Page 79 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘Umm, and she and Mia haven’t got anywhere to go. She’s over at my house now, waiting in the car, so I’d better run.’ Jay looked down at the unopened pizza box. ‘I’m sorry, this was supposed to be your night, our celebration.’

Megan waved her hand dismissively. ‘Don’t worry about that.’

‘Thank you for understanding.’

‘Do you think they’ll be staying at yours, then?’ she asked as he made his way to the front door to slip his shoes on.

Glancing at her, Jay nodded. ‘Yes, I’ve said they can move back in for the time being.’ Trainer laces tied; he stood back up. ‘I really am sorry. I was looking forward to this.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. You need to be there for Leanne and Mia.’ She smiled and held the door open.

‘Thanks.’

Megan watched as Jay rushed out, not even pausing to kiss her goodbye, and closed the front door behind her.

Sinking onto the bottom step of the staircase, she tucked her hair behind her ears and stared at the wooden door in front of her, trying to make sense of the evening.

She understood why Jay had rushed off. He doted on Mia and wanted to be there for her, to welcome her back into his home, to welcome Leanne back into her old home too. Their family would be together again. Mum, dad, daughter.

She let her head drop to her knees and closed her eyes. Why was she thinking like this? Jay wouldn’t get back with his ex, not after the way she’d hurt him. She was certain of it. He one hundred per cent wouldn’t. Although, he’d told her how painful it was living in the house without Mia, with all the family memories lurking in every corner. What if he did take her back?

Megan felt a wet nose nudging against her arm and opened her eyes.

‘Hello, Cindy. Where’s Dougal got to?’

Cindy walked into the living room wagging her tail, and paused to look back at Megan.

‘Come on then, shall we let you both out into the garden for a while?’ Pushing herself to standing, she followed Cindy back through the living room into the kitchen and to the back door. Sure enough, little Dougal was sitting on the doormat by the back door. ‘You were right, Cindy. Do you need to go out, Dougal?’

After letting them out, Megan reached for her mobile again and turned it back on, waiting until the screen had flickered to life before checking to see if she’d missed any messages. No, nothing. Nothing more from Lyle thankfully, but nothing from Jay either. She lowered her mobile back onto the work surface. What had she been expecting? Him to apologise again for running out of their celebration? Or for him to reassure her that he wasn’t running straight into Leanne’s arms? She shook her head. She was being daft. She knew she was. She knew it was only because of the photo Lyle had sent that she was even thinking that Jay would do anything like that.

She picked up her mobile and scrolled back through to Lyle’s message, to that photo. Jay was nothing like Lyle. Nothing. Tapping the screen against her forehead, she pursed her lips. She knew what to do. She knew what she needed to do to put Lyle in his place and to hopefully stop him from contacting her again.

Leaning back, the edge of the work surface behind her digging into her back, she began typing:

Thank you for the photo. I now have evidence that you and Hayley have been having an affair. Any future contact can now come through our solicitors. Megan

With her thumb hovering over the Send button, she reread the message. He wouldn’t know what she meant by evidence, would he? Holding her finger against Delete, she watched the text disappear before trying again:

Thank you for the photo. I can clearly see from the picture in the background that you have been having an affair with Hayley behind my back (at least since our trip to New York). You’ll be hearing from my solicitor. Do not contact me again. All future correspondence can be exchanged with our solicitors. Bye, Megan.

There. It was clear, to the point. Yes, she was doubtful this revelation would change anything, she’d still signed the prenup, but even if it didn’t, hopefully he’d get the message and finally leave her alone. If she was lucky that would be the last she heard from him.

After letting Dougal and Cindy back in, she made her way to the living room and flopped onto the sofa. What did she do now? She had the whole evening. She glanced at her mobile again and shook her head. Jay wouldn’t message her, not yet, not whilst he was settling his ex-wife and daughter into the home.

He would, though, eventually, wouldn’t he? This wouldn’t just be it for their fledging romance? She wouldn’t blame him if he decided to try again with Leanne though. By his own admission, he’d been devastated when he’d discovered she’d been having an affair. His life had literally been pulled apart. But that didn’t mean he’d forgive her and try again in their relationship.

No, it wouldn’t.

Opening the pizza box, she picked up a slice. It was already cold.

How would she have felt if she’d found out Lyle was seeing Hayley before the whole drama with Wagging Tails? Before she’d seen his true character? Would she have been as devastated as Jay or would she have felt relief?

She took a bite and pulled the stringy cheese from the slice.

It wasn’t the same, she decided. She knew that. It wouldn’t have been even if she’d been with Lyle. By that point, she hadn’t been in love with him any more, so finding out about his and Hayley’s affair wouldn’t have been as life changing as it had for Jay.

No, that wasn’t true. It would have been life changing in the way that she’d have still ended up homeless and penniless, but it wouldn’t have been as emotionally traumatising as it would have been if she’d still been in love. As it must have been for Jay.

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