Page 59 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

‘Oh, Ava, sweetie, there you are.’ After closing the patio door once the twins had run inside, Jenny bent down and held her hand out towards Ava. ‘Yes, a job for you, too.’

‘What’s the job, Mummy, and how much pocket money will you give me?’ Tammy kicked her wellies to the side of the doormat.

‘Tammy? Really? We’re at Nana and Grandad’s. You can do a job for them out of the goodness of your heart, understood?’

Tammy nodded sullenly. ‘Okay.’

‘Good. Right, you two can lay the table and let Ava put the napkins out, okay?’ Jenny turned and walked out of the room, the three children following behind her.

‘She’s grown!’ Jackson nodded towards Ava as she gripped Tammy’s hand on her way out of the room. ‘I think the last time I saw little Ava was when she was a newborn.’

‘That’s right, it was.’ Richie grinned. ‘You wait until you see Jasper, he’s four now.’

‘Four? Wow, when did that happen?’ Jackson shook his head.

‘When you were MIA, that’s when.’ Richie stood up. ‘And let me locate little Lucas. You’ve not even met him.’

Jackson watched Richie walk out of the room before leaning across and taking Laura’s hand in his. ‘This is nice.’

‘It is.’ Laura squeezed his hand. ‘Strange though. Just a few weeks ago, I was living here and now I’m visiting again. Surreal.’

‘Ha, I bet. And of course…’ Jackson nodded towards their hands. ‘Something else is different, too.’

‘Yes.’ Laura laughed and pulled her hand away just as Richie walked back into the room with baby Lucas in his arms.

‘Aw, now you are a cutie, aren’t you?’ Standing up, Jackson peered at him. ‘How old is he?’

‘Twelve weeks.’

‘So small.’

‘Small but fierce and with the lungs of a forty-year-old on a night out at the football. Here, do you want a hold?’ Before Jackson could answer, Richie had passed baby Lucas across to him.

‘Hello, little one. Nice to meet you.’ Jackson swayed slightly as Lucas stretched in his arms before closing his eyes again and nuzzling his head against Jackson’s jumper.

‘You’re a natural at this.’ Richie fluffed Jackson’s cushion before his friend sat back down.

‘Says the dad of three.’ Jackson chuckled.

‘Yes, well, it’s not easy having three under four, but it’s Jane who bears the brunt of it whilst I’m at work.’ Richie looked behind him as Jane walked through the door, their four-year-old Jasper on her hip.

‘Is that my name I hear?’ She paused and shifted Jasper further up. ‘Jackson, you’re here. So lovely to see you again. I see Richie’s already got you babysitting?’

‘Oh, I don’t mind.’ Jackson gently pulled Lucas’s pale blue blanket down a little from his face. ‘Great to see you again too.’

‘Hello, Laura. How’s the inn?’

Standing up, Laura hugged Jane. ‘It’s getting there, thanks. You’ll have to come and visit.’

‘Oh, I intend to. Looking forward to it.’

Smiling, Laura sat back down, her eyes automatically drawn to Jackson as he held Lucas. Richie was right, he really was a natural.

‘Jackson, you and Richie should get together more often.’ Jane came and sat next to Laura, sliding Jasper down onto the floor and watching as he began playing with the bricks. ‘Richie’s always saying that, aren’t you, love?’

‘I am.’ Richie patted Jackson’s knee. ‘I could do with a lads’ night out.’

‘Hey, you know where I am.’ Jackson shifted position and leaned baby Lucas over his shoulder, rubbing his back. ‘I think this one might have a little wind.’

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