Page 12 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER TWELVE

After a pleasant lunch, talking over details of the job and catching up on old times, Ava glanced at her watch. It was getting on for half past two. Jack must have sensed she feared she had overstayed her welcome.

‘Do you fancy a quick walk so I can show you something?’ he asked.

‘Sure.’

‘Great. I’ll grab my coat and meet you in reception once you have yours.’

Ava took her bag from the back of her chair and rushed to her room, freshening up while she was there. She was still in the reception area before Jack, so chatted with Sara while she waited for him. There was no Graham to be seen, so he must have left him at home.

‘Ready, Ms Ants-in-her-pants?’ Jack asked, coming in behind them.

A boost of nostalgia shot through Ava as he called her by her childhood nickname.

‘I sure am, Mr Hardy,’ replied with a grin.

Sara looked blank for a moment until Jack explained.

‘I used to call her Ants-in-her-pants Ava when we were kids. She could never sit still.’

‘And I used to call him Mr Hardy, of Laurel and Hardy fame, because he was always fooling around.’

‘I’ve seen clips of them on TV. In black and white.’ Sara smirked at Jack. ‘But then, again, no one could mistake you for Tom Hardy.’

Ava snorted, then looked at Jack with innocence.

Sara shooed him out playfully. ‘Go away before I complain to the management about harassment.’

Ava and Jack set off again.

‘I’m excited to see Eliza,’ she said. ‘When is she due back?’

‘Later this evening, in work tomorrow. I know she can’t wait to see you.’

‘It must be great to have her here, keeping it in the family, so to speak.’

‘Yes. Cara invited her to stay with her in London, find work there, but she didn’t want to leave.’

‘Can’t say I blame her. It’s so peaceful.’

‘Let’s see how you feel after a week when you’re bored of seeing the same faces and places. There’s not much to do around here.’

Already it was getting like déjà vu as they made their way back along Lake Road. Sapphire Lake was a small part of Somerley, and didn’t just consist of the lake and a main road, which was all she had seen for the most part.

Down at the side of the water, Ava turned to walk across the bridge only to find Jack staying put.

‘I wanted to show you what was around the corner from the café,’ he said.

They walked on, waving at Marian who was clearing tables of used cutlery, mugs, and teapots.

A few metres ahead, the area opened up onto a row of log cabins, with a wide block-paved pedestrianised area.

Ava gasped, her hand covering her mouth momentarily. ‘I saw this on the website, but I didn’t realise how much space it took up. I thought it was at the other end of the lake. I was going to search it out this week.’

‘Amazing, isn’t it?’

‘The photos don’t do it justice. How long has it been here?’

‘About three years now. It was a community project. We set up a committee and talked about the things we wanted to improve. More local produce for sale was one of them, as was making it less intrusive for the villagers.’ Jack pointed across the lake.

‘Behind those trees, we bought a couple of fields and created a large parking area, to stop the traffic coming through the village. It comes off the main road now. It doesn’t cost much to park for a few hours, and all the money goes to local charities.

We choose three different ones each year. ’

Ava could see eight cabins. She read as many names as she could. The Cupcake Cabin, Arts to Go, Beads and Things, and a sign that said Books. Even though the sky was moody grey, the place had a warm feel about it.

She shook her head in wonder. ‘It’s going to take a long time to get past these.’ She laughed, almost pressing her nose to the window of The Fudge Cabin. ‘I’m going to peep in every one.’

‘I think you should head in here first.’ He pushed on a door. ‘Hey, Ruby. Guess who I found on my travels?’

Ava flinched when the woman behind the counter squealed and came rushing towards her. Ruby wrapped her in a large hug.

‘Ava, it is you! Jack said you were arriving soon, and I couldn’t believe it, not after all this time.’ Ruby took a step away. ‘You don’t seem to have changed a bit.’

‘Neither do you. You look so well.’

Ruby slapped at Jack’s hand as it dived into a box of sweets on the counter. ‘They’re for the children.’

‘I’m a big kid at heart.’ He popped the stolen chocolate in his mouth defiantly. ‘Anyway, we can’t stop as we have work to do.’

‘But you’ve only just got here,’ Ruby protested.

‘I’m having a whirlwind tour,’ Ava explained. ‘Sapphire Lake has changed a lot since I saw it last.’

‘Promise you will pop by to see me tomorrow? Where will you be?’

‘Working with Jack, at the hotel.’

‘How… cosy.’ Ruby raised her eyebrows. ‘Come early for coffee? We can have a catch-up before your shift.’

‘Sounds good to me.’ Ava beamed.

‘Don’t let him work you too hard.’

She snorted. ‘As if.’

The bell tinkled when they left. Jack manoeuvred her past the rest of the cabins, where she spotted steps up the bank. She turned to him. ‘You made a shortcut!’

‘We did, because of this.’

At the end of the cabins, the area opened up down to the lake. There were several kiosks either side, selling hot and cold drinks, more twinkling lights everywhere, and the pièce de résistance at the end.

‘The Gin Shack,’ Ava noted. ‘I feel like I’m in a dream, a wonderland I don’t want to leave.’

‘It’s all run by locals,’ Jack said proudly. ‘We use the area in the middle for lots of events. Barbecue nights in summer with local bands. Bonfires in winter, a band for carols at Christmas.’

‘It’s a real transformation.’

They followed the man-made path up the hill and onto the main road, finding themselves moments from Jack’s home.

‘Oh, this must come in very handy rather than walking all the way around,’ Ava cried in delight.

They stood in silence, neither of them feeling the need to fill it. It was so peaceful, tranquil.

‘Why don’t you join us for supper this evening?’ Jack asked, cocking his head to one side in a manner Ava assumed would suit Graham better. ‘My parents aren’t at the hotel all the time.’

‘Well, I —’

‘That is, if you can stand seeing me so much in one day.’

She smiled shyly.

‘It would save me from a lot of grilling,’ he pleaded.

She nodded. ‘In that case, yes, I’d love to.’