They went into the kitchen and after getting the biscuit tin out, Eleanor straightened up and searched her mum’s face. ‘What about you? How are you doing after seeing Dad?’
Her mum tried to smile. ‘I felt bad for looking a mess. He always made me feel like that. And, of course, I’ve got this stupid plaster on my leg which doesn’t help. But I thought he looked older. Not so great, actually. I mean, not ill. Just…’
‘Mutton dressed as chicken,’ said Eleanor, nodding in agreement.
‘It’s not a good look, is it?’ said her mum, making a face.
Eleanor shook her head. ‘No. It’s not.’
‘I’ve been thinking about a lot of things this afternoon,’ said her mum. ‘When I get this plaster off tomorrow, I thought that perhaps things could start to change around here.’ She stared out of the window. ‘I’ve been thinking about what you said. I think you’re right, the animals deserve better than this.’
Eleanor went over to give her a hug. ‘They were so lucky to have you. As am I.’ She gave her mum a squeeze. ‘But I think Buttercup and Daisy would probably prefer some kind of field.’
Her mum turned to face her. ‘Actually, I think they should all go. Big and small.’
Eleanor was amazed. ‘All of the animals? Even the kittens? What will you do?’
Her mum smiled. ‘Have a life. And give them a better one. I think that it’s time for me to start living again.’
‘Oh Mum!’ said Eleanor, reaching forward to give her another squeeze. ‘I’m so proud of you. Look, we can start off small. The tortoise and the fish didn’t leave much of a dent when they went, did they? But let’s start with the little animals, if you like. How about the kittens? Everybody loves kittens, don’t they?’
‘I’m sure there are some families that would love a kitten,’ said her mum, nodding. ‘But they’ll all need vetting. We can’t just give them up to anyone.’
‘I know. They have to be the right families.’ Eleanor wondered if Megan could help them out with that. ‘Why don’t we have a chat with Annie, Megan and Rose tomorrow night? And Ben, too. Between us all, we must be able to think of someone.’
Her mum smiled. ‘Okay. I must say, it’ll be lovely to have a spa evening and try out some of your creams.’
Eleanor nodded, still feeling nervous. ‘I think I’ve got enough for everyone. I’ve made a rose cream as well as a lavender one. And also the infamous carrot cream. I thought Rose might like to try out the rose cream. It’s supposed to be good for mature skins.’
‘God, don’t say that to her!’ said her mum. ‘I think Rose is only thirty-two in her mind.’
As it happened, the spa evening was a huge success. Everyone approved of the creams, oohing and aahing at the feel and smell of them on their skins. Even Eleanor was happy with the results. She had already begun to use sweet almond oil instead of sunflower oil. It was a little pricey but worth it for a more luxurious feel and smell.
‘You must make some more for the fete,’ said Annie, smoothing some cream onto her hands.
‘Yes, yes,’ snapped Megan, before taking another swig of her Pimm’s. ‘We know the fete has got to be the highlight of our year.’
Annie looked chagrined. ‘Sorry,’ she said, giving them a sheepish look. ‘Have I been going on about it?’
‘Just a bit,’ conceded Eleanor eventually.
Annie blew out a sigh. ‘I just don’t know how we’re ever going to have enough stalls to keep everyone happy.’
‘Does it matter?’ prompted Eleanor gently.
‘Of course it matters!’ Annie told her. ‘This is going to be my heritage. If it starts off rubbish then I’ll get a reputation as a rubbish countess, won’t I?’
‘It’ll be fine,’ said Megan, removing the cucumber from her Pimm’s. ‘Can I put these on my eyes?’
Eleanor grimaced. ‘I’ll get you a fresh pair that aren’t covered in alcohol, shall I?’
‘The good thing is that all of your stuff is sustainable. And sustainable is the word of the moment,’ said Megan as she picked up another tub. ‘As in natural. Everything should be “free from”.’
‘That’s two words,’ said Annie.
‘Very funny,’ said Megan. ‘You know what I mean. Plants are in, big time. I really think you’ve stumbled across something here. Go natural and go big.’
‘Exactly how much have you had to drink?’ asked Eleanor, grinning.
