Page 71 of Escape to the Country

Chapter 23

Now that Eleanor had made up with her friends, she was desperate to see them as often as possible. So the following morning, she quickly finished her animal chores and cycled to Willow Tree Hall.

On the journey, she mulled over how quiet her mum had been that morning. But she still hadn’t mentioned the conversation with Arthur over relinquishing ownership of some of the animals. Eleanor made a mental note to pop in and see Ben to ask his advice. After all, he was her mum’s oldest friend.

She arrived at Willow Tree Hall just in time to see Tom loading up Sam’s car with his weekend bag and guitar. She wandered over, still feeling slightly sweaty from her bicycle ride. But the last time he’d seen her, she had been in her pyjamas and a complete mess. Did it really matter anymore? He would never be interested in her anyway, so what was the point in bothering?

That morning she had just pulled on her cut-off jeans and a T-shirt. No fancy silk jumpsuit. No pristine white clothes. No heavy make-up. Just some mascara and tinted moisturiser.

‘Hey. You’re heading up to Glastonbury now?’ she asked, as Tom lifted in the final bag into the boot.

‘Yeah,’ he told her. ‘I need to meet up with my band to rehearse and do some interviews for the TV companies.’

She smiled. ‘Sounds very glamorous.’

‘It really isn’t.’

She found it easier to relax with him. She supposed that now that he had seen her in her pyjamas, soaking wet and generally in a mess for various days running, she could stop putting on her air of refined style.

‘What, no tent?’ she quipped, glancing in the boot.

He smiled. ‘Five-star Winnebago all the way, thank god.’ He glanced around, as if to ensure they weren’t overheard. ‘You’ve made it up with your friends, I hear.’

She nodded. ‘It’s all okay now, thanks,’ she told him.

They were interrupted by a furry grey blur as Dylan hurtled out of the front door and rushed straight towards them.

‘He doesn’t seem to understand that I’ve got to go away for a few days,’ said Tom, looking worried.

‘He’s going to miss you,’ said Eleanor as the dog sat down and gazed up adoringly at Tom.

He reached down to stroke the soft fur on Dylan’s head. ‘Do you think I should sing him a song on stage just to cheer him up?’

‘As your number one fan, he would expect nothing less,’ Eleanor told him.

‘I was thinking about doing a Coldplay number as it was their slot that I’m taking over,’ said Tom. ‘Which is his favourite do you think?’

Eleanor felt a thrill at his question. ‘I reckon Dylan has always liked “The Scientist” the best out of all of Coldplay’s songs.’

He broke into a grin and her heart caught in her throat for a second.

‘Will I see you when I come back?’ he asked, his voice low.

‘You’re not heading back to London afterwards?’ she asked, her throat still constricted. She was suddenly upset that he was leaving. Suddenly aware how much she was going to miss him for even that short a time. But they had known each other for such a brief time. How was it possible that she had begun to care about him?

‘I thought I might stay on here for a while longer,’ he said, in a casual tone. ‘What about you?’

She nodded. ‘I was thinking the same.’

He was staring at her, his blue eyes boring into hers as if he could read what was in her very soul. But then he stood up as the rest of the family joined them and the moment was lost.

Eleanor watched as Annie and Sam also said their goodbyes.

‘Maybe you’ll fall in love with some glamorous hippie there,’ Annie was teasing Sam.

Sam shook his head. ‘Nope,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve got everything I’ll ever need right here.’

As they kissed, Eleanor looked away, trying to remember when she had ever been kissed with such passion.