Page 29 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The doorbell went again, and Jack winced when Brooke squealed. She dashed to let her cousins in. He followed close behind, hoping to see his favourite sister-in-law.

‘Hey, guys,’ he said to Milly and Tom as they rushed through to the living room with Brooke. ‘Make yourselves… at…’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t they ever slow down?’

‘You only have one child, Jack Broadhurst,’ Alison admonished playfully. ‘Imagine what it’s like to have two.’

He kissed her on the cheek. ‘Great timing, you’ve just missed the witch.’

‘Just good planning. I got Tom to ask Brooke what time she would be here.’

They shared a mutual smile this time. Both of them had been through so much two years ago, that they’d been able to help each other through the worst of things.

Alison had come over to see him when Brooke was here, the children going out for a walk while they chatted.

Cried. Shouted. Ranted. Sometimes they’d laughed when they’d been reminiscing. It had been a tonic for them.

Now, however, it wasn’t needed as much. They still got together a lot, the five of them going out for lunch or dinner on a regular basis. But the angst had gone, and they were both accepting of the situation.

Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ‘Are you coming in?’

‘No, I’m in a bit of a rush. Dave’s taking me out this evening.’

Jack roared at the expression on her face. ‘You look like you’re going on a sneaky date.’

‘I am, sort of. Just have to take the time when I can.’

‘You know I’ll always watch the kids for longer than a night.’

‘I do, thanks. And I’m sure I’ll take you up on it later in the year.’

‘Things going that well?’

Alison beamed. ‘They are.’

‘Good to see.’

She touched his arm before shouting over his shoulder, ‘Bye kids, see you tomorrow. And I will see you soon for lunch or dinner, Jack? I’d like to introduce the two of you.’

‘Oh, it’s that serious?’

‘It might be.’

‘I can’t wait to grill him.’

She pulled a face at him and then with a wave was gone.

Once everyone was settled, Jack went to get a shower before they were due to go out.

His thoughts went to Ava who he was looking forward to spending the evening with.

He really did like her, but was it worth igniting a flame, heating up the desire, perhaps taking things further when they lived such different lives, and miles apart?

Maybe if he did, she’d think it was just a holiday fling, and he wasn’t sure if he could lose her twice.

He wiped the steam from the mirror above the sink ready for a wet shave but stopped. He’d punched the previous one soon after Dan had died, its shattered pieces falling along with his tears. As a twin, it was hard not to see his brother.

From the moment he’d known Dan was gone, Jack had felt as if a part of him had been ripped away. Yet, how had he not known what was going on? How could two people so close to him be deceitful? They’d made him out to be a fool.

He still woke up some nights wondering how they could have done it to him, and Alison.

How they could have got away with it for so long, too.

He’d had no idea, and if Katrina hadn’t told him he would never have found out.

It had left him insecure and unable to commit, hence a few dates here and there but nothing that had been at all satisfying.

He thought back to when Katrina had told him. It had been the night of the funeral. The wake had been held at the hotel, and they had got home around eight that evening.

Once Brooke was in bed, Katrina had joined him in the kitchen. He’d thought her sadness was because of the emotions of the day, so had gone to comfort her. But she’d stepped aside his open arms and sat down instead.

‘I need to tell you something,’ she’d said.

It had all come out, the most heartbreaking minute of his life.

‘How long?’ he asked.

‘Eighteen months.’

He’d poured away his coffee before the urge to throw it at the wall became too much. ‘So what’s the plan now?’

‘I have to go,’ she told him. ‘I can’t be with you anymore. You remind me of him too much.’

‘Does anyone know?’

Katrina shook her head. ‘Not unless we were seen out.’

Jack balked. ‘How would anyone know if you were with Dan instead of me? We’re identical!’

Katrina said nothing.

‘But why? Wasn’t I enough?’

‘You know we hadn’t been getting on. Dan and I got talking one night, and it just happened.’

‘Well, I suppose you didn’t have to close your eyes to imagine you were with him when we made love.’ Jack ran his hand through his hair. ‘What a mess.’

It had been awful telling his family. First his parents, and then his brother and sisters.

They all agreed to keep it to themselves, but the secret haunted them.

Noah couldn’t even talk to Katrina, Cara headed back to London immediately afterwards.

Within a year, Noah went to Edinburgh, and Jack and Eliza were left to pick up the pieces.

Luckily, he’d had DCI Rudyard to fill his lonely evenings.

His writing kept him going. Rudyard became a saviour to him.

He wasn’t sure what he would have done without him.

Which was why he wanted to do the series justice when it came to the rebranding.

And why he’d been so pleased to get Ava on board with the covers as long as she didn’t lose her nerve.

Now he’d reconnected with her, he was going to make sure his demons didn’t ruin what he thought was brewing, too.