Clare, who had remained silent during this part of the conversation, said, "Well, in that case, Andrew, why don't you and I go to the pub for a quick drink. And we can pick up some takeaway pizzas tonight, wouldn't you Mum?
me time to have a 'Lovely,' replied Marjorie, "That'll give me time to have a nice warm bath. And when you get back, there's something I want to show you both. Clare and Andrew sat together in the Lakeland Arms drinking the local beer and talking easily about the day and its events. In their childhood home, with all its memories and long-established parterns they found themselves slipping into the roles that had been set when they were young Clare the bossy leader, and Andrew the quieter, indecisive one who was easily led. Here in the pub it was easier to talk as two normal adults who happened to be related.
Clare listened as Andrew talked about Jan and the kids, and seeing his face light up with pleasure as he told her of their latest adventures, she felt sad that she didn't see them more often. The fact that she and her ex-husband David had never had children hadn't worried her at the time. Actually, shed been glad, especially when the marriage broke up after ten years. She knew she couldn't have managed with kids and working for the paper. But now, as she listened to Andrew, she felt something like jealousy. He someone to care for and worry about, he had a clear path to the future. What did she have? No family certainly, only a job that she'd put all her energies into and which no longer satisfied her Anyway,' said Andrew. 'Enough about my small world, what about you? I read your article about that lottery winner last week. A bit hard-hitting I thought. You certainly found some dirt on him "Yes, well he deserved it," replied Clare. "He was so unpleasant. Anyway, I thought it was quite good it certainly caused a lot of reaction from readers. now, after "Isn't he thinking about leaving the country your article?" asked Andrew. "So they say. The power of the press, you know. Exactly, replied Andrew, whose opinion of journalists was pretty low, even though his sister was one. He'd noticed that some of her recent articles and interviews had been getting more personal and he didn't like them. He preferred her work when she had studied her subjects in some depth and where she showed her strength as a writer and not as a journalist. He wondered whether he should tell her, but decided she was intelligent enough to have worked it out for herself. So he decided on a less direct approach different sorts of articles "You seem to be writing recently. Is this your choice or what? for It's all part of the public's never-ending desire human interest stories," said Clare rather bitterly. We have write what sells papers. It's not something I'm particularly happy about, but that's how it is In fact, Clare was very unhappy about the direction her work was taking. That was the problem: since the paper had been taken over by an American businessman, it And that was not just her opinion. had gone been written in other Hundreds of newspaper articles had the Daily papers and magazines about the changes at News. In one article, a man shed always believed was a friend, her name had even been mentioned as someone who was helping to lower the standards. At first shed been angry, because his words had hurt. But she knew he was right. Andrew came back with another couple of drinks and said, "Listen, do you want me to come with you to Zermatt to get grandfather?' "No, there's no need. I can't imagine there'll be any problems. In any case, I think Mum is more upset by all this than she's saying. So it'll be good to have you here, in case, said Clare. She didn't tell him that she was glad to be going to Zermatt. Collecting Grandfather seemed like a good way of escaping from her empty life if only for a short time. What do you think Mum wants to show us?' said Andrew. Maybe there's some dark secret about Grandfather that we don't know about," laughed Clare. 'Well if there is, you'll certainly want to know all about it," said Andrew "You