Page 42 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

After a long walk with Graham, Jack went back to the hotel. Before searching out his mum, he settled his pet in reception. Thankfully, it was dry so Graham wouldn’t be wet and smelly when guests came and went.

He popped into the kitchen for a pot of tea, two mugs, and a plate of biscuits. The door was ajar when he got to the office.

‘Knock-knock,’ he said, pushing it open with his hip. ‘Thought you might like a break.’

Stella glanced up from her paperwork. She smiled when she saw him.

‘Jack, what a lovely surprise.’

He chuckled, then put out the contents on the tray at the small conference table in front of the desk. ‘Come and join me.’ He poured the drinks and passed a mug over to his mum.

Stella stirred her tea. ‘There’s something I want to say to you, while I have you here.’

‘Can I go first?’ Jack asked.

She nodded, a little surprised.

‘I feel like things have gone out of whack since I reconnected with Ava.’

‘In a good way, I hope.’

‘Yes, definitely. It was really hard to find out about Dan and Katrina. I was lost for a while, and I wanted to say thanks for looking out for me.’

‘That’s what mums are for.’

‘I know, but you were always there in the background, keeping an eye on me. I know you can be pushy at times?—’

‘Outrageous!’

‘—but it’s always in the best way and for our own good.

Yet, I think because you left me to it a lot of the time, I healed but wasn’t ready for a relationship.

I can finally move forward and be happy about the future.

I know it’s early days, but I really do feel such a lot for Ava.

She’s brought joy into my life, something I never thought I’d find again. I think I love her, Mum.’

‘I know you do, son.’ Stella reached across the table and patted his hand. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’

‘It also made me realise that if you and Dad don’t want to change the hotel, it’s fine.

I know you’ve been chatting to Ava about it, but I’d hate to push you into something you didn’t want to do.

Perhaps I could do more work here to help you out until you retire, and then maybe I might fall in love with the old place again, too. ’

Stella smiled. ‘So all you need to do now is persuade Ava to stay and you have everything you wished for.’

‘If she wants to give it a go.’ Jack sighed. ‘I’ll miss her during the week, but we can see each other at the weekends. It’s not ideal, but it will have to be enough.’

‘Do you think she’ll ever find the courage to start her own business? She could do that anywhere. She doesn’t have to be in London.’

‘I’m not sure how serious it is, and she might change her mind when she returns to a big city, but she’s been chatting through going freelance with me.

You have to admit, she is good and a great worker who gets things done.

And maybe I could find her some design work.

It’s a pity her job here is coming to an end so soon. ’

‘Maybe we can help her with that.’ She paused and stared at him for a moment. ‘Once the hotel is refurbished, there will be lots for her to do promotion wise.’

Jack frowned, then gave his mum a wily grin. ‘You mean you like the proposal?’

Stella nodded. ‘Let’s finish the extension.’

‘Well, you have been thinking about things.’

‘Your dad and I have, yes. He’s not the pushover everyone thinks he is. Once he gets something in his head that he wants to do, he just has to offer a few words of his wisdom, and I know he’s speaking the truth.’

‘It has to be both of you who want it to happen.’ Jack gnawed at his bottom lip. ‘I can’t do it if you’re not fully behind it.’

Stella went over to the desk and picked up the paperwork she was working on when he’d first arrived. ‘See this? It’s costings for the lounge and restaurant. I thought Ava and Eliza might help me to choose patterns and colours. What do you think?’

‘That wasn’t in the proposal.’

‘I know, but in for a penny, in for a pound.’

Jack sat back in his chair, his long legs out in front of him, and popped his hands behind his head. This had gone much better than he’d hoped. His parents were on board, which meant the hotel wouldn’t feel so gloomy. Ava would be involved, too, if she wanted to be.

He smiled at his mum. ‘I think it’s going to be a good day.’

‘Send your sister in to see me. I’d quite like to make her day better as well.’