Page 122 of Escape to the Country

Chapter 42

Eleanor awoke with a start.

With the sun having moved around to shine through the front window, it had to be mid-afternoon. She suppressed a yawn. She must have fallen asleep whilst researching wild flowers and their healing properties on her phone. The heat of the day didn’t help. It was slowing everyone down.

She stretched out on the sofa and enjoyed her sleepiness. But gradually she slowly came to the leisurely conclusion that she wasn’t alone in the room.

Expecting it to be her mum, and hoping she was bearing a cup of tea, Eleanor turned her face.

‘Hello,’ she mumbled.

And was startled to find herself face to face with Buttercup the goat.

Shrieking, she leapt up from the sofa. ‘Get out!’ she shouted. ‘Out!’

Buttercup bleated at her in protest before casually wandering out into the hallway towards the back of the kitchen.

Once her heart had stopped hammering in her chest, Eleanor ushered the goat outside and followed it into the sunshine.

Where she came face to face with the next surprise. Tom was fiddling with the latch on the back gate.

‘Hi,’ he said, smiling at her stunned face.

‘Hello,’ she replied, nonplussed. ‘What are you doing?’

‘You mentioned your mum needed a new gate,’ he said, as she realised he had his tool bag with him. ‘I thought it might be best if, er, well, these fellas didn’t get out.’

He gestured behind him to where his captive audience of the donkey, chickens and goat were watching.

‘Oh, well, thanks,’ she replied. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’

‘Your mum said you were asleep on the sofa.’

Great, she thought. ‘Yes, well, it’s been a bit busy since…’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Since three days ago,’ he said, finishing off the sentence.

Across the garden, his eyes bore into hers.

When you kissed me, she silently added. That kiss by the river. The feel of him against her. The realization that she was falling in love with him. She had thought of nothing else since then which was why she had found every reason under the sun not to go back to the hall since then

She desperately wanted to check what she looked like. Had she been drooling in her sleep? Was her hair sticking up in all directions? How much mascara gunk did she have in the corner of her eyes? But it would have been too obvious, so she just stood there, not knowing what to do next.

Thankfully her mum arrived at that moment.

‘All done,’ said Tom, picking up his screwdriver and tool bag.

‘Oh, you are wonderful, isn’t he, Ellie?’ Her mum beamed at her.

Eleanor nodded. ‘Yes, he is,’ she croaked.

‘Can I get you a drink?’ asked her mum.

‘Thanks, but I’d better get back to the hall,’ Tom told her. ‘Otherwise Dylan will have chewed up the place. Talking of which, you seem to have a few less animals these days.’

Her mum nodded. ‘Just these ones to go,’ she said, looking around the back garden.

Eleanor was pleased that she didn’t seem too sad when she told him. Perhaps she really was moving on.