Page 54 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Laura nodded. ‘Yep.’

‘Where’s Evie got to?’ He looked down at the bowl.

Laura shrugged. Had those chips been for Evie? Had he cooked her them despite the kitchen having closed over an hour ago? ‘She left.’

‘Oh, right.’ Jackson shrugged and placed the bowl on the bar in front of Laura. ‘Here, help yourself.’

They had been for Evie. They must have been, or else why would they suddenly be going spare? Laura picked up a chip, turning it over in her fingers before replacing it in the bowl and slipping off her stool. ‘I’m going to head home actually.’

‘You are?’

‘Yes, it’s been a weird evening and I’m tired.’ She pulled her coat on before walking towards the door.

‘Hey, Laura! Are you off home now?’ Catherine ran up to her, standing between Laura and the door.

‘Sorry, I should have come over and said bye.’ Laura shrugged. ‘Too much wine.’

‘Haha, no worries. You’ll be on our darts team, though, won’t you?’

‘I’d love to be.’ That was one thing she was certain about. She enjoyed playing darts, and Catherine, Dan and Terry had been nothing but nice to her. Besides, apart from tonight, she hadn’t seen them around Meadowfield, so even though they probably wouldn’t have spoken to her before Vivienne’s intervention, they hadn’t actively shunned her.

‘Fab!’ Catherine turned and walked the rest of the way to the door with Laura. ‘We have formal practice on Wednesday evenings, although quite often if we happen to spot each other in the pub or around the village, then we’ll throw together a quick game, too.’

‘Okay, great. Well, I’ll see you Wednesday then.’ Laura pulled open the pub door.

‘See you.’ Waving, Catherine turned and headed back towards the darts board and Dan and Terry.

25

Stepping outside, Laura let the heavy door close behind her, shutting in the murmur of chatting and the chink of glasses. As she walked through the small courtyard of outside seating, she pulled her scarf from her pocket and wrapped it around her neck. The evening had been odd – lovely, but odd all the same and she’d be glad to get home and have the time to process everything.

‘Hey, Laura. Hold up.’

Turning, she watched as Jackson jogged towards her, his coat in his arms. ‘You didn’t need to leave now, too.’

‘I know, but it’s not every night Darren offers to finish clearing the kitchen. Besides, I help him out behind the bar enough, he owes me.’ He chuckled as he shrugged into his coat before holding his hand out towards her.

Looking down at his hand, she took it, glad of the warmth from his skin.

‘Did they ask you to join their team? Catherine, Dan and Terry, I mean.’

‘They did. How did you know?’ She looked across at him.

‘Dan was singing your praises when he came up to the bar. Said he was looking forward to taking down the Red Lions.’

‘The Red Lions?’

‘The team from the next village along. They’re decent, really decent, but with you on our team now, they won’t stand a chance.’

‘Ha, I’d better get some practice in then. I’m still more than a bit rusty.’ She smiled. It would be good to a part of something, belong to a group.

‘I don’t think Dan thought you were rusty.’ Jackson lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

‘Well, I was.’ She shrugged.

‘Are you okay? You seem a bit… deflated?’

‘I’m fine.’ She swallowed. How could she say how she was feeling without coming across as ungrateful? ‘It’s just weird. Yesterday, heck, even this morning, I was the talk of the village for all the wrong reasons, either ignored or the receiver of so many dirty looks and now… now suddenly people like me.’

---