‘It’s okay, I know what they’re both like.’
‘I’ve spent most of the weekend in my bedroom, but it was pretty hard to study because of the noise they made, watching the football during the day and inviting their mates round last night. That’s why everything is in an even worse state, I had to put my ear plugs in and even then I still couldn’t concentrate enough to revise properly.’
Anna felt a pang of sympathy for her youngest brother. He was the only one who ever tried to help, and that selfish lot couldn’t even go out to the pub to give him the peace and quiet he needed to study. With a jolt she remembered what tomorrow’s date was.
‘Oh, Harry, I’m so sorry. You’ve got your first exam tomorrow as well. Why didn’t you just tell them, or at least tell Dad, so that they could’ve given you some peace and quiet?’
He shrugged. ‘You know what Jack’s like when he’s been drinking. I thought it would cause more trouble than it’s worth. Yesterday I went to the library and spent most of the day there. If nothing else, it was a change of scene.’
She really hoped that, despite them, he did well in his exams so that he could get away from this place.
‘How are you feeling about tomorrow?’
‘Okay. To be honest I’ll be glad to start ticking them off the list.’
‘I’ll bet.’
She’d never had the experience herself, but this was the result of two years’ hard work and he must be looking forward to the end of it, so he could move on to the next stage.
‘Just think, in a month it will all be over and you’ll have the summer to do as you like, with no revision.’
‘Sounds like heaven.’ He closed his eyes.
‘I’ll do whatever I can to help you through it,’ she said, although how she was going to fit it all in, she didn’t know. ‘But I think the next few days are going to be difficult. I’m not going to give in to Jack, so we might be in for a bumpy ride.’
‘That’s okay. I’m with you on this. I don’t see why they can’t pull their weight.’
‘It’s a pity there isn’t somewhere else you could go and stay for a bit so that you can study in peace.’
Harry smiled. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m not going to let them put me off. I’m going to get my grades so that I can move away.’
‘That’s the spirit. Although, I’ll miss you.’
‘I’ll miss you too. I missed you this weekend. But did you have a good time?’
She grinned back at him. ‘Oh, I had a brilliant time.’ She told him all about Daniel, Ben, his house and the glorious countryside. And then she told him that Daniel had offered to become her mentor.
‘Oh, that’s fantastic, Anna. It’s just the thing you need to get what you want out of life. You really should go for it and don’t let the rest of them get in the way.’
‘I won’t,’ she said. And this time she meant it.
Chapter Thirteen
‘You look different,’ Daisy stared at Anna, a puzzled expression on her face. ‘I can’t put my finger on why, though — you haven’t changed anything.’
Anna grinned back at her. They were at the Angel on Monday night and she’d been struggling all day to keep the smile off her face. Working with Daniel today had been the best and she was positively fizzing.
Daisy gasped. ‘Oh my God! That’s what it is! You’re happy.’
‘Oh, I am.’
‘I can’t remember the last time you were happy,’ Daisy said. ‘That’s why you look so different.’
Anna laughed. ‘I’ll get us some wine, shall I?’
‘You’d best get a bottle. I think this is going to take some time.’
When Anna returned from the bar and poured them both generous glasses of wine, Daisy said, ‘Right, now, I want to know everything. Have you met someone?’
