Strolling through the woodland with Ned had been both lovely and productive. He’d looked gorgeous on camera and come across very well, as evidenced by the high number of inappropriate comments and people she was now having to block from her Instagram account. When she wasn’t filming they had chatted a little about nature but had also spent time listening for the birdsong. It had been her best day since she’d left Melton, especially as there had been no message left on the van when she had returned. Perhaps the note-writer had given up,or did it just mean they were getting ready to evict her? She desperately wanted to stay now she felt she was settling into van life.
It had also galvanized her plans. She needed to make whatever time she had at the woodland count in case she was forced to move on. It was important to vary what she was filming so that she kept her followers interested. Although she got the feeling that if she just posted shots of Ned that would keep most of them happy. What she really wanted was for people to engage with whatshewas doing and come on the journey with her– Ned was just the sprinkles on the cupcake. After making some notes, she tucked herself up in bed full of happy thoughts and a little of the gin Renee had given her, and slept soundly.
A tapping noise made Dixie stir. ‘No, Arnold, not now,’ she muttered and she turned over. The tapping persisted. She opened her eyes and tentatively pulled back a little of the curtain and was startled by the face peering in at the window. ‘Argh!’
‘Good morning!’ said Ned.
Great, she thought. An early visit from the local hotty.
She hastily rubbed at her eyes to get rid of any sleep, checked her chin for dribble and tried to pull a brush through her hair but it got stuck, so she quickly put her mop of hair in a hairband.
‘Hi,’ she said, pulling open the rusting van door.
‘Sorry,’ said Ned. ‘Did I wake you?’
‘Nooo,’ lied Dixie, but a giant yawn she couldn’t stiflegave her away. ‘Maybe a bit.’ She pulled self-consciously at her rainbow pyjamas.
‘I can come back.’ He turned to leave.
‘No. It’s fine. As long as you don’t tell everyone what a fright I look first thing.’
‘No one to tell,’ he said.
Dixie did a double-take, making Ned jolt as he realized his faux pas.
‘Not that you look a fright. Because you don’t. I look much worse in a morning. I’m all stubbly because I need to shave. And you obviously don’t. Maybe I should stop talking now,’ he said.
She liked how awkward he seemed. That was how she felt a lot of the time. ‘It’s OK. I don’t easily take offence,’ she said. There was an uncomfortable silence where they both looked at each other and looked away. ‘Anyway, come in.’
‘Thanks.’ Ned climbed inside and came face to face with the underwear she was drying on a string across the middle of the van.
‘Oh heavens!’ She grabbed the first pair of pants, making the clothes peg fly off and hit Ned in the eye.
‘Ow!’
‘I am sooo sorry,’ she said speedily gathering the other garments, rolling them into a ball and shoving them under her duvet.
‘It’s OK,’ said Ned, blinking rapidly. ‘Actually that hurt. If you’ve got some ice.’
‘Sorry, no freezer. But I can put some cold water on apiece of kitchen roll,’ she suggested, already grabbing a sheet. ‘There you go.’ She handed it to him. ‘It’s like at school when a wet paper towel cured all ills.’ She giggled self-consciously.
‘Thanks,’ he said, looking at her with his one good eye.
Dixie desperately wanted to give her hair a proper brush because she now had visions of the back of her head looking like a bird’s nest. ‘Sorry, was there something you needed me for?’ she asked, unable to stand the tension any longer.
Ned became animated. ‘Yes, well, more something you might need me for.’
Dixie raised her eyebrows. It was early and she really wasn’t sure what Ned was offering.
‘When I was a teenager I used to tinker with a kit car.’
‘That’s nice,’ said Dixie, still none the wiser.
‘So I know my way around a vehicle and thought that maybe I could help you fix Elsie.’ He bit his lip as he waited for her reply.
She could have hugged him but restrained herself. She wasn’t sure what she was more pleased about– Ned offering to fix her campervan or him referring to her as Elsie.
23
