Paradise Fields (41 page)

‘Gideon Freebody's plan will go ahead,' said Chris Mowbray, trying to look down his nose at someone who was several inches taller than he was. ‘That other plan is just so much waste paper.'

‘What makes you say that?' Because she was near, Nel could just about hear what was going on, but Jake was speaking very quietly. Quiet but deadly, she thought, remembering her terrifying headmistress.

‘Because they haven't sold all the ransom strip plots.' He indicated Nel and Viv, who were beginning to bristle like terriers. Viv pushed her hat back a bit, so she wouldn't miss anything.

‘Oh really?' Jake was practically whispering now. ‘And how up to date is your information?'

Nel felt sick. Jake must think all the plots were sold and was making a grand gesture, but in fact Chris Mowbray was right. The thirteen forms were still in her pocket. She opened her mouth to say something, but all the moisture had dried up and her tongue wouldn't
work. She nudged Viv, hoping she would do something useful, but she was just watching Jake, admiration rendering her useless.

‘Oh, for Christ's sake!' said Chris Mowbray. ‘Ask these madwomen how many plots they've managed to sell! I did, earlier, and didn't get an answer, and I can assure you that if she had sold them, she would have told me.'

‘And who is “she”?' demanded Jake, louder now.

Nel was shocked into action. An awful lot of people were watching a public exhibition of what should be done in private, and while they were probably fascinated, it wasn't what they'd come here for.

She grabbed the megaphone, snatching it out of Chris Mowbray's hand before he dropped it in the mud. ‘It's open, folks!' she bellowed through it. ‘Spend loads of money, and have a good time!'

A few camera flashes flashed, although what they were snapping Nel could only guess. She wished she'd bought one of ‘Benita's Bonnets' so she could have pulled it down over her eyes and become unrecognisable.

For a second she wondered if she should stay and sort out the muddle between Chris Mowbray and Jake, but then she realised she couldn't possibly achieve anything. Chris was right and Jake was wrong; that's all there was to it. She headed to where a group of shivering children were waiting at the base of the maypole for the music to begin.

They were extremely good at it. The teacher, young and enthusiastic, gave instructions, and the ribbons at the top formed a smooth plait for quite a long way down. There was a pause, the children all changed
direction, then skipped and wove and passed under each other's arms, and the plait came undone again.

‘That is so clever!' said Nel enthusiastically to the teacher and her panting charges. ‘How did you work out how to do it? It was brilliant!'

The teacher laughed. ‘Well, we have been practising a lot, haven't we? We do it round the basketball hoop at school.'

‘Well, I think you're wonderful. There are cartons of juice for you all, and mini chocolate bars.' She produced the chocolate from her bag and handed it to the teacher. ‘The juice is over there, in that box. It won't be cold, but I don't suppose that matters.'

‘Oh! How kind. Children, shall we give Mrs Innes a big cheer?'

‘Oh, please don't.'

But it was too late. The children were obviously as well trained in cheering as they were in maypole dancing, and Nel had to stand there blushing while they delivered their three cheers.

‘It is kind of you to think of giving them drinks and sweets,' said the teacher. ‘Most people wouldn't have.'

‘Most people would have arranged a podium and a public-address system,' said Nel. ‘I only seem to be able to remember the nice things, not the important ones. Now I'd better see how my farmers are doing.'

‘The five-a-side is starting now. Aren't you going to watch them?'

‘No. They'll be fine. I've given their goodies to one of the mums to hand out.' Nel had no intention of going anywhere near Jake. She had almost absolved him of sleeping with her for political reasons, but she couldn't forget seeing Kerry Anne with her arms round
him and she was so bruised and thrown off course by the whole thing, she couldn't rely on herself to behave properly.

Abraham caught her on her way to Sacha's stall, where Nel planned to buy something for stress.

‘Hey, lass, it's a grand do, isn't it?'

His wife was with him, wearing a fetching straw bonnet decorated with poppies. ‘He bought it for me. I never wear hats as a rule.'

‘I've always liked you in hats, you know that. She gets embarrassed wearing them,' he explained.

‘So do I,' said Nel, ‘though I wished I'd bought one earlier, so no one would recognise me.'

‘And why don't you want people to recognise you?'

