{"product_id":"five-years-from-now-isbn-9780593715567","title":"Five Years from Now","description":"\u003cb\u003eBEST FRIENDS. FIRST KISS. FIRST LOVE. FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT WILL THEY BE?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon's romances are powerful and poignant and never fail to leave me clutching her book to my chest.” – MIA SHERIDAN, author of \u003ci\u003eARCHER’S VOICE \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn the spirit of Mia Sheridan\u003ci\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003ea heartbreaking story of star-crossed, fated love, and two people who are brought together and torn apart every five years until they must make a choice that’s bigger than their lives alone.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love. They become best friends and each other’s whole world. Then tragedy strikes and Van is sent to the other side of the globe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFive years later, they find each other again. But they’re no longer children and the bond between them smolders into flames. New feelings surprise them both. They are destined, soulmates. Until an untimely discovery tears them apart again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, even as life and circumstance divide them. They will have to make a choice, but it’s bigger than their lives alone. Is it bigger than their love?\u003cu\u003ePraise for Paige Toon\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon is a master at toying with the heartstrings and I want to hate her for it, but I just keep coming back for more. Nobody writes angst and joy and hope like Paige Toon. I gobble up every one of her books!”—Christina Lauren, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unhoneymooners \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eLove and Other Words\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon's romances are powerful and poignant and never fail to leave me clutching her book to my chest.” –Mia Sheridan, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eArcher’s Voice \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eTravis\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon warms your heart, shatters it in pieces, then puts it back together again and again.” —Abby Jimenez, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eJust for the Summer\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon writes the ultimate love stories: beautifully written, complex, and filled with longing.”—Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eNora Goes Off Script\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon is the queen of heart-rending love stories.”—Sophie Cousens, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eJust Haven’t Met You Yet\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Toon’s writing is emotional and riveting.”—Jill Santopolo, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Light We Lost\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Every Paige Toon romance is five stars. Her beautiful, emotional love stories sweep me away.”—Beth O’Leary, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Flatshare\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Toon urges us to risk everything, to never play it safe when it comes to the heart, and to know that caring is always, always, worth the cost.” —Caroline Leavitt, author of \u003ci\u003ePictures of You\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWith or Without You\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Unique and moving.” —Josie Silver, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOne Day in December\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Only Paige Toon can make me believe in the power of love this way.” —Laura Jane Williams, author of \u003ci\u003eOur Stop\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Love Square\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Devoured in one sitting.” —\u003ci\u003eCosmopolitan\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Emotional.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Compulsively page-turning, wildly romantic and beautifully heartbreaking.”—Emily Stone, author of \u003ci\u003eAlways in December\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Paige Toon is the queen of will they\/won’t they romance, setting up an ending that will leave you in bits.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Express \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Queen of rom coms.” —\u003ci\u003eOK Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e (UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eFive Years from Now\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tender, heart-breaking and magical. I went from feeling warm and fuzzy, to shock, delight, and finally, well—you’ll just have to read it!’ —Giovanna Fletcher, author of \u003ci\u003eEve of Man\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Filled with warmth and poignancy, \u003ci\u003eFive Years from Now\u003c\/i\u003e is a page turner and a delight.” —Catherine Isaac, author of \u003ci\u003eYou, Me, Everything\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The queen of will they\/won’t they romance.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Express \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Simply gorgeous.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Sun \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Full of living-in-the-moment and what-might-have-been contrasts, this tender read pulls at the heartstrings.” —\u003ci\u003eFabulous, The Sun on Sunday \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003cb\u003ePaige Toon\u003c\/b\u003e grew up between England, Australia, and America and has been writing emotional love stories since 2007. She has published fifteen novels, a three-part spin-off series for young adults, and a collection of short stories. Her books have sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide. She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her husband and their two children.