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

Mim paused in the hallway. ‘He also showed me pictures of his house in France.’

‘Did he?’ Corin’s face was hard to read. ‘I didn’t know he had one. Was it impressive?’

‘Incredible. It was enormous – more like a palace than a house. It even made Vennhallow look small.’

‘A palace?’ Corin held the door open for her. A warm breeze blew in, heady with the tang of the sea air. ‘Exactly where you said you deserve to be. When are you going?’

‘I don’t think I will.’ Henry had misjudged if he’d thought a fancy house would impress her. How many schools could he have sponsored with the money he’d spent buying that place? She looked at Corin. ‘Don’t let it go to your head but you were right. He’s not my type.’

Corin smiled that special smile of his that radiated warmth and was impossible to resist.

‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ he said.

Chapter Eighteen

Lia had worked wonders and found sponsors for the remaining four caravans. She’d decided to hand paint name-plates to attach to the veranda of each one, but had refused to let Mim see them until they were finished. Mim was sitting on her caravan steps with a cup of tea one morning when Lia and Bobby entered the field. Bobby was laden down with a tool bag and a stack of name plates.

‘Darling, you look like a beautiful statue sitting there so serenely,’ Lia said, kissing Mim’s cheeks. Mim had grown used to these public displays now, and it no longer felt odd when someone tried to give her a hug or squeezed her hand. It felt normal, and she didn’t think she would ever tire of that; normal was a condition she’d been longing to achieve for years. ‘You must let me paint you soon. I have the most wonderful idea for it.’

‘As long as it’s not a nude picture. I don’t think either of us are ready for that.’ Mim grinned. ‘Are these the name plates? Can I see them at last?’

‘Only if you promise to be kind about them. I had to finish them more quickly than I’d have liked so they’re ready for when the guests arrive.’

The first guests were booked in for the half-term break at the end of May, only a couple of weeks away now. It was both a thrill and a relief that the idea of As You Like It holidays had taken off, but it was terrifying too. Their guests might not have enjoyed a holiday for years, if ever. It was a huge responsibility to get this right and make it an occasion they would treasure.

Lia showed Mim the name-plates one by one. They were incredible: each name had been painted in fancy script and was surrounded by tiny images that either linked with the name or the seaside location. Mim knew nothing about art but these seemed quite exceptional to her.

Bobby was still holding one board after Mim had inspected them all.

‘Now, you won’t be cross with me, will you, when I show you this?’ Lia said. ‘I made it as a surprise, darling. We couldn’t have one caravan without a name.’

Bobby handed the final board to Lia and she held it up so that Mim could see the image. The words in the centre read, ‘Mim’s caravan’. The pictures round the edge showed a series of red-headed mermaids in different poses, both in and out of the water. It was perfect. She couldn’t believe that Lia had done this for her.

‘Oh darling, do tell me that those are happy tears and not because you loathe it.’

‘I love it. Thank you.’ Mim gave Lia a hug, something that would have been unthinkable five months ago.

‘Well, I still wish you would come and stay in the house and keep me company, but as you won’t be tempted we’re going to make this place as cosy as can be for you. I suppose it isn’t too bad when the weather’s like this. Perhaps you could live here in the summer and hibernate in the house with us over winter?’

Mim hadn’t thought ahead to next winter. Would she still be here? She hoped so. The Howards were the next best thing to a family of her own; Bea and Bill certainly fussed around as she imagined that parents would, Lia behaved as if Mim were another sister, and Corin… That line of thought shuddered to a halt. Corin was a friend and one she would be sorry to lose if she had to move on. But why should she go? She could stay here, save her money, resume her education, and work towards a better future. Maybe even one day she could have a real home of her own. She wasn’t drifting anymore.

Bobby attached Mim’s name-plate first and then he and Lia wandered off to the next caravan, just as Bea approached. She was carrying a pile of envelopes.

‘I thought I’d bring your post round, Mim dear, as it looks most intriguing. Shall we sit at the table and have a look? I think my days of perching on steps are long gone.’

Without waiting for a reply, she headed over to one of the picnic benches that had been donated by a garden centre and dropped the post on the top.

‘Are you going back to college?’ she asked. ‘You simply must let me help. I’ve steered four children through education of one sort or another, from boarding school to sixth-form college, so I’m sure I can offer some advice.’

Mim explained about Corin’s suggestion that she could continue her education. She’d looked it up on her mobile phone as best she could, and had discovered that there were courses she could do even with her limited qualifications to date. She’d applied for a few prospectuses to have a better look.

‘I think it sounds like a wonderful idea,’ Bea said, tearing the wrapper off a prospectus for a college in Exeter. ‘Good for Corin for persuading you. He’s always loved a