Chapter 2 #5
Eliza laughed. What a relief to tell someone her biggest worry, even if she’d not been entirely honest. ‘Thanks, Aggie, someone somewhere must want me! For work, sex, anything!’ She looked up and then stopped. ‘Wait. You’re not really unhappy, are you, Agatha?’
She waved her arm so fast her khaki fur-rimmed parka looked like a burlesque show.
‘No! And for God’s sake don’t start a rumour with Mum, you know what she’s like.
I think it’s just life – the monotony of every day.
In many ways reality sucks. The high points, the fun times, the laughs – they just sometimes feel a bit few and far between.
Other than that, it’s really just mundane.
’ Agatha glanced away. ‘I do keep wondering, though, if I should start cooking again. I really loved being a chef, and I have a few business ideas mulling around, so you never know, I might actually get my shit together and do something! I think I just need to mix my life up a bit, give myself the opportunity to get out and about a bit more.’
Eliza’s eyes gleamed. ‘Oooh, you could go on one of those cooking reality TV shows. Or maybe we can do something together. You cook, I arrange the events, and we become unstoppable sister moguls!’
‘Or it’s far more likely we’d murder each other!’ Aggie snorted. ‘You get your shit together, find some clients, and I’ll find conversations to survive the school run. Remember: sisters first. And I’m always right – deal-breaker in any partnership.’
‘Well, he wasn’t in the loo, girls, maybe he was just a mirage!’ said their mum, as she came back to the table.
‘Definitely not a mirage,’ Agatha said, draining her coffee cup. ‘That was prime countryside beef if I’ve ever seen it.’
‘Agatha, please,’ Margaret tutted, settling back into her chair. ‘Honestly, the way you two talk about men sometimes.’
‘Maybe he’s just gone outside to milk a cow or something,’ Eliza said with a laugh. ‘This is a farm, after all.’
‘Darling, men who look like that don’t milk cows,’ Margaret declared with the confidence of someone who’d spent considerable time categorising attractive creatures.
‘Well, on that note, I think we should probably head back to the cottage,’ Agatha said. ‘I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I promised Toby I’d be back for lunch. The boys have football practice this afternoon.’
‘And I should be getting back, too,’ Margaret added, gathering her handbag. ‘Your father will be wondering where I’ve got to.’
Eliza felt a small pang of disappointment. She’d been enjoying their company. ‘Already? But we’ve only just got here.’
‘Some of us have responsibilities, darling,’ her mother said, patting Eliza’s hand.
As they left the barn, Eliza overheard one of the old farmers at a table near the door say to his friend, ‘Yes, it’s not what I would have done with the place, but Luke did all of this, and it’s going well – as long as he’s happy. Rose has just gone into labour, so he’s not about today.’
As they headed back towards the cottage, Eliza sat quietly in the back seat, soaking up the surroundings.
She gazed at the rolling fields, swearing to claw her future into being amazing, to prove Henry wrong.
And every man who had ever doubted her. She could be brilliant and fierce all on her own, and she was going to prove it.
‘Thanks for coming by, wish you could stay for lunch,’ said Eliza, as they pulled into the little gravel drive that now belonged to her, feeling a little pathetic at the idea of having to fend for herself alone again. Especially after the spectacular failure of last night.
‘Sorry, I can’t today,’ said Agatha, ‘but I promise I’ll be back next week for more coffee and buns!
I’m only an hour away so if you’re that lonely you can jump in that reliable car of yours and head over.
Anyway, I have literally no concerns about you.
I expect you to be shagging someone by the next time we see each other.
Try something new, Eliza. Though, preferably someone hot, and not the seventy-five-year-old neighbour as suggested by our mother. ’
Margaret rolled her eyes. ‘Agatha, really. I was merely suggesting that Dan might have some suitable acquaintances. Not that Eliza should, well, you know.’
‘Have hot rebound sex with him?’ Eliza supplied helpfully, enjoying the way her mother’s cheeks flushed pink.
‘Eliza Fox! I raised you better than that,’ Margaret huffed, but there was a twinkle in her eye. She leaned in to kiss Eliza’s cheek. ‘Call me tomorrow, darling.’
As her mother and sister prepared to leave, Eliza felt that familiar pang of anxiety creeping back.
The cottage suddenly seemed very quiet, very empty, and very .
. . hers. No Henry. No job. Just her, the low beams she’d have to learn to navigate without concussion, and a fire that refused to light.
‘Call me tonight,’ Agatha said, pulling her in for a tight hug. ‘You, little sis, are going to be fine.’
‘Okay okay. Well, send Toby my love and thank you for coming over. Who ever thought I’d be living in the sticks with you!’
‘It was only a matter of time! Love you, bye. And behave!’ she shouted out the window as she roared off in her beast of a vehicle, with her mother following close behind.