The Way We Were Read Online Free PDF Page A

when we were at uni, the first ray of sunshine and you had to be out in it.’
    She'd ignored the reference to their past – long past – intimacy ‘Why do you think I said I'd help you and Val out?’ she'd retorted. ‘My sunshine fix was part of the package. Anyway, there's nothing for me to do at the moment. Aren't you feeling good? You should be. We've weathered our first bank holiday and everyone's happy. See you later.’
    She hadn't waited for his reply; it was so necessary for her to be outside, with the chill April wind sliding over her skin and the warmth of the hot sun on her face. She'd hurried into her annexe to pick up her jacket and the bag of cakes for Aunt Em, and then into her little car and away on the road to St Teath. At once her spirits soared; passing through a landscape she'd known for thirty-two years she was so happy she felt frightened.
    Testing herself, she thought about Chris. How much of her happiness was because she was working with him, living in the annexe next door to him and Val, seeing him each day?
    â€˜Are you sure it will work, darling?’ her mother had asked anxiously. ‘I know that you and Val are friends too, but you and Chris were so close when you were at Durham. There was a time when we really thought you would make a go of it together.’
    â€˜Honestly. Mum,’ she'd answered impatiently, ‘it's no big deal. We're all good mates, that's all there is to it. It's ten years since Chris and I were at uni together. He and Val have had enough of London and they want to sell up and move to the country. They've seen this place at Port Isaac and want to have a go at holiday letting. I can help them.’
    And she had: making ready for letting the three little modernized barns that were grouped round the old farmyard, and planning and stocking up the little shop and restaurant complex which, in its prime position on the edge of Port Isaac, was bound to bring in visitors. Penharrow, the original house now occupied by Val and Chris, had a tiny apartment for Liv.
    â€˜Stop fussing,’ she'd told her mother, ‘and tell Dad too. I always wanted to do something like this, only it would have been even better if it had been my own project rather than Val and Chris's. It's a terrific challenge and I'm loving every minute of it. I know Dad thinks I should be a lawyer or a doctor or something he can brag about, but I always wanted to stay here, in Cornwall, just like Charlie always wanted to work with horses on Uncle Robert's farm in Hampshire and Zack wanted to be in the navy. Out of us all, only Andy is a city person and Dad worries about him too.’
    â€˜He wants you all to be happy and secure. That's reasonable, isn't it? And he's not really fussing. It's just that he doesn't want you to be living at Penharrow with Chris and Val for the rest of your life.’ Her mother had hesitated. ‘It can be dangerous,’ she'd said at last, ‘when two people have had a very close relationship.’
    Now, driving to Blisland, Liv remembered her mother's expression; as if she were remembering something particular – and painful.
    â€˜But I'm not in love with Chris any more,’ she argued to herself. ‘It doesn't apply.’ Yet she felt uncomfortable, knowing deep down that there was a tiny remnant of real affection, and knowing that Chris felt it too. Part of her happiness was due to the knowledge that she would see him later; sitting together at the big refectory table with glasses of wine, talking over the day. Val would be there, of course, but it was fun, something extra, that sense of past intimacy.
    The fresh sweet air was intoxicating and she took one hand off the wheel to lift the thick fair hair from her neck so as to feel the cool breeze flow like water on her skin. She shivered, remembering how, a few nights back, Chris's hand had rested lightly there on the back of her neck: a casual gesture made as he'd