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

but she’ll never forgive me if I ring and wake the children at this time. If only I hadn’t pressed the Essex cousins on Corin. He’d rather have had you than those awful twins. Perhaps—’

‘Don’t bother about me,’ Mim interrupted, before Bea could go through her entire address book. ‘I’ll be heading back first thing in the morning. I’m sure I can find somewhere.’ If she could find a quiet picnic area to park up for the night, it would be an upgrade from a layby. Devon was holiday country, wasn’t it? Or even better – could she find her way to the sea and be lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves? That would be the best ending to what had been an unexpectedly fun day.

‘The local hotels and B&Bs will be full of wedding guests,’ Bea said, ‘the ones that open at this time of year. There must be somewhere we can put you.’

‘What about the caravans?’ Bill asked, his voice coming out of the darkness as the security light switched off. ‘They’ve not been used for a while, but they should be watertight.’

‘That’s it! The perfect solution.’ The lights flashed on as Bea spun back to Mim, a huge smile filling her face. ‘You can stay in one of our caravans. You’re one of us. We’re not giving you up so easily.’

Chapter Two

Mim was woken by the tinny sound of knocking on metal. She jolted upright, fearing that she was about to be moved on from the layby… And then she realised, as a mattress spring prodded her buttock and she breathed in the slightly musty air, that she wasn’t in her car after all. She was in one of Bea’s caravans: cold, dusty, and with some damp stains on the curtains, but still the most luxurious place she had slept over the last fortnight.

There was a longer knock at the door and Mim hurried to answer it. She shielded her eyes with her arm as the visitor shone a torch straight at her face.

‘Sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to blind you.’ The visitor – a girl in her mid-twenties, wrapped in a huge wool coat and wearing floral wellington boots – at last switched off the torch. ‘Hello. I’m Lia,’ she said. She leaned forward and air kissed Mim’s cheeks. ‘You must be Mim, the saviour of the day. We’ve heard all about you and how amazing you are. Mummy didn’t mention that you have such fabulous hair. Is it all natural?’

‘Yes.’ Mim flinched as the girl reached out and touched a strand of her hair. She hadn’t brushed it yet, and she suspected that the usual waves might have turned into corkscrew curls overnight. The sooner she could tie it back, out of the way, the better.

‘You are so lucky,’ Lia continued. ‘You wouldn’t believe how much I have to pay for extensions or else my hair looks literally as thin as tissue. Yours is a gorgeous colour too, not exactly red, but like the most beautiful autumn leaves. I’d love to paint you. You could be a contemporary Pre-Raphaelite. You will let me, darling, won’t you?’

‘I won’t be here. I’m going back today.’ Not back home. She had no home – not a bricks and mortar one, at any rate. She had an area of the country where she’d spent most of her life. It wasn’t quite the same, was it? ‘What time is it?’ she asked, peering out of the door and seeing that the sky was much lighter than she’d expected.

‘Almost nine.’ Lia rolled her eyes. ‘I know. I said it was too early to disturb you, but the house is in pandemonium because of the wedding.’

‘Nine?’ Mim hadn’t slept so late since … well, she couldn’t remember when. The springy mattress must have been more comfortable than she’d expected. Disappointingly so – she’d planned to be on her way back to Lancashire by now.

‘Speaking of the wedding,’ Lia carried on, ‘Mummy sent me over to ask you an enormous favour. She’d have come herself but she’s in the middle of having her highlights done. Two of the village girls who were supposed to be waitressing for the caterers have phoned in sick this morning, so we’re short staffed. Apparently you mentioned having hotel experience, so is there any chance you could help out, darling?’

The request was accompanied by a charming smile. Lia really was an extraordinarily attractive girl, with her heart-shaped face and ash-blonde hair piled into a messy bun. There was no malice in the words, but that ‘staff’ was a reality check after the ‘one of us’ talk of the day before. Still, Mim didn’t take offence. What other place could she ever have among these people, with her background, her flat northern vowels, and with her home address being a clapped-out Volvo?

‘I’ve brought you some clothes – a black skirt and a white blouse – and some toiletries. I’d say we’re a similar size, wouldn’t you?’ Lia carried on. ‘You poor thing, having to sleep in your clothes. I wanted to bring you some pyjamas last night but Mummy thought you’d prefer some peace and quiet after the long drive. I do tend to talk a lot. Just ask Corin.’ She laughed. ‘Tell me to shut up. Everyone else does. So what do you say? Will you be our saviour again and help out?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Mim was happy to help. It made no difference whether she returned to Lancashire today or tomorrow. She’d much rather be busy here than twiddling her thumbs in the car until she could start job hunting again.

‘Fantastic.’ Lia seemed to take Mim’s agreement as an invitation as she slipped past Mim and into the caravan. ‘Hurry and change and then I’ll show you the way to the house. The caterers have laid on a huge pile of sandwiches for breakfast.’

‘Breakfast?’ Mim laughed. ‘You should have mentioned that in the first place. I’d have agreed to anything for a