\u003cb\u003ePrologue: Forty\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh, baby,\" I murmur, brushing Luke's hair away from his forehead as he fights back tears.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe's still my \"baby,\" even if he is almost fifteen years old.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I can't believe I'm going to be holed up for the rest of the summer,\" he says in a choked voice. \"\u003ci\u003eAnd \u003c\/i\u003eI'm going to miss Angie's party,\" he realizes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI suspect this fact hurts him even more than his broken ankle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She'll probably get off with Jake and that'll be that, then,\" he adds bitterly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI lean in and squeeze his shoulder. \"Angela Rakesmith looks at you like the light shines out of your backside,\" I say pointedly. \"You have nothing to worry about there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite himself, my son grins, but it's quickly followed by a grimace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Do you need more painkillers?\" I ask with concern, my hand halfway toward the button to call the nurse.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe shakes his head. \"They make me feel sick.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm sorry you'll miss the party.\" I am genuinely sympathetic. Luke has been looking forward to it so much. \"That sucks. But think of all of the attention you'll get when you go back to school. The girls will be clambering over themselves to sign your cast. Angie will be jealous as hell.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis bottom lip wobbles and he swallows rapidly, but there's no holding back his tears of misery and frustration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I had so many plans for this summer! How did I do this surfing?\" He slaps his hand on the bed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It could've been worse.\" I shudder at the thought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe rolls his eyes, putting a halt to the direction my thoughts were taking. \"It could \u003ci\u003ealways \u003c\/i\u003ebe worse. That doesn't make me feel better, Mum.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I know it might not make a lot of sense right now, but one day...\" A shiver goes down my spine as I hear myself saying the words, \"...maybe five years from now, you'll look back and understand why this happened.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No, I won't,\" he retorts grumpily. \"I'll just think I was a stupid dick for inviting Jensen to come surfing with us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI cast my eyes heavenward.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat's how it happened. Luke's friend Jensen got caught up in the rip current and Luke went after him. They hit the rocks on their way back in. Jensen face-planted on the reef and had to have three stitches on his eyebrow, but was otherwise unharmed. My son was less fortunate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You're right. You \u003ci\u003eshouldn't \u003c\/i\u003ehave invited him,\" I say. \"\u003ci\u003eNone \u003c\/i\u003eof you should have been surfing at Porthleven in those conditions, \u003ci\u003eespecially \u003c\/i\u003eJensen, who is way too inexperienced.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnlike Luke, who has been surfing almost every day since he was ten years old.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe bites his lip, knowing that he hasn't heard the last of this.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But,\" I persist with making my point, despite his earlier dismissal, \"maybe some good \u003ci\u003ewill \u003c\/i\u003ecome of this. Maybe, one day in the future, Jensen will think twice about surfing in similar conditions. Or \u003ci\u003eyou \u003c\/i\u003ewill. Or one of your friends will, and it might save their lives. Or perhaps there's something else you'll do this summer, someone you'll meet who you wouldn't have met otherwise, who'll have an impact on your life. This may strengthen Angie's feelings for you, or it may not-but at least you'll know and won't waste your time on her. All I'm saying is, although this feels like the worst thing ever right now, something positive might come out of it. My dad once gave me that 'five years from now' advice and I've never forgotten it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLuke takes a deep breath, his face creasing with pain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Are you sure you don't need more medication?\" I ask worriedly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe shakes his head. \"I'm fine. Just... take my mind off it. \u003ci\u003ePlease\u003c\/i\u003e,\" he adds in a strained voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You want me to tell you a story?\" I flash him a hopeful smile.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"As long as it's not about Fudge and Smudge,\" he replies, chuckling and wincing in quick succession.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"How \u003ci\u003edare \u003c\/i\u003eyou?\" I ask mockingly. \"Fudge and Smudge are my greatest creations!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot strictly true and he knows it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe grins at me. \"You know I love them, really. So when did Grandad say that 'five years' stuff to you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"When I was your age, funnily enough. But I overheard someone say a similar thing a whole decade before that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And you \u003ci\u003eremember\u003c\/i\u003e?