Free Restart (The Revival Series) by Claire Thake Page B

Carrie screeched, practically jumping up and down. "How was the journey?"
        "Hit a small bit of traffic, and got caught behind a tractor or two, but generally, it wasn’t bad. Caz I'm so sorry for arriving so late, It’s only just occurred to me, that being on a farm you are probably in bed by now normally-"
    "Oh ssh Lee! Don't be silly!" Carrie cut Leah off, "I think it’s great you came tonight, it means I get to spend more time with you, and we get a full day tomorrow, let’s grab your bags and get you settled."
        It didn’t take long to get the bags and cases from the car, and to unload everything into the barn. The kids, who had been too stubborn to sleep on the journey, instead opting to play on their tablets, practically fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow!
        Carrie made hot chocolate in the kitchen, before being joined by Leah, once she had settled the kids. Leah took in her best friends appearance, and once again, as she was every time she visited, she was shocked at how much her friend had changed. Gone were the suits, smart dresses and heels, and they were replaced with jeans, jumpers and boots! But despite it being different, it suited Carrie now, and Leah could tell how much the lifestyle now fitted Carrie.
        For a while Carrie had made trips back and forth to London, keeping up with her roots and keeping in touch with her job and career as much as she could, but slowly her career had taken a back seat, especially after her son, Tyler was born. She still worked freelance for her old boss Angela, but the majority of it was now done by email and it had been over a year since Carrie had travelled back to London for business.
        "Please don't let me keep you up Caz," Leah said, taking a seat at the wooden table that adorned the middle of the quaint little country style kitchen.
        "Oh don't be silly Leah, I've always been a night owl, you know that. Just cos I live in the country now doesn't change that. Daniel sleeps early but I use this time to get my work done or catch up on TV or reading." Carrie passed Leah a cup of hot chocolate and joined her at the table. "Daniel gets up early, I sleep in till 7 and then get Tyler up for school. I might be married to a farmer, but trust me farm work isn't for me, I'm still a city girl at heart. Daniel has plenty of staff to do the dirty jobs, he doesn't need my help."
    "It's so good to see you Caz." Said Leah, as the emotion of everything, hit her like a ton of bricks. Carrie was the only person in the whole world, that she felt she could really talk to, but yet although she wanted to tell Carrie everything about Ryan and Greg, she held back, worried that her best friend would be disappointed in her, and so she kept it all to herself, and instead a single tear fell down her cheek.
    “Oh Lee, what’s going on?” Carrie questioned, sliding her chair closer to Leah and putting a protective arm around her shoulders.
    “Nothing Caz, honestly,” Leah mumbled, sniffing back her tears. “I’ve just been fighting a bit with Ryan, and I really need this time away, not only that but I’ve missed you so much, and it really does feel wonderful being here.”
    Carrie smiled at her friend and pushed a stray, strand of brown hair behind Leah’s ear.
    “You know if you ever need to talk Leah, I’m always here. Always available on the phone whenever you need to talk, and if you needed me to, you know I would jump in the car and come to you as soon as I could. You’re my best friend Leah, always have been and always will be.”
    Leah knew everything she was saying was true, and she knew that she would do the same for Carrie, and she felt like she was deceiving her best friend by not telling her the full extent of what was really going on. Taking in a deep breath she decided that now was not the time to have that conversation, even if she wanted to, and that it would be best saved for another day and time, and maybe when she