Page 33 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Once they’d corralled the kids and got them home, to Jack’s mind, the best part of the evening began.

Hot chocolate was made, marshmallows shared out, and he threw in a packet of custard creams, too.

After all the tasting at the lakeside event, he’d been fit to burst but had managed his drink and a few biscuits, much to Ava’s amusement.

Now, they were all seated around the TV. Ava sat next to him. On his other side, Millie was trying desperately not to fall asleep.

Jack glanced around the room, for once feeling content. Brooke and Tom were sitting on the settee, legs out in front, heads together as they giggled about something on Tom’s phone.

It was good to see that the cousins got on. It had been hard for them for a while, both families disintegrating at more or less the same time. On the odd occasions Katrina did bump into Alison, they were friendly but guarded with each other.

For that reason, it helped that he and Katrina were living separately so that Katrina wasn’t around as much as she was before.

Millie’s eyes had closed. It was way past her bedtime, and she’d done well to stay up until eleven.

‘I think it’s time for someone to go to bed.’ Jack gave the little girl a nudge. He glanced over at Brooke, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

Brooke got the message. ‘I’ll take her, Dad.’

‘Thanks, love.’

Ava yawned, too. ‘Time for me to make a move.’

‘I’ll walk you back, take Graham for his final stroll.’

After saying their goodbyes, Ava and Jack went out into the night. The air was so cold it made Ava gasp.

‘Brrr. I hope I get a few slightly warmer days before I leave,’ she said. ‘It would be nice not to have to wrap up so warm.’

‘It’s colder than usual for April,’ Jack told her, opening the gate for her and Graham to go through. ‘I reckon we might have snow before long if it continues.’

‘Is it magical here when that happens or hell because the lanes are so narrow?’

‘Most cars don’t move, so it’s quieter in general but it’s nice, too.

I love the quiet of a snowfall. The freshness, the newness until it turns to mush.

’ He glanced at her through the corner of his eye.

‘And there’re snow angels, too, of course, and being the first to run across a field and leaving footprints. ’

‘And snowmen.’

‘And snowball fights.’

‘I almost wish it would snow right now.’ Ava sighed at the thought. ‘London snow is neither here nor there for the most part, and it doesn’t stick around.’

‘Well, if it does, I’ll take you and Graham up on the moors. It’s so eerie there then that it’s like being in the middle of nowhere.’

‘I’d be terrified of getting stuck.’

‘I wouldn’t. I’d be in great company.’

Ava smiled shyly, a warm feeling flowing through her.

The hotel entrance was a few metres away. They stopped at the top of the driveway. Jack let Graham off his lead, and he ran down the drive towards the hotel.

‘I’ve had a great evening,’ Ava told him. ‘You were right about not having anything to eat before I came out. I am stuffed to bursting.’

‘You still managed biscuits with your hot chocolate.’

‘If I recall, you had far more than I did.’

They smiled at each other. A car drove past. They both watched it, and then Jack reached for Ava’s hand.

‘I need to go, or else Graham will drag me inside and I want to get back to the kids.’

‘They seem to love staying with you.’

‘Yes.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I hope you’ve enjoyed your second week back at Sapphire Lake.’

‘Who wouldn’t with your hospitality?’

‘It’s been the best fortnight I’ve had in ages.’ Jack paused. ‘Are you free tomorrow? For an hour or so in the afternoon, once the kids have left? I’d like to show you something.’

Was she ever, she thought, but played it cool. ‘I think that can be arranged.’

‘Good. Shall I meet you here at two?’

‘I’ll be waiting.’

‘Great.’ Still he didn’t move. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. ‘Oh dear.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Her voice was full of concern.

‘I’m not sure I can wait until tomorrow. Because I have to do this right now.’ He leaned forward and kissed her.

He sensed she was surprised at first, but then her arms came around his neck of her own free will. She tasted so good, he didn’t want it to stop.

When they drew apart, he held on to her face. ‘I want to apologise but then again I don’t.’

‘It’s fine,’ Ava whispered. ‘A perfect end to a wonderful evening. And nice to do it again.’

Jack whistled quietly for Graham who was sitting at the entrance waiting to go indoors. The dog tore back up the drive towards them.

‘I’d better be on my way. Two o’clock tomorrow?’

‘I’ll be here.’

‘Goodnight.’ He kissed her gently on the lips this time. ‘I’ll watch you in.’

She gave him one last smile before walking away and, at the entrance to the hotel, she turned and waved.

Jack waved back and then hitched Graham onto his lead. ‘Come on, fella. Let’s go home.’

Ava let herself into her hotel room, removed her coat and boots, and then flopped backwards onto the bed. She couldn’t wait to get inside it, but for now all she wanted to do was think about the evening.

She could see why people came from far and wide for the lakeside events. She’d had so much fun, and there were a lot of faces there that she had seen during the week.

But the thing she’d enjoyed most was seeing Jack with the kids, as he called them.

It was no wonder they all wanted to stay over.

She could imagine him cooking them breakfast in the morning, creating a lot of mess, singing at the top of his voice or making them laugh.

He was a natural with them, and it was good to see.

A longing shot through her. She wished she was waking up next to him tomorrow, so that she could join in with them all.

No, actually, what she wanted to think about was that kiss. She hadn’t been expecting it at all.

Okay, scrap that. She’d wanted it to happen but wasn’t certain how Jack felt about her until then. Would it complicate things now? After all, it was very different to when they'd kissed in their teens.

She was getting ahead of herself, she was sure. But just the touch of his lips had set her body on fire, feelings flowing through her that she hadn’t felt in a long time. All she wanted was to do it again.

But they were work colleagues, too.

Only during the week.

She laughed, trying to justify that the moment hadn’t meant much. And then she thought about tomorrow. Would it be awkward or be more of the same thing?

His house might be empty tomorrow night.

She changed into her pyjamas, knowing that it was going to take her a long time to drop off. The bed was huge with just her in it, plenty room for two. But this was one place where Ava wouldn’t feel comfortable sneaking Jack into. Could you imagine if he was caught by a member of his family?

She picked up her phone to send Georgia a quick message only to find one from Jack.

I feel like that seventeen-year-old boy again. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

She grinned as she replied.

Me, too.

You feel like a seventeen-year-old boy? ;)

Goodnight Jack.

Night x

Ava put her phone down, realising it was late to call Georgia. She’d be too giddy anyway, and that wasn’t something she wanted to share with her daughter just yet.

Her heart was in the mood for love, but really, how would this evening change things? She hoped it would move things forwards.

Because she was ready for it in any sense of the word.