Chapter 31
That had happened a week ago. And now here she was, on a plane home, heading back to Goosebrook. As they began their descent, Mimi mentally replayed her last few minutes with Willa, Alice and CJ, who had come with her to Palma to see her off. Willa had hugged her and said, ‘We’re going to miss you so much.’ Alice had tried to tug her hair. And CJ had launched quite unexpectedly into an impassioned speech, telling her that she’d changed his life and he could never thank her enough for everything she’d done. Then, in a voice husky with emotion, he’d clasped her hands between his own and asked her if she’d promise to come to their wedding when he and Willa married, because how could she not be there when they both owed her so much?
Unbelievably touched, Mimi had said of course she would, then Willa had pointed out that CJ hadn’t actually asked her to marry him yet, which defused the emotional impact of the moment and made everyone laugh. ‘I’ll ask you tonight,’ CJ assured her. ‘But only if you promise to say yes.’
And when Mimi had turned to take one last look at them before heading off into Departures, she’d seen them standing together, waving goodbye to her. The next moment, taking Alice in his arms, CJ leaned sideways and kissed Willa on the mouth, and Willa was lovingly kissing him back . . .
‘You OK, love?’ said the woman in the next seat, and it wasn’t until that moment that Mimi realised a tear had just slid down her face and dripped onto the front of her T-shirt.
‘I’m fine . . . oh, thanks.’ Gratefully Mimi took the clean tissue being offered. ‘How weird, I didn’t even know I was crying.’
‘Ah, I can guess what it’s all about. You’ve been miles away.’ The woman gave her a reassuring smile and reached down into the capacious handbag at her feet. ‘Left your boyfriend behind, I bet. Not going to see him again for a while.’
‘Actually—’
‘Worried sick he’s going to be getting up to mischief behind your back.’ The woman nodded sagely. ‘Now that you’re on your way home, some new little tart in a bikini’s going to get her claws into him and he’ll forget all about you, am I right? Trust me, I’ve seen it all in my time. Here, you help yourself.’ She offered Mimi an already opened packet of custard creams. ‘It’s just what men are like; all they care about is sex, sex, sex. You cheer yourself up, love. No point crying over some bloke who isn’t worth it. Dry those eyes and have a few biscuits instead.’
After which, Mimi didn’t have the heart to tell her there was no boyfriend in her life, faithful or otherwise. Once you’d eaten six of someone else’s custard creams and accepted their sympathy, it just wouldn’t have been right. Instead, she took out her notebook and added more notes to the plans she’d been making for the months – and hopefully years – ahead.
Forty minutes later, having hauled her cases off the carousel and loaded them onto a trolley, Mimi reached the arrivals gate and saw a pretty brunette with magenta streaks in her hair holding up a card bearing her name. She’d known that CJ had booked a car for her, but it wasn’t until they reached the short-stay car park and she saw the bright red Bentley Continental that Mimi realised he’d arranged something quite so special.
The driver, whose name was Cleo, was delighted by her reaction. ‘Oh, I’m so glad you love it. This car is my pride and joy!’
Reverently Mimi stroked the glossy paintwork. ‘We were talking about favourite cars last week and I told my boss I’d always fantasised about being driven in a Bentley Continental. Elton John used to have one that was this exact colour, and it just seemed like the best car you could ever wish for.’ Deeply touched that he’d remembered, she added, ‘CJ must have chosen you specially.’
‘He did.’ Cleo grinned. ‘He found my website and called me up a few days ago to make the booking. Which was pretty thrilling for me,’ she continued whilst efficiently hauling the cases into the boot of the car, ‘because I’m such a fan – I’ve read every book CJ Exley has ever written. And I told him I’d been watching the videos on his website every day too. He said if we send him a photo of the two of us together, he’ll include it in his next blog. I just love how he can be all grumpy and fierce one minute, then so sweet and kind the next. The new videos of him with Alice are so heart-melting they make me cry.’
These had been Mimi’s last idea before leaving, brief clips showing CJ being reunited with his daughter once the requisite number of words had been written each day. How the viewers adored seeing his face light up with love as he scooped Alice into his arms and called her his little pumpkin. ‘It’s been fun working for him,’ she told Cleo. ‘His bark’s worse than his bite. Oh, do I have to go in the back?’ Having closed the boot, Cleo was now opening one of the rear doors for her. ‘Can’t I sit in the front with you?’
