Free Barefoot by Ruth Patterson Page A

tells me something?
     
    Toni took a deep breath and opened the Portaloo door again.
     
    Lauren looked her over critically, then took off her new jacket. ‘Here, take this.’
     
    Toni shook her head. ‘No. I can’t.’
     
    ‘Don’t worry. I want it back. But you have it for today,’ Lauren insisted.
     
    Toni put it on, easing the sleeve over her cast. ‘How does it look?’
     
    Lauren sighed dramatically. ‘Better on you than on me, if you want the truth. The sleeves are a bit short, though. Push them up a bit, so you don’t notice.’
     
    Toni started to push them up as her phone rang, and she pulled it out and stared at the screen in horror.
     
    Not Arabella. Not now.
     
    Lauren shook her head violently. Toni debated whether to reject the call, but then remembered Polestar had fallen – her mother would be in a foul mood and particularly dangerous. Reluctantly, she answered.
     
    ‘Meet me back at the car.’
     
    Typical Arabella . No ‘How are you?’ or ‘What are you up to?’
     
    ‘I’ve just met up with Lauren,’ Toni protested.
     
    ‘Tough. We’re leaving at once. It’s been a complete fiasco today. I’m not waiting for the lorry.’
     
    ‘Couldn’t I grab a lift back with her?’
     
    ‘No.’ Arabella was uncompromising, as always. ‘I don’t like you hanging around with that girl, Antonia.’
     
    Toni tried to see Lauren through Arabella’s eyes, with her multiple piercings and purple hair. But all she could see was a good friend.
     
    ‘I’ve got something else I need to do,’ she said bravely.
     
    Lauren gave her a thumbs-up.
     
    ‘What exactly?’ Arabella was growing impatient now.
     
    ‘Something important. I’m going to get myself home, OK.’ Toni rang off, her hand trembling. She could imagine her mother’s fury.
     
    ‘Go girl!’ Lauren sounded impressed. ‘It’s about time you stood up to her.’
     
    When the phone rang again, Toni rejected the call instantly. She would pay for it later, she knew. But right now that wasn’t what she was going to worry about.
     
    Lauren smiled. ‘You look fabulous. Trust me.’ She hooked her arm though Toni’s. ‘Come on. Let’s go get you that guy.’
     
    Toni took a deep breath as she walked over to the stall. Cal was talking to a woman with two young children, telling them how great the farm was. He sounded bored and unenthusiastic and wasn’t doing a great sales job. His cousin was nowhere in sight.
     
    The family finally wandered off, then Cal looked over and saw her. His face instantly lit up with a huge smile, making her stomach turn a cartwheel. He put the pile of leaflets down as she got closer. ‘Hey. How’s things?’
     
    ‘Cool.’
     
    They both stood grinning at each other foolishly.
     
    ‘You look good.’
     
    Toni blushed. Lauren’s jacket obviously did the trick. ‘Do you want to grab a drink?’ she asked.
     
    He glanced over at Debs who shook her head sharply, which wasn’t encouraging. ‘Just give me a minute.’ He went to have a brief chat with his mother. She looked across at Toni a couple of times, frowning, then shrugged.
     
    Cal walked back over, grinning. ‘I’ve negotiated an hour. Let’s get out of here.’
     
    They walked side-by-side through the crowd and Toni began to relax. Another couple passed by with their arms linked, their heads close together, laughing. She glanced sideways up at his face. He seemed so at ease with himself.
     
    ‘I didn’t expect to see you here,’ she admitted.
     
    Cal pulled a face. ‘Big competitions aren’t my scene. I got dragged along to help Mum. Plus my cousin is over from Canada and she wanted to come and shop. ’ He rolled his eyes in disgust. ‘You?’
     
    ‘Me what?’
     
    ‘Do you come to Badminton every year?’
     
    She hesitated, wondering if it was the moment to tell him about Arabella, but decided not to risk spoiling things. ‘I’m here with my friend, Lauren,’ she said instead. ‘We walk the course