She left her friends rummaging through what was left of the goody bags that she had picked up from the parties that she had frequented in her former life and headed into the kitchen where she found Rose and her mum in deep conversation.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ said Eleanor. ‘I just need some more cucumber.’
‘Your creams are divine,’ said Rose, nodding her approval. ‘What a talented family you are. I was just asking your mother about her sewing skills that I’ve heard so much about.’
‘I don’t know about that,’ said her mum blushing.
‘Well, I do,’ said Rose in a firm tone of voice.
‘But you are going to help make some new curtains for Willow Tree Hall, aren’t you?’ asked Eleanor.
‘I guess it will keep me busy when all the animals start to leave.’ Her mum bit her lip, looking nervous.
‘I think you’re being terribly brave about it all,’ said Rose, reaching out to take her hand. ‘It takes a huge amount of courage to think that there might be another path to follow in life.’
‘Like my daughter here,’ said her mum, smiling at Eleanor. ‘Mind you, I don’t think I’ve ever used anything like her creams.’
‘Well, your skin is fabulous, so you probably didn’t need to,’ said Rose.
‘You didn’t used to mess around with make-up when you were young?’ asked Eleanor. ‘You weren’t that old when you had me.’
Her Mum smiled. ‘I know I let myself go after your father left. Probably even before he left.’
‘It wasn’t your fault,’ said Eleanor in a stern voice. ‘So you didn’t put on a full face of make-up every day. So what? That was no excuse for him to leave like that.’
‘Well said, sweetie,’ said Rose, nodding in approval. ‘A real man would see through all that and love the person inside. Someone like our lovely vet perhaps.’
‘Ben?’ said her Mum, hurriedly getting up from the table. ‘I don’t think he would ever think of me like that. Besides, we’re just friends.’ She quickly left the room with the excuse of filling up Annie and Megan’s glasses.
Rose looked at Eleanor and shook her head sadly. ‘She was so badly hurt by your father. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more devastated. But perhaps a little encouragement might help.’
‘Ben and Mum?’ wondered Eleanor out loud.
‘He’s been in love with your mother ever since they went to school,’ said Rose, with a sad smile.
‘No!’ said Eleanor, shocked.
‘Oh yes,’ said Rose. ‘Such a kind, patient man. Why do you think he never married? I’ll leave it to you to see what you can do. She must have been so lonely all these years. She deserves a little happiness, don’t you think?’
Eleanor was reeling from all the new information. But perhaps now that her mother’s plaster was off and she was more mobile again, there was a chance. And she was giving up the animals as well.
When her mum came back into the kitchen, Rose changed the subject to some local gossip, so Eleanor wandered back into the front room to chat with her friends.
But on the way her phone rang. She was amazed to see Lucas’s name come up on the screen.
‘Hello,’ she said, hesitating before picking up. ‘How are you?’
‘I was wondering if you felt like opening the front door actually.’
In a daze, Eleanor went to the front door and opened it. And there, to her amazement, stood Lucas.
Chapter 37
Eleanor stared in shock at her boyfriend.
‘What are you doing here?’ she spluttered.
<
br /> ‘I was in the neighbourhood and thought I’d see how you are,’ said Lucas, laughing at how ridiculous that sounded. He was dressed in his best jeans and leather jacket, despite the warmth of the evening. In the street was a fancy convertible sports car which she presumed was his.
‘Do you want to come in?’ she asked, opening the door wide. The sound of girly laughter filled the hallway and front garden.
Lucas shook his head. ‘No,’ he replied. ‘I think we’ll be able to talk more privately out here, don’t you?’
That was no surprise given his normal reaction to her mother’s house. So Eleanor closed the front door and wandered down the path with him.
‘How are you?’ she asked.
‘Great,’ he replied. ‘Got a promotion. Excellent timing on my part. I should be VP by next summer.’
‘Wow,’ she told him. ‘That really is good news.’
‘There’s no chance of any more VIP tickets, are there?’ he asked. ‘It would help me out greatly with the directors.’
Eleanor sighed. Was that the only reason he had come to see her? She shook her head. ‘Sorry. I gave all that up when I left London.’
