Read Online I Remember You by Harriet Evans - Free Book Online

said, bewildered.
    ‘Shove off, Suggsy,’ said Adam, tugging his hair and looking uncomfortable, but Suggs ignored him.
    ‘Enough’s enough,’ Suggs went on. ‘There’s a lot of people in this town who think she’s gone too far this time.’ He pausedfor dramatic effect. ‘You know, the Mortmains have been shafting the good people of Langford for years and she’s no better. There was Ivo Mortmain, Victorian feller, he got a girl from the town pregnant and then killed her father when he came to complain. Shot him in the face! And old Mrs Mortmain’s father, he sold a whole bit of land by Thornham and they made it into horrible box houses, not fit for a pig to live in. That were fifty years ago! And she—she turfed out the old people in the alms houses by the church fifteen years ago, just because she wanted to sell them on.’ He gripped the back of Adam’s neck. ‘Remember how angry your ma was about it?’
    Adam grimaced. ‘She went round to see her.’
    ‘She did?’ Tess said. Adam nodded.
    ‘Well, exactly,’ Suggs nodded meaningfully at him. ‘His mother in a bate—you wouldn’t want to see it.’ He smiled. ‘She stormed round there and tried to persuade her, but it didn’t have no effect. Why would it? And now this. Well, we won’t put up with it any more. It’s time it stopped.’
    ‘Hear, hear,’ said Ron.
    ‘Oh, right,’ said Francesca, but Tess was looking at Adam, whose expression was set. ‘What do you think, Adam?’ Francesca said innocently.
    ‘I’m not saying she’s a nice woman, but I don’t take sides,’ said Adam. ‘Sorry.’ Tess and Francesca stared at him in disappointment. ‘Excuse me a second,’ he said, and got up and left.
    By the time he came back, the pub was full to bursting with locals, and the mood was jolly if increasingly rowdy. Placards were being passed around, chairs were scraping on the floor, and at the front a sharp-faced woman was filling out forms, waggling a pencil at someone. Adam sat down.
    ‘What was that about?’ Tess started to say, but Adam held up his hand.
    ‘Hey, sorry. Sorry, T.’ He turned to her, and there was alook of desperation, almost, in his eyes. ‘Please, let’s not go on about it. It’s just the hypocrisy of it, that’s all.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Francesca cried. ‘How can it be a good thing?’
    ‘I’ve lived here my whole life,’ Adam said with a twisted smile. ‘I’m just saying sometimes there are ulterior motives to things. I’m not exempt, but it’s not as simple as it seems, is all I’m saying. That development would give people jobs, it’d increase tourism. It might not be such a terrible thing.’
    ‘But the water meadows,’ Tess said, a catch in her voice. ‘How can you say that?’
    ‘Yes, and do you really want more tourism?’ said Francesca, curiously. ‘Don’t you want to find other ways of sustaining the town?’
    Tess loved her then, for not being a pushover. Adam looked at her, and nodded slowly. He scratched the back of his neck.
    ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘Just—anyway.’ He cleared his throat. ‘T, how’s the hunt for a flatmate going?’
    ‘It’s not,’ said Tess. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’
    ‘Where do you live?’ Francesca asked politely.
    ‘Just past the church, towards the old hall.’ Tess turned to her. ‘I’ve got to find someone to share the rent, otherwise I’ll have to move out.’
    ‘What’s the house?’ Francesca said.
    ‘It’s a cottage really. It’s tiny, but it’s so sweet. It’s called Easter Cottage.’
    ‘How many bedrooms?’
    ‘Two,’ said Tess. ‘In fact I—’ Their eyes met across the table.
    ‘Can I come round tomorrow?’ said Francesca.
    Tess looked at her. ‘Francesca—you mean—’
    ‘And if you find someone long-term, I’ll move out straight away, we can put it in my lease. Promise.’
    ‘Go on then.’ Tess’s shoulders slumped, and she breathed out, smiling at Francesca.
    ‘Are