Page 86 of Escape to the Country

‘I never had any spare time,’ said Eleanor, truthfully.

Megan touched her sore nose. ‘Well, if Rose is right about carrots, do you mind trying to whip up something with these? I’m desperate here.’

‘And you’ll be able to see in the dark as well,’ said Annie, with a giggle.

‘Darling, with her nose being that red, we’ll all be able to see her in the dark,’ drawled Rose.

‘I’ll give it a go later,’ promised Eleanor. It was the least she could do for her friends. ‘I found one of Dylan’s balls in my handbag,’ she told them. ‘I thought he would want it when Tom comes back later.’

‘I think Tom’s going to be in London for a few days before he comes back here,’ said Annie, checking her phone.

Eleanor tried to ignore how disappointed she was that she wouldn’t see Tom that day. On the other hand, she was still trying to work out how she really felt about him, so perhaps it was for the best after all. And they had recently kissed so at least it put off that embarrassment for the time being.

‘Did Dylan sleep okay last night without me?’ asked Eleanor.

‘He slept in Arthur’s room,’ called out Rose, as she left the kitchen. ‘I think they both liked the company, to be honest.’

Annie was still checking her phone when she suddenly took in a deep breath. ‘Oh my god!’ she said, sitting bolt upright. ‘You’ve been papped.’

‘Who?’ said Megan.

‘Eleanor!’ said Annie, holding out her phone. ‘You and Tom are on Twitter.’

Eleanor took the mobile and stared at the photo. Somebody had taken a photo just as they had accidentally kissed.

‘Wow!’ said Megan, looking over her shoulder. ‘It says that you’re Tommy King’s new girlfriend.’

‘But I’m not,’ said Eleanor frantically. ‘Besides, you can’t even see my face, only my hair.’

‘That’s because Tom was all over you,’ said Megan, making smoochy sounds.

Eleanor lobbed a tea towel at her before she studied the photo once more. ‘You can’t tell it’s me, can you?’

Megan and Annie peered at the photo before shaking their heads.

‘No,’ said Annie.

‘Definitely not,’ added Megan.

Eleanor sighed with relief. That was the last thing she needed. If anyone in London recognised her, then the magazines might get wind of the fact that she used to work for Hot Gossip! and then Tom would know about her old job. And how she had been lying to him about being a financial journalist.

But she was safe. For now.

To create a distraction from her embarrassment, she grabbed the carrots and headed home to make up some cream for Megan.

She cut up the carrots and put them in a saucepan to boil. Once the carrots were cooked and mashed, she added them to the glass bowl as well as the same ingredients she had used for her eczema potion.

Her mum came into the kitchen halfway through the procedure and smiled. ‘Well, this takes me back.’ She sat down heavily at the kitchen table. ‘I don’t remember you doing this since…’ her voice trailed off.

Eleanor glanced over her shoulder as she stood at the oven. ‘We’re allowed to say his name.’

‘I know,’ said her mum, with a small gulp. ‘Since your father left.’

‘I can’t remember that far back.’

It was a lie. Eleanor could remember every part of week after he had walked out on them. The local newspaper arriving through the letterbox. The photos of her dad and that actress that lived up the road. The tears. The many tears.

Most of all, she remembered cooking dinner that night and many evenings afterwards. Taking care of her mum until she was strong enough to take care of herself once more. Running from school to the supermarket and back again each day, trying to keep the household afloat. She hadn’t had much time for dabbling with her lotions and potions from that time onwards. Nor once she had moved to London either, apart from when she needed to whip up a batch for her eczema.