‘Shame. I really can’t believe you stayed in this place for so long,’ said Lucas, glancing up at The Forge with disdain.
‘Why not? My mum lives here.’
‘I just thought you’d head back to London as soon as possible,’ he replied, with a shrug. ‘What is there for you to do in a dump like this?’
‘Plenty, and it’s not a dump,’ she said, frowning. ‘It’s a charming village where people care about me.’
Lucas’ eyebrows shot up. ‘Well, you have changed.’
She looked up at his sneering face and suddenly felt very defensive. What did he know? How would he understand about the warmth and community of a place like this?
‘What’s wrong with your hair?’ he asked. ‘And your face looks different too.’
Eleanor knew that was Lucas speak for ‘you look a bit of a mess’. He was just like her Dad, she realised. He wanted her to look perfect all the time too.
She suddenly remembered Tom telling her how much he preferred her to look natural. And that she felt the same way.
‘I’m having a spa evening,’ she told Lucas. ‘I’ve been making hand and face creams actually.’
He scoffed. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. Why not?’ she snapped. ‘I like helping people with their skin problems. What did you ever do to help people?’
‘Make them rich,’ he replied with a wide smile.
Eleanor had had enough. ‘You know what, I think we both needed this break from each other. I for one was really glad of it.’
He frowned. ‘You mean, absence makes the heart grow fonder?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I mean, absence has made me realise that I think our break should be a permanent one.’
‘Wait!’ Lucas looked panicked. ‘Are you sure there really is no way you can get hold of any more VIP tickets?’
She stared up at him coldly. ‘Quite sure.’
He looked at her for a moment before he broke into an unexpected smile. ‘You know those pictures of Tommy King kissing some mystery girl at Glastonbury? Well, I thought she looked a lot like you.’
Eleanor felt as if she had been drenched with cold water. ‘It was the back of someone’s head,’ she told him, trying not to look panicked. ‘It could have been anyone.’
He nodded. ‘I agree. Only I came home to an answerphone message a week or so ago from your old editor. Theresa whatsername. Asking about a story on Tommy King. Seems a bit coincidental, don’t you think?’
She forced herself to shrug her shoulders in a nonchalant manner. ‘That was a different story that I was going to write before I lost my job. Not the same thing at all.’ She began to turn away. ‘Well, if there’s nothing else…’
‘So this really is it?’ he asked.
‘I’m afraid so. As you said back in London, it was only ever supposed to be a bit of fun.
Goodbye, Lucas. Take care of yourself.’
As she turned to head back up the garden path, she noticed the curtain in the front room twitching. Knowing that her friends were waiting for her gave her the strength to carry on and close the door behind her.
She was still standing, sagged against the front door, when Annie and Megan came out into the hallway.
‘That was Lucas,’ she told them, with a sigh.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Annie.
‘I’m fine,’ said Eleanor ‘Just annoyed with myself more than anything.’
She followed her friends back into the front room and slumped onto the sofa.
‘I just wish I could take back the last couple of years. What on earth was I thinking of?’
Megan shrugged her shoulders. ‘Maybe you were just getting by, like everyone else.’
‘I think he only wanted me for my press pass into all those parties. Something to impress his colleagues at the bank with.’
‘That’s awful,’ said Annie. ‘But you did care for him, didn’t you?’
‘I don’t know. I think I just settled for him because I was lonely in London,’ Eleanor told them, before giving a short laugh. ‘Of course, now I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing with my life.’
‘Well, I think you’re amazing,’ said Annie, gesturing at the pots of cream on the table. ‘Maybe you can make some money whilst you come up with an alternative career plan. I’d buy any of your creams.’
‘Yeah, you might just have a career after all,’ said Megan, reaching for the jug of Pimm’s that was on the coffee table. ‘Now, what does this do?’ She pointed at a box.
‘I think it’s coloured mascara,’ Eleanor told her, handing it over.
‘Excellent,’ said Megan. ‘About time I look my best.’
Annie smiled. ‘Whatever for?’
