Page 92 of A Colourful Country Escape
‘Watch my toenails, you numpty. They’re not dry yet.’ Sky batted her sister’s arm. ‘Do you like the shade? It’s teal.’ She fanned them out like the tail of a peacock.
Lexie gritted her teeth.
It had been two weeks since Lexie and Sky had landed tyres first in Farmer Humphrey’s field. And while the village of Springhope had been filling Lexie with all sorts of inspiration, she was beginning to see that their stint as not-so-wild campers was nearing its end. They could not live like this for much longer.
It had been a welcoming place to take refuge and patch up their damaged sails, but no matter how lovely the locals had been or how tasty the pies were, Lexie didn’t want to be a wanderer for ever. She didn’t want to bounce from place to place, to run away from her troubles or even to live in a draughty old van. She wanted to go back to the town she’d called home for the last few months, regardless of anything that might have passed.
Not to Nutgrass Hall, of course, as much as she was missing Mrs M and Tom. But Tewkesbury. And a certain empty shop on the high street. It hadn’t left her mind since it had twinkled at her from her rear-view mirror during that madcap midnight flit. Because her project was going to be more than paints. It would be her own queendom of repainted and repurposed magic. Making the ordinary extraordinary. Taking tatty furniture and breathing new life into it. Proving that something didn’t have to be elegant or expensive to be as worthy as a pearl.
If she’d learned anything from Ben, it was that she should believe in her own ideas. And if Marrakech hadn’t reminded her that the best entrepreneurs were born of necessity not money, then nothing would.
But to run a business, she would need to be organised. That was becoming abundantly clear from her chats with Amy at the shop, and from the fact she could barely function among the clutter without nearly losing a toe. She’d have to sort her life out – from the final bits of paperwork up. No more hiding from police records or making false claims on CVs. She would get this mess in order. But she couldn’t do it here.
A rumble of thunder in the distance disturbed Lexie’s thoughts. How quickly would the lightning follow? She wasn’t going to hang around in this baked-bean can to find out. ‘It’s time we called Grace,’ she said.
‘Ooh, great.’ Sky clapped her hands, making Lexie jump. ‘Are we going for drinks?’
‘Not yet.’ Lexie inched back the net curtain, sure she could hear a mechanical rumbling too.
Lexie had been in regular contact with Grace since Lexie and Sky went to the nearest town to buy Lexie’s new SIM card. They’d been chatting about everything, from Lexie’s paint-and-furniture-shop ideas to the whole situation with Ben. As silly as Grace thought it was, Lexie was firm that she wanted to get her world in order before she confronted her Ben-and-Cynthia fears. In fact, she hadn’t even told Grace where they were camping in case word slipped out. Not that Grace would tell tales to Nutgrass Hall.
‘Is that tractor coming this way?’ Sky joined Lexie at the window, and they watched in surprise as the bright red machine stopped at the gate of their field and a passenger hopped out.
‘Farmer Humphrey,’ said Lexie.
‘Has he come to kick us out? And who else is in the cab?’
Lexie squinted, praying it wasn’t Ben. It did look like a man, although it was hard to tell under the woolly hat and through all that rain. Her poor heart was clattering. Surely, it couldn’t be? Only the locals knew they were here.
Lexie did not want to be saved by the very man she’d been trying to avoid. She moved away from the window and crouched on the floor, suddenly compelled to hide.
‘Lex, what’s wrong?’
‘I don’t want to see him. Not yet.’
‘But it’s his field. And he just wants to help.’
‘Not Farmer H, you goose.’ Lexie uncovered one eyeball. ‘Who’s he with? Can you see?’ This was exactly why she couldn’t face Ben until she was ready. On her terms. Not stranded in a bog and jittering like an idiot.
‘Just some guy in combats,’ said Sky.
‘Oh, really?’ That did not sound like an outfit Ben would wear. ‘He doesn’t look like … Ben?’
‘What? No! You’ve got a thing about jumping to weird conclusions lately. Too much Moroccan spice has twiddled your brain.’ Sky pulled back the netting and pressed her face against the window. ‘Ha ha. I think I know who it is! Come and see.’
Sky hauled Lexie to her feet and manoeuvred her face towards the glass. Lexie couldn’t help but gawp.
A tall, slim person jumped down from the cab and began striding through the mud towards them. There was no mistaking that confident, feminine stride, nor that determined chin jutting up towards the rainy heavens. As she neared the camper van, she pulled off her hat like someone from a shampoo advert, her honeyed locks cascading downwards.
‘Grace,’ Lexie breathed, knowing that was exactly the fearless look she wanted to have on her face when she was ready to confront Ben. ‘How did she know I was about to call her to come?’
‘And how did she know we were here? You’ve been so Secret Squirrel.’
Within moments, Grace was banging at the side door of Penny Two. The sisters quickly slid the door open and Grace barrelled in, all laughter and hugs.
‘How on earth … ?!’
Grace pulled away and beamed at them. ‘Everyone knows everyone in the country. You didn’t honestly think news of two cute sisters squatting in a vintage camper would stay secret for long? I only live four miles away.’
