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

more like anger than anything else but that made no sense. Why should he care what names she had been called at school?

‘What are you two doing, skulking back here?’ Lia’s arrival broke the moment. ‘Mim darling, I need you to come with me. The press photographer wants a picture to go with the article and you absolutely must be in it.’

‘Must I?’ Mim grimaced. ‘Why me?’

‘You’re one of the trustees. Besides, you’re looking gorgeous today and we absolutely have to exploit that.’

Today? Did that mean she looked a hideous troll every other day? Mim spotted Corin stifling a laugh at Lia’s comment and didn’t see why he should get out of it.

‘What about Corin?’ she said, sending him a look of mischief, glad that the strange atmosphere of a few moments ago had been replaced with their usual laughter. ‘He’s a trustee too. Shouldn’t he be in the photo?’

‘Perhaps it will look better with the three of us.’ Lia smiled. ‘I suppose he might help attract attention. Some people do seem to think he’s handsome, though it’s totally bizarre to me. Leave your beer behind, darlings; we don’t want to appear uncouth.’

The afternoon couldn’t have gone better. Everyone Mim spoke to loved the caravans and the idea of the charity, and promised support in whatever way they could, whether through financial donations or publicity. It had been lovely to see some of the local children chasing across the field and playing with the outdoor games, demonstrating what a safe, fun place it could be. Bill had surprised everyone, even Bea, by announcing that he would allow the charity guests access to his model railway, under his supervision. It was his pride and joy, built over many years, and Mim had never seen anything like it. It filled one of the workshops and had several tracks that ran through countryside and along a coastline not dissimilar to the one on their doorstep in Littlemead. The attention to detail was amazing with animals grazing in the fields, deckchairs on the promenade, and washing hanging on a line outside a row of cottages. It was a hit with everyone, young and old, and its unveiling was the perfect way to end the day.

Howie had allowed Mim the afternoon off work but she was expected in the Boat by seven. She thought that would give her time to help clear up once the launch party ended but Bea had other ideas. Having failed to persuade Mim to miss work and join the family for a celebratory dinner, she frogmarched her over to the house for what she described as a debrief but which turned out to be an excuse to drink Champagne. Not that the Howards needed much excuse, Mim reflected, as she joined Ros in having a cup of tea instead.

She couldn’t deny that there was much to celebrate. Everyone had a story to tell about a generous donation they had won or a connection they had made. Corin had charmed the headteacher of the nearest school, who had agreed to spread news of the charity within her headteachers’ association, so they could refer any families they thought would benefit from the scheme. Olly had walked away with the largest individual donation of the day. Lia had persuaded a local business to sponsor one of the caravans for a year, in return for choosing a name; for the next twelve months, the yellow caravan would be called Rosie after the owner’s wife, and Lia had already drawn up a shortlist of businesses who might like to sponsor the others.

‘And let’s not forget Mim’s achievement,’ Lia said, after everyone had toasted her success. ‘Did you all hear? She’s persuaded Henry Burrows to allow our guests free use of the facilities at the Happy Days holiday park. Isn’t that fabulous? It’s a double celebration because he’s asked her out on a date as well. To darling Mim!’ Lia raised her glass and winked at Mim, who laughed and shook her head; she should have known that Lia would exaggerate a perfectly innocent meeting. She was looking at the Happy Days park with Henry on behalf of the charity, nothing more. He’d hardly be interested in dating her. Just as well, as she wasn’t interested in dating him. ‘Wouldn’t it be the most wonderful piece of publicity if we could claim an As You Like It wedding?’

‘Surely that would be a case of all’s well that ends well?’ Bill said and everyone laughed except Bea, who was looking at Mim with a puzzled expression, and Corin, who was rubbing Dickens’s tummy and didn’t seem to be listening.

Mim’s own clothes were still upstairs in Lia’s room and she reluctantly left the celebration to change before work. She’d made it as far as the foot of the stairs when she heard Corin’s voice behind her.

‘So you’re going on a date with Henry Burrows,’ he said. ‘I didn’t think he would be your type.’

Mim turned round. Corin was standing in the middle of the hall, a bottle of beer in his hand. The evening sun beamed through the windows and lit him up like an angel.

‘Not my type?’ Mim repeated. Her dress swished against her legs and she smiled, waiting for the punchline. ‘Go on, why not?’

‘He’s obscenely rich and comes from a posh family, for a start.’

‘I see.’ His words brought her crashing back down to earth after the happy fantasy of the last few hours. He wasn’t teasing or making a joke. He was serious, and Janet’s barbed words from a few days ago came rushing back to the surface from where she’d tried to bury them. Despite the borrowed clothes, the make-up, the fancy hairdo, she was still a bit of rough – not one of them. How could she have been stupid enough to believe anything else? The scar on her arm, that he had studied only a few hours ago, branded her forever with the troubles of her past. He had