Page 78 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘If it tastes as good as it smells,’ Megan said, ‘then this might just be the best pizza I’ve ever had.’

‘Yum, it does smell good.’ Jay took the pizza box from her and laid it on Flora’s coffee table, then wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer.

She could feel his breath as he kissed the top of her head. ‘Who’d have thought both us two and Flora and Percy would have got together?’

‘I would. I knew from the moment I saw you at the induction day that we had a connection.’

‘Really?’

Could she tell too? She’d been too nervous to even notice anyone other than Flora and the others in the Wagging Tails team, let alone anything else.

‘Yes, really.’ He hooked his forefinger beneath her chin and leaned down, their lips touching briefly.

‘Aw, that’s sweet.’ She could feel a blush spreading towards her cheeks. ‘I’ll go and grab us both a drink.’

‘Okay, thanks. I’ll get the film on.’

In the kitchen, she took two glasses from the cupboard and poured them both a drink before taking her mobile from her back pocket. Her shoulders slumped as she saw Lyle had messaged again. Shaking her head, she navigated to it. She might as well see what he had to say. She wouldn’t reply though. She wasn’t going to let whatever he said ruin her and Jay’s evening together.

The message opened as Cindy jumped up, resting her paws on the work surface.

‘Get down, Cindy.’

When she looked back at her phone, she frowned. Huh. A photo of Lyle with one of their so-called friends, Hayley. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and it looked as though she was in the process of pecking him on the cheek. The words ‘You’re not the only one to have moved on’ flashed beneath the photo.

Why had he sent her this? To make her feel jealous? Well, it hadn’t worked. If anything, she just felt relieved – hopefully now he’d leave her be. Although she wouldn’t hold her breath; knowing him, he wasn’t going to let things lie.

He was with Hayley? That was the part that had her feeling strange. A tang of sadness crept over her. Out of everyone in their social circle, she’d felt the closest to Hayley. Or so she’d thought. Obviously it wasn’t just her and Lyle’s marriage which had fallen apart, Hayley’s must have too. She took another look at the photo. It had been taken in their house, her old home. Holding the screen closer, she squinted at something in the back of the photo behind them.

Was that what she thought it was? No, it couldn’t be.

She gripped the edge of the work surface with her free hand. There was a photo frame on the mantelpiece, the same photo frame that had been there for years. The same photo frame that had housed her and Lyle’s wedding picture. The only difference was now it wasn’t the familiar image of her and Lyle staring back at her, her in her ivory wedding gown, him wearing a wedding suit. No, it was a photo of Lyle and Hayley.

She blinked and looked again. Not only that, but the photo had been taken in New York. At Christmas time. The Times Square Christmas tree towered above them. But that didn’t add up… Lyle hadn’t been in New York last Christmas. He’d been with her, Megan. It had been the Christmas before they’d visited New York. They’d visited with a group of friends. Including Hayley and her husband, Neil.

Lyle had been having an affair. Even back then. He’d been seeing Hayley behind her back, behind Neil’s back.

Megan laid her phone on the work surface and closed her eyes. He’d been having an affair and yet he had the audacity to accuse her of doing the same thing with Jay, who she hadn’t even known when she’d been with Lyle!

Opening her eyes, she reached out and turned her phone off, the screen fading to black as the power was halted. She shouldn’t be surprised. She really shouldn’t. Her and Lyle’s relationship hadn’t been right for years. This just offered an explanation. She should have seen it coming. She should have noticed. It was just one more example of Lyle being Lyle. Nothing should surprise her about that.

She placed her fingers against her temples and rubbed them. She could feel a headache coming on, but Jay was here, and she was determined to enjoy the evening, to celebrate her new-found job and his upcoming interview too. She could try to wrap her head around Lyle and Hayley later, but now she wanted to enjoy her evening.

After picking up the two glasses, she turned her back on the phone and headed towards the living room, stopping short outside the door. She could hear Jay’s voice. He must be speaking on the phone.

‘I know, I know… Yes, I understand… I’ll come right away.’ Jay spoke quietly, his voice edged with concern.

Megan stood, waiting for a few moments longer until she was sure the conversation was over before pushing the door open and carrying the glasses to the coffee table.

‘I’m so sorry, Megan, but I’m going to have to run.’ Jay stood up and ran his palm across his face.

‘Is everything okay?’ It hadn’t sounded okay, not from what she’d heard.

‘I’m not sure, to be honest. Leanne has broken up with Patrick.’

‘Oh.’ Megan frowned.

How did that affect him?

---