Page 17 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

That evening, Ava was having a quick shower before going to see Ruby. She’d just eaten homemade shepherd’s pie, followed by apple pie and custard. Standard classics, but she was rather full. She came downstairs half an hour later to see a familiar face in the reception area.

‘Eliza?’ she said, almost shyly.

‘Ava!’ Eliza ran towards her, gave her a hug, and then held her at arm’s length. ‘Look at you! You’ve grown into a gorgeous woman.’

‘So have you!’

‘Who would have thought it all those years ago when we were adding play tattoos to our arms and crimping our hair?’

‘Being tomboys until the day we weren’t, and then wearing as much makeup as we could get away with.’

They grinned at each other.

‘Do you have time for a drink?’ Eliza wanted to know. ‘I need to hear about everything you’ve been up to since I last saw you.’

‘I’m heading out to see Ruby.’ Ava threw her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the entrance. ‘Will you be here later?’

‘I will! Come and find me. My shift finishes at ten.’

‘It’s a date. I was so sorry to hear about Dan, though.’

‘Thanks, it’s still hard to think he’s gone, even after two years. It’s worse for Jack, though.’

‘Yes, I can’t imagine losing a twin.’

Ava stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to continue. When Eliza said nothing, Ava changed the subject.

‘Is he seeing anyone?’ She hoped her tone came across as casual.

‘I don’t think so. Although there is an ex-girlfriend. You know Lexi from the café?’

‘The one with the gorgeous green eyes?’

‘That’s her. They had a thing, more on her part than his. I think he took her out a few times, but that was enough for him. She’s quite clingy still. Got quite awkward for a while.’

‘Ouch.’ Ava grimaced. ‘And I thought going through a bitter divorce was a real heartache.’

‘Well, what I do know is, Mum says she hasn’t seen him smiling so much since you arrived. You’ve warmed a little of his icy exterior.’

Ava grinned. ‘It’s been fun seeing him again. You, too.’

‘Good. Me and Ruby are having a girls’ night in next week, so you can come along to that, if you like?’

‘I would love that.’ She turned around and collided with a man. ‘Whoops, sorry.’

He was about her age, lean, with brown wavy hair that fell to his shoulders and needed a good wash. His clothes weren’t too clean either, dirty patches on the knees of his navy trousers. But then again, he seemed as if he’d been grafting somewhere.

He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. Then he looked her up and down, seeming to like what he saw. ‘No worries, beautiful.’ He stepped to one side for her to pass, but as she did, he reached for her arm. ‘Are you working here?’

‘Leave her be,’ Eliza chided. ‘She’s only just arrived.’

The man raised his chin. ‘Will you be staying long?’

Ava groaned inwardly. ‘Maybe.’

‘So I’ll see you around?’

‘I hope not.’

He laughed. ‘Funny thing, aren’t you?’

He was still holding on to her arm, so Ava stared at it pointedly. It took him a moment before he released her from his grip and moved through to the bar.

‘You’d better behave yourself, Harry Healey,’ Eliza shouted over her shoulder. ‘I’m not fussy about barring you.’

Ava grimaced at Eliza. ‘What’s up with him?’

‘He’s a moody shit, is all. He left years ago and has only just come back. His departure caused a lot of ill-feeling.’

Ava was shocked. So many secrets already. There was more excitement here than at work in London.

‘Don’t you remember him?’ Eliza went on. ‘He was always jumping off the bridge with his bike.’

‘Oh, him!’

Sara came out of a side door, carrying a box of A4 paper and plonked it on the counter.

‘Oh, you two are reunited at last.’ She smiled. ‘I bet you have a lot to catch up on.’

‘Yes, we had great fun when we were younger,’ Ava replied. ‘Such fond memories.’

‘Hmm. A lot of them were naughty, if I remember rightly. A certain brother of mine remembers you fondly , too,’ Eliza piped in.

Ava blushed, and Sara giggled before sashaying off.

‘If I remember rightly, you used to date Harry, too,’ Ava said.

Eliza’s smile dropped briefly, but she recovered almost immediately. ‘I might have had the odd snog with him when I was younger, but I’m definitely not going there again.’ Her laughter followed her disappearing form.

Ava turned to the entrance, giggling to herself, but wondering if there was any story there that she’d find out later.