disturbed.
He was still asleep when she left the bedroom to join her father for breakfast. Not that she had tried to aid his slumber, banging drawers and cupboards as she took out her denims and blouse before going into the shower. None of her movements seemed to disturb Jordan in the least, his sleep was now deep and untroubled.
‘Still sleeping, is he?’ her father teased as Kelly sat down at the table.
‘Yes,’ she acknowledged tightly.
‘Probably the best thing for him.’
‘Probably.’ She poured herself some coffee.
‘Still angry with him?’ He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
‘Yes.’ Kelly didn’t attempt to prevaricate.
‘Must have been some argument.’
‘It was.’
‘It surely doesn’t have anything to do with the way he teased you?’
‘Indirectly,’ she revealed abruptly.
‘Oh, Kelly love, you can’t—’
‘Please, Daddy,’ she said firmly. ‘I know you mean well, but—well, I—’
‘Don’t interfere, hmm?’ he quirked an eyebrow. ‘It’s all right, you can tell me if I’m out of line.’
She looked down at her cup. ‘You’re out of line.’
‘Enough said,’ he accepted goodnaturedly. ‘Now, do you feel like driving me to the hospital? I’ve been advised not to drive for the moment.’
Kelly smiled, relieved that he didn’t pursue the subject of her argument with Jordan. ‘Of course I’ll drive you,’ she said eagerly. She had wanted to be out of the house when Jordan woke up. ‘I’ll pick you up later too, if you like,’ she offered.
‘That won’t be necessary. Anne said she would drive me back.’
So the beautiful Sister Fellows wanted to see Jordan yet again! Kelly felt a sickening lurch in her stomach. Maybe the other woman was the reason Jordan had got drunk last night. He would probably have rather been with her than putting up a front for Kelly’s father.
Jordan had already left for the office when Kelly returned from driving her father to his therapy class, and by Mrs McLeod’s ruffled manner he had been in the foul mood Kelly had expected.
‘Will my husband be back for lunch?’ she asked the housekeeper.
‘I—er—I don’t think so,’ Mrs McLeod stumbled a reply.
In other words the poor woman had been too frightened of his temper to ask him. He really was a tyrant! ‘Then we’ll all be out,’ Kelly told her. ‘My father intends eating at the hospital, so I think I’ll eat out myself.’
‘Very well, Mrs Lord.’
Kelly went into the lounge, obtaining the number she needed before dialling. ‘Mrs Smythe, please,’ she told the maid who answered the telephone. ‘Mrs Lord calling.’ She tapped her fingers impatiently on the coffee-table as she waited for Laura to come to the telephone.
‘Kelly!’ Laura cried her pleasure. ‘How lovely to hear from you. And so providentially too. I’m feeling a bit down this morning,’ she explained.
Kelly had been unsure of the other girl’s reaction to her call and her unreserved pleasure was reassuring. ‘Nothing serious, I hope?’
‘No,’ Laura laughed. ‘Just impatience for the birth. I feel a bit like a tank at the moment! And I’m so tired. You’ve telephoned to arrange a meeting, I hope?’