Page 20 of Escape to the Country

Chapter 8

Eleanor felt a strong sense of déjà vu when she walked down the street later that sunny afternoon. It was a route that she had taken most days in her childhood, picking up Megan first and then Annie as they walked to school, their cheerful chatter filling the air.

She turned to head up the front path to No 2 Cherry Tree Avenue. The garden was a little messier than she remembered. Probably because Megan’s dad, who had been a keen gardener, had moved up to Scotland with her mum a few years previously, enabling Megan and her husband Neal to move in and have their own family home.

But at least their garden didn’t have a donkey in it, thought Eleanor with a shudder.

She had barely reached the front door when it was flung open and Megan rushed out.

‘I couldn’t wait any longer!’ she almost shouted, pulling Eleanor into an enormous bear hug. ‘It’s so good to see you!’

‘And you too,’ said Eleanor, her teary words muffled in her friend’s shoulder.

She inhaled the familiar scent of Coco Mademoiselle as she was clutched tight. She had a sudden memory of picking out the perfume bottle in Selfridges for her friend’s birthday a few years ago.

‘Let me look at you,’ said Megan, stepping back to give her a wide smile. ‘As bloody glamorous as always, I see.’

Eleanor glanced down. It was true that she had taken care with her outfit, but it was only a smart-casual look of a pair of white jeans, wedges and cute pale blue top and matching cover-up. Her elegant armour against the real world. Of course, her friend hadn’t seen her a couple of hours earlier, milking a goat for goodness’ sake!

‘I should have worn something smarter,’ muttered Megan.

‘You look great,’ replied Eleanor automatically.

It was almost true. Megan was wearing black leggings and a long pink tunic top which clashed with her red hair but concealed her mummy tummy.

‘It’s the only thing that isn’t covered in some kind of stain,’ said Megan, with a shrug.

‘It’s fine. Anyway, you’ve cut your hair,’ said Eleanor, in approval.

Megan touched the red strands that only just reached her shoulders now. ‘Oh, that was months ago, didn’t I tell you? It takes less time than when it was long.’

Months? Eleanor bit her lip. It had been too long since she’d caught up with her friends. Especially after such a brief visit at Christmas.

But Megan’s round cheerful face looked just as youthful as always, if you didn’t look too closely at the dark shadows under her eyes. That was probably due to having three children under the age of six.

‘Where are the kids?’ Eleanor asked, peering around to peek into the hallway. ‘I haven’t seen them for ages and need my godmother hugs.’

Megan shook her head. ‘Neal’s mum has got them for tea as he’s working late again. I told her it was an emergency as I haven’t seen you for so long.’ She jangled a heavy set of keys in her hand. ‘Come on,’ she said, slamming the front door shut and heading towards a grubby Fiesta parked in the street. ‘You can see them another time. Annie’s desperate to see you as well. And I need a drink after being on playground duty this afternoon.’

Eleanor slipped into the passenger seat, dismayed to see a host of grubby marks and crumbs. Hopefully her white jeans would survive intact.

‘Sorry about the mess,’ said Megan, crunching the car into gear before setting off. ‘I’d blame the kids, but it’s mostly me.’

It was warm in the car, so Eleanor wound down the window. The weather forecasters were promising a hot summer, but they had all heard that too many times before to believe it would come true.

However, the wild rhododendron bushes that grew along the wide road were full of bright purple and pink flowers. It was a riot of colour and immediately cheered her up after such a dismal few days.

Megan was driving pretty quickly in her haste to get all three of them together, so they were soon going down the long bumpy driveway towards Willow Tree Hall.

‘I haven’t been up here in years,’ said Eleanor, staring out of the window at the overgrown fields, a riot of long grass and wild flowers. Beyond the large willow tree that stood in the front of the house, the elegant stately home came into view. She had forgotten how huge it was. ‘It’s so beautiful.’

Megan nodded her head as she crunched down a gear. ‘Isn’t it? Mind you, I come up here at least twice a week to help clean the place so I’m almost used to it.’

Eleanor shook her head in disbelief. ‘I still can’t believe Annie lives in a place like this. And not as an employee any more but as a member of the family.’

‘Talk of the upwardly mobile devil,’ said Megan, screeching the car to a halt and pulling up the handbrake. ‘There she is.’

As she got out of the car, Eleanor looked across to the huge double front door to where her friend had just appeared. Desperately trying not to run, Annie was speed-walking towards the car, the ponytail holding her long blonde hair waving back and forth.