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI nod. \"Ruth was a hard person to forget.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Who was she?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The love of your grandad's life,\" I explain. \"And she \u003ci\u003ewasn't \u003c\/i\u003eGrandma,\" I add with a significant look.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What happened to her?\"\"Well, that's a whole other story...\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe gives me a rueful look. \"I'm not going anywhere.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"All right, then,\" I say with a small smile. \"I guess I'll start at the beginning.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhich, for me, was when I was five years old...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFive\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere was a boy on Nell's bed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell's grip on Rabbit tightened as she stared down at him. He stared back sullenly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Nell, this is Vian,\" Daddy said in his trying-to-be-jolly-nothing-wrong-here voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Vian, come off the bed,\" Ruth urged gently.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell had already met Ruth downstairs. Ruth had a nice smile and red curls that bounced when she walked. Nell instinctively liked Ruth. But if Ruth was the reason Nell had a boy on her bed, Nell might have to rethink her affections.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Vian,\" Ruth urged again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell dragged her eyes away from the boy with his dark, unfathomable eyes and looked up at her father. \"Why is he on my bed?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDaddy seemed momentarily uncomfortable, but quickly put his jolly voice back on. \"We thought you'd like to sleep in the top bunk, now that you're a big girl.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell shook her head. \"I want my bed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer father exchanged an awkward glance with Ruth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuth knelt down. \"Can you get up, please, Vian?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No,\" Vian muttered, edging back until his entire body was flush against the wall. His dark hair looked stark against the white paint.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell's eyes roved around the room, taking in the unfamiliar teddies on the duvet and the toy cars lined up on the narrow shelf behind the pillow. Something told her that Vian had been sleeping in her bed for some time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd it was \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e bed. It had always been \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e bed and \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e bedroom. She even had glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the wooden slats holding up the top mattress. Nell had a quick look to see if they were still there. They were.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It's fine,\" Nell's father brushed Ruth off, touching his hand to her arm. \"Why don't we all go and have a nice hot chocolate and a cookie?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHot chocolate and cookies \u003ci\u003ebefore\u003c\/i\u003e dinner? Nell loved the idea of this, but Vian continued to scowl. It was as though he thought \u003ci\u003eshe\u003c\/i\u003e was the intruder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Daddy, I don't want to sleep in the top bunk,\" she whispered anxiously as she followed her father out of her bedroom, not understanding the reason for the upheaval. \"What about my glow-in-the-dark stars?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We can get you some more to put on the wall,\" Daddy promised, turning around to scoop Nell up into his arms as he reached the bottom of the stairs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But I like looking \u003ci\u003eup\u003c\/i\u003e at them,\" she said, her eyes pricking with tears as her father carried her the rest of the way into the kitchen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Then we'll get you some stars for the ceiling,\" Daddy replied.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But I like \u003ci\u003emy\u003c\/i\u003e bed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Nell, \u003ci\u003eplease\u003c\/i\u003e.\" Her father's forehead creased with impatience as he set Nell back on her feet. \"Be a good girl, OK?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell was stung. She \u003ci\u003ewas\u003c\/i\u003e a good girl. She loved coming to stay with her daddy in Cornwall. This was \u003ci\u003etheir\u003c\/i\u003e time. Why did things have to change? Why did these people have to be here too?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMummy had explained, of course. Daddy had a new girlfriend who had moved in \"\u003ci\u003efaster than the speed of light\u003c\/i\u003e\"...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Very unlike your father. Completely uncharacteristic. I did wonder if he'd been brainwashed, but we've spoken and she seems nice enough. Probably do him good-stop him from being such a hermit. Plus you'll have company because her son's the same age as you, born literally two days before you. Your dad thinks it's fate, that you're going to be like Topsy and Tim twins or something.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell's head had spun with all this information, but she had lapped it up because Mummy was usually too busy to talk and now she was actually laughing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only person who had made Mummy laugh lately was Conan, Mummy's tennis coach.