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

with the customers. In fact, now you’re free of the shop, what do you say to working more nights and all day Saturday? After the caravan launch. I know you won’t want to miss that.’

‘I’d love to.’ Mim grinned. ‘I’ll be there in ten minutes.’

‘I gather you’re turning me down?’ Corin said as she put away her phone. ‘Have you received a better offer?’

‘I have. Sorry.’ Mim smiled. It was the best offer possible. Now she would be earning again; now she could afford to stay here in Littlemead, in her gorgeous caravan. ‘Howie has offered me my job back at the Boat, and extra shifts too.’

‘That’s great news.’ Corin looked genuinely pleased for her. He started to tidy away the cleaning equipment as Mim dashed up the steps and into her caravan. He called after her. ‘We’ll have to do dinner another time.’

Chapter Sixteen

‘I’m really not sure about this,’ Mim said, studying her reflection in the mirror. ‘I don’t look like me.’

‘Oh darling, you look gorgeous,’ Lia replied, circling round Mim. ‘Like an even better version of you. This is how you should always look.’

‘It wouldn’t be very practical for scrubbing the bathrooms in the caravans, would it?’

It was Saturday morning, launch day for As You Like It holidays, and initially Mim had been pleased that she could attend. It was the one bright part of losing her job in the shop. Or it was, until Lia had told her that as a trustee of the charity, Mim was expected to be a visible face, selling their story and talking to the press, not just serving the drinks. That bombshell had led on to the suggestion that she might like to wear something more attractive than her everyday work clothes. And on Mim admitting that she didn’t have anything more attractive, Lia had roped in Ros, and here they all were, getting ready together.

It had been fun. This was a new experience for Mim – the laughter, the camaraderie, the mutual support of being with other women and getting ready for an event together. Except, to her dismay, it had soon become all about Mim. Lia had blow-dried her hair, and worked a miracle in arranging it into a half-up half-down style, so that soft waves rather than messy curls framed her face. Ros had skilfully applied make-up so that her eyes seemed twice as big and her face glowed like a film star. They’d even solved the clothes issue by bringing a selection of dresses that Ros could no longer fit in for Mim to borrow. The result was little short of a total transformation.

She cast another glance at her reflection. She’d eventually chosen a soft green dress decorated with tiny white daisies, fitted round the bodice and then falling to calf length in a full skirt. It wasn’t like anything she’d ever worn before. She swayed from side to side, enjoying the way the silk fabric swirled around her legs. She didn’t look like Mim Brown. She looked like Miranda, as if she’d been born to this life. She smiled. She was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

She wasn’t the only one dressed to impress. They had worked hard on the caravan site this morning and it looked magnificent. The three caravans that had been damaged by spray paint had cleaned up well, after another day of hard graft on Friday; they weren’t perfect, and Mim could still see a shadow, but she didn’t think the guests would notice. Susie had made some long strips of bunting which they had draped between the caravans, and it fluttered prettily in the gentle breeze coming in off the sea. Bobby had refilled the plant pots, and now an abundance of vivid coloured flowers brightened each veranda. He had also created a games area in one corner of the field, by cutting short a square of grass, and now giant outdoor games were set out, waiting to be played. Everything was perfect, from the blue sky and warm sunshine to the delicious smell of the barbecue wafting across the field. Mim looked around and felt a surge of pride that she’d been able to contribute to this project. This could bring some pleasure to those who really needed it. Whatever it took, it had to be a success.

Lia and Ros had been in charge of the guest list for the launch party. Ros had worked in modelling and promotion before she married and had a huge list of useful contacts, many of whom she had persuaded down to Devon for the weekend. Lia had focused on social media and had drawn in an impressive selection of bloggers and influencers as well as the local press. Villagers and local businesses had been invited too, to emphasise that the community was behind this scheme – with the obvious exception of one business. The aim of the party was simple: to obtain as much publicity as they could, and to spread the word that the charity existed in the hope of securing donations and filling up the caravans for the summer.

The five guest caravans were all open for viewing, and Mim enjoyed showing groups round. It was easy to be enthusiastic about the interiors when Susie had made them look so beautiful. Each had a different colour scheme, which co-ordinated with the exterior of the caravan, but they all brought the same feeling of cosy warmth with the textured cushions, snuggly blankets, and fluffy rugs.

‘You’re doing a great job selling the place,’ one of the visitors said, after Mim had shown him and a couple of bloggers around the blue caravan. ‘I love what you’ve done with these caravans. I haven’t seen anything like them before. It’s unusual to have created a premium product for holidays you’re giving away.’

‘We were lucky. A local lady designed all the interiors and she’s done a gorgeous job, hasn’t she? She’s here today if you’d like to meet her.’ Mim had no idea who