Page 51 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Hey, no worries. Knew you’d be run off your feet at your new place and, Richie, I knew you’d forget! Got him and Mum tickets to a theatre in London xxx

Laura

Ooh sounds good. Thanks again. Let me know how much I owe you xxx

Richie

Me? Forget? Oh you have so little faith in me!!!! X

Jenny

Nah, just know you too well xxx

‘I think we may have a problem.’ Jackson’s voice drew Laura back to reality, and she put down her mobile. She’d answer them again later.

‘Oh, how come?’

‘Because your mum has invited me to your dad’s birthday meal, too.’ Jackson took a deep breath.

‘Ooooh,’ Laura groaned and hid her face with her hands. ‘How’s that going to work? We’ll have to turn up at different times. Just like they do in films when two people are trying to pretend they’re not together when they really are.’

Jackson chuckled. ‘Not possible, I’m afraid. Your mum suggested I travel down with you.’

‘How did they…? Ah, they don’t know we’re together, do they? They just know we live next to each other.’

‘Exactly.’ Jackson leaned across the bar towards her before tucking his finger beneath her chin and kissing her. ‘I’d be more than happy to tell them about us. It’s just Richie who I’d worry about knowing.’

‘Me too.’ Laura nodded. There was every chance that Richie would be happy for them, but if he wasn’t, it could ruin everything. ‘Okay, well, tomorrow’s going to be fun then.’

‘Yep.’ Jackson nodded.

‘But we can pull it off.’ Laura drank the rest of her wine before grinning. ‘Maybe we can pretend to be mad at each other, so they’d never even twig we were together?’

‘Haha, maybe. Although they might wonder why we drove up together.’

‘True. Okay, we’ll just be friends in front of them.’ Laura shrugged. ‘It can’t be too hard. We’ve been friends long enough.’

‘Exactly. It’ll be fine.’ Jackson nodded behind her. ‘Evening, Vivienne. What can I get you?’

‘I’m on my way out, thank you. I’ve just come to speak to Laura here.’ Vivienne indicated the stool. ‘May I?’

‘Hi. Yes, of course.’ Laura smiled. ‘I think I owe you a thank you. I would have come over myself and said so, but I didn’t like to intrude.’

‘You wouldn’t have been intruding, dear. And you also do not owe me anything such as a thank you. I merely told your side of the story to the mayoress and the rest was taken care of.’ Vivienne patted Laura’s hand. ‘You’re a good person, I can see that and so does everyone else now.’

‘Still, thank you for putting in a good word for me.’

‘You’re very welcome.’ Vivienne stood up again. ‘Now, I really must go. My bed is calling me, and my lovely daughter is outside ready to give me a lift. I’ll pop by one day next week if the offer to come and take a look at the old place is still open?’

‘Yes, of course. That would be lovely.’ Laura nodded.

‘Thank you.’ Vivienne held her hand up to Jackson, who was busy serving. ‘Thank you, Jackson. And thank you for the lovely dinner. Superb, as always.’

‘’Night, Vivienne.’ Jackson waved back before disappearing into the kitchen.

Laura turned her attention to her mobile. By the looks of the text conversation, Richie was still defending himself against Jenny’s claim that she knew he’d have forgotten their dad’s birthday. She smiled. It would be good to spend the day at home tomorrow.

‘And voilà! A selection off the new menu.’ Returning to the bar, Jackson began offloading plates from the tray he was carrying.

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