Page 22 of Your Second Chance
She shot me a mock glare, but didn’t stop eating.
“Right.” I moved toward the pantry. “Let’s see what we can put together for a proper lunch.”
I pulled out a few essentials: thick slices of bread, a block of sharp cheddar cheese, a jar of Branston pickle, and a pack of ham. From the fridge, I grabbed butter, a pot of mustard, and a small container of coleslaw.
“What are you doing?” Nova asked, watching as I placed everything on the counter.
“Making you a proper ploughman’s lunch.” I grinned.
“A what?”
“Bread, cheese, ham, and a few bits to go with it,” I explained, grabbing a small knife and cutting the cheese into thick wedges. “It’s simple, but trust me, it’s good.”
She wandered over, nibbling on her apple, clearly curious as I assembled the spread. I added a handful of cherry tomatoes and a couple of hard-boiled eggs I’d found in the fridge.
“Sit.” I nodded toward the kitchen table.
She hesitated for a moment before pulling out a chair. “This better live up to that apple,” she said teasingly, though there was a glimmer of intrigue in her eyes.
“It will.” I set the plate in front of her with a flourish.
“It’s like a charcuterie board, but... better?” Nova murmured, grabbing a bite of hard-boiled egg and topping it with a dab of mustard.
I chuckled. “I guess you could call it that.”
The familiar creak of footsteps sounded from behind me. I turned to see my mum standing in the doorway, her expression shifting from surprise to delight.
“Ollie?”
“It’s me, Mum,” I said, holding up a hand in a half-apologetic wave. “Sorry if I scared you.”
Her face lit up, and before I could say more, she crossed the room and wrapped me in a warm hug. “We never see you during the season. What on earth?—”
Pulling back, she glanced over my shoulder, and her gaze landed squarely on Nova, who was mid-bite, chewing slowly as she realized she was being watched.
“Oh.” Mum’s voice rose with curiosity. “Oh.” The second one came louder, her eyes widening.
“Mum,” I said in warning.
“Todd,” she shouted over her shoulder, her voice carrying through the house. “Todd!Come here.”
“Keep it down, will you?” I groaned, shooting her a look.
Nova stood up quickly, brushing crumbs off her hands, clearly uncomfortable.
“Mum.” I stepped aside and gestured toward Nova. “This is a friend of mine. We work together. Nova. She’s never been to the British countryside, so I thought I’d show her around.”
Nova gave a polite, if slightly nervous, smile and extended her hand. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”
“This is my mum, Nancy.”
Mum looked between us as she shook Nova’s hand. “Lovely to meet you, Nova. Welcome. I hope Ollie’s been a decent tour guide.”
I sighed. “Mum.”
She ignored me completely, already sizing Nova up like she was putting together a puzzle. I could feel the questions forming in her mind before she even opened her mouth.
“You’re American?”