Nel flapped her hands and shrugged, ending with a nervous laugh. ‘It's all gone so horribly wrong. Not the fair, that seems to be fine, the building thing.'

‘It's not over till it's over,' said Abraham sagely.

Nel exchanged glances with his wife. Men were so good at pointing out the obvious.

‘Go and have something to eat, lass,' Abraham ordered. ‘That young lad is making some smashing pancake jobs. You go and get some of them inside you, and things won't seem so black.'

‘He's right, you know,' said his wife. ‘You probably need food. When my children got scratchy with each other I gave them a snack.'

‘I haven't been scratchy with anyone!' said Nel. ‘Yet!'

‘No, but you're nervy,' went on Mrs Abraham from beneath her poppies. ‘I can tell. Eat something, you'll feel better.'

It was quite nice to be parented, thought Nel. She'd been without her own parents for so long, and she spent
most of her life mothering people. It was pleasant to be on the receiving end for once.

‘OK, I'll go and see what Ben has to offer.'

‘And the ice cream's very good too,' said Mrs Abraham. ‘More like it was in the old days.'

Aware that Chris Mowbray had not done the decent thing and gone from stall to stall, buying something from each, but had got into his previously-mud-free four-wheel drive and gone off, she felt obliged to take on the task herself. Most of the people were known to her, and now they had finally fought for their territory (the organisation of which had given Nel sleepless nights), they were all ready to congratulate her.

‘I like the hats myself,' said Catherine, loading a burger with home-made mayonnaise and chopped onion. ‘They're not what people traditionally made on farms, I dare say, but why not have a bit of variety? And she's such fun. I went on a computer course she ran a couple of years ago.'

‘I should go on a computer course,' said Nel. ‘I should know how to do spreadsheets and things. It would be really useful for the market.'

‘Have you seen Sacha's new stuff? That new girl seems to have given her some really good ideas. She's got loads more products.'

Nel needed no more encouragement to visit Sacha. Sacha produced an oil which was almost guaranteed to rub away the cares of the day. It would take several oil wells full of oil to do this, Nel felt, but you had to start somewhere.

‘Hi, you guys!' she said. She kissed Sacha, and then – slightly reluctantly – kissed Kerry Anne, so she didn't
feel left out. ‘How are you doing? The stall looks amazing! Catherine tells me you've got some wonderful new products. But before you tell me about them, give me a bottle of that anti-road-rage oil, will you? I've got stress to beat the band.'

‘And they're doing pretty well,' said Sacha, opening a bottle and handing it to Nel. ‘Why are they playing all those sea shanties, do you think?'

Nel dabbed oil on her finger and started rubbing her temples. ‘Because I told them Sir had been a Sea Scout and fancied himself as naval. It's a compliment to him and he's buggered off already.'

‘Why did you have him to open it?' asked Kerry Anne. ‘He's so . . .' She hesitated, searching for the word. ‘Yeuch! He may know how to make money, but otherwise . . .'

‘But I thought you liked him!' said Nel. ‘When I was last in his house you were ringing him up, asking him to dinner!'

Kerry Anne shuddered. ‘That was Pierce's idea, to get to know him better. But after I told Pierce Chris had put his hand on my butt, he didn't press it.'

Confused as to whether it was Kerry Anne's butt or their connection with Chris Mowbray that wasn't pressed, Nel changed the subject.

‘So, what's the new product, then?'

‘Body polish,' said Kerry Anne, producing a sachet.

‘Brown sugar and almond oil,' said Sacha. ‘Much less harsh than salt. It'll rub away all the dead skin cells and leave you soft and shining.'

‘Sounds lovely. Can I buy some?'

‘Have a free sample. It's the least I can do,' said Sacha. ‘Finding me Kerry Anne has made such a difference to my business.'

‘We sell to California, now,' said Kerry Anne. ‘Only through personal recommendation, until we get into the new premises.'

‘Which are where?'

‘Oh, a little way away,' said Sacha. ‘We've gone for somewhere quite big.'

‘Well, that is nice,' said Nel, feeling a little abandoned. ‘Will you still have time to come to the markets?'

‘Oh yes,' said Sacha.

Kerry Anne looked at her. ‘If we can get someone to do them. But really, they don't contribute much to our sales figures. Once the spa is up and running, we'll use almost all we can make just through that.'

