Giles had ridiculed her, but she’d been determined not to let him dissuade her.
It was only when he’d left that she’d realised how naive she’d been around him. She’d let him walk all over her, becoming the woman who tended to his every need rather than a wife he respected.
Now, she relaxed back in her seat and she smiled. Slowly, her confidence was returning. Doing something out of her comfortzone was making her think that perhaps her dream of being a freelance photographer might become a viable option.
It made her realise what could be riding on this job. If she could show her expertise, she might then find the courage to ask to do more work like this. And, if she could set her own website up, linking it to images she’d taken of Sapphire Lake, her work could be viewed anywhere in the world. Now, wouldn’t that be amazing?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
‘Mum!’ Georgia ran down the hall and into Ava’s arms as soon as she opened the front door. ‘I’ve missed you.’
‘I’ve missed you, too,’ Ava said, truthfully. ‘How have you been?’
‘Well, I got busted on Monday night for a late-night party. One of the neighbours called the police, can you believe that?’
Ava grinned. ‘So you were fine.’
‘I was. It was nice on my own, but I’m glad you’re back. I made lasagne for supper.’
‘You’re not going out?’
‘Nope. Thought I’d stay in this evening with you, if you’re not too tired?’
‘Not at all.’ Ava said that a little less truthfully. She was weary but wanted to spend time with her daughter. Plus give her all the gossip she knew she’d be after.
A message came in on her phone. It was from Jack, and she panicked, thinking she had forgotten to do something.
Hope you got back okay. It seems quiet here without you.
Ava couldn’t help beaming.
I did, thanks. Just catching up with Georgia who made me lasagne. I am impressed.
She waited for him to reply, and when he didn’t, she felt disappointed as she put down her phone. Still, Georgia was holding a wine glass out to her, and she flopped on the settee next to her.
After a meal and a quick catch-up, she’d dropped off. The next day, Ava blamed it on all the fresh air she’d had over the past week. She was meeting Nancy for a coffee at eleven, so with nothing else to do, she headed off.
The Tubes were rammed – well, they weren’t, but it felt as if they were. And there were people everywhere, buildings, traffic. Jack was right. It was all so noisy.
Nancy was waiting for her in the café, waving to get her attention. Ava gave her a hug and sat opposite her.
Nancy leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand.
Ava frowned when she said nothing to her. ‘What?’
‘You’re radiant,’ she said. ‘I’m so envious you’ve had a good time. It’s been a nightmare in the office as usual. Brendon the bull has been doing his thing – forgetting to give me a job as soon as it came in and then insisting I get it done in double the time. It would have been doable if he’d told me earlier. Honestly, I think he’s going through the menopause. He has more brain fog than me.’
‘It’s been novel to be away from my desk, that’s for sure,’ Ava mused. ‘And good to get out in the fresh air. It’s quite cold up there, but I went for lots of walks, resulting in drinking gallons of hot chocolate.’
‘And Jack, how was he?’ Nancy asked pointedly.
Ava beamed: she couldn’t help it.
‘You have a thing – again!’ Nancy cried.
‘No, I don’t!’ She laughed. ‘But it was lovely to see him, and everyone else. So many people remembered me, and the place has changed a lot from what I remember.’
‘Never mind all that.’ Nancy waved away her words. ‘I want to hear about Jack.’
