Page 55 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Jackson squeezed her hand, giving her the space to continue.

‘I know that sounds ungrateful to Vivienne and I don’t mean to be, I really don’t but…’ She looked up at the sky. It was clear, the newly crescent-shaped moon surrounded by stars. Meadowfield would be the perfect place for stargazing.

‘You don’t sound ungrateful.’

‘Oh, I do. I hear myself and I cringe.’ She let out a hollow laugh. ‘But I also can’t help the way I feel. I guess it will just take a bit of time to get used to what’s happened and forgive people for treating me as they did.’

‘That’s only natural.’

‘I mean, I know they were only ignoring me because they thought I was working for Mr Yates, and they didn’t agree with how he’d behaved towards Vivienne. I understand that. Completely.’ She sighed. It would just take time, but time shehad. She wasn’t going anywhere and after having the chance to speak to Vivienne, it had only confirmed what Laura had already known deep down, that she loved Pennycress and all the opportunities it could bring. There was another question whirring in her mind, though. One which she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the answer to. ‘What were you and Evie Taunton speaking about?’

She looked down at the kerb as they crossed the road before glancing at him again. ‘Sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have asked.’

‘I don’t mind you asking.’ He ran a palm across his face.

‘Okay…’ He clearly did or he wouldn’t be stalling, would he? ‘Look, forget it. You’ve got history with her and we’ve only just started…’ she held up their hands, ‘…this.’

‘We may have only just started dating, but we’ve known each other for years, so please never feel as though you can’t ask me something.’ He smiled a short, tight smile. ‘I was actually asking her what she’d hoped to achieve by ostracising you and spreading those rumours.’

‘Oh. And what did she say?’

‘She didn’t really give an answer.’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t think she particularly understands the damage she’s caused.’

‘You don’t think she did it on purpose, then? You don’t think she knew exactly what she was doing by telling people I was renting, by suggesting I was going to turn Pennycress into some huge commercial chain hotel?’ Evie must have known. She must have.

Jackson was quiet, and it was only when they reached Wisteria Lane that he cleared his throat and spoke again. ‘I don’t know.’

Laura nodded. For whatever reason, Jackson clearly didn’t want to think Evie was capable of lying to the extent she had. That was fine. That was up to him.

Jackson paused outside his gate. ‘Do you fancy coming in for a coffee or hot chocolate?’

Did she? Her bed was calling her, the aftermath of the wine surfacing, but she didn’t want to leave things with Jackson like this. It felt awkward, and that was the last thing she’d wanted when she’d asked him about Evie. ‘One of your hot chocolates sounds good. Have you got cream?’

A grin spread across his face as he opened the gate and ushered her through. ‘Do you even need to ask?’

‘Haha, no I don’t suppose you’d have offered me a hot chocolate if you hadn’t.’ She smiled. Whatever Evie Taunton’s game had been, it wasn’t worth jeopardising what she and Jackson had found together.

She waited as he unlocked the front door before stepping into the hallway. As she’d assumed, his house was a lot smaller than Pennycress, but the original features were equally beautiful. She slipped her boots off onto the black and white tiled floor of the small porch before stepping through to the long narrow hallway. Looking up, she took in the stunning beams.

‘It’s gorgeous.’

‘Thanks. It’s taken a fair amount of work and I still have two bedrooms to finish off, but I’m content with how it’s coming along.’

‘Content? You should be over the moon. It’s stunning.’ She walked into the living room and ran her fingers across the wooden mantelpiece.

He grinned. ‘It’s amazing what you can pick up at the reclamation yard.’ He nodded towards the fireplace.

‘Is that where this is from?’

‘It sure is. That was a lucky find. It only needed sanding down and bringing back to its natural state. You should have seen the one I found for the master bedroom. It had at least ten layers of black paint on.’

She looked again at the mantelpiece. ‘It looks as though it’s always been here.’

‘Thanks. I’ll go and make the drinks. Make yourself at home.’

She waited until he’d left before turning on the spot. The room really was beautiful. He’d always been creative, but she’d never realised he’d be so good at something like this.

She lowered herself onto the sofa, leaning her back against the soft cushions and smiled as she listened to Jackson making their hot chocolates: the clatter of mugs being placed on the work surface, the click of the switch as the kettle finished boiling.

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