The Mistake I Made Read Online Free PDF

consequence of this was that Petra and Vince were the only people I knew to have a lovely, enclosed, rectangular piece of turf with great views of the Langdale Pikes. These pretty western fells – like the Rockies’ Sawtooth Range in miniature – are pink when reflecting the early-morning sun and become bathed in a glorious orange light as the sun sets behind them. Which meant gatherings at Petra and Vince’s often had a kind of bank-holiday feel.
    There were picnic benches, wicker sofas, meticulously tended flower beds, and though Vince tended to be laid-back about most things in life, his lawn was grade-one bowling-green turf, which he tended to continuously. He would snip away at stray edges with kitchen scissors, as one might do with award-winning topiary.
    I made my way from the patio over to Petra, who was serving my parents with their usual – non-alcoholic lager for my dad, cranberry juice for my mum (cystitis sufferer). After I’d greeted everyone and apologized for my tardiness, my dad informed me that he and Mum would not be staying long, followed by, ‘You know us, we don’t like to be out late. What with the long drive we have to do now, and all,’ and I said, ‘No, no, of course,’ both of us dropping our heads to avoid eye contact.
    They had begun to look frail of late. Their natural vigour was starting to wane. My mother, particularly, moved carefully now, as though recovering from a bad fall, and it occurred to me that perhaps she had in fact sustained one, and had kept it to herself.
    I told them I’d round George up in a moment, that he’d been eager to get upstairs to his cousin, which was not exactly true. The reason I didn’t send George straight out to see his grandparents was because I was frightened he’d blab to them about the missing furniture. And they worried about my finances enough as it was.
    ‘Roz! Roz, come and chat to Scott and Nadine,’ Petra said now, dragging me away by the elbow. ‘I’m dying for you to meet them. They’re so lovely. I can’t believe they came. And wait till I show you what Scott brought. See that wine over there?’ She motioned to the benches on the patio, which were dressed with white table-cloths. ‘He brought three cases!’
    ‘It’s good wine?’ I asked, not really knowing what to say.
    ‘What?’ she said, frowning. ‘Of course it’s good wine. Scott doesn’t drink crap. He has a guy who picks out the best for him and delivers. Anyway, don’t mention it, or he gets a bit uncomfortable. He’s very humble about his wealth.’
    ‘I wasn’t going to.’
    ‘Scott, Nadine,’ said Petra as we approached, ‘this is my sister, Roz Toovey. She’s the physiotherapist I was telling you about. Roz is super-talented. She can fix anyone. Even people who have been in pain for years.’
    I coughed and stuck out my hand. ‘I fear Petra might be overselling me. Pleased to meet you, Nadine. What pretty hair you have.’
    ‘She travels to Manchester for highlights, don’t you, Nadine?’ cut in Petra as Nadine rose, taking my hand, telling me how glad she was finally to meet me. She kissed me on both cheeks, and there was that awkward moment where one person (that would be me) pulls away after a single kiss, not expecting the second. It’s such an easy way to wrong-foot a Northerner. ‘We’ve heard so much about you,’ she said, smiling genuinely.
    ‘Likewise,’ I replied, and then whispered in her ear, ‘I think Petra’s a little bit in love with you, actually.’
    Nadine was gracious enough to take the compliment with a small raise of her eyebrows, then she ushered me towards her husband.
    ‘Scott Elias,’ he said and, again, two kisses. He was around six foot, stood very sure of himself and could have been a little imposing if it weren’t for the way he smiled. He did it in a way to indicate it was a real pleasure to meet me, as though he was genuinely interested in what I had to say.
    ‘Perhaps you could take a look at my elbow