Page 5 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

True. If it wasn’t anything to do with money, numbers or any aspect of finance, Richie’s attention span was close to 2.06seconds long. Nevertheless, this couldn’t just be a coincidence. Someone must have known Jackson lived here. He’d basically been part of the family since he and Richie had met in infant school.

Her parents. Maybe they’d put him up to this. Kept it quiet from her that Jackson lived in the same village as Pennycress Inn. They’d have loved it, knowing that she thought she was gaining her independence, doing something totally alone, and yet Jackson lived right next door. She could just imagine them sitting on their sofa grinning and rubbing their hands together in glee that they’d got one over on her, that they could protect her whilst appearing to be the innocent party. ‘Typical.’

Shaking his head slightly, Jackson chuckled. ‘Thanks for the warm reception.’

‘You know what, I’ve just about had it with my family’s games. I really have.’ Narrowing her eyes, Laura huffed and went to close the door in his face again.

Placing his palm on the door, Jackson held it open. ‘Wow, thanks for that. I come round to do the neighbourly thing and I get the door practically slammed in my face.’

‘Ha, that’s funny.’ He wasn’t going to admit it, was he? He wasn’t going to admit that he was in on their game. It was clever. She’d give them that. And the fact not even her mum had let anything slip… ‘Yep, you just keep that up.’

‘You’re not even going to take my basket, then?’

Gripping the door handle tight in her fist, Laura tried and failed to suppress her anger, instead feeling it bubble over. This wasn’t going to go away, was it? Her parents would continue to do their very best to interfere one way or another, so she might as well let him in, let him report back. She swung it fully open again, flinching as it knocked into the wall and a small slab of plaster fell to the floorboards. Great. ‘Go on then, you might as well come on in. I can give you a tour if you like?’

‘Okay…’ Jackson glanced towards the street behind him before stepping inside and loitering by the open doorway.

‘Don’t be shy. Here, grab a notebook and pen. You might as well take detailed notes. That way, you won’t forget anything. You can even make some sketches. They’d like that, my parents. They were always fans of your artwork.’ Reaching across the reception desk, she pulled a notebook and pen from the shelf before holding them out to him, wriggling them in her hand as if to encourage him to take them. She knew she was being childish but she just couldn’t help it, the frustration she felt was towards her parents, but they weren’t here. He was. All she’d wanted was for them to believe in her, to be proud of something she’d achieved, and yet her new venture was seemingly some sort of game to them.

Stepping forward, Jackson gingerly took the notebook and pen from her, still gripping the basket with his other hand. ‘Your parents?’ His voice was wary, guarded.

‘Yes, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? And that’s why my parents didn’t mention you lived here in Meadowfield. You’re here to spy, so spy! Feed back to them to your heart’s content.’ She flung her arms out, encompassing the hallway, the doors, the stairs.

Breaking into a smile, Jackson chuckled.

Pursing her lips, Laura scowled at him. She’d always liked Jackson Scott. She’d even had a stupid teenage crush on him. What she used to see in him, she didn’t have a clue. Well… He’d always been there for her. He’d been the one she’d turned to when she’d had her first kiss, and her first broken heart. She’d been too embarrassed to confide in Richie. And Jenny, well, by the time Laura had her first kiss at sixteen, teenage sweethearts Jenny and Rob had already met and fallen in love. Huh, Laura had always been a lousy judge of character by the looks of things.

‘You think Richie or your parents have sent me here? Why? To tell them what you’re up to?’ After placing the notebook and pen on the edge of the reception desk, Jackson rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes.

‘You’re laughing at me.’ Crossing her arms again, Laura leaned against the desk.

‘I’m not laughing at you.’ Despite trying to keep a straight face, Jackson’s mouth quivered.

‘You are.’ Laura took a deep breath. She could see it in his eyes.

‘Okay, okay. I am, but can you blame me? You seriously think your family has sent me round as a spy? How would that even work? You think they bought up the house next door and forced me to move in just so I could keep tabs on their daughter?’ Jackson raised his eyebrows.

‘No, of course not.’ How stupid did he think she was? ‘It’s obvious that they just didn’t tell me you lived in Meadowfield on purpose. They must have been so relieved when I told them I’d put an offer in on Pennycress and not on any of the other places I was looking at.’ She shook her head. ‘What would they have done then? Ha, probably have tried to put me off the idea of running an inn all together.’

‘Well, you’re wrong. They didn’t put me up to this. They haven’t asked me to spy on you. Jeez, I’ve not even seen Richie since I moved and…’ Jackson let out a small sigh. ‘And I bet that’s why I didn’t get your parents’ usual Christmas card: I forgot to tell them I was moving too.’

Laura watched as he swapped the basket to the other hand. Had she misjudged him? Jumped to the wrong conclusion because of how her parents were making her feel?

‘I know your parents are overprotective and all, especially now you’re single, but still, it would seem a little extreme to have someone follow you around.’

Feeling a blush course up her neck, Laura looked down. ‘Richie told you my marriage was over?’

‘Richie told me you left that eejit, yes.’

‘I thought he liked Harry.’ Laura frowned.

‘He does. It’s me that calls him an eejit.’ Jackson gave a quick grin, mischief lighting his blue eyes.

‘Huh.’ Laura nodded slowly, her anger suddenly seeping away.

‘Do you believe me now?’

‘I guess.’ Laura shrugged. But if her parents really hadn’t orchestrated this whole situation, then she’d literally just moved in next door to Jackson. What were the chances of that? ‘So, thisisjust some crazy coincidence?’

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