Page 52 of Escape to the Country

‘No worries. I have the car,’ he told her. ‘I can take you.’

He found himself reluctant to leave this scene quite yet.

‘That’s good,’ said her mum, nodding. ‘We still need that pet food from the farm shop, if you wouldn’t mind.’

Her mum opted to stay behind so once more it was Eleanor and the dog sat in the back seat. She quickly purchased some pet food at the farm shop before they headed onto the vet’s.

As he drove, he asked, ‘So your mum takes in strays?’

‘Yes.’ He heard the strain in her voice. There was a short silence before she added, ‘Ever since my dad left us.’

She didn’t elaborate and he didn’t push. It wasn’t any of his business, but still, he was surprised she had briefly opened up to him.

Going into the vet’s surgery, he braced himself for the inevitable response to his superstardom. But thankfully Ben the vet was in his late fifties and didn’t recognise Tom either.

But he obviously knew Eleanor’s mother very well.

‘How’s her foot?’ asked Ben, checking the dog over.

‘The plaster’s driving her crazy,’ said Eleanor.

Ben nodded. ‘I’ll take her to the pub on Sunday. That should cheer her up.’

Eleanor smiled. ‘Thanks. She always enjoys going out with you.’

There was an ease to their conversation which made Tom presume that Ben was an old friend of the family.

Ben finished his check-up. ‘No microchip unfortunately,’ he confirmed. ‘But the dog appears healthy, although underweight. His fur’s severely matted as well. Do you think your mother’s up to giving him a bath?’

‘I can do it,’ said Eleanor, with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘We’ll just have to keep it with us until the owner comes along to claim him.’

Ben smiled. ‘Of course. Where else would a stray animal go in Cranley?’

Only Tom caught her soft sigh. So the animal thing was definitely a problem.

Once they were back in the reception, Eleanor asked if Tom wouldn’t mind holding the dog. ‘I’d better pick him up a collar from the pet shop next door.’

‘You sound like you’ve done this before,’ said Tom.

She smiled, but it was without humour. ‘Oh yes,’ she replied. ‘Just a few times.’

Once the dog had been fitted with a brand new green collar, they headed back to her mum’s house. As Tom parked the car outside, Eleanor paused.

‘Look, I’m sorry about shouting at you last night,’ she said, scratching at her neck which he had noticed she did frequently. ‘I think I might have overreacted a bit.’

He turned in his seat to look at her. ‘I really was intending to come along and honour my commitment to you,’ he said. ‘I’m not in the habit of breaking my promises. I went into the recording studio and drifted off to sleep. The painkillers are too heavy for me. I didn’t wake up until you came in. I should have set the alarm or something.’

‘Okay.’ She nodded before clearing her throat. ‘Look, I think I may have told you last night about losing my job at the magazine.’

A blush was spreading across her creamy white cheeks.

He nodded. ‘In between shouting at me, you mean.’

‘Yes. Well, quite.’ She shuffled in her seat, obviously uncomfortable. ‘Anyway, I’d be grateful if you didn’t mention anything about it to my mum. Or Annie. Or anyone else, come to think of it. I haven’t got round to telling anyone yet.’

He was surprised that she would keep such a thing secret but merely replied, ‘No problem.’

She seemed taken aback that he would be so amenable. But also grateful. ‘Thanks,’ she said, before getting out of the car.