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot that Mummy had played tennis with Conan in a while.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ruth? Are you coming?\" Daddy called loudly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Be there in a minute,\" she called back.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDaddy smiled at Nell. \"Vian is a bit shy, but he's really nice. You'll like him, I promise.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had claimed as much on the phone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Now, which cookies shall we have?\" Daddy asked. \"Chocolate chip or custard creams?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Chocolate chip,\" Nell replied with a smile. Her father beamed at her as he tore the packet open and upended its entire contents onto a plate. \"Here they are,\" he said merrily, as Ruth appeared hand-in-hand with Vian.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe boy was about Nell's height, possibly a couple of centimeters taller. Nell could see now in the light of the kitchen that his eyes were blue. Dark blue. He still looked very grumpy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell cuddled Rabbit to her chest and stepped behind her father's legs.\"All sorted,\" Ruth said jovially. \"Vian will sleep in the top bunk from now on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But-\" Nell's dad started.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Shh,\" Ruth cut him off. \"It's fine. He'll be fine. Won't you, darling?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVian glared at his mother and pulled a chair out from the table, the sound of the wood screeching across the floor tiles making everyone except the perpetrator flinch. He slumped down on the chair in a sulk, his bottom lip jutting out and his arms folded across his chest as he stared straight ahead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVian did not look fine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell tried not to care. She only had restored what was rightfully hers, after all. And she really did like her bed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e***\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLater that night, after what had been an uncomfortable dinnertime—Nell’s father had talked way more than usual, while Vian hadn’t said a word—Nell sat on the floor, fidgeting, in the dark outside the bathroom. Ruth was helping her son to get ready for bed while Nell’s father cleaned up the kitchen. Nell was waiting to brush her teeth and go to the toilet, like Mummy always made her do on her own, but Vian and Ruth seemed to be taking ages. The door was open a crack and Nell could see Vian standing next to the bath, his head hanging down.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I don't want to wear it,\" he mumbled and Nell mused that his face looked pink.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It's only until you get used to the ladder,\" Ruth said in a low voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But nappies are for babies.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell listened with interest. \u003ci\u003eDid Vian wet the bed?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVian sniffed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWas he crying?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuth crouched down beside him. \"It'll be OK, Vian, I promise. Everything will be better tomorrow, after you and Nell have had time to play together.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She doesn't like me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She doesn't \u003ci\u003eknow\u003c\/i\u003e you. This is very new to her too, remember. She's used to having her daddy all to herself when she comes here. It's the only time she sees him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Why don't I see \u003ci\u003emy\u003c\/i\u003e daddy?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuth sighed heavily and straightened back up. \"Come on, honey,\" she chided.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell's mind ticked over. Who \u003ci\u003ewas\u003c\/i\u003e Vian's daddy? \u003ci\u003eWhere\u003c\/i\u003e was he?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Put this on for tonight, to be on the safe side. You don't want to have an accident when Nell is beneath you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell's eyebrows jumped up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen they were both in their PJs, Daddy read Nell and Vian a story on the downstairs couch, not up on Nell's bed as he usually did. Nell looked across at Vian, who was sitting totally still, listening intently. He had curls like his mummy, but they were shorter and came around his face, partly falling into his eyes. His hair was very dark brown, almost black.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVian hadn't spoken to Nell directly since she'd arrived. She couldn't imagine how he could possibly become a \u003ci\u003eplaymate\u003c\/i\u003e, someone she \u003ci\u003ewanted\u003c\/i\u003e to spend time with.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Right, that's it. Bedtime,\" Nell's dad said, patting both children on their bare knees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell jumped up and kissed her father on the lips.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Night night, love you,\" she said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer father looked taken aback as she turned away and hurried up the stairs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell had dragged bedtimes out as long as possible in the past, begging for just one more story, just one more kiss, maybe even a song... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut tonight, determination carried Nell to her bedroom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe threw Rabbit onto the top bunk and climbed up the ladder. By the time Vian appeared in the doorway, she was already snuggled under her duvet. He looked up at her with surprise.