Page 281 - Bridget Jones's Diary - by Helen FIELDING

obviously completely put off by culinary disasters and criminal element in

family, but too polite to show it at time. Paddling-pool bonding evidently pales
into insignificance alongside theft of parents' savings by naughty Bridget's nasty
mummy. Am going to see Dad this afternoon, in manner of tragic spinster
spurned by all men instead of in manner to which have been accustomed: in
chauffeur-driven car with top barrister.

1 p.m. Hurrah! Hurrah! Just as I was leaving had phone call, but could not hear
anything but beeping sound at the other end. Then the phone rang again. It was
Mark, from Portugal. Just incredibly kind and brilliant of him. Apparently he has
been talking to the police all week in between being top barrister and flew out to
Albufeira yesterday. The police over there have found Mum and Mark thinks she
will get off because it will be pretty obvious she had no idea what Julio was up

to. They've managed to track down some of the money, but haven't found Julio
yet. Mum is coming back tonight, but will have to go straight to a police station
for questioning. He said not to worry, it will probably all be OK, but he's made
arrangements for bail if it turns out to be necessary. Then we got cut off before I
even had time to say thank you. Desperate to ring Tom to tell him fantastic news
but remember no one is supposed to know about Mum and, unfortunately, last

time I spoke to Tom about Mark Darcy I think I might have implied he was a
creepy mummy's boy.

Sunday 26 November

9st 1, alcohol Units 0, cigarettes 1/2 (fat chance of any more), calories God
knows, minutes spent wanting to kill mother 188 (conservative estimate).