Page 31 of Escape to the Country

‘Hi,’ she said, still smiling. ‘Long time no see.’

‘I seem to recall the last time we met you pushed me into the river,’ he told her, grinning.

She joined in Sam’s laughter which lit up her pretty face. ‘God, I’d forgotten about that! Anyway, everyone else was going in so I thought you didn’t want to be left out.’

He joined her laughter. ‘Even fully clothed! Yeah, thanks for that! Even fifteen years on, I remember the teasing.’

As they continued to reminisce, Tom was able to appreciate her fine body, highlighted in the silk jumpsuit she was wearing. A strange, glamorous choice for the countryside. He guessed she didn’t visit that often. Either that or she was extremely high-maintenance. She seemed in vast contrast to her two friends, who were far less fussed about wearing fancy clothes.

‘Belated congratulations on your engagement,’ she was saying.

‘Thanks. I’m sure Annie will need all the help she can get with the wedding plans. Are you down from London for a few more days?’

‘Hopefully a few weeks,’ she said.

‘The magazine can spare you for that long?’ asked Sam.

‘Magazine?’ Tom suddenly became very alert and on guard. ‘You’re a journalist?’ he said.

‘Well, only a financial one,’ she said, turning to face him.

‘What was the name again of where you work?’ asked Sam.

She was nodding quite manically now. ‘The Money Chronicle,’ she replied. ‘Deadly dull, of course.’

Tom was still frowning. There was something not right about her.

‘We need snacks,’ announced Annie, opening a cupboard and bringing out some Pringles.

Eleanor picked up a tube. ‘Can I tempt you?’ she asked, with a flirty smile as she waggled the crisps at him.

The zip on the front of her jumpsuit was appealing for a brief moment, but then his protective walls closed up once more. ‘I’m fine, thanks,’ he told her.

‘So, what are you working on at the minute?’ she asked, changing tack.

What was this, an interview? He didn’t like the feeling of being scrutinised.

‘This and that,’ he replied, glancing up at her as he manoeuvred the crutches under his elbows.

Her green eyes appeared to be challenging him, but he was used to holding his own. Perhaps it was just small talk and she wasn’t used to dealing with famous people. He found everyone treated him differently these days. He longed for how they had treated Tom Kingsley the carpenter. As if he were a real person and not a superstar.

‘You know, when you’ve got a minute,’ said Sam to Eleanor. ‘I wonder if you could advise me as to what kind of investment opportunities there is for the meagre savings we’ve got left?’ asked Sam.

She looked a bit startled for a second. ‘Of course,’ she said in a bright tone.

Tom had heard enough and left the room with his drink, aware of Eleanor in particular watching him as he shuffled up the stairs.

Up in his bedroom later, he heard a commotion outside at the front of the house. He hobbled over to the window to see Sam trying to manoeuvre a tipsy Megan into his car. Eleanor and Annie were holding onto each other and laughing at the state of their friend. As Eleanor hugged her goodbyes, he realised that she suddenly looked completely different. Because she was being natural, he realised. Herself.Real. And suddenly he was tempted to get to know better.

But she was a journalist. Totally off limits, financial or otherwise. She was definitely hiding something and he’d had enough phony relationships during his life.

Besides, he didn’t need anyone. He just needed to concentrate on his music at the minute. That had never let him down so far.

He drew the curtains and shut out the night sky beyond.