past narrative tenses

[mara_ce]

Dear teachers,
The book says “ten years ago she had been”, but I found it a bit strange. I´d write “ was”. Would that be possible?

Put the verbs in the right narrative tense.
It was 9.30 and Adam was sitting in the restaurant waiting for Rose to arrive. He was tired because he had been travelling all afternoon. He was feeling nervous too. He wasn´t sure if she would recognize him after all this time. It was difficult to believe but they hadn´t seen each other for ten years now. He wondered if she had changed much. Ten years ago she had been attractive, but not beautiful. He was looking at his watch again. He had been waiting for half an hour. She had never been a very punctual person. He ordered a glass of red wine. Suddenly, he saw her. She was wearing a long coat and was looking round the other tables, obviously looking for him. He stood up and walked towards her. “You look fantastic, Mum,” he said...

Thanks for your help.

[bhaisahab]

Dear teachers,
The book says “ten years ago she had been”, but I found it a bit strange. I´d write “ was”. Would that be possible?

Put the verbs in the right narrative tense.
It was 9.30 and Adam was sitting in the restaurant waiting for Rose to arrive. He was tired because he had been travelling all afternoon. He was feeling nervous too. He wasn´t sure if she would recognize him after all this time. It was difficult to believe but they hadn´t seen each other for ten years now. He wondered if she had changed much. Ten years ago she had been attractive, but not beautiful. He was looking at his watch again. He had been waiting for half an hour. She had never been a very punctual person. He ordered a glass of red wine. Suddenly, he saw her. She was wearing a long coat and was looking round the other tables, obviously looking for him. He stood up and walked towards her. “You look fantastic, Mum,” he said...

Thanks for your help.

'Had been' is correct. It suggests that she may still be attractive.