Page 35 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Usually Jack loved his time with the kids the morning after they’d stayed over.

He always corralled them out of bed and got them to sit in a row on one side of the kitchen island while he cooked breakfast from the other.

There would be loud music and lots of giggles.

He often burned or undercooked something.

But it was a huge part of the fun when he acted like a clown.

This morning he’d been distracted by a young blonde. He hadn’t wanted yesterday to end. In the space of a fortnight, Ava Summer had got back under his skin, and it seemed as if she’d been in Somerley for months.

He recalled the feel of her lips on his, her body pressed as close as it could to his own. Him wishing they were somewhere they could take things further.

‘Dad, the bacon will be too crispy.’ Brooke slid off her stool. ‘Let me help you.’

‘No.’ Jack turned and held up a hand. ‘The rule of after lakeside events is that I do all the cooking. It’s ready now.

’ He put everything out on the plates as quickly as he could – bacon, eggs, mushrooms, sausage, and beans.

In the middle of the island stood a plate with freshly cut bread from a cob.

‘Tuck in, guys!’ He rubbed his hands together with glee.

But, despite the usual chatter and high spirits, Jack found he couldn’t eat because his stomach was churning. He glanced at the clock. Five hours until he would see Ava again. How on earth was he going to get through them?

He chastised himself inwardly, equally feeling guilty that all he wanted was for the kids to leave.

‘Dad, you’re blushing about something,’ Brooke whispered as she passed him the plates to load in the dishwasher once they’d finished.

‘What?’ Jack turned to her absent-mindedly.

Brooke laughed. ‘Do you have something – or someone – on your mind?’

‘Me? No.’ Jack brushed away her comment. ‘It’s hot work in the kitchen, that’s all.’

Despite Brooke’s teasing, Jack never gave away the game. He was sure his daughter had guessed something had happened, but he managed to wave her off with Katrina, followed by Tom and Millie with Alison.

At half past one, he walked to the hotel. Hopefully he might catch his mum or dad to see if they’d read his proposals yet.

Eliza was behind the bar when he went in. She waved when she saw him. ‘Good time, last night?’ she asked once he was near.

‘Yeah.’ He smiled. ‘Shame you had to work.’

‘Someone has to do it.’ She sniggered. ‘You should take your turn, too, you know.’

‘Behind there? I’d end up giving people free drinks or no drinks at all. I don’t know how you keep everything in your head.’ Jack had long admired anyone who worked a bar. It was definitely more demanding than cooking breakfast for four and serving it all on a plate before it went cold.

‘Well, I couldn’t write about serial killers, and murders, secrets and revenge the way you do.’ Eliza leaned in closer. ‘Mind, who knows the things people get up to behind closed doors in Sapphire Lake.’

Jack smirked. ‘Mum and Dad around?’

‘Mum’s in the office. Dad’s in the garden.’

Jack went through to the back, marvelling at the relationship he had with Eliza. When Dan died, and Noah had upped sticks, he and Eliza had become closer. They were a united front, allies for each other, and often he spilled his thoughts out to her. She, too, had found it easier to talk to him.

He drew level with his mum, and a smile lit up her face when she saw him.

‘Jack, how lovely to see you.’ She patted the seat next to her. ‘What brings you here on a Saturday?’

‘I thought I’d pop in to see if you’d had time to go through my suggestions.’

‘I promise you me and your dad will sit down tomorrow and discuss them soon.’ She glanced behind him. ‘Is Ava not with you?’

Jack laughed at her expression as she tried to feign disinterest. He thought a little teasing was in order.

‘No, she isn’t. Why would you think she would be?’

‘I thought you might be taking her out somewhere after last night. Lots of people saw you together.’

‘Like who?’

Stella waved away his comment. ‘That’s irrelevant. I just thought you might be spending some time with her over the weekend as you seem to be getting on so well. And the fact that Ava hasn’t gone back to London.’

‘She wanted to sample the lakeside event.’

‘I saw her this morning, actually,’ Stella admitted. ‘She seems to be enjoying herself too much to leave.’

Jack smiled. ‘I’m obviously using my charms to get her to stay.’

‘Good! She has some great ideas for the hotel. It’s amazing how someone else can see things you can’t.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, nothing in particular.’ Stella paused. ‘I do like her, though.’

Jack rolled his eyes. ‘Time to leave, I think. You will look over the proposal?’

Stella nodded. ‘And you will spend some more time with Ava this weekend?’

Jack rested his knuckles on the desk when he stood up. He leaned in close as if he was going to whisper something to his mum.

Stella sat forwards eagerly.

‘I’m not telling you,’ he said, leaving her laughter in the room as he made his way to the reception area.