Page 62 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

‘Aw, she’s not that bad. She just had a bad dream last night, that’s all.’ Jenny passed Laura the empty gravy jug.

‘Thanks.’ With her hands full, Laura retreated to the kitchen, leaving the baby talk behind her.

‘Hey, you.’ After placing the crockery down on the work surface, Jackson went back and closed the door quietly behind them.

‘Hey.’ She began unloading the plates and gravy jug onto the counter before opening the dishwasher.

‘I think we’ll be safe for a few moments.’ Jackson glanced behind him in the direction of the dining room before walking across to her.

Letting the dishwasher quietly close again, she allowed him to pull her into his arms before resting her cheek against his chest. ‘Yes, we should have a couple of minutes.’

Jackson tucked his finger beneath her chin and gently tilted her head to face him. ‘Time for this?’

As he leaned down, she felt his lips against hers, soft and firm, and kissed him back before looking up at him. ‘Maybe we should just come out and tell them about us? What’s the worst that could happen?’

‘I was just thinking the same thing. Even if it’s a shock to them at first, I’m sure they’d come round to the idea.’

‘Exactly. I mean, they love you and so they’d trust you. What could be better than two people they love getting together?’ Laura grinned. Although, admittedly, sneaking around behind her family’s backs had been fun to begin with, now, with each passing minute, she just wanted to be able to reach out and take Jackson’s hand in hers or lean against him on the sofa. Plus, she hated keeping secrets from her parents. It had been bad enough omitting to tell them about the troubles she’d been having with the local residents in Meadowfield, but she’d known thatconversation wouldn’t be worth the hassle and interrogation that followed. But her and Jackson? That was different.

‘Are we going to do this, then? Come clean?’ Jackson looked at the closed door.

Laura nodded. ‘Yes, after pudding though?’

‘Okay, let’s do it.’ Jackson kissed her on the forehead before turning and clearing the dishes away.

The kitchen door swung open and Richie peered round. ‘Wow, you two were quick at tidying. You make a good team.’

‘We do indeed.’ Jackson caught Laura’s eye.

‘Mum’s sent me to help bring pudding through to the living room. The kids are getting restless.’ Richie pulled open the fridge door and took out a large cheesecake.

Opening the cupboard, Laura picked up a stack of bowls.

‘Here, let me.’ Taking them from her, Jackson brushed hands with her and nodded.

She nodded back. They were really going to do this. They were going to come clean. She followed Richie and Jackson through to the living room and, with the sofas being full, she lowered herself to the rug next to where the children were playing.

The loud and cheerful tone of her parents’ doorbell cut through the sound of her nieces and nephews playing and the chatter of her family.

Her mum looked across to Laura, a knife in hand as she began to cut the cheesecake sitting on the coffee table. ‘Are you all right getting that, sweetheart?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Laura stood up again and headed towards the door.

‘If it’s the window cleaner, the cash is on top of the shoe cabinet,’ her dad called out.

‘Okay,’ Laura shouted back before pulling the door open. With her fingers gripping the door handle tightly, she felt her stomach knot. ‘Harry.’

‘Laura, hi. Fancy seeing you here.’ Harry smiled at her, his self-confidence etched into every pore.

Laura narrowed her eyes. It was her dad’s birthday, of course she’d be here. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Who is it, sweetheart?’ Her mum’s cheery voice filtered through to the hallway.

Harry turned to look in the direction her voice had come from and raised his voice. ‘Afternoon, Ruth! It’s just me, Harry. I’m returning your salad spinner.’

‘Salad spinner?’ Laura widened her eyes. He’d borrowed a salad spinner from her parents? She hadn’t even realised they’d owned one.

‘That’s right. We hosted a dinner party yesterday evening and only realised we couldn’t find ours at the last moment.’ Harry picked up a plastic bag from the step and held it up before taking a step forward.

---