Out of Love [antikvár]

PrologueHattie lay asleep next to Tess, curled around her like a softly breathing dormouse. She seemed to know instinctively when Mark was not there, and would creep in, taking care not to wake her, so it was only when the sunlight began to slowly filter through the curtains that Tess would feel Hattie's breath on her face, her hand like a butterfly's wing on her arm, waking to the whispered words, 'Is it morning time?'To Hattie, this was the safest place in the world, and Tess, who had never been allowed to sleep in her own parents' bed, would not have dreamt of turfing her out. Tonight she turned and put an arm gently around her daughter, smiling into the darkness. This is perfect peace, she thought, as Hattie twitched with her vivid child dreams of sand and sea and sailing kites in a blue, blue sky.In the morning they woke simultaneously, early. Hattie's eyes were wide with astonishment at still being at the house, without the boys, the luxury of having Tess all to herself. 'Can we swim?' she whispered. They had to be out of the house by ten. Tess Ufted herself up onto one elbow and looked at the alarm clock. It was just after seven, and already the pale light was sHpping into the room beneath the