Before he could reply, the door opened and in bustled his father, his ruddy cheeks not only showing how cold it was, but his love of the outdoors. An old wax jacket covered his thick-knit jumper, above jeans and black boots.
‘Stella, have you seen my cap? The checked one you bought me for my birthday. It’s nippy out there, anyone would think it was winter. Oh, hey, son.’
‘Will you look at the state of you?’ Stella gave Max a dressing-down when she spotted his hands, covered in oil. ‘What have you been up to?’
‘The old Defender wouldn’t start again.’
‘I’ve told you not to go out in that. It’s too dangerous.’
‘It’s a relic, and I trust it.’
‘Sounds a bit like you, Dad.’ Jack chuckled.
‘Watch it, son.’ Max laughed and sat down across from him.
‘Have you thought any more about my proposal?’ Jack ventured. The atmosphere was jolly, and he didn’t want to put a dampener on the day, but he had to get through to them how much he wanted to help.
‘Haven’t had time to go through it properly,’ Max muttered.
Stella reached across and squeezed Jack’s hand. ‘It’s a lot to take in, and we have to be sure we’re doing the right thing.’
Jack sighed. He’d heard the same comment for months now and he didn’t want to argue anymore. Maybe it wasn’t worth pushing his ideas onto them at all.
‘Hey, do you know who’s back?’ Max said. ‘Harry Healey. I saw him in the newsagent’s this morning.’
Jack bristled at the name. What was it with his past coming at him today? Harry was someone he didn’t want to see. Being good friends since junior school, they’d gone into business together, building fireplaces, installing log burners and sweeping chimneys.
But Harry was a bit of a likely lad, away from the job more than he was at it, leaving Jack to do all the heavy lifting, and they’d had a huge argument. In the end, Harry had quit the business, drawing out a lot of their money, and left the area shortly afterwards. Jack hadn’t wanted to continue it alone, so it had folded.
It had nigh on broken Jack financially at the time, but he’d come back from it, choosing to put it behind him as a lesson learned rather than hold a grudge. But Harry was back, after all these years? He was curious to know why.
‘I heard his father isn’t well,’ Stella said. ‘By all accounts he doesn’t have long to live. I was chatting to one of his neighbours last week. He’s in a hospice.’
‘Ah, that’s a shame,’ Jack said, although he didn’t have fond memories of either Harry or his father. ‘Maybe he won’t stay around long then.’
‘I know you have your differences,’ Stella began, ‘but I think you should put them to one side and?—’
Sara popped her head around the door. ‘Ava is ready for you,’ she said. ‘I’ve shown her to the conference room.’
‘Thanks.’ Jack stood up, glad the conversation had been halted. ‘You’ll be certain to have a look at the proposal soon?’
His parents both nodded profusely, following behind as he left.
Ava was trying desperately to control her nerves, especially after snapping at Jack that morning. She had been in the right, but even so, it didn’t look good for her first day.
She moved to stand in the window. The view of the lake was spectacular, the colours of the sky and trees varying throughout the seasons, no matter what the weather. She imagined how each day would be that little bit different, and doubted she’d ever tire of looking at it.
The door opened behind her, and Ava saw Mr and Mrs Broadhurst, followed by Jack.
‘Ava, welcome!’ Stella rushed over to give her a hug. ‘It’s so long since we’ve seen you. You remember my husband, Max.’
Mr Broadhurst shook Ava’s hand. ‘Lovely to see you again.’
‘Likewise.’ Ava smiled.
‘You’ve turned into a beautiful woman,’ Stella went on. ‘Mind, I always knew you would. Jack never stopped talking about you. Not for a few summers after you hadn’t shown up.’
‘Stella,’ Max chastised.
