Page 94 of A Colourful Country Escape
‘And when are those stupid sheets coming down? I miss seeing daylight.’ Sky pointed to the shopfront windows where Lexie had hung old lengths of material to keep out prying eyes. They were already starting to droop in protest; she really should rearrange them.
‘Soon, OK?’
She knew it would have to be. The shop would be opening next week and she couldn’t hide forever. She didn’t want to cower behind the counter, wondering when Ben would hear about the place and come storming in. She’d walked out on their work trip, her job, her room. She’d left him in the lurch, even if she’d had Cynthia-shaped reasons for not wanting to speak to him. And they still had Lexie’s lies to discuss. She’d finally sorted out the paperwork to clear her police record, and all copies of her phony CV had been fed into the jaws of Grace’s dad’s shredder. And even if Ben might be walking down the aisle with someone else in the name of money, Lexie still wanted to be able to hold her head up high if she bumped into them, knowing that she’d finally cleared her name.
‘You keep sayingsoon, but when? Good things don’t come to those who wait.’
Grace arrived behind them, puffing and panting with a set of nesting tables repainted inLexie LovesMarmalade, with zebra-patterned legs. ‘I think the saying is that good thingsdocome to those who wait. But seriously. Just get in touch with the guy, or I’ll do it myself.’ She put the tables down, and the three girls looked around to survey their work.
For all she’d loved Amy’s Inspiration, Lexie’s shop was looking very different. She was proud of how it was shaping up. It was bright, quirky and unapologetically her. With permission from the landlord, they’d repainted the floorboards in sassy stripes of colour and hung some of her old sari material on the walls. Her range ofLexie Loveschalk-style paints were displayed on an eclectic collection of painted bookshelves along one wall. They’d arranged the pots in colour order, so the effect was like a glorious rainbow.
The furniture Lexie had been working so hard to upcycle was dotted around the place, looking enticing. She’d bought some retro purple armchairs from the second-hand furniture shop next door and created a lovely cosy corner. She quite fancied the idea of serving tea and cake there in the long run, but one step at a time. She would put some inspirational magazines and a few tubs of M&Ms there for now.
M&Ms. Wow. How they reminded her of Ben. How everything did. Was there still a small chance for them? A tiny glimmer of hope that she’d got everything wrong? She knew that was the thing she was desperately clinging to. The thing she might have to say goodbye to once she finally heard his story.
‘She’s waiting for a sign,’ said Sky, putting on her strange, mystical voice. ‘Before she knows it’s time.’
Was constantly thinking about M&Ms, fortune cookies and magical walks through the souks of Marrakech a sign? Or pining over passionate kisses in London, their lively Friday meetings or even heart-to-hearts behind her parents’ knackered shed? Being with Ben had made the ordinary extraordinary. Just like everything she was trying to do in this shop. She’d thought he was so beige in the beginning. But over time, she’d found his presence reflected all the colours of the spectrum. He’d inspired her to travel again, to trust her instincts, to create …
‘Er. Maybe that’s a sign?’ said Grace, squinting towards the window.
Lexie and Sky followed her gaze to see a face peering back at them through a gap in the makeshift curtains.
‘Bloody hell, let her in,’ said Lexie with a gulp. It looked as though Mohammed was coming to the mountain.
Chapter 48
The elderly lady bustled into the shop as though she was already in charge. She looked different out of uniform, in her sensible lilac cardigan and grey skirt, but when she put her strange pot down and pulled Lexie into the cosiest hug, she smelt just the same. Chamomile tea and lavender soap; like a cuddly cloud of calm.
Lexie felt warm tears flow down her face. She had missed Mrs Moon with all her heart. She was part of what made this town home for her. Part of why she would fight to stay, even if a fancier peacock would be taking her place with Ben.
‘Now, where on earth have you been?’ The housekeeper held Lexie at arm’s length. ‘Oh dear, this just won’t do. You haven’t been eating properly; you look so thin. Just like Ben. And he’s been so worried about you. Looking all over. When are you coming home?’ She turned her gaze to Sky. ‘And where did you pop off to?’
Ben had been looking for her? And worried? Or maybe just concerned she’d seen him getting frisky on the balcony with a certain Cynthia Fortescue. Time would soon tell.
As Mrs Moon dabbed Lexie’s face with a pretty embroidered hanky, Lexie explained she and Sky were moving in above the shop. She apologised for them both disappearing so suddenly, then picked through her thoughts for an explanation that didn’t involve half-naked women on balconies.
‘Ben and I had a bit of a … falling out, in Morocco. I thought we were going to go on a date,’ said Lexie.
Mrs Moon nodded as though the date part was perfectly sensible. Was it?
‘Yeah, and then slutty Cynthia tried to get allbedroom vixenwith him. Are those two getting it on now?’
‘Sky!’ Lexie clamped a hand over her sister’s mouth. That was exactly the question she didn’t want answered. At least not by dear Mrs Moon.
The housekeeper’s soft cheeks coloured to candyfloss and she looked a little flustered. She brushed down her skirt in the place her pinafore would usually be.
‘It’s OK, don’t answer that,’ said Lexie. ‘I would rather hear it from Ben.’
Lexie guided everyone towards the purple armchairs and three of them sat down, with Grace disappearing to put the kettle on and gather biscuits.
‘I honestly don’t know, dear,’ said Mrs Moon once she’d composed herself. ‘Us staff don’t get informed about things like that, and Ben’s awfully private. Not the sort to be seen canoodling.’
Lexie winced and Mrs Moon squeezed her arm.
‘I can’t see those two cavorting anyway. They’re not suited: Cynthia’s far too uppity. I have seen her popping in a couple of times, but, if it makes you feel better, I think she had very different reasons.’
‘Different reasons?’ Lexie ventured, almost wishing she hadn’t.