They chatted non-stop all the way to Goosebrook. Mimi learned about the ups and downs of Cleo’s job as a chauffeur, and also discovered that her husband created life-sized wire sculptures of horses for a living. Googling him on her phone, she admired the spectacular sculptures, then said, ‘Oh I say,’ because there was a photo of Johnny LaVenture himself and he was rather gorgeous too. ‘Am I allowed to be nosy and ask how you two got together?’
Cleo laughed. ‘Oh we knew each other at school. I hated him! Then he moved over to the States for ages. When he came back, we saw each other again and I hated him even more . . . but, well, gradually I changed my mind. And here we are now, happier than we ever imagined. It was kind of the complete opposite of love at first sight.’ She pulled a whoops face, then added, ‘Luckily it all seems to have worked out all right.’
‘That’s great.’
‘And now it’s my turn to be nosy. Ever had that love-at-first-sight thing happen to you?’
The lightning bolt, she meant. Mimi instantly thought back to the first time she’d clapped eyes on Cal. OK, maybe not the very first moments in that field when she’d thought he was attacking a sheep, but within a few minutes of actually speaking to him there had definitely been a spark of attraction. More than a spark, in fact; a cheerful flame potentially capable of growing into a small bonfire. She’d been thrilled to discover he lived in Goosebrook and had been so looking forward to seeing him again later that evening . . .
Except, she belatedly remembered, Cleo was asking her about relationships that had actually happened in real life, not the kind that had only ever existed in her mind. Forcing herself to think of Rob instead – ugh, it now seemed like a lifetime ago – Mimi said, ‘I’ve never had one of those moments where you absolutely know right away. When I was living in London I got into a relationship with my boss, but that one was more of a slow burn.’
‘And how did it turn out?’ Cleo sounded interested.
‘Not brilliantly.’ Mimi pulled a face. ‘Which is why I escaped from London and moved down here.’
They were approaching the brow of the hill now. As Cleo braked slightly, Goosebrook appeared ahead of them, wonderfully familiar and bathed in golden afternoon sunlight.
‘Well I can’t imagine that was too much of a hardship. This place looks gorgeous. And I’ve grown up in a Cotswold village,’ Cleo added, ‘so I know what I’m talking about.’
Mimi found herself holding her breath as the car drove past Cedar Lane, along which Cal’s cottage stood. She knew she’d be seeing him again before long, but a few hours to regain her bearings wouldn’t go amiss.
‘Oh my goodness,’ she said as heads turned to follow their progress along the high street. ‘This is amazing. I feel like the queen.’
Grinning, Cleo drew to a halt outside Bay Cottage. Within seconds, Cora and Lauren had abandoned their friends on the green and come racing over to join them.
‘Mimi, is this your new car? Did you win the lottery? It’s really cool.’
Climbing out of the passenger seat, Mimi said, ‘It isn’t mine, sorry. I wish it was. Cleo met me at the airport and drove me down here.’
‘It’s so cool.’ Cora’s eyes were wide as she admired the Bentley. ‘My uncle in Wales has a red car but it’s nothing like this and it’s always covered in mud. Mimi, I really loved the hat and scarf you gave me for Christmas. I’ve worn them so many times, haven’t I? The purple ones?’ She turned to Lauren, who nodded vigorously.
‘I’m glad you liked them. And I loved the thank-you card you sent me.’ Mimi had been charmed by the fact that Cal had evidently prompted his daughter to make and send the card, which had arrived in the post the week after they’d returned from their skiing trip to Austria.
‘OK, all done.’ Whilst she’d been talking to Cora, Cleo had unloaded the cases. She looked at Cora and Lauren. ‘Before I head off, would you two girls like a quick trip around the village green in a Bentley?’
With squeals of delight, they leapt onto the back seats. Mimi took photos of them as they beamed at her and waved through the wound-down windows, then Cleo made a slow circuit of the green so they could show off gleefully in front of their friends. Finally, having tumbled back out of the car, Cora took a couple of photos of Mimi and Cleo standing together in front of it, so that Cleo could send them to CJ.
When the red Bentley had disappeared from view, Lauren said, ‘It’s four o’clock, shall we go back to mine now?’
‘Um . . .’ Cora hesitated. ‘I’ll come over in a bit, OK? I want to . . . thank Mimi for my scarf.’
Lauren frowned. ‘You already did that.’
‘I know.’ Cora stood her ground. ‘I just want to say it again.’