‘Well, I was planning on leaving Friday afternoon, but your offer sounds very tempting, Mr Broadhurst. It’s a yes.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
That evening, Ava was sitting at the bar in the hotel, waiting for Eliza before going to Ruby’s. As she’d walked across the room, there had been regulars she recognised already, some even giving her a welcoming nod.
Ava loved that she’d been able to reconnect with Eliza and Ruby. She hadn’t realised how lonely she’d been in London until coming to Sapphire Lake. Sure, she had her work colleagues, who she went to the pub with after work, and out for the odd meal or birthday party. But since splitting with Giles, she hadn’t wanted to go out with anyone else. She’d been enjoying singledom.
Until now.
She shuddered involuntarily at the thought of how Jack had got under her skin in a matter of days. How she was enjoying reconnecting withhim, too.
‘What’s with the big smile?’ Eliza said, pouring out a pint of lager.
‘Hmm?’ Ava came back to earth. ‘Oh, I-I’m looking forward to our evening.’
‘Is that all it is?’ Eliza sniggered, glancing at the clock. ‘This is my last order.’
‘I’ll go and wait for you in reception.’ Ava jumped down off her stool and headed out of the door.
A few minutes later, they were walking along the main road.
Eliza slipped her arm through Ava’s. ‘What’s it like seeing Jack after all these years? I’ve seen you both sneaking glances at each other.’
‘Have you?’ Ava couldn’t help grinning. ‘It’s just nice to reconnect after so long, and so unexpected.’
‘As if fate had a helping hand?’
‘Kind of.’
‘That’ll be Mum. She found you online and then sent Cara on a mission to find out more about you.’
‘What? She never!’
‘Our mum can be quite wily. Remember that summer we got caught smoking and she made us finish a full cigarette between us?’
Ava grimaced. ‘I do. It put me off smoking for life, which I’m glad about.’
’Me, too. I guess we learned our lessons. She did the same to Jack and Dan when she caught them, too. Apparently, Dan went green and threw up.’
‘The lightweight!’ Ava laughed, but it morphed into a sigh. ‘I’m so sad he died. I wish I could have met him again.’
‘He’s a hard act to follow.’ Eliza gave a faint smile. ‘Dad wants me to take his job; I don’t think Mum feels I’m capable of it, and I wouldn’t want to step into a dead man’s shoes anyway.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Dan was great at entertaining. He was flamboyant and extrovert, not too much, but he made everyone feel welcome. I’m not that sociable.’
‘I doubt it’s much different than working a bar, which you seem so adept at.’
‘I suppose.’ Eliza stepped on and off the kerb and twirled around a lamppost. ‘Maybe it’s just that I don’t want to take his place. I wish the extension was finished, though. It would be nice to see how it turns out. But it’s been on hold since he died. I’m sure it’ll get done eventually.’ She stepped back on the pavement and linked arms with Ava. ‘Part of me wants to explore pastures new as well.’
‘Oh?’
‘Some days I love it and want nothing more. Others I feel trapped and wonder what else is out there for me.’
‘Now that we should definitely talk about. Obviously, if you want to?’
Eliza smiled shyly and nodded.
