‘I’m having a whirlwind tour,’ Ava explained. ‘Sapphire Lake has changeda lotsince I saw it last.’
‘Promise you will pop by to see me tomorrow? Where will you be?’
‘Working with Jack, at the hotel.’
‘How… cosy.’ Ruby raised her eyebrows. ‘Come early for coffee? We can have a catch-up before your shift.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ Ava beamed.
‘Don’t let him work you too hard.’
She snorted. ‘As if.’
The bell tinkled when they left. Jack manoeuvred her past the rest of the cabins, where she spotted steps up the bank. She turned to him. ‘You made a shortcut!’
‘We did, because of this.’
At the end of the cabins, the area opened up down to the lake. There were several kiosks either side, selling hot and cold drinks, more twinkling lights everywhere, and the pièce de résistance at the end.
‘The Gin Shack,’ Ava noted. ‘I feel like I’m in a dream, a wonderland I don’t want to leave.’
‘It’s all run by locals,’ Jack said proudly. ‘We use the area in the middle for lots of events. Barbecue nights in summer with local bands. Bonfires in winter, a band for carols at Christmas.’
‘It’s a real transformation.’
They followed the man-made path up the hill and onto the main road, finding themselves moments from Jack’s home.
‘Oh, this must come in very handy rather than walking all the way around,’ Ava cried in delight.
They stood in silence, neither of them feeling the need to fill it. It was so peaceful, tranquil.
‘Why don’t you join us for supper this evening?’ Jack asked, cocking his head to one side in a manner Ava assumed would suit Graham better. ‘My parents aren’t at the hotel all the time.’
‘Well, I —’
‘That is, if you can stand seeing me so much in one day.’
She smiled shyly.
‘It would save me from alotof grilling,’ he pleaded.
She nodded. ‘In that case, yes, I’d love to.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Before dinner, Ava rang to speak to Georgia.
‘Hi, Mum,’ Georgia greeted. ‘How did your first day go?’
‘It was fun,’ she replied.
‘And have you caught up with Jack after your holiday fling?’
‘I was sixteen the last time I visited. There was only a bit of kissing.’
‘Still, you dirty cat.’ Laughter down the line.
Ava joined in with her.
