The Long Way Home
Page 30
‘We can do this,’ said Ian, sensing her reluctance. And sure enough they could.
As one song changed to another he put an arm round her waist and took her other hand, leading the way. They knew each other well and fitted neatly together. With him, she felt no pressure, no need to be perfect. They had ridden out so many storms and yet still stood to tell the tale. She closed her eyes and let herself sway with the rhythm of the music. The one place she was safe and loved was at the heart of her family – nothing could replace that.
‘Mmm, this is nice,’ she heard him say.
She stepped out of his arms and stood with her hands on her hips. ‘Don’t you ever give up?’
‘Not while there’s still hope,’ he said, grinning that grin. ‘Oh, come on. Where’s your sense of humour?’
He reached out for her and she stepped back into his arms, looking up at him. ‘There ain’t no hope, sunshine.’
‘More’s the pity.’
The music changed again and she found herself flung backwards as he caught her up in a jive. By now the terrace had cleared and the remaining partygoers stood round the edge clapping as Ian threw her around and the steps of their favourite dance came back to her.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see the rest of her family laughing and applauding too.
Home. However long it had taken to get here, this was where she was meant to be.
Acknowledgements
Every novel of mine relies on a team of people who help with research and who keep me on the straight and narrow.
Huge thanks are due to –
My agent and friend, Clare Alexander, has been tirelessly supportive and always has my back. Clare Hey, my patient and perceptive editor without whom this novel might never have seen the light of day. I’ve been welcomed by her team at Simon & Schuster where I must give a particular shout out to Sara-Jade Virtue, Jess Barratt, Alice Rodgers, and the eagle-eyed Sally Partington.
Helping me with research into the world of teenagers were Charlotte Pearce, Maggie Shipp, Miranda McMinn and Lucia Hagan, Louise Candlish and Greta Burton. Jane and Jeremy Rawkins walked where I couldn’t during lockdown and reported back in detail. Elizabeth Buchan who talked through plot lines and read an early draft. Michelle Gorman who read another and made some fantastically astute suggestions. Thanks to you all.
Finally as always my family and friends who put up with me during the writing of this novel which went through its ups and downs, and particularly my husband Robin who read and advised so brilliantly.
About the Author
Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing both fiction and non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written various non-fiction titles, acted as ghostwriter for a number of celebrities, and is a former books editor of Woman & Home magazine. She has been a judge of a number of literary prizes, including the Costa First Novel Award, the Desmond Elliott Award, the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the British Book Awards. She is also the commissioning editor for Quick Reads and a book reviewer. She has written eight previous novels, including An Italian Summer and A Summer Reunion.
www.SimonandSchuster.co.uk/Authors/Fanny-Blake
Also by Fanny Blake:
A Summer Reunion
An Italian Summer
Our Summer Together
House of Dreams
With a Friend Like You
The Secrets Women Keep
Women of a Dangerous Age
What Women Want
Novellas:
Red for Revenge
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First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2021
Copyright © Fanny Blake, 2021. All rights reserved
The right of Fanny Blake to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4711-9359-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-9360-6
Audio ISBN: 978-1-3985-0406-6
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.