My poor aunt suffered the same as my mother and rapidly disappeared below decks to the safety of her berth. I was so excited at this great adventure, ...ree from the cloying familiarity of my home town. It took the whole of the day to reach the sea, and rather than set out on those treacherous waters at night, we anchored in the lea of the spit of land that juts out over three miles from the land, and which makes the safe haven for ships when the autumn storms blow from the north — no sensible. The next morning, as they packed up the campsite and drove home, Eddie started making plans for his mother.He decided to take his mother from his weakling father.If you had asked her, Patricia couldn't say when the flirtation started, or who initiated it. To her it was the kind of thing that just was, and had been as long as either could remember. Eddie always seemed comfortable teasing his mother in ways that should have been far beyond his years. Long hugs, lingering kisses, and wandering. ‘You’re right, but you know I won’t date men for the sake of dating. I’ll only go out with someone if I see they have long-term potential and I haven’t met anyone with whom I can possibly see myself three months from now, much less married. ‘Why is everything about marriage with you? Sow your wild oats! It’s not just for men anymore. In our day and time it’s practically unheard of being a virgin at 22…and half.’ Rea rolled her eyes. ‘You make me sound so old. Why is it so wrong that I don’t. I'd just offered a second round out of my winnings, when a voice spoke from behind me.'Did Rick teach you to play snooker?' It was Eric, good old boring Eric. 'Only you hold the cue in the same weird way that he does, but it seems to work better for you than it does for him.''I was just lucky tonight, but yes, you could say Rick taught me all I know ? about snooker, that is.' Why had I added that last bit?Eric looked me directly in the eye, and said, 'You can't fool me, you know.'I gasped. He'd.