BooksBarbecue
Back The Cliff House Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. Booklist
  3. Title Page
  4. Praise
  5. Dedication
  6. Prologue
  7. CHAPTER ONE
  8. CHAPTER TWO
  9. CHAPTER THREE
  10. CHAPTER FOUR
  11. CHAPTER FIVE
  12. CHAPTER SIX
  13. CHAPTER SEVEN
  14. CHAPTER EIGHT
  15. CHAPTER NINE
  16. CHAPTER TEN
  17. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  18. CHAPTER TWELVE
  19. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  21. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  23. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  24. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  25. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  55. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  56. CHAPTER FIFTY
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  60. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  61. CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
  62. Epilogue
  63. Acknowledgements
  64. About the Publisher

I opened the back cover of the encyclopaedia and took out the two pieces of blotting paper I kept there; then I laid the daisy between the sheets, pressed gently, and carefully repositioned the blotting paper. I closed the back cover then rested the second heavy book on top of it and slid both into the gap between the crates beneath my bed to let the daisy dry. Then I lay on my bed and waited for my mum to get back.

It was late when I finally heard their voices. The sky was black and the moon high and full, and my room was dipped blue by the light which fell through the window. I knelt up on my bed, and keeping myself hidden from view I peered around the edge of the window frame at the street below. The two of them stood facing each other beside our low granite wall. I held my breath, my hands clenched into fists, fingernails digging into my palms.

‘Don’t kiss her,’ I whispered. ‘Don’t kiss her.’

Don’t kiss her.

When she rested her hand on his arm my stomach pitched. He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. I watched helplessly as she smiled and nodded. For a moment they didn’t move and I held my breath.

When she dropped her hand and turned away from him I exhaled with relief, and rested my head against the cool glass and said a silent thank you. I looked down again and saw her walk through our gate. She paused to glance over her shoulder and raised a hand to him before rummaging in her bag for her key. He stood with his hands in his pockets and watched her. It was only when the front door closed with a gentle thud that he finally turned away and retreated up the street.

‘Yes, that’s it, you prick,’ I whispered. ‘Leave us a-bloody-lone.’

Then I turned away from the window, covered my face with my hands, and shook.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Tamsyn

July 1986

Mum was catching a lift up to the house on the motorbike with Jago. She was insistent they arrive together so she could be there to introduce him to the Davenports. Jago joked that she obviously didn’t trust him to get there alone, which she tried to laugh off but not very convincingly.

I was happy to walk. It was a beautiful day and it meant I had an excuse to get out of the house early. I cut myself a slice of bread for my breakfast and spread it with butter before setting off.