Read Online Paradise Fields by Katie Fforde - Free Book Online

involved in the campaign. She was surprisingly helpful about the football match too.
    â€˜Oh, Suzy’ll go with you. She’s a big fan of Meadow Green.’
    â€˜Would she mind? I haven’t seen Suzy since she was little, and she probably wouldn’t want me with her at a football match.’
    â€˜She wouldn’t mind at all. She’d be delighted. I’ll ask her when I get home.’
    â€˜So how are her A levels going, then?’
    â€˜She’s working extremely hard, but you can never tell, can you?’
    Nel shook her head. She wasn’t sure that Fleur was working at all, let alone extremely hard. All her enquiries were answered by soothing noises and, ‘Don’t worry, Mum.’
    â€˜I’ll get Suzy to give you a ring later.’
    â€˜That would be so kind, as long as you’re sure she wouldn’t mind.’
    Suzy, on the phone later, assured Nel that she’d be delighted to take her along. ‘Wrap up really warm, and wear comfortable shoes, or boots: your feet get freezing. I’ll get a lift to yours.’
    On Wednesday, although Nel had not gone there to enjoy herself, she couldn’t help picking up on the buzz of excitement of being in a crowd of people all on the same mission: going to ‘the match’. It was an evening match and the darkness added to the feeling of expectation that Nel found developing. Suzy’s infectious enthusiasm helped. Although they were the same age, Suzy, Nel discovered, was a very different child to Fleur. Suzy was interested in politics, world poverty and the ozone layer. Fleur was interested in her friends, her social skills and clothes. Having lots in common with them both, Nel found them equally delightful.
    Once at the ground, Nel parked the car where Suzy suggested. ‘Dad always parks here because you can always get out easily. We need a car park, really, but then we need a lot of other things, too.’
    Nel was surprised at how many people were thronging to the match. ‘Is it always this busy?’
    â€˜It’s an important match. If we win this, we’re up for promotion, which is why we need a revamp. But don’t worry, it’s a very friendly crowd, if we stay away from the opposition.’
    â€˜Thanks. I’m not that keen on crowds.’
    Suzy wrapped a scarf of the appropriate colours round Nel’s neck. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll look after you.’
    Role reversal again.
    â€˜I’m a season-ticket holder, so I go in here,’ explained Suzy, who was proving the perfect companion. ‘You go through that turnstile. We can buy chocolate now, or wait until half-time and buy pies,’ she went on. ‘Only please don’t have a pasty as we always lose if any of us buys a pasty.’
    â€˜It’s all right, I’ve already eaten. There are about a thousand calories in a pie.’
    â€˜I know. That’s what makes them so delicious, but I’ve eaten too. I’m afraid the best place to stand is all the way over there.’
    â€˜You don’t happen to know who the chairman is, do you? You seem to know everything else.’
    Suzy laughed. ‘’Fraid not. He’s new and doesn’t get to every match. But I’ll ask around. Hey, Rob? You don’t know if the chairman’s here tonight, do you? And if he is, which one is he?’
    â€˜Yeah, I think he’s here. And I think that’s him. Do you see? He’s got his back to us, talking to that man in the anorak?’
    Neither Suzy nor Nel could see, but knowing he was present was a start. Although Nel was starting to enjoy herself in a way she hadn’t thought she would, she didn’t want to have wasted an evening waiting for someone who wasn’t there.
    Football banter went back and forth between the group of regulars as they waited for the kick-off. Nel couldn’t understand much of it, except the bits when they talked about the dreadful