Page 77 of The Only Way Is Up

‘What did you decide in the end?’ asked Stella. ‘For the picnic?’

‘I made Cornish pasties,’ replied Daisy, pulling a paper bag out of the fridge. ‘Easy to eat standing up, not too fancy, no plastic packaging.’

Stella raised an eyebrow. ‘I hadn’t realised Tom was an environmentalist. Are you sure he wouldn’t prefer some hot soup? There’s six inches of snow out there.’

‘We’ll never know. Because he’s getting a pasty.’

Stella pursed her lips disapprovingly, watching Daisy pack lunch into a Selfridges tote bag. ‘Is that it? Just a pasty?’

Daisy rolled her eyes, wondering whether it had been wise to tell Stella about spending the day with Tom. They’d been getting on so well lately, and it had been a long time since Daisy had taken her mother into her confidence. ‘I’ve also got bananas and chocolate. Honestly, Mum, if we’re that hungry or cold, we’ll just go to a pub.’

Stella sniffed. ‘I’m just saying that you could have made more effort.’

‘It’s just Tom.’ Daisy sighed. ‘We’re going for a walk. It’s not that big a deal.’

‘So not a date, then?’ Stella’s stare was penetrating.

Daisy’s neck started to itch, so she stopped packing her bag. ‘Jesus, this is like being fourteen again. Fine, it’s a date! I like him. He likes me. So we’re going to spend the day together to see if we still like each other at the end of it. Happy?’

Stella clapped her hands together with delight. ‘Can I tell Justin?’

‘Is there any point me asking you not to?’

‘No. Not really.’ Her grin was unrepentant, and Daisy felt a flow of warmth for her mother that she hadn’t experienced in years.

‘What are you doing today?’

‘Making a new Justella video,’ Stella announced proudly. ‘Will’s meeting us at Justin’s allotment in a bit. We’re going to milk his goat, then come back to the cottage to make goat’s cheese.’

Daisy grinned excitedly as a car horn sounded outside. There was no point pretending to be cool about it. She’d been jittery all week. ‘I’m off.’

Stella winked. ‘Behave yourself.’

Daisy paused in the doorway. ‘Do I have to?’

‘I’d be very disappointed if you did.’

‘Don’t kiss me, my mother is watching.’ Daisy handed Tom her bag and climbed into his car.

‘Sorry about the state of my car.’ The ancient Toyota Land Cruiser showed signs of being dark blue, although there was more mud than paintwork. Inside was considerably cleaner, like it had been given a hasty vacuum. ‘I cleaned the dog hair from the seats but didn’t dare wash the outside in case the mud is actually holding it together.’

Daisy didn’t care; the idea of spending a whole day with Tom made her giddy. ‘Where’s Henry?’

‘I left him with Angela. He’s getting a bit old for long walks and he doesn’t like being cold. She’ll take him out for a spin on her scooter and feed him treats.’

Daisy gave a happy sigh, then turned to study Tom in the steamy warmth of the car. He looked like one of the dads who eyed her up at Ruby’s school, all rumpled but yummy with those gorgeous blue eyes, tidy stubble and the tiniest smattering of grey about his ears. He was wearing black canvas trousers and a moss green jumper that hugged his arms and chest, neither of which were particularly toned or exceptional. He wasn’t that tall – maybe 5’8 or 5’9 – so in heels Daisy would tower over him. He was about as far from Christian, who looked like a male model and had the attitude to match, as he could be. Tom looked like he might wear John Lewis pyjamas to bed, and right now Daisy couldn’t imagine anything sexier.

‘Hello.’ Daisy realised she was smiling at him.

‘Hi.’ Tom gently pressed his lips on hers. He leaned back and looked into her eyes. ‘Do you think your mother saw?’

‘I don’t care.’ She pointed at the road ahead. ‘Get me out of here.’

As Tom headed north through the snow-covered hills of the Cotswolds, Daisy tried to calm her nerves. She’d been so on edge at the prospect of spending the day with him, she’d purposely paid little attention to her appearance, so as not to look desperate: black leggings, walking boots, a shapeless grey sweatshirt under a padded coat, and her hair carelessly tucked into a bobble hat, her makeup-free face hidden behind huge sunglasses. The white knuckles gripping the steering wheel suggested Tom was nervous too, so they made small talk about Justin and Stella’s videos, the increased enquiries on the school website after Daisy’s classes and what Daisy was planning to do next.

‘I’ve got the fete next weekend, then I’m heading back to London.’

‘Can I come and visit?’ Tom immediately blushed and fixed his eyes on the road.