Page 69 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

‘I said, what is your problem? What have I ever done to you? I’d never met you until the day I viewed Pennycress Inn. That viewing, and the two minutes we spent together so you could pass over the keys, were the only times we met in person and yet you tried to ruin my life.’

‘I think that’s a little dramatic.’ Evie plucked off another petal.

‘Dramatic?’ Laura stepped towards her, one hand gripping her mobile, the other holding on to the canvas bag that kept slipping from her pocket. She knew this wasn’t the time or the place to be having this conversation. And she knew that the anger she was feeling towards Evie Taunton wasn’t all deserved, but she couldn’t help herself. It was Evie who was standing in front of her, not Jackson, and it was Evie who had lied about her, led people to believe her intentions weren’t good. ‘Your lies almost destroyed my chance at a new start in this village. Why? Why did you say the things you did?’

‘A new start?’ Evie glanced up briefly from her precious flowers. ‘Usually people desire a new start away from everyone they know. They don’t usually want to move next door to an old family friend.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Laura frowned. Evie wasn’t making any sense.

‘I’m referring to Jacks.’

‘Jackson? What’s he got to do with any of it?’ What was she suggesting?

‘You heard me.’

Laura shook her head before glancing around the village green. If they hadn’t been the only ones standing there, she mayhave been tempted to ask someone to translate for her, to try to make sense of what the other woman was telling her, or trying to. ‘You’re going to have to be clearer than that.’

‘Clearer, hmm.’ Evie locked eyes with her. ‘Is the fact that you, an old family friend of Jacks, swooped in to steal him from me clear enough?’

‘I… I didn’t even know Jackson lived here in Meadowfield when I bought Pennycress. Heck, I probably wouldn’t have gone through with the sale if I’d known.’ And now, if she had known what would have happened between them, then she certainly wouldn’t have moved here. However much she loved Pennycress, she would have chosen to save her heart.

‘I’m sure Jacks would believe you.’ Sarcasm rolled off the woman’s tongue as she looked back down at her flowers.

‘Evie, I really don’t understand what you’re trying to say, but whatever it is, I don’t think anything would warrant spreading lies about me.’ It couldn’t be because of Jackson and Evie splitting up – that had happened a couple of months before Laura had moved here.

‘You do know what I’m saying. You understand perfectly. You and I both know Jacks was the reason you wanted to move here.’

Laura shoved her phone in her pocket, trying to compose herself. ‘If that’s what you thought, then why on earth did you accept my offer on Pennycress?’

‘I didn’t know who you were until Mr Yates had accepted it.’

Shaking her head, Laura still didn’t understand, but whatever Evie Taunton thought had happened, she couldn’t grasp why it would lead to the lies. ‘I can’t do this.’ Spinning on the spot, Laura began walking back home, picking up her pace until she was certain Evie could no longer see her.

Once she’d reached Wisteria Lane, she slowed again before stopping by a large tree growing on a patch of grass by the road.Leaning her palm against it, she closed her eyes. Evie had said she’d known who she was. How? Jackson hadn’t known she was moving in. He hadn’t realised who had bought Pennycress until he’d brought his welcome basket round. How had Evie known before she or Jackson had? And why would she care, anyway?

Laura took a deep breath and pushed herself away from the tree again, forcing herself to continue her journey home. That part of the puzzle she guessed was easily solved. Terry had joked about Evie stalking Jackson. She obviously still liked him. Laura had picked up on that almost instantly too, before she’d known Evie and Jackson had been together.

But the other part… How had Evie known she and Jackson knew each other? She’d called them ‘family friends’.

Laura crossed the road and made her way up the garden path.

‘Laura?’

Looking up, Laura halted. Jackson was sitting on the steps up to the porch of the inn, holding a bunch of flowers. ‘I really don’t want to talk to you.’

‘Please let me explain.’ Standing up, he left the flowers on the step and began to make his way towards her.

Laura shook her head, desperately trying to locate her keyring in her pocket. ‘You said enough yesterday at my parents’ house.’

‘No, no, I didn’t. I should never have said what I did. I just panicked. Richie had been so close to guessing what was going on between us that I just said what I needed to to push him off course.’ Reaching for her, he laid his hand on the sleeve of her coat.

Looking down, all Laura wanted to do was stretch out and take his hand, to hold him tight, but she couldn’t. ‘Would that have been such a bad thing? We had agreed to tell them anyway.’

‘I know, I just…’ He ran his fingers through his hair, his dark curls springing straight back up.

She didn’t want to lie to her family, and after yesterday’s performance, she knew Jackson wasn’t going to be ready to tell her family, to tell Richie, about them any time soon. ‘I can’t do this, Jackson. You’ve made your thoughts about us perfectly clear. I know now that if we carry on seeing each other, it will be in secret, and I can’t live like that. I can’t live a lie.’

‘No, it won’t. I’ll tell Richie. I should have told him yesterday. I should have set him straight instead of pretending.’ He locked eyes with her.

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