‘You’re thinking of not telling her?’ Ava asked, a bit shocked.
Eliza shook her head. ‘I’m going to gauge his reaction first. I don’t want him in Willow’s life if he doesn’t want to know.’
‘I think that’s wise, actually.’
‘Bloody men,’ Ruby cried. ‘Let’s have more wine to drown our sorrows!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
‘Another week nearly over, Ava,’ Jack said when they were packing up for the day on Friday afternoon. ‘I’ve really enjoyed catching up more this week. It’s been business and pleasure rolled into one.’
‘I seemed to have slipped back into village life as if I’ve never been away,’ Ava admitted. ‘Everyone has been so welcoming. I’m glad I decided not to go back to London until next weekend. I’d have been on a train one day and then coming back on another the next. Georgia being at home makes it easier, though. I’d hate to leave the property empty for so long. You never know.’ She popped her phone into her bag as the doorbell rang.
Jack glanced at the clock. ‘I think Brooke is here.’
‘I won’t be a minute and I’ll be on my way.’
‘It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s the delightful Katrina who will drop her off with a lecture about how to take care of my own daughter.’
‘Ah.’
Ava gathered together everything she needed while Jack went to answer the door. She heard voices in the hallway, and then a young girl appeared.
She was the image of her dad with those deep-blue eyes and had the look of a young Eliza, too. Her long dark hair was loose, and she had a tiny amount of makeup on, not overly preened like some girls her age. She was dressed in skinny jeans and an oversized pink jumper that slipped from the shoulder, revealing the strap of a white vest underneath it. Stripy socks showed that she’d removed her footwear.
‘Hi, I’m Brooke.’ She beamed at Ava. ‘I’m staying for the weekend. Are you my dad’s girlfriend?’
‘Oh, no. I’m working with him at the moment.’
‘There’s no need to be embarrassed. I keep telling him to move on, but he won’t listen, and I think?—’
‘That’s enough, Brooke.’ An older woman appeared by the side of her. ‘You don’t want to frighten her away.’
Ava knew without a doubt she was Jack’s ex-wife. She had a startling resemblance to Brooke, almost a mini-me.
Jack’s ex wasn’t high maintenance, but she was ageing well. Her hair was jet-black, shiny eyes surrounded by layers of mascara and liner. She’d teamed up a white blouse with a navy trouser suit and high-heeled boots. Bright-red lipstick had obviously been recently applied.
Ava felt grubby beside her, in jeans and a jumper, and makeup that had worn off throughout the day. She’d also left her boots at the front door, so in her stockinged feet felt quite tiny and inferior.
The woman offered her hand to Ava. ‘I’m Katrina, the ex.’
‘Ava, from Batemans PR.’
‘Ah, for the hotel. Maybe you should do Jack a makeover while you’re at it?’
Behind her, Ava could see Jack rolling his eyes.
Ava pointed at the door. ‘I was just leaving.’
‘Don’t do that on my behalf.’ Katrina smiled faintly. ‘I’m going now.’ She gave Brooke a kiss. ‘Give me a call tomorrow. I want to know all the gossip after the lakeside event.’
Brooke tutted. ‘If you wanted to know that you should come along.’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?’ Katrina’s gaze landed on Jack’s for a moment.
He shook his head. ‘Definitely not.’
‘Right, I’ll be on my way then.’
