Page 26 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Huh, that was it? They’d got to Jackson and suddenly all the voluntary roles were filled? Laura lowered her arm slowly and looked around. Was she the only one in the position of being passed over to volunteer? It looked like it. ‘Great… My warm welcome into village life continues.’

‘Shhh!’ The woman from the couple in front of them twisted in her seat again and glared.

‘Sorry,’ Laura mumbled and resisted the strong urge to roll her eyes.

‘Aw, don’t take it personally. They’ve got half the village as volunteers already.’ Jackson tilted his head towards her.

‘Erm, then one more wouldn’t have made a jot of difference, would it? I tell you, I’m not welcome here.’ She crossed her arms and sank lower in her chair. ‘No one wants me here.’

‘Are you pouting?’

She narrowed her eyes at him. She could see the twitching in the corners of his lips, could almost hear his internal chuckle. ‘It’s okay for you. Everyone loves you. They always do.’

‘Laura?’ Jackson gave her a look which reminded her of her college tutor.

She shrugged and whispered back, ‘It’s true.’

‘And that’s all for tonight’s meeting. Thank you for coming.’ Miss Cooke’s voice cut through the audience and just as soon as she’d finished uttering her last word, people started to stand and file out.

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‘Come on, let’s get you out of here before you decide the whole county has turned on you.’ After standing up, Jackson held his hand out towards her and grinned.

‘Okay, but on our way out, watch how people react to me.’ Taking his hand, she let herself be pulled up.

‘I will.’

Letting go of his hand, she followed him outside and pulled her coat tighter around her. She’d forgotten how cold it was. ‘Watch this, then.’

‘Watch what?’ Jackson slowed his pace as they walked through the small garden of the village hall.

‘This.’ Pausing, she scrutinised the huddles of people: a group of women clustered around Jill Davies beneath the tree just outside the garden; a group of older people, mostly couples, gathered around Miss Cooke, their voices low and serious; a couple who were bending over their newborn in a pram. Now, who did she choose to prove her point? Not Miss Cooke. With the external hard shell of a tortoise, she would be an obvious choice. Not the couple. They were too busy cooing over their offspring to pay any attention to anyone, let alone a newbie.The group of women then. Perfect. Putting on her sunniest grin, Laura waved towards them as she and Jackson walked past. ‘Evening! Great meeting.’

‘Hi…’ Jill spoke up, but abruptly broke off as a woman with jet-black hair nudged her.

Turning back to Jackson, Laura drew in a deep breath. Despite being overtly shunned, she at least felt victorious. Maybe now he’d believe her. ‘See?’

‘Well… They may have just been busy discussing the upcoming craft fair?’ He rubbed his hand across his face before looking over his shoulder at Jill and her friends.

‘Seriously, Jackson? Did you really not see that? How that other woman stopped Jill from speaking to me? They’re ignoring me, they really are.’ She shoved her hands in her pockets. She knew what she’d seen and tonight had given her the confirmation that she wasn’t being paranoid. Something was going on. Whether or not Jackson could see it.

‘Okay, I admit, something was a little off, but…’ Jackson glanced back at the group. ‘They were probably just engrossed in their conversation, that’s all.’

Raising her eyebrows, she looked across at him. Judging by the way he was frowning, he’d definitely noticed something too.

‘Look, if you’re still worried, I’ll ask around at work. See what I can find out.’

‘Thank you. I just don’t understand it. Mind, you’ve been seen at the meeting with me tonight. They might not be talking to you tomorrow.’ She followed Jackson as he crossed to the other side of the road.

‘You mean it might be contagious?’ He chuckled.

‘Whatever “it” is.’ She curled her fingers around the word ‘it’. ‘Yes, maybe.’

‘I really?—’

‘Jacks, there you are!’ Catching up with them, Ms Taunton placed her hand on Jackson’s arm.

‘Evie? Hi.’ Pausing, Jackson looked from the estate agent to Laura and back again.

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