Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies! Today I'm reading We Own the Sky by Luke Allnutt, and I have a special surprise for you. Below is an excerpt from the book for you to read! Thanks to TLC Book Tours for including me in this Book Excerpt Tour.
We said we were just going for a quick evening stroll, but instead marched the two miles into the nearest town. The breeze on our faces had never felt so sweet. So intent on finding signs of life, we barely spoke as we speed-walked along the dark country road.
The little seaside town of Southwold was dead. Only the lighthouse seemed alive, incongruous and towering over the town, its beam of light dueling with the moon. All we could hear were our footsteps and the soft sound of the sea.
“Everything’s going to be closed, isn’t it?” I said.
turned the corner and light spilled out onto the street. A hotel that doubled as a pub. As we opened the door, it was like easing ourselves into a steaming hot bath. We stood in the doorway and took it all in: the warm glow and chatter of the bar, the flicker and ping of the slot machines. In the corner, there was a loud group of locals wearing Christmas sweaters and Santa hats.
“What do you want?” I asked Anna at the bar, having to shout above the noise.
“Yep, I got it, sweetheart,” I said, smiling.
winced a little, her cheeks flushing red. She let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s fine,” I said. Anna shook her head.
“Really?” I said, nearly spitting out my lager.
I knew now why Anna was so keen to spend Christmas in Romford, at our little row house, which Dad decorated with reindeer lights and a giant blow-up Santa in the front yard. I had been nervous the first time I had taken Anna back home for Christmas. Since Mom died, Dad didn’t really want to celebrate. One year we ordered Chinese; another we ate our Christmas lunch in the pub.
But with Anna coming, Dad said he would do the full works, just how Mom used to do it. He got Little Steve’s wife to show him how to do the turkey and roast potatoes. He got the artificial tree down from the attic and bought some crackers from Tesco. And for the first time in his life, he bought a brown sliced loaf of bread instead of his usual white.
From the first moment he met her, Dad said Anna was family. I always thought he might joke—got yourself a high-class lady, son—but he never did. That first Christmas, they spent most of their time chatting in the living room. He loved hearing about Anna’s time in Africa and her stories from boarding school. And she loved his tales of the taxi stand and watching football at West Ham.
we all scrunched up on the saggy, worn-out couch.
“Yep. When was that, Dad?” I said.
his voice cracking a little.
“She’s beautiful,” Anna said suddenly, and we all stared at the photo of her again.
NOTE: My excerpt is the thirteenth one. You can click on the links below and search for the other excerpts and read even more!
We didn’t hear much about Anna’s parents but I gather they’re difficult. I’m already warming towards Dad and Romford- I want to hear more about them!
Oh, that just hurts my heart! You know, you just hope that you will always be kind and loving and welcoming!