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You can have the bottom bunk,\" Nell said graciously. \"I don't mind.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVian tore out of the room, shouting: \"Mummy! Nell says I can sleep at the bottom!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh, what a kind, considerate girl!\" Nell heard Ruth gush from the living room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell felt her insides expand with happy bubbles as she listened to her father's footsteps on the stairs. He appeared in her room, his chocolate-brown eyes glowing with pride.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Thank you,\" he murmured, stepping onto the middle rung and planting a big kiss on his daughter's cheek. \"This means a lot to me. I really appreciate it. You did the right thing.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, Nell had.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd it honestly had had very little to do with the fact that she didn't want Vian to wee on her head.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e***\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell’s father, Geoffrey Forrester, had lived in the same two-bedroom cottage on the Helford River his entire life. It had been passed down to him by his mother after her untimely death, and Geoff reckoned that he too would be carried out of it in a coffin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet at the top of a steep hill, with far-reaching views right down the river, Geoff liked nothing more than to sit on the bench seat in his garden, in front of the large purple hydrangea bush, peacefully watching the tide roll up and down the river from the nearby sea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToday, however, he had company, and peaceful was not a word that could be used to describe the experience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ready, steady, go!\" Ruth called.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNell concentrated on making her body as pinlike as possible before setting it in motion. She squealed as she rolled down the steep incline, hoping Ruth would indeed catch her, as promised, before she tumbled over the edge onto the riverbank. The tide was out, but the mud oozed, Nell remembered, having lost a rain boot to it the year before.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuth caught the giddy girl and swung her back onto her feet, but the sound of her laughter was drowned out by Vian’s war cry as he took his turn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You rascal!\" Ruth exclaimed, catching her son at the bottom. \"I wasn’t ready!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Vian clambered to his feet, yelling, \"Again! Again!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He caught Nell’s eye and she knew that the competition was on, so she ran, ran, ran, up the hill as fast as she could, before launching herself, panting, to the ground.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ruth squealed. \"Oh no, \u003ci\u003eGeoff\u003c\/i\u003e! HELP!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ruth reached Nell just in time, while Geoff caught Vian, but he spilt hot tea on his hand in his haste to get to him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nell and Vian did feel bad when Geoff cursed out loud, but then Ruth threw her head back and laughed and everyone else joined in.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e***\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You’ve got grass in your hair,\" Ruth said later, picking recently mown lawn out of the children’s hair as they ate cheese sandwiches, made with crusty bread from the village shop. They were sitting at the kitchen table, which had a picture-window view of the wide river stretching out before them. The steep banks on either side were wooded with mature oak trees and the green tops looked soft, like cotton wool.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes, your mother told me I’d better do a better job of brushing it this year or she’d lop it all off,\" Geoff said wryly, patting Nell on her shoulder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nell was nonplussed. She knew the threat was an empty one. She’d already asked if she could have hair like Isabel’s from school, but Mummy had replied that Isabel looked like a boy and, from her tone, Nell had gathered that this wasn’t a good thing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I’ll brush it for you,\" Ruth said kindly. \"It’s such a beautiful colour. It’s like the wheat growing in the fields across the river.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Do you want to go over there again this evening and paint?\" Geoff asked casually, and Nell remembered Mummy saying that Ruth was a painter. \"I can look after the children,\" he offered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No, I want to go too!\" Vian said with excitement. \"Can I?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ruth smiled at her son. \"Of course you can.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yay!\" He shot a look at Nell. \"I’m building a den,\" he confided.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Can I go?\" Nell asked her father hopefully.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Well, I suppose we could \u003ci\u003eall\u003c\/i\u003e go and take a picnic,\" he replied. \"I could help with your den while Mummy works.\"","brand":"G.P. Putnam's Sons","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303220662501,"sku":"NP9780593715567","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593715567.jpg?v=1767727426","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/five-years-from-now-isbn-9780593715567","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}