Page 51 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

All too soon, it was Ava’s last day at Sapphire Lake. It was Sunday afternoon, and she was catching a train back that afternoon. Earlier, she’d had a hearty lunch with Jack and his parents, Eliza, and Willow.

Having stayed at Jack’s home for most of the week, she decided to go out on her own for a walk while he went for a run with Graham.

She took a stroll around the lake, suddenly finding a lump in her throat when she came to the large boulder she had sat on so many times. It always brought back fond memories.

Hoisting herself onto it, she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared ahead. She was going to miss that view as much as seeing Jack every day.

After completing everything she’d set out to do by Friday, she wasn’t looking forward to London tomorrow. She didn’t want to leave but at least she was coming back next weekend. And as she had plans to get out of there soon, she preferred to focus on those.

Now she had an hour to go before Jack gave her a lift to the train station.

Yet her thoughts were on what might happen in the future.

She didn’t want to leave Sapphire Lake and return to living a busy but monotonous life in London.

She realised that she didn’t want to be in London at all.

It felt right to be here on Sapphire Lake, seeing its glory on a daily basis. Waking up with Jack every morning.

But next weekend, she’d be back and then Jack was coming to stay with her the following one.

She’d promised to show him some more of the sights, but by then she expected she would have missed him so much that all she’d want to do was spend time with him on her own in the flat. Providing Georgia wasn’t around.

Her phone beeped a message. It was from Jack asking where she was. She was about to reply when there was a rustle of leaves behind her and a playful bark. Graham bounded down the path and onto the rock, delighted to see her.

As she petted him, Jack came into view.

‘Hey, I wondered if I’d find you here,’ he said. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, I just needed a moment alone.’ She glanced at the lake, unable to meet his eye. ‘It’s such a wonderful spot. No wonder you never left.’

‘I can remember lots of nice memories about this rock,’ he teased, jumping up to sit next to her.

She gave a faint smile and returned her eyes to the view. There was something magical about being by the side of water, but was this all too much of a dream, happening too fast? Was her bubble about to burst?

‘What’s wrong?’

She turned her head, unashamed of the tears in her eyes. ‘It’s hitting me how much I’m going to miss Sapphire Lake, and you.’

‘I admit I’ll be counting down the hours until I see you again.

Although, I’ve been thinking. Maybe you could have a lodger in London?

’ He pointed to his chest. ‘That’s if you don’t think Georgia would mind?

We could do things the opposite way round.

Stay in London during the week and head to Somerley for the weekends.

I’d have to bring Graham with me, but I’m sure he’d be no problem once he’d settled into a new routine. ’

‘But you have to be here for the hotel,’ Ava objected. ‘You’re the project manager.’

‘We can employ someone to do that, or it might be nice to give the job to Harry. Plus I have Doug onside now. And I’d be right there to work with publishers and see my agent and crew more often. And Cara.’

‘Your family won’t like it. Your mum, especially. She loves to see you each day.’

‘She sees Noah online.’

‘You know it’s not the same.’

‘It’s what I want to do.’

Ava was shocked. ‘You’d leave seeing Sapphire Lake every day for me?’

‘It’s not exactly leaving. We’d just spend five days in London and two here, rather than the other way round. And isn’t that what I’d expect you to do if you wanted to come here every two weeks?’

‘Maybe, but it won’t be forever, once my business is up and running.’ A frisson of excitement ran through her at the thought. So much had changed in such a short space of time. It was both wonderful and terrifying, yet she was ready for the challenge.

Jack tilted her face towards his, but she lowered her eyes momentarily. His hand dropped from her chin, and it was his time to look in the distance.

Ava swallowed. She had hurt him, and that wasn’t her intention. It was breaking her heart to leave, but it made her more determined to sort things out.

‘Have you any idea what you bring to my life?’ Jack kept his face to the lake.

‘You’ve made me whole again after a most traumatic two years.

I didn’t think I’d want to be with anyone else.

Never thought I’d feel so alive, so excited about the future.

So happy to get out of bed every morning.

I’m in love with you, and I don’t want to waste another minute of my life without you by my side. ’

‘I feel the same,’ she managed to say, her voice choked. She laced her fingers through his. ‘But once I leave Bateman PR, I’d like to live here , with you and Graham, all day, every day. I want to wake up to that wonderful lake view – and you beside me. If you’ll let me.’

‘Are you proposing to me, Ava Summers?’ Jack teased.

‘Of course not.’ She screeched, and it turned into laughter.

Joyous laughter that Jack joined in with. He slung an arm around her shoulder and drew her near.

‘Good, because that will be my job. When the time is ready.’

She said nothing, and neither did he.

Their silence was relaxing. Ava took a moment to bask in it. It was peaceful, just the two of them, and Graham doing his thing, which was pulling apart a branch stuck in the mud at the moment.

She recalled when she’d sat there with Eliza and Ruby, teasing Jack, Dan, and Harry who were with them as they larked about in the water. She remembered Jack blowing her a kiss when he’d hoped no one was looking.

She broke out into a smile at the thought. Who knew so many years later that they would be together again.

‘I suppose I’d better get going,’ she said begrudgingly. ‘If I’m to catch my train.’

‘I’ll be counting down the hours until Friday evening.’ Jack kissed her on the nose. ‘Poor Graham is going to be heartbroken when you leave.’

‘And you?’

There was a slight pause before he replied. ‘I think I’m going to be the same.’

‘Well, Jack Broadhurst, I shall be leaving my heart here, but thankfully, it won’t be for long.’