Page 50 of Escape to the Country

Eleanor felt inordinately pleased to see him, for some reason. ‘How’s the foot?’ she asked. ‘What did the doctor say?’

‘Sore but definitely on the mend,’ said Tom, smiling in his obvious relief. ‘The crutches are finally gone. Gentle exercise has been prescribed, so I’m going to take this fella for a stroll around the grounds after his bath.’

‘Well, we’ve plenty of grounds for you to use here,’ said Arthur, looking across to where Dylan was digging a large hole in the lawn. ‘I must say, it’s nice to have a dog around the place again. Regardless of what our gardener will say about it. Has the chap got a name?’

‘He’s called Dylan,’ said Eleanor.

‘After Bob Dylan,’ added Megan. ‘He’s an American singer.’

‘The answer is blowing in the wind,’ quoted Arthur. ‘Thank you, my dear, but I was young too once, you know. Although it may be hard for you to believe it.’ He gave Eleanor a wink and then walked slowly away, saying, ‘I’m sure we must have some old tennis balls somewhere in my study for the young pup to play with.’

As Sam took a call on his mobile, Tom excused himself to get changed.

Left alone once more with her friends, Eleanor drew her face up to the sun, enjoying the warmth that it now held in its rays.

‘Isn’t it lovely?’ said Annie, also relishing the sun. ‘I thought it’d be a nice lazy summer this time round, but I can’t see me having any time to sunbathe out here.’

Eleanor tried to remember the last time she had been able to enjoy a day like that. She couldn’t recall any at all. Most of her time had been spent indoors and mainly at night. On the plus side, that did mean no freckles. But it also meant no tan either, except what St Tropez would give her occasionally.

She tried to throw a couple of the balls for Dylan that Arthur managed to find. But the grass was still wet from the previous day’s rain. Her white Converse were soon sopping wet and dyed green. And Dylan looked more shaggy and in need of a bath than before. She felt pleased when she saw Tom join them on the patio a while later. Perhaps Dylan would help her get the story she so badly needed. Who would have thought a stray animal of all things would finally bring her some good luck?