Page 28 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

‘Another week nearly over, Ava,’ Jack said when they were packing up for the day on Friday afternoon. ‘I’ve really enjoyed catching up more this week. It’s been business and pleasure rolled into one.’

‘I seemed to have slipped back into village life as if I’ve never been away,’ Ava admitted.

‘Everyone has been so welcoming. I’m glad I decided not to go back to London until next weekend.

I’d have been on a train one day and then coming back on another the next.

Georgia being at home makes it easier, though.

I’d hate to leave the property empty for so long.

You never know.’ She popped her phone into her bag as the doorbell rang.

Jack glanced at the clock. ‘I think Brooke is here.’

‘I won’t be a minute and I’ll be on my way.’

‘It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s the delightful Katrina who will drop her off with a lecture about how to take care of my own daughter.’

‘Ah.’

Ava gathered together everything she needed while Jack went to answer the door. She heard voices in the hallway, and then a young girl appeared.

She was the image of her dad with those deep-blue eyes and had the look of a young Eliza, too.

Her long dark hair was loose, and she had a tiny amount of makeup on, not overly preened like some girls her age.

She was dressed in skinny jeans and an oversized pink jumper that slipped from the shoulder, revealing the strap of a white vest underneath it.

Stripy socks showed that she’d removed her footwear.

‘Hi, I’m Brooke.’ She beamed at Ava. ‘I’m staying for the weekend. Are you my dad’s girlfriend?’

‘Oh, no. I’m working with him at the moment.’

‘There’s no need to be embarrassed. I keep telling him to move on, but he won’t listen, and I think?—’

‘That’s enough, Brooke.’ An older woman appeared by the side of her. ‘You don’t want to frighten her away.’

Ava knew without a doubt she was Jack’s ex-wife. She had a startling resemblance to Brooke, almost a mini-me.

Jack’s ex wasn’t high maintenance, but she was ageing well. Her hair was jet-black, shiny eyes surrounded by layers of mascara and liner. She’d teamed up a white blouse with a navy trouser suit and high-heeled boots. Bright-red lipstick had obviously been recently applied.

Ava felt grubby beside her, in jeans and a jumper, and makeup that had worn off throughout the day. She’d also left her boots at the front door, so in her stockinged feet felt quite tiny and inferior.

The woman offered her hand to Ava. ‘I’m Katrina, the ex.’

‘Ava, from Batemans PR.’

‘Ah, for the hotel. Maybe you should do Jack a makeover while you’re at it?’

Behind her, Ava could see Jack rolling his eyes.

Ava pointed at the door. ‘I was just leaving.’

‘Don’t do that on my behalf.’ Katrina smiled faintly. ‘I’m going now.’ She gave Brooke a kiss. ‘Give me a call tomorrow. I want to know all the gossip after the lakeside event.’

Brooke tutted. ‘If you wanted to know that you should come along.’

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?’ Katrina’s gaze landed on Jack’s for a moment.

He shook his head. ‘Definitely not.’

‘Right, I’ll be on my way then.’

Jack showed Katrina out, leaving Ava alone with Brooke.

The young girl threw her bag down and flopped onto the settee. ‘I love this view,’ she said, staring out of the picture window. ‘Where we live now, there are houses all around us. I mean, the property is nice, but it’s not… this.’

‘I know what you mean.’ Ava felt herself warming to Brooke. ‘It’s much better than my view in London, too.’

‘You live in London?’ Brooke sat forward. ‘What’s it like to be there all the time? I’ve been for a weekend at the most, and it was manic. I loved it for that, though. It was always so quiet here.’

‘London has its moments. Do you live close by now?’

‘Half an hour away. But I love coming here. I miss my dad.’

‘And I miss you, too.’ Jack rejoined them, mouthing sorry to Ava before sitting down next to his daughter. He put an arm around Brooke’s shoulders and pulled her near, kissing the top of her head. ‘The place is much tidier when you’re not here, though.’

Brooke nudged him playfully in the chest.

As father and daughter caught up, Ava almost felt like a spare part. A good one. It was so nice to see how well the two of them got on. It must have been hard for Jack when Brooke moved out.

‘I’d best be on my way,’ she remarked.

‘I’ll meet you at six, outside the café,’ Jack said. ‘Don’t have anything to eat beforehand.’

‘Okay!’

‘You’re coming to the lakeside event?’ Brooke grinned.

Ava nodded. ‘I’m told I shouldn’t miss it.’

‘It’s amazing, no matter what time of year it is. I’m glad you’re going together.’

‘Oh, no, we’re?—’

‘We’re just going as?—’

Brooke held up her hand and laughed. ‘Whatever.’

It was Jack’s turn to blush. Ava thought it was sweet. There was definitely something brewing between them. And something told her it might be nice to have a holiday fling.

At the least.

‘She seems nice, Dad,’ Brooke said when Jack came back from seeing Ava out.

‘Yes, she is. She used to come to stay every summer when we were kids.’

‘Do I sense a holiday romance?’

Jack laughed. ‘It was cut a bit short. She and her parents would stay for six weeks. I grew to like her a bit more each year, and I think she did the same. But the last time she came, she was just sixteen and I was nearly eighteen and working so I didn’t see her much during the day. We got together on her last night.’

‘Ooh.’ Brooke’s eyes sparkled.

‘Not in that way,’ Jack insisted. ‘We kissed a bit and said we’d see each other the following summer, and she never showed up.’

‘Oh, Dad. She broke your heart!’ Brooke giggled and then frowned. ‘Why didn’t they come?’

‘Her dad died. I suppose there were too many memories for her mum.’

‘Ava could have visited, when she was older.’

‘She could. I could have tried to find her, too. But I guess we both put it down to teenage angst and got on with our lives.’

Brooke was quiet for a moment. ‘So, would you? Now?’

‘Would I what?’

She nudged him. ‘You know.’

‘I am not talking about my sex life with my teenage daughter,’ Jack harrumphed.

‘You’re blushing. That tells me everything I need to know.’ She gave him a hug. ‘Seriously, Dad. I just want to see you happy.’

Jack hugged her back, gazing over her head at the lake in front of them. ‘I am happy, love. And it’s been great to see Ava again, but she lives in London.’

‘And?’

‘It wouldn’t be fair to start anything because she’d be leaving soon.’

‘There are these things, Dad, called trains. They can get you to the capital in a couple of hours. So you can see each other at weekends, or you can go down to London anytime and stay over. I don’t see a problem.’

‘You make it sound so easy.’ He sighed. ‘Life isn’t always simple.’ They broke apart. ‘Besides, I’ve just said. This conversation is not happening.’