Megan sighed. ‘Because I want to be a yummy mummy from now on. Actually, scrap that. I want to be a MILF.’
Eleanor had laid out some of the freebie expensive creams that she had picked up from the many VIP events she had attended. Her own skin was too sensitive for her to use them. She handed a pot of some kind of oil to Annie.
‘Looks a bit posh for me,’ said Annie, putting it down as if it were made out of diamonds. ‘I think my skin is more simple than that.’
But Megan snorted a laugh. ‘Mine is crying out for posh, to be honest.’ She smeared on an anti-wrinkle mask and lay back on the sofa.
‘This doesn’t smell as nice as yours,’ said Annie, sniffing a tube of hand cream.
‘Oh, by the way,’ said Megan, still lying down. ‘One of the other mums saw how red I was and I told her about your cream helping my sunburn. She asked if she could have some carrot cream for her summer holiday. Actually, I think a couple of people want some.’
‘Oh. Okay.’ Eleanor beamed with the satisfaction that perhaps she did have something to contribute after all.
‘Maybe Tommy King can give you a celebrity endorsement,’ said Megan, grinning. ‘After all, he is your boyfriend now.’
‘Only on Twitter and only with the back of my head,’ said Eleanor, rolling her eyes. ‘It’s so embarrassing.’
‘I think it’s romantic,’ said Annie in a dreamy tone.
Eleanor bit her lip. ‘But what if he finds out what I used to do…’ Her voice trailed off as she thought about Lucas and what he had guessed.
‘Maybe you should tell Tom the truth,’ said Annie.
Eleanor shook her head. ‘He would hate me. And, I, er, really enjoy his company.’
Annie grinned. ‘I know you do. I’ve been watching the two of you together. Just be careful.’
Eleanor nodded but knew she could never tell Tom the whole truth. He would hate her and she didn’t want him to think of her that badly. She realised she really did want him to like her.
Chapter 38
The following day, Eleanor knew that, there were no more excuses. She needed to be brave and attempt to m
ake some soap.
Thankfully, Tom had told her that he was going to be working in the studio that day and therefore any disasters wouldn’t be made with an audience.
She stared down at the ingredients and the pots and pans. Soap was just an alkali mixed with fats. But she also needed the scary-sounding lye, otherwise it would just be a saucepan full of fatty oils floating in hot water. Yuck.
It was just water, natural oil, butters or wax and caustic soda. What could possibly go wrong?
But by mid-afternoon, the pile of ruined saucepans was growing. Thankfully, the basic mixture was beginning to take shape after many disastrous attempts. There was probably time for one more attempt before she had to head home and give the animals their tea. So she started again.
Eleanor changed the measurements for the carrot oil and the last of the shea butter that she had brought with her. She wondered if she could add in the other essential oils that she had made. After all, it wasn’t as if she didn’t have the time on her hands these days. Then she shook her head. That would come later if she could ever get her soap to set properly. A big if.
Thanks to Arthur’s generosity, she now had a small camping stove. So in a saucepan, she slowly melted the fat and oil. Once that was done, she measured out the water to make the lye solution and weighed the sodium hydroxide. Then came the tricky bit. She put on the big thick gloves and plastic apron that she had borrowed from her mum. The goggles she had had to order over the internet. They were uncomfortable but necessary. Outside of her workroom, she tipped the sodium hydroxide into a big pan of water and stirred it with an old wooden spoon until she couldn’t feel any more grit at the bottom. Then she went back inside to bring out the melted carrot oil and butter mixture. Coming back out, she came face to face with Tom, who laughed in surprise as he wandered into the courtyard.
‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Is this a science lab or a beauty parlour?’ he said, throwing down an old tool bag.
‘Neither,’ she told him, placing the mixture onto the ground and pushing back her goggles as she straightened up. ‘It’s a dream factory.’
‘Good name,’ he said. ‘Maybe you should be the one writing lyrics.’
Despite the fact that Eleanor had become a lot less concerned about her appearance since she’d been back in Cranley, she felt hot and bothered that Tom had found her looking like this. Her hair scraped back. Her goggles. Her old clothes. She felt a right mess.
Escape to the Country Page 23
