Page 124 of Escape to the Country

‘I’ve been looking up all the rules and regulations of selling beauty products at the fete,’ she said. ‘Because people are going to be paying you money, hopefully, and then putting your stuff onto their skin, we need to be able to comply with the law.’

Eleanor sighed as she looked around the workshop. ‘That all sounds very complicated and I’m rubbish with stuff like that.’

‘I know you are, but luckily I’m not,’ said Megan. ‘Leave it with me. I just need the full list of ingredients from you to upload it onto the assessment site. It all sounds very straightforward. I’ll get it done before I go on holiday.’

Eleanor was astonished. ‘Wow, really?’

‘Of course. That’s what friends are for, stupid.’

Eleanor was still smiling when she came off the phone. It was lovely to hear her friend sounding much more relaxed and happy. And perhaps between the holiday and the paperwork, maybe Megan would become more confident as well.

Which just left her mum needing a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Later on, as agreed, she took Tom along to the vet’s to have Dylan microchipped.

She felt herself tongue-tied sitting in the car as he drove and was actually quite relieved by the time they arrived at the vets. But at least it gave her time to think up a plan to talk to Ben about moving on his relationship with her mum. In the surgery, Ben checked the dog over.

‘Well, it’s great to see Dylan looking so well,’ said Ben, smiling as he stroked his head. ‘And getting him microchipped is vital, of course. We’ve not had anyone contact us regarding lost dogs. So it looks as though if you want him, you’re likely to be able to adopt him.’

Tom nodded. ‘I just need to sort through a few things first to make sure it’s the best thing for him.’

Eleanor felt a flutter in her stomach. Maybe he might even settle out in the countryside now that he was hoping to keep the dog. But she shook her head to herself, knowing that she was galloping ahead of herself.

‘Mum’s moving around much better without her plaster cast on,’ she said.

‘Glad to hear it,’ said Ben, as he washed his hands in the nearby sink.

‘In fact, she was beginning to go a bit stir crazy in the house,’ she carried on. ‘You know, having been stuck inside all of these weeks.’

Ben wiped his hands dry and looked across at her. ‘If you’re suggesting that I take her out for dinner one night, you can come right out and tell me, you know.’ He smiled. ‘She and I are old friends.’

‘Yes, I know you are,’ she said, giving him a rueful grin. ‘Sorry. I was trying to be subtle. Did she tell you that my dad graced us with a visit last week?’

He looked shocked. ‘No. I had no idea. Is she okay?’

Eleanor nodded and took a deep breath. ‘Actually, I think it did her the power of good. It made her realise that she has definitely moved on from him and all that pain.’

‘Good,’ said Ben. ‘She deserves to be happy.’

Eleanor remembered the conversation with Rose about how much Ben cared for her mother and decided to chance her luck. ‘In fact, she’s decided she’s ready for a new chapter in her life. You know, she’s decided to give up all her animals as well.’

He nodded. ‘I do. I’ve already told her how impressed I am by her courage.’

‘Well, that’s not all,’ carried on Eleanor. ‘She told me that she’d like to go out on a date some time.’

Ben’s eyebrows nearly shot up to the ceiling. ‘Really?’ he said, looking concerned. ‘She didn’t happen to tell you who with, did she?’

‘I’d only trust her to go out with someone who really cared about her and who would never hurt her. Obviously it would have to be someone that she really cared for as well,’ carried on Eleanor in a casual tone.

Ben stared at her for a beat before laughing with relief. ‘You’re many good things, Eleanor McCartney, but subtle isn’t one of them.’ He drew himself up. ‘Perhaps I’ll give her a call after my next appointment.’

She leant forward to give him a kiss on his cheek. ‘I think you should,’ she told him softly. ‘Maybe it’s a new start for both of you.’

‘What was that all about?’ asked Tom as they left the veterinary surgery.

‘Mum’s decided that it’s time for all the animals to leave the zoo,’ she told him.

‘Seriously?’ said Tom.