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

a call,’ she said. She looked at Liam. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s an emergency.’

‘Next time I’m planning the date,’ he said miserably. He lifted his jacket over his head and dashed back towards the office.

When Amy arrived at her street that evening, she discovered that Rachel, Nina, Richard and both boys were standing staring up at the enormous tree outside Amy’s front garden. Amy slowed her pace as she approached, wondering if there was a chance she could sneak past and into her house without them noticing. There always seemed to be someone lingering around the street now, waiting to make Amy’s life more difficult. All she wanted to do now was sit amongst her things and think about what to do next.

A branch in the tree shook unnaturally and Rachel reached her arms up towards it. ‘Come down now, sweetheart. There’s a good boy.’

Amy pushed her gate, which squeaked in an act of betrayal. They all turned towards her. ‘I told you about the vermin,’ said Rachel, her voice agitated. ‘And now poor Smudge is frightened out of his wits.’

‘He’s not much of a cat if he’s been scared by a mouse,’ said Amy, her patience already gone.

‘Oh, Amy, it’s a disaster,’ wailed Charles. ‘That poor mouse.’

Daniel turned to her, his eyes full of tears. ‘Mickey needs help,’ he said.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Amy.

‘The boys saw Smudge playing with something,’ said Richard. ‘They went to see what it was, and he grabbed it in his mouth and climbed up the tree.’

‘He’s never been that high before,’ said Rachel. ‘He’ll be terrified.’

‘He had no problem jumping all over my pots,’ said Amy.

‘He’s practically level with the roof now,’ exclaimed Rachel. ‘What if he falls?’

‘Rescue Mickey,’ squealed Daniel.

‘Who?’ asked Amy.

‘The mouse,’ explained Charles. ‘We need to save him before Smudge gobbles him up.’

Richard looked to the tree. ‘I’m not sure I can climb that,’ he said, sizing it up. ‘No low branches.’

‘It’s probably not a mouse,’ said Nina. ‘It could be a rat, living the life of Riley in that house of yours, Amy.’

‘Rats are actually pretty clean,’ interjected Charles. ‘We were learning about them in school.’

‘Rats are filthy, vicious pests,’ said Rachel. She looked back to the tree. ‘Come down now, darling.’ She paused. ‘Stuck up there with a dirty great rat.’

Amy went to take a deep breath, but found her lungs wouldn’t cooperate. Air wasn’t getting into her at all. Rats in her house. She gulped again, feeling off-balance, and found black creeping into the edges of her vision. An image of Scarlett popped in front of her eyes, a rat crouched on the bird’s beautiful back, its black eyes glinting in the light.

‘I’ve got you,’ said Richard, as strong hands squeezed her arms. She leaned into him, feeling warmth and calmness emanating back. ‘Just breathe.’

Amy obeyed, and found the tightness in her chest start to release. ‘She’s fine,’ said Nina. ‘You can let go of her now.’

‘Take as long as you need.’ Richard’s voice was soft, his breath warm in her ear.

‘It was tiny,’ said Charles. ‘It wouldn’t have been a rat. I think it was a baby mouse.’

Daniel started crying, big dramatic sobs that overtook his whole body. Richard released Amy and went to his son. Amy found her strength returning as she looked at the tree. ‘I can climb that,’ she said, suddenly feeling confident as adrenaline pumped through her. She’d had plenty of practice scrambling over her piles of boxes. The tree would be easy. ‘Someone give me a leg-up.’

Richard tried to transfer Daniel to Nina, but his screams intensified. ‘I’ll take him,’ said Charles, grabbing his brother round the middle.

Richard came over to Amy. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked. ‘A moment ago you were faint.’

‘I just need to reach that first branch,’ she said.

‘No problem,’ said Richard. ‘I can lift you that far. You’re light as a feather.’

Nina tutted. ‘I don’t really think this is necessary . . . ’ she began.

‘Save Smudge!’ exclaimed Rachel.

‘And the mouse,’ said Charles.

Richard grabbed Amy by the legs and heaved her up. She reached and caught the lowest branch, then used Richard’s hands as a foothold. She swung herself up.

At the sight of her approaching, Smudge climbed up higher. But Amy was determined, clambering up until the branches could barely hold her weight and wobbled precariously. Amy reached out to the cat, and saw that there was something tiny, clutched tightly in his jaws. Just as she thought he was going to let her take hold of him, he leapt to a lower branch and then down to the ground, more worried by her than the height. He landed elegantly enough, until Rachel threw herself on to him, knocking him over. Charles let go of his brother and Amy watched from the tree as boy, cat, woman and mouse grappled with each other. This must be what the world looked like to Scarlett, she thought, rather enjoying the bird’s-eye view as the action played out underneath.

‘Got it,’ said Charles. ‘It’s alive.’ Daniel immediately stopped wailing and ran over.

‘Careful it doesn’t bite you,’ said Richard.

‘It’s in shock,’ replied Charles. ‘And it is a baby.’

‘Let’s take it inside and find a box,’ said Richard.

‘Don’t you take that animal into our house!’ said Nina. ‘It’s filthy.’

‘We’ll get it to the vet,’ said Richard.

‘What will that cost?’ said Nina. ‘It’s a pest!’

‘Pet!’ declared Daniel, the tears gone as quickly as they had come. ‘New pet!’

‘We’ll see what the vet says,’ said Richard, disappearing into the house and reappearing moments later with a shoebox.

‘It’s me or the mouse,’ declared Nina.

‘The mouse,’ said Charles, quickly.

‘Mickey!’ shouted Daniel.

‘We don’t know if it is going to make it,’ said Richard.

‘It’s a pest,’ insisted Nina. ‘We should put it down.’

‘Nina!’ exclaimed Richard. ‘A little compassion, please?’ Nina disappeared inside the house, slamming the door with a dramatic bang. Richard ignored her and looked up at Amy. ‘Are you OK up there?’

‘Fine,’ she replied. She carefully backed her way to the lowest branch and then hung there for