Page 18 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Friday morning came round quickly. Ava was working at Jack’s home, on some ideas for the website.

Jack was catching up with his emails and admin in his study.

Ava couldn’t get over how peaceful it felt.

The radio was on low, and Graham, curled up in his basket close by, interrupted things with a snore every now and then.

It was nearly midday when Jack came back into her. She turned the laptop around for him to look at.

‘What do you think?’ She clicked on a few images to show him pages she’d linked them to.

‘They’re amazing,’ Jack said, leaning close to her while he studied the images she’d come up with so far.

‘Thanks. I like some of them, but I don’t think I have the right vibe to work with yet. I want to get the deepest Sapphire I can, reflecting the area.’

‘Like the colours in your bracelet?’ He pointed to her wrist. ‘One of Ruby’s?’

‘Yes, she wouldn’t let me pay for it, though.’ Ava had been thrilled when Ruby handed her the bracelet, she’d made from the colours she’d chosen. ‘She said she’d make me one, but I hadn’t thought she’d be so quick.’

‘It matches the colour of your eyes.’ Jack gazed into them. ‘Would you like to get some fresh air? I fancy a walk before lunch, and Graham needs a pee stop.’

‘Now, there’s an offer I can’t refuse.’ Ava pulled on her coat.

‘Good boy,’ Jack murmured as he placed a harness on his pet.

Outside, Graham walked beside Jack obediently. They took the steps down to the cabins but turned left onto the path that would take them along the edge of Sapphire Lake.

Ava knew from her research that there was another café about a mile away, which was good because she was already feeling the cold from the breezy spell of weather they were having.

But she wasn’t going to show it.

‘There’s a tea shop about a mile on,’ Jack said, in step with her now. ‘Perhaps we could have a brew. It’s colder than I thought. That clear blue sky can often be deceiving.’

Ava laughed. ‘I was thinking the same thing. Roll on summer.’

Jack smiled. ‘Can you remember the tea shop?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘We took a bike ride there one afternoon.’

Ava grimaced. ‘Still can’t remember, sorry!’

‘Well, I can.’

She turned to him, but his eyes were on the path ahead. What did he mean by that? ‘Did I do something?’

Jack side-eyed her. ‘No, it was something I wished I’d done.’

‘Do tell.’

‘It’s nothing.’

An image of teenage Jack bending down to kiss her flashed through her mind, and she squeezed her eyes tight momentarily. Less of that, thank you very much, she scolded herself inwardly.

They walked together, chatting about the photographs she’d taken. She stopped to take more on the way, the broodiness of the woods to their left creating a perfect backdrop.

‘Let me take a couple of you,’ she said, camera poised.

‘If you must.’

‘It’s more natural when they’re not posed.’ She paused. ‘I wonder if we could get Graham to bowl you over on your arse and then I could snap you. That would be a good one.’

‘You’re never going to forgive him for that, are you?’

‘No. I blame the owner, though.’

Finally, they came out into an open area with a single-storey build ahead.

Jamie’s Tea Shop was a welcome sign, and they dived inside to find a table.

Once Graham was settled, Jack went to order drinks, and Ava sat down, gazing onto the lake.

It was all so beautiful – how could it be so cold outside?

‘I thought perhaps we could have lunch here today,’ Jack said, when he came back. ‘The soup is good, and I need something to warm me up.’

His pointed stare had Ava blushing again, and she glanced away, unsure if he was teasing or joking in general. He sat across from her and followed her eyes.

‘I never get tired of looking at the lake.’

‘Didn’t you ever think of leaving when you were younger?’

Jack shrugged. ‘I could definitely see the benefits then, but I could never pluck up the courage. Besides, who would swap this for a city view of streets and houses, noise and traffic?’

‘It’s not so bad in London,’ she said, but he saw through her eagerness.

‘It’s one loud bowl,’ he cried. ‘Every time I visit, I want to come home as soon as I can.’

‘Do you travel to the capital often?’

‘Two or three times a year. As little as I can get away with. Luckily, my publishers haven’t pressed me to do more until now. I suppose it’s time, especially if I want to finalise the TV deal.’

Ava’s eyes widened. ‘Your books are going to be televised?’

‘Not quite, but it’s in the making. The contract, I mean, not the series itself. I’ve been offered different options by three companies and I’m trying to choose the best one.’

‘I bet that will be exciting, seeing your characters on-screen, with a plot that you imagined.’

‘It will, but I’m more concerned about how it will affect everyone. It’s a small community as you know, and I want to make sure they get the privacy, plus the credit, they deserve. That’s if they decide to film it here. Besides, if they do, it will probably be years before they get around to it.’

Ava sat back, impressed again. There was a deeper level to Jack Broadhurst. Not only was he an author, with a good business head on his shoulders, but he was a philanthropist. He cared about his community, which was refreshing after being with Giles, as he only thought of himself.

‘Has the written word always been a big part of your life?’ she wanted to know. ‘I remember you were working on a farm.’

‘I had my own company when I was in my late teens.’ His face clouded over. ‘Well, me and a guy from school. We used to clean chimneys, that kind of thing. Can you remember Harry?’

‘I bumped into him last night – literally.’

‘We were kids, back then. Things didn’t work out. It was a bit rough at the time, but it was a blessing really. I went to uni, got a degree in journalism and wrote for the Hedworth Star.’

‘Hedworth? That’s where the train station is, in the city?’

He nodded.

‘Didn’t you ever want to work at the hotel?’

‘Not really. But when my books started to take off, I left and became part-time general manager there, to please my mother. I still juggle both roles, but I’ve never looked back since, career wise.’

Ava studied Jack while he gazed across the water. She leaned forward to see if she could tempt him to say more, but he turned back to her suddenly and grabbed the menu.

‘Let’s order. I’m starving.’

‘I fancy the soup, please, on your recommendation.’

‘Coming right up.’

She watched him walk to the counter to give their lunch order. Once again Ava realised Jack had shut down from her.

But this time she wasn’t going to let him get away with it.