Page 59 of Happier Days (Family Life in Somerley #1)

Back in the cabin at the end of the evening, Jack joined Ava on the decking, passing her a mug of hot chocolate. She took it from him with a smile.

‘It’s getting too warm for these,’ he commented, sitting back beside her.

‘We can exchange it for something chilled.’ Ava cuddled up to him.

They sat in silence gazing over the water, happy and content to just be. Graham rolled over and lay on his back, his paws in the air as he did his best streaker impression.

‘Well, there’s a lovely view.’ Ava laughed.

‘Yeah, I taught him well.’

‘That’s a trick I’ve yet to see.’

‘We can try it later.’

‘You can count on it.’

They smiled at each other.

‘I’m glad you decided to move here,’ Jack said next. ‘I would have come to London, and I might have got used to the noise, but nothing beats waking up to this view every morning. Well, apart from seeing you lying next to me.’

‘You sweet talker.’ Ava sipped at her hot chocolate. ‘At least we have the best of both worlds. We can shoot up to London whenever we like, or have to for work, and then we can come home to Sapphire Lake.’

‘Home to Sapphire Lake.’ Jack thought it had a ring to it. ‘I like that very much.’

‘It’s uncanny how I was feeling so nervous about it a month ago and yet now it’s as if I was never away.’

‘And we have so much to look forward to. Your new business.’

‘Your new books.’

‘The hotel refurbishment being finished.’

‘Classes to set up.’

‘Coffee and cake.’

‘More wine.’

‘We don’t need much to keep us happy, do we?’

‘No, I feel so content.’

There was that word again. Content. Happy. Alive. Jack felt all of those. How his life had changed so quickly. And all because of Ava.

In bed, later that evening, Ava lay in Jack’s arms, staring out onto the lake again. It had been eerie the first night she’d stayed over, as if something was going to rush out of the water and sweep them away to their deaths. Or something would come up out of the water and eat them alive.

Now that her imagination had calmed down, it felt like home should be. She was with Jack, she’d been given the best of opportunities to start again, and it was all down to his belief in her.

He was the one who had given her the courage to hand in her notice and start setting up her own freelance business.

He was the one who had praised her every step of the way with the work she’d completed for the hotel.

He was the one who had shown her covers to his agent and got the publisher on board to run with them.

Although she couldn’t let Jack take the credit for all of it. She had become quite the businesswoman over the past month. Her confidence soaring, she found she could hold her own and was quite proud of her negotiating skills. She’d managed to increase the price for each book in Jack’s series, too.

She was glad she’d had the opportunity to come to Somerley now. Because home definitely was where the heart was. And hers belonged right here. Right beside Jack. For the rest of her life if he would have her.

It was funny how you could meet someone later in life and know they’d be right for you forever, even though technically they had met before.

It was a fated love, she mused. She and Jack belonged together now.

She would make sure he was happy. He would do the same for her.

And one day, maybe wedding bells would ring.

She wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to be content and fulfilled, in the arms of a man she’d probably loved since she was sixteen.

One thing she knew for sure. There were far more happier days to come.

A LETTER FROM MARCIE

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read Happier Days. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Ava, Jack and their family and friends Rose as much as I did. This was a dream book to write – family, love and nostalgia, some of my favourite things.

If you did enjoy Happier Days I would be grateful if you would write a small review . I’d love to hear what you think, and it can also help other readers to discover one of my books for the first time. Maybe you can recommend it to your friends and family.

I’d love to keep in touch,

Marcie x