* * *
The crown of sunlight that smiled down over Orchard House as seven o’clock on the morning of Friday 21st October arrived reached through the curtains and blanketed Adam and Victoria. They were tangled in the sheets together, having spent the night lying side by side, deep in conversation. Her head was resting on his pillow; Adam wished he could stay there forever, drowning in her eyes, laughing and exchanging thoughts with her on whatever topic came to mind. He knew that they’d have to get up eventually, but he ached to hold on to the moment for as long as he could. Though wide awake, it felt like they were in a dream, where anything might have been possible, where any problems he might have to face – with Jan, with Sally, or with anyone else – were oceans and worlds away.
They tal
