Page 32 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Once their food had gone, Jack took Ava around the different stalls, introducing her to people and getting her to taste a bit of everything she was offered.
‘I am stuffed,’ she cried, after an hour of it.
‘That’s why it’s all fast food in small portions, so you can try lots of things. It’s all good quality, mind. But this one is my favourite.’
They stopped outside a cream mobile unit covered in bunting. It was selling all kinds of sweeties.
Jack reached for a bag of toffee fudge and held it up. ‘This is what I come here for. It’s delicious.’
‘He has such a sweet tooth, that one,’ the woman behind the counter said. ‘He’s been eating my wares for years.’
‘That’s not as rude as it sounds,’ he whispered.
Ava almost choked seeing the look Jack gave her.
‘I’ve known him since he was a wee boy running around in his pants,’ the woman continued.
Jack raised his eyebrows, making Ava’s eyes water with laughter.
No, she really didn’t want the evening to end.
‘I thought we’d pop in to see Charlie next.’ Jack led her to his cabin.
Its door was open with a welcome glow inside. Several people were milling around, checking out his images.
‘Jack!’ Charlie raced across to him, shaking his hand and giving him a hug. ‘Glad you could make it.’
‘Like I ever miss a lakeside event.’
‘Well, there were a few times when?—’
‘Let’s not go there.’ Jack shut off the conversation. ‘I wanted to show you some stills that Ava has taken for our new website.’
‘Oh!’ Ava was unprepared for that. ‘I don’t have my laptop.’
‘But you have your phone.’ Jack got out his. ‘And I have mine. There are lots on there. I just wanted to give Charlie a taste of your talent.’
‘I don’t know about that!’ Ava’s cheeks burned again. But this time it was with embarrassment. She’d seen what Charlie was capable of, and his were mostly drawings, not the quick snap of a lens.
‘Let me be the judge of that.’
She left the men to peruse her photos and had a wander round.
Charlie was so skilled. She noticed he took photos, too, and she studied one of a young girl sitting on the jetty deep in thought, her legs over the edge.
He’d caught her just before she’d turned her head, she suspected.
The action had been deliberate, and perfect.
‘These are really good,’ Charlie said, as he and Jack rejoined her. ‘Jack was telling me you were helping with the design of his new book covers. Will you be putting them together as well?’
‘I doubt it.’ Ava shook her head. ‘I’ve been sharing my images for a while with the agency, but they mostly send them off to a cover designer.’
‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ Jack said. ‘Would you like to do them for me?’
‘Well, yes, but?—’
‘Consider it done. I’ll sort it with your boss. That would be you, if you went freelance.’
‘It’s not that. I meant I’m not sure I have the know-how.’
‘Of course you do!’ Charlie flicked back to one photo in particular, the lake just before dusk set in. It had been taken yesterday, after she had shared another walk with Jack and Graham. ‘You could easily use this one, add some thin fonts in bright yellow to complement the deep blue.’
‘I could, couldn’t I? I can have a go next week, if you like?’ Ava suggested to Jack.
‘Deal.’ Jack held out his hand for her to shake. ‘And on that note, let’s go and search out everyone. Millie might be ready to go back for hot chocolate.’
‘You mean you, really, don’t you?’ Ava grinned.