Adele Parks - Larger Than Life

PENGUIN BOOKS

LARGER THAN LIFE

Compelling and full of thats-so-true moments Company

Still Thinking of You is guaranteed to keep chick-lit and romance readers engrossed Big Issue

Dark, funny and upfront Cosmopolitan

Another gorgeously girly read from Parks Heat

This savvy romance crams in tears, laughter, break-ups and make-ups the perfect confection Mail on Sunday

Set against an intoxicatingly romantic background, this is another beautifully-constructed multi-layered story with fine characterisation Daily Record

Excellent, well-honed and acutely observed Daily Mail

Its witty, its warm, its fun. With a capital F Daily Record

Compelling and guaranteed to keep you turning the pages till the end Company

Parks depicts the nitty-gritty of relationships with authentic detail and theres a hugely optimistic feel to the story that makes it a satisfying read Sunday Mirror

Compulsively addictive and involved with sexual passion and bad decisions Elle

A touching look at infidelity, love, and all the crap that goes with it New Woman

A modern fairy-tale in the classic sense of the word: a story of wanting what you cant have, filled with perils and beasts, with a moralizing punch to the inevitably doe-eyed ending Daily Mail

Down-to-earth and very, very funny OK!

Perfectly encapsulating the Zeitgeist a very entertaining read Heat

Adele Parks was born in Teeside, north-east England. She read English Language and Literature at Leicester University. Since graduating she has lived in Italy and Africa but has spent most of her adult life in London. She lives in Chiswick, with her husband and son. Her earlier novels, Playing Away, Game Over, Larger than Life, The Other Womans Shoes and Still Thinking of You were all bestsellers and are published in over twenty different countries.

www.adeleparks.com

ADELE PARKS

PENGUIN BOOKS

PENGUIN BOOKS

Published by the Penguin Group
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First published 2002
25

Copyright Adele Parks-Smith, 2002
All rights reserved

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

ISBN: 978-0-14-191070-3

For my son, an indescribable, unrepeatable splash of colourful, wonderful joy. And for my nieces, Claudia and Felicity, and my nephew, William. With love.

Are you good enough? Are you? Are you thin enough but not too thin? More Elle Macpherson than Kate Moss? Do you go to the gym? But do you starve yourself? I hope you dont starve yourself because its so last century to starve yourself Think of the Africans. Dont you? Dont you have a social conscience? Of course you recycle your bottles and your newspapers, but do you recycle your tins too? I know its a nuisance and you often cut yourself washing them out and the recycling unit is miles away, but really you should make an effort. Where do you get your hair done? Really? Is it expensive? Because it should be expensive, you ought to take pride in yourself but it shouldnt be too expensive, being flash isnt attractive. Are they new boots? Oh, you chose tan. You do know that olive is the new tan, the new brown, the new black. Black is a classic, of course, no matter what the magazines say. You do read the magazines, dont you? It is important to keep up. Hows work going? Been promoted recently? Have you asked for a pay rise? Well, dont let them exploit you; its important to know your own worth. But it doesnt do to be greedy. What time did you leave the office last night? Crazy, isnt it. The Brits work longer hours than anyone else in Europe, only the Americans do more. No wonder theyre all in therapy. Its important to get time to yourself. I could never leave before seven oclock, though, they depend on me. Your hands are very chapped. I know a good manicurist. Yes, its the weather and the transport strikes, but what can you do about it? I know a fabulous girl who does a fabulous manicure and pedicure as well. It doesnt do to let yourself go. No time. Make time. Do you get out much? Did you see the Tracey Emin? They said shes become appallingly mainstream. Do you go to the theatre often? Did you catch that one, oh, whats it called? I forget, the latest one with the ex-soap star, she takes her clothes off. Oh, it doesnt matter what its called, you ought to go, everyone is. Have you visited Tate Modern? Who did you go with? Who did you see? Who were you seen by? Did you ever do that Dome thingy? No, me neither, I rather regret that now. Are you studying? Well, everyone is doing a night class nowadays, arent they? De rigueur. Modern Spanish history, IT, film appreciation, the semantics of womens literature, its so useful to have something to talk about at dinner parties. Which book are you using at the moment? Are you still with Jamie Oliver, or have you tried anything from the latest Nigella Lawson yet? Melissas doing very well. Yes twins, yes one of each, so thats the set. Clever girl Shes planning to be back in the gym a week on Monday. I dont know what Id do if I had a baby. Which hospital? Which nurseries? Which schools? And you would have to go back to work; it doesnt do not to have anything to say to the hubby when he gets home from work, exhausted. The nurseries are all full, you know, from now until the year 2005, well at least the desirable ones are. Theres always childminders. Yes, a nanny is probably the answer in terms of stimulation for the child, but you hear such stories, dont you? A really good girl is the very devil to find. Its so important to give them the very best start. Baby Beethoven, Lamaze, Montessori, organic nappies. Part-time might be the answer, but then youd hardly earn enough to cover the childcare costs and buy your sandwich. Well, I must be going. It doesnt do to be late. By the way, youve spilt something down your shirt, is that silk? Is that olive oil? Oh dear, it wont come out. I do hope that stain hasnt been there since lunch time. That wouldnt be good enough.

I dont go back to the office but instead drive to Hyde Park. I park and then walk. And walk. And walk. Stopping only to barf and retch unproductively en route. Its an icy cold January afternoon. Theres hardly a soul around, unlike the summer when the park is heaving with revellers. The occasional tramp shuffles by, and I see the odd figure dashing home through the twilight, probably clerks who religiously leave their office at five. Not paid enough, or motivated at all, to stay a minute after clocking-out time. Oblivious to their surroundings, they dont glance left or right the park is simply something that must be passed through on the way to centrally heated rooms and hot cups of tea. The odd mother rushes by with her toddler in a pushchair. The kids are invariably ugly, tired and dirty. The mothers are all that, and also harassed. I suppose that pushchairs, previously beneath my notice, will soon become significant to me.