‘The market represents my first loyal customers,' said Sacha firmly. ‘I won't abandon it.'

Kerry Anne shrugged. ‘Well, maybe until the stuff's available locally elsewhere.'

Nel moved on. She had enough conflict in her own life without engaging in other people's. But she was pleased things were going so well for Sacha.

‘Hi, Mum!' It was Fleur.

‘Hello, darling. Do you want more money?'

‘No! I was coming to ask you if you had any make-up in your handbag.'

‘Well, only the usual stuff. There's a few centimetres of kohl pencil, a sample tube of foundation, a dried-up mascara. Oh, and a lipstick. You can borrow it if you want. Are you planning to abandon Jamie for Ben?'

Fleur rolled her eyes. ‘He is rather gorgeous. I've been helping him on his stall.'

‘He's nice, isn't he? Very laid back.'

‘Laid back? Prop him up a bit and he'd be horizontal!
But then I thought I ought to see how you were getting on.'

‘By checking what make-up I had with me? You can have the mascara, but don't spit on it.'

‘As if I would! I'm just going to pop and get something from Sacha. See you in a mo.'

Nel moved on. She tasted and bought rather more cheese than her household was likely to eat. Stocked up on chutney, which her family hardly ate at all, and then found some lemon curd, which she loved. By this time her carrier bag was getting quite heavy. She took it to Viv's stall.

‘You wouldn't mind me leaving this here for now, would you? The circulation is going in my fingers, my bag's so full.'

‘You should buy a basket from Ewan,' said Viv. ‘They're gorgeous. I'm planning to fill one of those shallow square ones with pebbles, and put it by the fire.'

‘Sounds very tasteful and artistic,' said Nel, knowing from experience that Viv's taste was always good, but wondering why anyone would want to keep pebbles by a fireplace. ‘So can I leave this here?'

Nel and Viv were speculating how the conversation between Jake and Chris Mowbray had ended when Fleur came up. She thrust a square, paper-wrapped package into her hand.

‘It's a present. It's a little travel pack of moisturiser, cleanser and body lotion. From Sacha. It's a new line. She gave it to me to give to you.'

‘Oh. That's very kind. I wonder why she didn't give it to me when I was over there. I'll stick it with my other stuff, behind Viv's stall.'

‘Oh no! Put it in your handbag. It's specially designed to go in your handbag, so you'd better put it there. Don't you think, Viv?'

Viv nodded. ‘Otherwise you'll freeze it by mistake.'

Nel was just about to protest when she heard the megaphone.

‘Will Mrs Nel Innes please come to the five-a-side competition.' It was Jake behind the megaphone. She could see him.

‘No, I won't. I'm not a first-aider, so if someone's hurt themselves they'd be better off with Viv. She's a trained physiotherapist.'

‘They may want you to present the prize,' said Fleur after a moment.

‘Well, I won't. I'm not dressed for the public. You go, Viv. You're looking gorgeous as usual, and you're wearing a hat.'

Viv regarded Fleur and Nel briefly. ‘OK. You mind my stall for me.'

‘Of course. And if it's a medical emergency, ask for a doctor. I've seen at least two members of our local practice wandering round.'

The next thing Nel heard was, ‘Could Mrs Nel Innes please come to the five-a-side section of the field.'

‘No,' said Nel quietly. ‘I can't. I'm minding Viv's stall.'

‘I can mind Viv's stall,' said Fleur. ‘No one's here anyway.'

‘That's not the point.'

‘If Nel doesn't come to the five-a-side section, I will say what I want to say over this megaphone,' Jake boomed and crackled from across the field.

‘He's not going to blackmail me into it,' said Nel, who was now blushing ferociously.

‘Nel, if you don't come now, I'll tell the whole world what happened on a certain night in London.'

‘Oh shit!'

As she began racing across the field, she heard her daughter's shocked exclamation behind her. ‘Language!'

NEL RAN AS
fast as she could through mud wearing wellingtons. She was aware that people were watching her, smiling, but she didn't raise her eyes from the ground. When she got to Jake she was out of breath and hot. Clothes suitable for ambling slowly about are not the same as those you'd choose for sprinting the hundred metres.