Page 73 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

‘I’ll come and help you with this lot.’ Richie picked up the picnic bags and grimaced. ‘Jeez, Mum is stronger than she looks. I think she must have packed everything but the kitchen sink.’

Laura nodded and turned to the kitchen. Since her dad and Richie had visited and praised her work, she’d so been looking forward to showing her family around Pennycress. Yes, it was tatty in places and needed a lot of work, but it was hers and she at least felt as though she was accomplishing something on her own. But, if she was honest, she could have done without it today. Yesterday’s events with Jackson and Evie were too fresh, too sore.

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she made her way towards the kettle. And, despite all that had happened between them, she was worried about Jackson. Was he still in hospital? How long were they keeping him in?

She sighed. It wasn’t any of her business, not now.

‘Everything okay, sis? You look as though you’ve been up all night.’ Richie placed a bottle of milk on the work surface.

‘I will be.’

‘What’s happened?’ He laid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him before nodding at the ice cream tub she’d discarded next to the kettle. ‘Problems of the heart?’

Laying her cheek on his jumper, she took a deep breath before straightening up again. She couldn’t very well tell him why she was out of sorts, why she was worried. ‘Is it that obvious?’

‘It’s cookie dough. It’s always been your staple in any heartbreak situation. Is it because you saw Harry the other day?’

‘No.’ She shook her head and sighed. She’d have to say something to Richie. He knew her too well to see through her excuses. ‘Not him. Just someone I thought was something he wasn’t.’

‘Oh, sorry to hear that, sis. I’m always here if you need to talk.’ He squeezed her shoulder and lowered his voice. ‘Would it be easier if I made up an excuse to everyone and rescheduled today?’

‘No, don’t worry.’

‘You sure? I’m happy to turf them all out for you.’ Richie gave a quick grin.

She smiled. ‘No, thank you though. I think this distraction might just be the very thing I need.’

‘…And six!’ Tammy moved her counter across the Snakes & Ladders board set up on the coffee table in the sitting room. ‘Only three more spaces and I win!’

‘Well done, Tammy, but make sure you watch out for that snake there.’ Ruth patted her granddaughter on the shoulder and pointed to the board.

Shaking the dice, Toby released them onto the floor, watching as the plastic cubes chased each other across the carpet.

Before they had the chance to roll to a stop, Ava reached out and grabbed one in her podgy little hand.

‘No, Ava, that’s for big boys and girls, not babies.’ Standing up, Tammy tried to prise the die from her cousin’s hand, resulting in Ava screaming and running from the room with her treasure. ‘No, Ava! Mummy, Ava has the dice. She might eat it and then we won’t be able to finish our game.’

Laura watched from the sofa as Jenny, Jane and Richie jumped up from their seats and hurried out of the room, following the small thief.

‘Oh, the joy of small children.’ Ruth turned to Laura. ‘Of course, the worry never stops, even when those children grow into adults.’

‘I bet.’

‘And it’s inevitable that we worry, especially when one of them moves away.’ Her mum patted Laura’s knee. ‘But I’m proud of you for taking this leap. This is a really nice place you’ve got here.’

‘Thanks, Mum.’ Laura turned as Tammy and Toby came tearing back into the room, the stolen die held victoriously above Tammy’s head. She laughed. ‘You got it then?’

‘Yes. And now we can finish our game.’ Skidding to a stop, Tammy threw herself down on the floor again and passed the die to her brother.

‘I think this little one needs a distraction.’ Richie returned, Ava giggling in his arms as he tickled her, Jenny and Jane following shortly behind.

‘I’ll make us another cuppa, shall I? And then maybe we can get the food ready?’ Laura stood up.

Tilting her head, Jane looked behind her towards the hallway. ‘Is that your doorbell, Laura?’

‘Oh probably. I keep forgetting to buy new batteries for it.’ Laura gathered as many mugs as she could in one hand before walking out. Placing the mugs on the reception desk, Laura walked across to the door and pulled it open, before freezing. ‘Jackson!’

‘Laura, please let me explain.’ Standing on the doorstep, he still sported the gauze dressing above his eye, but he looked better, he had more colour in his cheeks.

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