Paradise Fields by Katie Fforde

Author:Katie Fforde [Katie Fforde]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2003-03-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

‘IT’S NO GOOD. I’ll have to cancel. I’ve got a spot.’ Nel had been thinking all day of excuses why she couldn’t go out with Jake. She had been driving all over the county researching potential stallholders, almost praying to break down in the Forest of Dean.

‘Put some toothpaste on it and cover it up with make-up,’ said Fleur, quite brutally, Nel thought.

‘Really? Does that work?’

‘It’s supposed to. I read—’

‘No, don’t tell me, you read it in a magazine.’ Nel peered into the mirror. ‘Do you ever read anything except magazines?’

‘Only on aeroplanes and the beach. Oh, and school stuff. It’s not like you to get spots, Mum.’

‘It’s my hormones. I must be due for my period, which is a pain but I suppose at least it means I’m not pregnant.’ The word was out of her mouth before she knew she was thinking it. Oh God, I’m no good at this! You obviously have to practise to be a scarlet woman on the sly.

‘Mum!’ Fleur was horrified and amused. ‘How could you possibly be pregnant? Unless you’ve slept with Simon and not told us.’

‘It’s just an expression,’ Nel said, blushing so hard her spot disappeared. ‘A habit, sort of. I mean, aren’t you always relieved when your period comes?’

‘Not really.’ Fleur investigated an old mascara stick. ‘I’m on the pill. I know I’m not pregnant.’

Fleur’s calmness should have been a relief to Nel, but instead, it seemed to point up her own panic. For although she had taken the morning-after pill, she wouldn’t be sure it had worked until nature confirmed it. ‘And I’m a celibate old bat, so I know I’m not too!’ said Nel. ‘But I’ve still got a bloody great spot on my chin,’ she added, to deflect the subject a little.

‘It’s a tiny spot and I’ll lend you my concealer. Put it on after the toothpaste. Now I must go and get ready myself. I’m meeting Jamie at the station.’

‘You’re sure you don’t want me to pick him up? I don’t mind being late, or even cancelling.’

‘If you cancel, Mother, I will never speak to you again! And no, we’ll walk up, or take a taxi. It’s a shame he’s getting down here so late.’

‘Well, at least it means you can check that I look all right. And you really look. The boys just say I look lovely without their eyes ever leaving the television screen. Mind you, your father used to do that, too. Except when he’d ask me if I was wearing whatever it was I had on when it was too late to change.’

‘Sometimes you make Dad sound less than perfect.’ Fleur sounded a little indignant.

Nel laughed. ‘Sweetheart! You don’t fall in love with people because they’re perfect! One of the signs is that you can see all their faults, perfectly well, and yet you still think they’re the best thing ever.’

‘Are you in love with Simon?’

Nel sighed. ‘Probably not. But I am very fond of him.’

‘You never get in such a state getting ready to go out with him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.