Finding Home by Kate Field (read book .txt) 📗

said. ‘I can be anxious taking the children to someone else’s house. I even worry about them making a mess in here, and that’s when I know you wouldn’t be cross. Perhaps the caravans need to be practical rather than beautiful?’

‘Mim? What do you suggest?’ Bea asked.

Mim drank some beer and thought about what would work in the caravans. She wanted them to be cosy, comfortable, relaxing spaces and she knew the perfect example of that. She’d been there this morning. Karen’s campervan, designed by her partner Susie, would make a perfect template with its rich colours, hard-wearing surfaces and clever use of space. It hadn’t cost a fortune either. Karen had told her that Susie had used recycled fabric and remnants to create many of the soft furnishings. Susie would be the perfect person to advise them on refurbishing the caravans, if she felt well enough.

‘There’s no reason why they can’t be practical and beautiful. Can I get back to you on that?’ Mim said. ‘I have an idea, but I need to check whether someone could help. Don’t you think it would be good if any work was done by local people, though? It would make it seem more of a community project. Perhaps Bobby could help with fixing the verandas and doing any painting?’

From the corner of her eye, she saw Lia toss her hair over her shoulder. It couldn’t do any harm if Bobby and Lia were thrown together on this project, could it? She smiled to herself and caught Corin giving her a curious look.

After the initial enthusiasm for setting the project up, Mim found that little thought had been given to the practical arrangements involved in running it day to day. She was met with blank faces when she asked about laundry, cleaning, taking bookings and all the other small details that would need to be sorted out before any visitors arrived. Bill tried his best.

‘Bea and I will produce a set of directions,’ he said, fingering the end of his moustache. ‘How about that? It’s not the easiest place to find, and as you showed us, we can’t assume that everyone will have sat nav.’

‘You can’t assume everyone will have a car,’ Mim pointed out. No one seemed to have thought of that.

‘How will they get here without a car?’ Lia asked. ‘And what will they do when they’re here? They can take the coastal path into the village, but Janet’s deli won’t keep them entertained for long.’

There was a path down to the village? Mim should have thought of that before. It would save petrol if she could walk to work, although the return journey wouldn’t be much fun in the dark.

‘We’ll have to provide transport,’ Corin said. He’d been quiet through much of the discussion so far. ‘Train and taxi fares could be covered by the charity. Hannah will be glad of the work. She’s the village taxi driver,’ he explained to Mim. ‘This is a fantastic stretch of coast. We could offer dozens of ideas of things to do.’

‘Don’t force them on one of your fossil walks.’ Lia flopped against Mim and pretended to snore. She sat up and laughed. ‘We’re supposed to be brightening their lives, not boring them to death.’

‘What’s a fossil walk?’ Mim asked.

‘Oh darling, you will totally regret asking that,’ Lia said. Corin ignored her.

‘I run fossil hunting walks along the beach,’ he said. ‘This stretch of coast is famous for its fossils. Why don’t you come along to one? Judge for yourself whether it would interest visitors.’

‘Okay,’ Mim said. Lia groaned at her side. ‘I haven’t a clue what it is but I’ll give it a go. Let me know when your next walk is.’

There wasn’t time to discuss much else. Ros and Jonty needed to go home to relieve the babysitter, and Bill was snoozing in his chair. Mim pulled on her coat while Corin said goodbye to Ros and Jonty at the front door.

‘Sure you don’t want another beer?’ he asked, as the car taillights faded in the distance.

‘Better not.’ Mim tried and failed to stifle a yawn. ‘This dog’s ready for her basket.’

Corin’s laughter followed her down the lane.

Karen was thrilled when Mim asked whether Susie would be interested in helping to design the interior of the caravans.

‘She’d love to,’ she said, before Mim had even finished explaining the idea. ‘In fact, she won’t be satisfied with giving you some ideas. She’ll want to make everything herself.’

‘Is she well enough?’ Mim asked. It was a brilliant idea, as far as she was concerned, but she didn’t want to force a woman recovering from cancer to slave away over a sewing machine.

‘She’s feeling great. Bored, if anything. She’s hated the lack of energy and having to rest so much. This is exactly what she needs.’

‘We can pay her,’ Mim said. ‘For her time as well as all the materials.’

Bea had insisted that there was a decent budget for renovating the caravans, but when Mim had asked where the money had come from, and how the charity was being funded, she’d declined to give an answer. Lia, usually so talkative, had been equally tight-lipped, telling Mim they had enough to start the work until they could properly fundraise for the charity.

‘The money’s not important,’ Karen said now. ‘Although we won’t say no. She’s looking for a change of lifestyle. A job she loves, not loathes. She’s wondered about doing something creative like this. It will give her a chance to have a go and see if it would suit her. Besides,’ she added, handing Mim a fresh cup of tea, ‘this is a good thing you’re doing. We’d all like to help.’

‘Really?’ Mim didn’t know who ‘all’ was, but it sounded expensive. ‘I’ll have to ask. I’m not sure how much money there is.’

‘We don’t want money,’ Heather said. ‘And I doubt that we’re skilled enough to deserve any, unlike Susie. But if enthusiasm can make up for talent, we can find