Page 125 of Escape to the Country

Eleanor nodded at him as they got into Sam’s Range Rover. ‘Absolutely. She’s ready to move on and I’m so proud of her.’

She was glad she had had the conversation with Ben and just hoped her mum would be brave enough to go through with the change from friend to romantic partner with Ben.

It seemed as if everyone was getting paired up but her, she realised before shooting a look across to Tom.

He still had the key in ignition but had yet to turn it. In fact, he was looking quite bleak.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked. ‘What’s wrong?’

He cleared his throat. ‘It was you talking about moving on. I think I need to do the same.’

She frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

He turned in his seat to face her. ‘There’s something I’ve been putting off doing. Something I’ve been dreading. I couldn’t face doing it by myself. I was wondering whether…’

His voice trailed off and her heart lurched at the sadness in his face.

‘Of course I’ll help you,’ she told him, reaching out to touch put her hand over his on the steering wheel. ‘What is it that you need to do?’

He sighed. ‘I need to face my past.’