This Year, Next Year

By B. M. Osborn

Ros has married, impulsively, for love alone and is finding that love on its own doesn’t work. She finds happiness with someone else, but will she get the chance to enjoy it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley
• Release date: Aug 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463444238

B. M. Osborn

Until December, 2016, the author was running a modest-sized accountancy practice. Now, she is retired and enjoying writing and gardening.

Book preview

About the Author

Until December, 2016, the author was running a modest-sized accountancy practice. Now, she is retired and enjoying writing and gardening.

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THIS YEAR,

NEXT YEAR

Published by Austin Macauley at Smashwords

Copyright 2018 B M Osborn

The right of B M Osborn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

THIS YEAR,

NEXT YEAR

available from the British Library.

www.austinmacauley.com

ISBN 9781788481298 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788481304 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781788481311 (E-Book)

First Published in 2018

ISBN 9781788481298 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788481304 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781788481311 (E-Book)

CGC-33-01, 25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf, London E14 5LQ

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Chapter One

Breakfast, Ros thought, was always the worst time, full of argument and dissension, often ending in a row. Kate, now seventeen, was eating her cornflakes and reading a school book on the Wars of the Roses in preparation for a history A-level, she herself helping Alison prepare for the Grammar School entrance exam; it was clear she would never pass, unlike Kate who had sailed through into the top form.

I’ve got a question here about clouds, Alison said. There’s a picture. This one—it’s cirrus, isn’t it?

No, that’s cumulus, Kate said.

Oh, is it? Thanks.

Why d’you always have to correct her? Jeff snapped at Kate. Just to show how good you are?

No. I thought she might as well get it right.

The more answers she gets right, the better she’ll do in her entrance exam, Ros pointed out.

She’s going to do all right anyway, Jeff snapped.

There was no point in replying. It was always the same. They seemed unable to get through breakfast without this unpleasantness. It had been like this for years, ever since the girls had started growing up…he resented Kate, and Ros could not understand why. You would have thought he’d be proud of her and how well she had done. One more A-level and she would get to university.

I’m off. Jeff stood up just as the clock turned 7:30. He had to be there by 8:00. He kissed Alison quickly but totally ignored Ros and Kate. Oh, well, same as usual.

The kitchen looked as usual too, as if reflecting the aggressive air pervading it, infecting it. The square mahogany table set for breakfast, the white tablecloth, the four matching wooden kitchen chairs, four unwashed cereal bowls and toast plates; even the white ceiling and