Chapter 22
By the time she hit the motorway, Eliza had convinced herself she had made the right decision with regards to Luke.
She had to keep him at a distance. Just because she fancied him, it didn’t mean he was the man for her.
Sex and love were two very different things, and as the London skyline came into view and the traffic crawled to a standstill, she realised they were sometimes quite hard to tell apart.
As she approached Nancy’s house, she noticed all the lights were on.
That’s weird, she was sure she’d turned them all off before she left that morning.
Oh shit, was Nancy back already? They weren’t due for another few days, but just as she’d convinced herself there was a burglar, the door flung open.
‘LIZA!’ Nancy shouted, loud enough to rouse the dead. ‘I saw you pull up and didn’t want to give you a fright, so I came to let you in.’
‘What are you doing back so soon?’ asked Eliza. ‘I thought you were still away for a few more days, now I feel awful I’m intruding.’
‘Oh, don’t be a bloody idiot, you know you can stay here whenever you want.
We just needed to get back a few days earlier as something’s kicked off at work, not to mention the fact that my in-laws are exhausting.
Anyway, Freya wants to get back into nursery – she misses all her friends.
Apparently, I’m just not enough anymore. And I wanted to see you.’
Clambering out of the car, with Vivi’s picnic in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other, she beamed at her friend. Trust Nancy to materialise, exactly when the universe knew Eliza couldn’t handle one more moment alone with her thoughts.
‘Well, you might regret that, but my God am I excited to see you. Do you have the energy to share this delicious bottle with me, and I can fill you in?’
Giving her a huge hug, Nancy ushered her into the hallway. ‘Eliza, when have I ever said no to an offer like that? Start at the beginning; I’m all ears.’
They sat at Nancy’s kitchen table, the wine flowing freely as Eliza recounted everything: the farm, the lies, her new freelance gig and the celebrity clients, culminating in seeing Luke from a distance and then fleeing.
‘Wait – you’re planning a wedding for Max Sullivan? The Max Sullivan? Jesus, Eliza, my niece has his poster above her bed, and I wouldn’t mind it above mine, either!’
‘The very one,’ Eliza confirmed, taking another sip of wine. ‘And I’m holding the wedding at Jean Pierre’s vineyard in Farmington, which means I’ll be back and forth constantly for the next few weeks until the big day.’
‘So, let me get this straight,’ Nancy said, refilling her glass, ‘you’ve got a hot farmer who owns half the village pursuing you, a celebrity wedding that could launch your career, Julian in the palm of your hand, all your debt basically paid off, and you’re sitting here in my kitchen, eating cheese, instead of having incredible celebration sex? ’
Eliza groaned. ‘When you put it that way, I sound completely mad. But Luke and I are not together. I haven’t spoken to him since I stormed out of the wedding.’
Nancy stared at Eliza with a look that could only be described as pitying. ‘So, what exactly are you planning to do? Are you just going to keep avoiding him the entire time you’re organising this wedding on his doorstep?’
‘That’s the plan,’ Eliza said, stuffing a piece of cheese into her mouth to avoid elaborating further.
‘And you think that’s going to work?’ Nancy raised an eyebrow. ‘In a village where everyone knows everyone’s business before they even know it themselves?’
Eliza swallowed her cheese and sighed. ‘I’ve got it all figured out. I’ll only go to Farmington when absolutely necessary. Most of the planning can be done remotely. And when I do have to be there, I’ll schedule my visits around Luke’s working hours at Stanley’s. He won’t even know I’m there.’
‘That sounds exhausting,’ Nancy said, reaching for more bread. ‘And not to mention unrealistic!’
‘It’s not forever, Nancy. It’s just until the wedding,’ Eliza insisted. ‘Three weeks of strategic avoidance really isn’t that long.’
Nancy took a long sip of wine. ‘And what happens when you inevitably run into him? Have you rehearsed that awkward conversation yet?’
‘I’ll just be professional. Cordial. Brief.’ Eliza ticked off each word on her fingers. ‘I’ll say hello, mention the weather, and make a hasty exit. Simple.’
‘Oh right, of course! Because that’s exactly how it works when you see someone you’ve had mind-blowing sex with.’ Nancy’s tone was drenched in sarcasm. ‘Especially someone who, by your own admission, “makes your heart do that little flippy thing”.’
Eliza glared at her. ‘Oh, fuck off, Nancy. I’m a total professional and I assure you I can handle seeing Luke without losing the plot.’
‘Listen to me,’ Nancy said, suddenly serious.
‘I’ve known you for nearly twenty years.
I’ve seen you date the wrong men, and throw yourself into work rather than deal with your feelings, or your debt.
But I’ve never seen you light up talking about a place, or a person, the way you do about Farmington and Luke.
Don’t you think it’s worth having a conversation with him? ’
Eliza considered this. ‘Well, if I’m honest, I do feel more alive there. But what about Luke? What if he isn’t the real deal? Farmington isn’t like London; you can’t just move on and avoid your ex at parties.’
‘You’re not signing a lifetime contract, Eliza, you’re allowed to change your mind, but why not give it a try? That’s life. Some things work out and others don’t.’
Eliza stared into her wine glass. ‘The thing is, in London, I was this confident career woman with a plan. In Farmington I’m someone else entirely, someone who swims in lakes, makes friends with the elderly cake bakers and gets all emotional about a damn puppy.’
Nancy laughed. ‘Have you considered that maybe you’re both? Maybe Farmington has just revealed parts of you that you didn’t know existed – I’m still going to love you if deep down you want to be a farmer’s wife! There’ll be no judgement here!’
‘Nance, what if I give up everything for Luke and then discover there are more lies?’
‘Not all men are Henry,’ Nancy reminded her. ‘And listen, I’m not saying Luke’s perfect, no man is, but talk to him. At the very least, clear the air, otherwise this wedding is going to be a nightmare for you.’
Nancy sighed and carried on. ‘Eliza, you’ve spent so long planning for disaster that you’ve forgotten how to just be happy. Yes, love is messy and terrifying, but it’s also wonderful and it doesn’t always make sense – so just go for it.’
Eliza felt her chest tighten as the realisation hit her with terrifying clarity. Fuck, she was madly in love with Luke.
When Eliza said nothing, Nancy continued, ‘Right.’ She clapped her hands together, jolting Eliza from her internal freak-out.
‘I think you need to get a few hours’ sleep and leave at the crack of dawn.
Go and wake Farmer McHotness from his early morning slumber, when he’ll be all rumpled and sexy, and have a chat with him. Be a grown-up about it.’
‘You are ridiculous. I’m not doing that,’ said Eliza, nearly spitting out her wine.
‘Why not? It’s romantic. Look at you, living in my spare room – you’re better than that. Go and claim your hot farmer while you still can.’
Eliza groaned, covering her face with her hands. ‘God, I hate it when you’re right.’
‘I’m always right, it’s my special talent.’
‘But what about the wedding planning?’
‘Oh, please,’ scoffed Nancy, ‘you planned Fenella’s wedding perfectly well while shagging Luke and look what a success that was! I have faith you can do it again!’
‘I can’t believe I’m listening to you; you’re insane,’ said Eliza half laughing.
‘And that’s why you love me,’ said Nancy. ‘Now, go and get your farmer!’