‘You see? They’re all so… predictable.’
‘Not all of them, I hope.’
They shared a smile.
‘I don’t know about you, but I feel I got married far too soon,’ Ava went on. ‘Giles came along when I was at a low ebb in my life, feeling desperately lonely. My mum had recently remarried and moved to Spain, and it was only two years after my dad died. I’m not sure if there was anything going on between her and Ray beforehand, because it felt pretty quick, but they do seem to be happy.’ She shrugged. ‘So Giles came along with all his flatterythat he wassogood at, and before I knew it, we were married, and I was pregnant with Georgia.’
‘Maybe you’re right, I don’t know. But there is so much pressure on us to conform at that age. I’m certain I loved Kevin but now I wonder why.’
‘What’s the gossip about Jack?’ Ava said, as casual as she could manage. ‘Do I need to know anything before I work with him?’
Ruby paused. ‘It’s really sad about what happened. The whole village was shocked, and with Dan being Jack’s twin? It must be hard to lose a sibling, but I wonder howthatfeels, like losing a part of you.’
Ava nodded, grateful for a customer popping in so she could take a moment. Ruby was right. When Ava’s dad had died, she’d felt as if her world had ended. Grief often came in waves even now, as she caught a smell of cigar smoke, or occasionally spotted a Triumph Spitfire out and about. He’d loved that car.
‘Did he and his wife split up before or after it happened?’ she wanted to know.
Ruby gnawed at her bottom lip. ‘Best let Jack tell you about that. He will, in his own time, I expect.’
Even though she wanted to know more, Ava knew when not to press. She needed to reintegrate herself in the village, not isolate anyone because she was too curious.
But she couldn’t help it. There was a gap of so many years that she wanted to fill. Having said that, she hadn’t told Jack about her past yet.
‘I’d better be off,’ she said, standing up and popping her hat back on. ‘Don’t want to be late.’
‘Do you have plans for tomorrow evening?’
‘Not really, although the highlight of it will be dinner at the hotel. It’s going to be bliss being looked after for the next four weeks.’
‘Come to mine afterwards. I can introduce you to Poppy, and once she’s in bed, we can have a good natter.’
‘I would love that.’ Ava beamed. ‘It’s a date.’
Ruby handed her a business card. ‘Send me a message so I have your phone number.’
Outside again, Ava went to take a few photos before going back to the hotel. She smiled to herself as she walked. It was heartwarming to reconnect to people she barely remembered, but who had never forgotten her.
She’d enjoyed chatting with Ruby while they filled each other in on what had happened over the years they’d been apart. Their divorce stories were startlingly similar, which was sad, but at least it was good to see they had both come out the other side as stronger, more independent women.
Ava envied Ruby, though, finding the courage to set up her own business. She had listened to her journey into the jewellery world with fascination and spent an age looking through the coloured beads on display.
She crossed to the middle of the bridge and took a few photos, over the water and around the perimeter. The boats at the side of the wooden pier; a bench in between the trees; a red woollen hat on a little boy contrasting with the deep blue of the water. It was all so peaceful.
Her work done for now, she popped the camera into her bag and made her way back to the hotel.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
At her request, Ava had been talking to some of the staff to get a feel of the hotel and its ambience. She’d also been exploring the area again to familiarise herself with it and to see what it had to offer. Sadly, she didn’t see Jack at all. He’d rung to say he might not be able to make it until the afternoon, so she’d got on with things on her to-do list.
At half past four, he sent a message to apologise, asking if she could come to his house the following day. Ava was fine with that. She was curious to see inside it, where the man spent most of his time.
The next morning, she walked down the path towards it. Jack opened the front door, as if he’d been watching and waiting.
‘No Graham to bowl me over this time?’ she teased.
‘I’ve tied him up in the basement.’
‘You have a basement?’
