Page 97 of A Colourful Country Escape
‘He’s been secretly making herbs for me in that greenhouse of his. Isn’t that adorable? All sorts of things I’d never even heard of. I’ve been experimenting with some delicious herbal teas. You must come round and try some. And have a chinwag about all this dating,’ said Mrs Moon to Lexie.
So that’s what those unidentified plants were in Tom’s secret greenhouse. Nothing dodgy after all. But going back to Nutgrass Hall? Lexie’s heart leapt at the thought. But was it from fear or excitement?
‘Lexie will absolutely help you with your romantic needs, but she’s going to sort out her own life first.’ Grace winked.
‘Lexie’s doing pretty well so far,’ said Sky. ‘I mean, look at this place. But she’s still got a few hurdles left.’
‘A few?’ Lexie screwed up her face.
Sky started counting on her fingers. ‘Stop being a scaredy-dog and speak to Ben. Sort out the rest of this place, including a shop sign, taking down those tatty curtains you’ve been hiding behind, setting up new social media accounts, drafting blog posts … ’
‘Blog posts!’ said Mrs Moon. ‘That was the thing I was about to say before I forgot. Well, isn’t that a relief.’
Was it? Lexie wasn’t quite so sure.
‘So,’ Mrs Moon continued. ‘Ben’s been looking all over for you, Lexie, as I said. Despite the other news he’s been dealing with.’
‘And Cynthia floating around,’ Lexie added.
Grace gave her leg a swift toe-poke.
‘Well, anyway, he was going to drive up to your parents’ house to see if they knew anything. He didn’t have their number and yours hasn’t been working,’ said Mrs Moon.
‘I have a new number,’ Lexie admitted. ‘The old one had to go.’ She was glad Ben hadn’t driven all the way up to Lancaster, although her parents didn’t know exactly where she and Sky were.
‘And he couldn’t work out why all of your social media bits and bobs had disappeared.’
‘I suspended my accounts. I didn’t really need them, and it’s been quite a nice break. Who knew.’
‘She’s been hiding,’ said Sky. ‘Like a wimp.’
‘Re-evaluating,’ said Lexie.
‘Sulking,’ Grace concluded. ‘So, what about the blog posts?’
‘Ben was going to write one,’ said Mrs Moon. ‘Lisa Vanderpump wrote one once, you know. They’re all the rage.’
‘Ben was going to write a blog post? About what?’ asked Lexie, wondering if lovely Mrs Moon had got herself muddled. It didn’t sound like something Ben would do. He wasn’t big on social media, sharing his thoughts or even communicating, really. And he definitely wasn’t keen on blogging.
‘About you, of course. Like an SOS to help him find you. Cory said you’d be off in that camper van, not hanging out with your parents. Ben couldn’t think of any other way of getting a message to you. The poor sausage is desperate to talk. He didn’t say why, but I wouldn’t mind guessing.’ Mrs Moon tapped her nose.
‘Because he wants to go on that Moroccan date, after all.’ Grace gave a little wiggle.
‘Because even after kinky Cynthia put her money and plastic boobs on the table, he’d still prefer your skinny butt!’ said Sky with glee.
‘You’ve never seen Cynthia or her breasts.’ Lexie pulled a face.
‘No, but your scrawny backside is awesome!’ said Sky, trying to give Lexie a high five and failing miserably.
Lexie put her hands over her ears. ‘Stop it. I don’t want to talk about this; you’re giving me false hope. Just let me speak to Ben and find out for myself, OK?’
‘So you’re going? When? When’s he posting this blog post, Mrs M? Or maybe he’s done it already! Ooh, let’s check.’ Grace grabbed her phone. ‘Carrington Paints, right? How exciting.’
‘Bloody stop it,’ said Lexie, making a grab for the phone, but Sky held her back. ‘I just want to communicate in person now. This is terrifying.’
‘You will be communicating in person,’ said Grace, as her fingers danced across her screen. ‘I’ll drive you there myself if I have to. But let’s get a heads-up on the situation. No point in going in blind.’
Lexie cringed as she imagined Grace donning her designer combats and speeding them there in her four-by-four. A spectacle was not what she needed.
