Page 84 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘Have a great night and I’ll see you later,’ Megan said, holding her hand up before leaving and heading upstairs. It was true, she was tired. She hadn’t spent as long on her feet as she had today for a long time. Even when she and Jay had been digging the foundations, they’d taken numerous breaks, whereas the work at the ice-cream parlour had been constant.

She paused halfway up the stairs. She had forgotten to ask how the construction of the new dog kennels had gone. She turned to walk back down, but she could hear that conversation had already resumed, the four of them talking about the film choices for the evening. She’d ask when they got back. If the build hadn’t been successful, they would have said.

Up in her room, she leaned against the closed door and rubbed her eyes. Despite images of Jay, Mia and Leanne on the beach replaying in her mind’s eye, she might just have that nap now. She was tired enough.

Megan pushed herself away from the door and sank onto the bed, lying back against the pillows. The window was open, and a slight breeze was blowing, the floral curtains gently swaying.

Shifting position, she pulled her mobile from the back pocket of her jeans and checked for any messages. Nothing. Jay still hadn’t texted her. Yes, she’d seen him at the ice-cream parlour, but he’d come in because Mia had wanted an ice cream, not to see her.

She reached her arms above her, gently laying her hands against her forehead. Now that Leanne had broken up with Patrick, should Megan even be dating him? This was his chance to get back with Leanne, to make his family whole again.

Yes, Leanne had cheated on him, had broken his heart, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t forgive her, that didn’t mean she didn’t want to get back with him. Leanne had moved back into the marital home quite happily. Didn’t that suggest something? Didn’t that suggest that she hoped to get back with him?

Or was Megan just imagining things? Life wasn’t that simple, was it? It wouldn’t be easy for Jay to forgive Leanne for what she’d done to him, but equally, Megan didn’t want to be the reason he didn’t try. She and Jay had only been dating briefly whereas he and Leanne had years of history together, they had a daughter together. They had been married, been a family.

She couldn’t compete with that. She didn’t want to. Jay had been so happy on the beach. She’d seen that. He’d been relaxed and happy. In his element.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she closed her eyes for a moment. She knew what she needed to do, and she knew she needed to do it now. Before she talked herself out of it, before he contacted her.

Sitting up, she leaned against the pine headboard and wrote a text.

Thank you for a lovely time, but this isn’t going to work – Megan

She pressed Send before she changed her mind and turned off her mobile.

Looking towards the window, she sighed. That was it then. She and Jay were over. She’d been daft to think she could just walk into a relationship with him, anyway. Things were never that simple. She should know that by now. Life with Lyle hadn’t been simple. And before, when she thought it had, it turned out that he’d been having an affair with someone she thought was her friend.

Obviously, Jay would never have cheated on her, he was one of the good guys and now, with Leanne single again, he deserved the chance to get back with her, for Mia to have her family together again. Jay didn’t need Megan standing in the way.

‘Megan, we’re off now, lovely.’ Flora’s voice wafted up the stairs. ‘Have a good evening.’

Megan cleared her throat. ‘Thanks. You too.’

She listened for the front door to click shut, and after it had, Cindy began to whine.

‘Cindy, Dougal, I’m up here.’ She stood up and opened her bedroom door for them.

Less than a minute later, Cindy had bounded up and onto her bed, quickly followed by Dougal. Megan smiled. She’d miss them when she moved out. Especially Cindy. She’d even missed her today at the ice-cream parlour. She was so used to her being there, right beside her at Wagging Tails, it had felt odd her not.

Sinking back onto the bed, she held open her arms as Cindy laid her head on her stomach. ‘I’ve done the right thing, haven’t I?’

Cindy looked at her for a moment, her deep brown eyes thoughtful, before she closed them.

It was done now. However much it hurt, it was for the best. She had to let him go, she had to.

31

Stirring, Megan strained her eyes in the dim evening light. She must have fallen asleep. She sniffed the air. There was a funny smell. What was that? She could feel Cindy moving beside her, pawing at her and nudging her arm with her nose.

‘What’s the matter, Cindy? Try to go back to sleep.’

Turning over, she closed her eyes again. She just wanted to sleep, to forget about Jay, about Lyle, about everything.

Cindy nudged her again, her nose wet against Megan’s skin. Could she sense she was upset? She rolled back over and began fussing her behind the ears.

‘I’ll be okay, Cindy. Don’t worry.’

A loud bark sounded from downstairs, penetrating the silence in the house. Maybe Flora and Poppy had just pulled up in the car. She closed her eyes again.

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