Summer of Love Read Online Free PDF

While Sian agreed on some levels, she wasn’t sure marrying Richard so he could be a role model was the answer. She sighed and said more brightly, ‘He’s met a little girl called Annabelle, who goes there. And he’s looking forward to seeing Emily again. Has she got lots of young helpers, do you know?’
    They chatted on gently about Emily’s project and ended with a plan for Richard to come over the following evening and have supper. He was driving down from London that afternoon for a flying visit home before his next trip. Sian went to bed feeling fond of him. He might never set the world on fire but he was nice, and niceness had a lot going for it. She hadn’t always thought like that, of course. Once she’d followed her heart – and her hormones – and had a mad, brief affair that had resulted in Rory. But now, nearly six years on, she felt she’d grown up a bit and no longer looked for heart-stopping passion but for something more comfortable and secure. Her head was definitely sure this was what she needed and wanted, she just wished she could convince her stubborn heart of this. However, she had to be practical. It was no good thinking she was a heroine in one of those books she’d devoured as a teenager. Real life wasn’t like that, and as she was never going to see Rory’s father again she just had to get on with it. And the love one felt for a friend could grow into a deeper love, couldn’t it? All the articles said that a relationship based on friendship was an enduring one and she knew that arranged marriages often lasted longer than those where the couple had married ‘for love’. She was sure if she decided on a life with Richard, as he wished, she and Rory would have a very contented, safe, one. Brushing aside the nagging little voice inside her heart that said, ‘Contentment, is that what you really want?’ she turned over and drifted off to sleep.
    The next morning, Sian managed to persuade Rory to eat Marmite soldiers. At first he’d been too excited for breakfast but Sian had been firm. He couldn’t go to the play scheme on an empty stomach. She had only been able to sip a cup of tea; she seemed much more nervous than her son.
    As they walked up the lane, Rory chatted excitedly, swinging her arm and striding purposefully, his little backpack perched on his back. This was a very good sign, thought Sian. He liked Emily, who had helped tutor him when Sian had taken him out of school, but the last time he’d been around a group of children he’d hated it. But that was at a big ugly institution in London, Sian reminded herself. As he asked her about the other children – he knew Annabelle now, of course – she also realised with a pang of guilt just how much he must have been missing the company of children his age.
    They had walked to the nursery the day before so that Rory had an idea where he’d be going and how far it was from the cottage – and his mother. Although the building itself was somewhat utilitarian it was in a lovely setting, a safe distance from the main road and with plenty of space for the children to run around in.
    Much to Rory’s pleasure and surprise, there was a young man helping out with the older children. Rory was delighted to see Emily and after saying hello to her and throwing a cursory glance at his mother, he rushed to join the other children. Emily raised an eyebrow at Sian as if to say, ‘What did I tell you, there was nothing to worry about,’ and Sian smiled. This was all a great relief to her. She needed reliable childcare where Rory was really happy so she could work. She would only get paid for the few commissions she had outstanding when she could deliver them. She loved the fact that she had her own business and was making money from doing something she loved, but it could be precarious. When she wasn’t doing the painting, she had to drum up more work. She hoped Fiona’s friend with the shop would turn out to be a good contact. And at least