Back to Barcelona
Womans Weekly Fiction Special|June 2020
Would Sophie find what she was looking for as she stepped back in time?
Christabel Smith
Back to Barcelona

Sunlight was streaming through the windows, exposing specks of dust on all the mirrors and picture frames. Sophie immediately fetched her duster, glad of the distraction from the rather gloomy thoughts she was having.

When her youngest son finally left home, she’d imagined she’d be thankful for the peace and quiet, but once the novelty wore off, she found herself hankering for the sound of the front door slamming, the hearty ‘Hi, Mum!’, inevitably followed by, ‘Is there anything to eat?’

She had hoped her husband, David, might start winding down a little at his job, but he seemed to be working longer hours than ever. His new boss was a hard taskmaster and David was terrified he’d be thought of as an old fogey who couldn’t keep up.

She knew the feeling. She loved her part-time job teaching Spanish in the local college, but most of the other teachers looked as if they could still be in sixth form themselves. Lovely girls, but their coffee break chat was all about online dating and whether to get their eyebrows tattooed, which made Sophie feel ancient. How she wished her own lifelong friends lived closer, so they could meet up for lunch and chuckle about being ‘old buddies, with the emphasis on the old’.

Flicking the dust off one of her treasured prints of a market scene in Barcelona, Sal came into mind. As students, donkey’s years ago, they’d shared a flat there. It had been near a park, close to the heart of the old town, poky and a little bit grotty, but every day had been an adventure and given Sophie many memories she cherished to this day.

Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Womans Weekly Fiction Special.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Womans Weekly Fiction Special.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WOMANS WEEKLY FICTION SPECIALSe alt
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

The Perfect Gift

The change to their Christmas plans was a shock, though it could teach them a lesson…

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

Christmas Is Coming

With all the mess, noise and disruption, she was seriously struggling to embrace the festive spirit

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

The Generation G-App

It was a lovely idea, but surely there was no way the project would become a successful reality?

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

The Christmas Tree

The cottage had no festive cheer, but could Jennie create the impression of Yuletide joy before it was too late?

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

We All Stand Together

If the plan failed, Joan wouldn’t be the only one having an unhappy Christmas

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2020
The Christmas Robin
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

The Christmas Robin

Presents to buy, food to cook and a tree to decorate – could she create the perfect day?

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2020
Maudie's First Christmas
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

Maudie's First Christmas

With all her dreams of a family Christmas dashed, it seemed that Ruth would have to adjust to a very different festive season this year...

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

Friends Like You

Leah was about to find out what sort of people she’d had in her life all these years…

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2020
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

Breaking Point

She hoped her children would start to compromise soon, or they were in for a distinctly frosty festive season

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2020
A CHAT WITH... Sarah Morgan
Womans Weekly Fiction Special

A CHAT WITH... Sarah Morgan

Well-known for her heart-warming family tales, Sarah Morgan’s latest novel is packed full of love and laughter. Here, she reveals how she comes to craft her characters and she gave her new release that sprinkle of festive magic...

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2020