Sharon Kendrick - Make-Over Marriage

‘Mummy, Hannah Phipps who writes those horse books is visiting our school after Christmas, and I’m to present her with a bouquet of flowers!’

‘Mummy, they’ve given me the part of the wicked witch in the summer play and I’m supposed to give you a list of what I need for costumes—but I’ve lost it!’

‘Mummy, I sat an extra Latin paper, just for fun, only I got the whole thing right, and Mrs McFadden is seriously pleased with me!’

‘That’s sad!’

‘It is not sad—Mrs McFadden says I’ll probably get a Headmaster’s Accommodation!’

‘Sadder still!’

Anna’s mouth softened into a wide smile of loving pride as she surveyed her triplet daughters—identical to look at, but so very different in character. They had inherited their pale, freckle-dusted skin, their cobalt eyes and golden hair directly from her, but whereas her hair was straight, theirs was a mass of uncontrollable curls. They were tall for their age, and their rangy, athletic build came straight from Todd. ‘Hello, darlings!’ she beamed as she hugged each one fiercely in turn. ‘What clever girls you all are!’

Natalia, Natasha and Valentina were known affectionately as Tally, Tasha and Tina. Tally and Tasha had been born late on February 13th, but their sister hadn’t joined them until two minutes after midnight on St Valentine’s day. So she never did get christened Nerissa, which had been her parents’ original intention, but everyone who knew her decided that ‘Tina’ suited her loving and slightly scatty personality far better than Nerissa would have done!

‘Daddy, why are you home from work so early?’ asked Tasha curiously, her intelligent eyes flicking from her mother to her father with interest.

‘I...sort of...took the afternoon off,’ explained Todd lamely, and Anna had to try very hard not to smile, their angry spat temporarily forgotten. Rarely, if ever, had she seen her husband look quite so much at a loss for words!

‘Oh. I see. And why is your shirt on inside out?’ Tasha added innocently.

‘Er...juice and biscuits for three hardworking and worn out girls, is it?” enquired Todd hurriedly.

‘Oh, yes, please , Daddy!’ trilled the three in unison.

‘And for you, darling?’ Todd looked directly at Anna.

Their eyes met over three silky blonde heads and the unmissable look of determination in her husband’s grey eyes made Anna dread the resumption of their talk.

‘Tea, please,’ she told him calmly, grateful for a bit of breathing space.

There was a lull while Todd clattered around in the kitchen and Anna brushed the triplets’ wayward hair and exclaimed over offerings brought home from their art class.

And, although she tried very hard not to think about it, her words came back to haunt her as she realised that for the first time ever she had had the courage to speak the truth during her row with Todd.

She had never meant to, but facts were facts, and, yes, she had trapped Todd Travers into a marriage he had never intended...

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