Chapter 4 #2
‘A few days a week,’ Bella replied, accepting the glass of wine Eliza offered. ‘He’s in finance – claims he can work remotely, but somehow London always needs him. Funny that.’ She took a generous sip, her face brightening with surprise. ‘This is divine. Your ex had good taste, at least in wine.’
‘That was about the extent of it; I used to think he had good taste in women, too, but clearly I was wrong,’ Eliza said with a wry smile. ‘So, did you say you had three children? That must keep you busy.’
Bella settled onto the floral sofa, crossing her long legs.
‘Busy is one word for it. Trapped might be another.’ She gave a small hollow laugh.
‘I used to be an interior designer in London. Now I arrange flowers for the church and organise school bake sales. I seem to be living the life I always swore I wouldn’t live.
But it’s amazing how these things creep up on us. ’
‘That sounds . . .’ Eliza searched for a diplomatic word.
‘Soul-destroying?’ Bella responded. ‘It is. But it doesn’t mean it will be for you.
Don’t let me bring you down. After all, some people must enjoy living here or they wouldn’t do it.
I think I’m just missing the bright lights.
Anyway, ignore me, the last thing you need is me depressing you on your first week here.
More to the point, what brought you to Farmington?
Most people running from heartbreak head to cities full of hot men, not remote villages full of families and retirees. ’
Eliza perched on the armchair opposite her. ‘Well, to be honest I’d already committed to renting the cottage when I found my ex fucking his assistant in the cellar. We were supposed to move here together, and I figured why let a cheating arsehole ruin my plans, so I decided to come anyway.’
Bella raised her glass in a toast. ‘I like that – very ballsy. Cheers! To men being predictable disappointments.’
‘Anyway, I’m not so sure Farmington is as sedate as it seems. I have to admit that so far it’s been pretty interesting! I’ve already met quite a few characters.’
‘Oh, like who?’ Bella leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with interest.
‘Well, there’s my neighbour Dan for a start. He seems like a total legend.’
‘Daniel? Was he wearing his sarong?’ Bella asked, her eyebrows lifting.
‘That’s the one! Does he always dress like that?’
‘Oh, all the time!’ Bella said, rolling her eyes fondly. ‘He’s fit as a fiddle and likes to make sure everyone knows it – especially all the widows!’
‘I love that – is he on the lookout for a new love interest?’
‘He just likes to keep them all swarming, which they do! He is a flirt of note. So, tell me, who else have you met?’
Eliza hesitated, wondering if she should mention Luke. Something told her to test the waters first. ‘I also met someone at the river yesterday who was doing some wild swimming. I thought he must be insane personally given the freezing temperatures out there!’
‘Was he insanely ripped and charming? If so, let me guess, Luke Stanley?’
‘Yup, that the one!’
Bella’s expression shifted, something unreadable flickering across her face before settling into what seemed like a practised smile.
‘Of course. Luke. He’s our local golden boy, the village heart-throb and an eternal bachelor.
’ She took another sip of wine, a larger one this time.
‘He’s Farmington’s resident renaissance man – a farmer, a businessman, and a wild swimmer of note.
The locals practically worship the ground he walks on. Well, most of them anyway.’
‘I can see why,’ Eliza said before she could stop herself. Then quickly trying to recover herself, she said, ‘I mean, that’s pretty impressive. And the coffee was really excellent when I went there yesterday,’ Eliza offered, noting Bella’s subtle change in demeanour.
‘Oh, everything Luke touches turns to gold,’ Bella said with a lightness that didn’t quite match her eyes.
‘He’s very . . . resourceful. Though I should add, that if you’re looking to snag him for a bit of rebound, then he’s perfect.
But if you’re looking for more . . . well, let’s just say he’s not just well known for his business acumen, if you get my meaning. ’
She had no doubt she would be joining the throngs of women pretending they liked swimming in rivers to get close to someone as attractive as Luke.
But there was history there with Bella and Luke, Eliza realised – something beyond the casual acquaintance of friendly neighbours.
She had either slept with him, wanted to sleep with him, or hated him.
She decided to choose her words carefully.
‘Oh, I thought Luke was married? Someone mentioned his wife was in labour – Rose?’
Bella let out a laugh. ‘Wife? Luke doesn’t have a wife. Rose is his much loved dog, but let me tell you something, I’m not sure any of us will see the day that Luke settles down. He’s not a big fan of commitment – many have tried and failed.’
Eliza’s heart was pounding. He was single? That rippling Thor-like creature was available? Oh my God, she thought, it was nearly too much to deal with!
Trying not to look like she cared, and wanting to change the subject, she asked, ‘How long have you lived here, Bella? I feel like you have all the gossip on the locals!’
‘Too long! It’s been seven years since we left London.
We moved back when I was pregnant with my second.
Phil convinced me it would be the right place to raise our children .
. . fresh air, loving community, all that nonsense about our collective history.
’ She gazed out of the window at the darkening sky.
‘Sometimes I wonder if I’ll just die here, arranging daffodils for the Easter service, missing out on real life. ’
There was something raw in Bella’s tone that made Eliza uneasy. ‘It can’t be all bad, surely?’
But before she could probe further, Bella glanced at her watch. ‘I should be getting back. The children will be about to kill each other.’
Eliza wasn’t sure whether she was actually warming to this glamorous woman who seemed so out of place in a village like Farmington. ‘Yes, of course. Well, thank you so much for stopping in!’
After she shut the door, Eliza felt more confused than ever.
There was a lot to unpack there, Bella seemed stressed out and bitter and not who she’d pictured Phil with at all.
But, most importantly, Luke was single and not looking for anything serious.
She felt a frisson of excitement bubble through her.
Maybe Farmington was about to get a lot more fun . . .
A few minutes later, as she was popping to the nearest supermarket to get something other than cake and leftover cottage pie, she nearly crapped herself when Daniel knocked on her car window.
What was it with people knocking on her window!
He was already animatedly chatting away to her as she rolled it down.
‘So glad to have caught you, Eliza – I have something I wanted to ask you.’
‘I’m intrigued. Are you inviting me to dinner already, Dan?’ she said cheekily, hoping he was delaying her boring chore by at least another day.
‘Well, actually, I think it’s even more exciting than that – it’s the annual tractor ploughing competition this Saturday – I don’t suppose you could join us on the panel, could you? We are one judge short, and you could meet more people!’
Eliza stifled a giggle. ‘A tractor ploughing competition, Dan? I don’t know anything about tractors, or ploughing – if it was a wine tasting competition I might be more suited!’
He waved away her excuses, beaming away. ‘Ah, that doesn’t matter at all! It just comes down to who can plough the straightest lines in the shortest amount of time – it really is a calendar highlight. I think you’ll enjoy it. Say you will?’
Fuck it, thought Eliza, it’s not like I have anything else to do with myself, and Nancy won’t be arriving until the afternoon.
‘Sure, why not,’ replied Eliza. ‘But it better be as simple as you say!’
Dan laughed. ‘It is, I promise, and like with everything else, it’s at Stanley’s. We’re all meeting there at eleven a.m. See you then! Don’t be late.’
‘Who else is doing it?’ she shouted after him. ‘Anyone I know? Anyone exciting?’
‘You don’t know anyone,’ he retorted with a wicked grin, and with that he jogged off as quickly as he had arrived, although this time in some low-slung trackies and a vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt.
She felt convinced there was still nothing holding his tackle in place.
Maybe everyone needed to be a bit more Daniel.