Everything is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray (best classic romance novels txt) 📕

She heard a noise from next door. The voice had a scolding tone. It was probably Nina telling off one of the children.

Of course.

Richard had said he’d fix the fence.

A wall could be put up from his side. They’d just moved in so their house was bound to be relatively empty; it would be easy to bring the materials through. It was his children that were the issue, after all. It was officially her side to maintain, so she’d offer to pay for the materials and the labour.

Amy hated asking for help, but as she looked around the house she realised that she needed to. She had a responsibility to keep her beautiful possessions safe. They trusted her.

She’d do it now.

Amy stepped past her bag of shopping, saving up the pleasure of unpacking her new treasures for later, and opened her door. By now the violet sky had faded to a papal purple and the world looked as though it were cast in shadows.

‘There you are, Amy,’ said Rachel, making her jump. Rachel and Nina were standing outside Nina’s house, both with cigarettes lit. Amy watched the lit ends, which seemed to dance in the night air like fireflies.

‘I’ve started smoking again, OK?’ said Rachel. ‘I’ve been under a lot of stress.’ Nina put her hand on Rachel’s arm.

‘You deserve a break,’ said Nina.

‘So do you,’ replied Rachel. ‘It’s a big responsibility you’ve taken on. Not everyone would do that.’ Both women sucked on their cigarettes, then puffed out smoke that swirled around in the breeze before disappearing up into the night air.

‘I’ve come to see Richard,’ said Amy, suppressing a cough.

‘Oh?’ said Nina, looking amused. ‘What do you want with Richard?’

Both women were looking at her, and Amy found herself uncomfortable under their scrutiny. She pulled at her loose black T-shirt.

‘I just want to ask him something,’ said Amy.

‘He comes with two kids, you know,’ said Nina. ‘Before you get any ideas.’

‘What?’ said Amy.

‘Sorry, just teasing,’ said Nina. Rachel laughed.

‘What did that man say?’ asked Rachel, before she could get past her. ‘Was he here to get rid of your mice?’

So she had been watching. Of course she had. ‘The mice do not come from my house,’ insisted Amy.

‘OK,’ said Rachel. She tapped her cigarette until ash fell to the ground. ‘If you say so.’

‘Can I go through?’ Amy noticed that the door was ajar.

‘Be my guest,’ said Nina, stepping aside. ‘It’s past eight, but he’s in the garden, not putting the kids to bed.’ She dropped her cigarette and ground it into the earth with her shoe.

Amy walked past them, feeling their eyes on her back. There was something about the new friendship between her neighbours that reminded her of school.

Nevertheless, she felt a little pang of excitement. It had been a long time since she’d seen the inside of a house that wasn’t her own, and she’d never been inside Mrs Hill’s place before.

She almost gasped as she entered. The hallway was huge. The house was a mirror image of her own, it must be, but it felt enormous.

Cavernous.

Empty.

A small bike and a tricycle leaned on the wall, and shoes that seemed impossibly small for a person to wear littered the floor. But she could see the floor, and the walls. She glanced up the stairs. The whole width could be used. Nothing to clamber over.

For a moment she imagined her life in a house like this.

Simpler. Safer.

Emptier.

She almost turned back, keen to have her possessions around her again.

No. She had to protect them. She had to ask Richard to help her with the wall.

Amy had a quick glance in the living room. Again, it seemed huge. A smattering of toys and balls adorned the floor, but they must be lonely. It felt sad to have so few possessions. She hurried on through to the kitchen and noticed a few dirty pans and a gorgeous smell of roasted vegetables that made her think suddenly of her grandmother. Amy hadn’t cooked for herself in years. The kitchen led to the garden; no boxes blocked the path to the French doors.

Mrs Hill had been a keen gardener in her time, but had done less and less as she got older. The light was fading fast, but Amy made out a couple of large rose bushes covered in pink flowers, lavender in full bloom and an apple tree laden with abundant, inchoate fruit that would ripen come autumn.

Amy stepped into the grass, unmowed and at ankle height. No sign of Richard. ‘Hello?’ she queried.

Three heads appeared from the grass. ‘It’s Amy!’ exclaimed Charles.

‘Amy!’ repeated his little brother, sounding excited.

‘Amy?’ said Richard. ‘From next door?’ He got to his feet and started brushing grass from himself. ‘Welcome. Can I get you a drink?’

‘Amy Amy Amy,’ chanted Daniel.

‘No,’ said Amy, feeling flustered at the sudden attention. ‘I’m not staying.’

‘Stay!’ ordered Daniel, wrapping his small sticky hand around hers and squeezing. ‘Ice cream?’

‘No ice cream,’ said Richard firmly. He looked at Amy. ‘Unless you’d like some?’

‘No,’ said Amy. ‘Thank you.’ She tried to extricate her hand but the toddler’s grip was surprisingly strong. She glanced at him and saw he was wearing a T-shirt featuring Mickey Mouse, winking merrily at her.

‘We’re waiting for the stars,’ Charles told her. ‘Lie down and you can watch them appear. What’s your favourite juice?’

Amy felt a little dizzy at the non sequitur. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, remaining standing.

‘If you had to pick one or else you’d die?’

‘Pineapple, I suppose,’ said Amy. ‘I need to talk to your father.’

‘That’s mine too!’ exclaimed Charles. ‘Daniel’s is apple. Dad’s is orange. Nina likes grapefruit.’ He crinkled up his nose in disgust. ‘But you and me like pineapple. It’s the best.’ He grinned at her. ‘I like you.’

Amy took a step backwards.

‘You’re a bit of a hero round these parts,’ explained Richard. ‘Since you stopped the boys getting into trouble over that broken mug.’ Amy thought of the mug with a flash of guilt.