Brooke was quiet for a moment. ‘So, would you? Now?’
‘Would I what?’
She nudged him. ‘You know.’
‘I am not talking about my sex life with my teenage daughter,’ Jack harrumphed.
‘You’re blushing. That tells me everything I need to know.’ She gave him a hug. ‘Seriously, Dad. I just want to see you happy.’
Jack hugged her back, gazing over her head at the lake in front of them. ‘I am happy, love. And it’s been great to see Ava again, but she lives in London.’
‘And?’
‘It wouldn’t be fair to start anything because she’d be leaving soon.’
‘There are these things, Dad, called trains. They can get you to the capital in a couple of hours. So you can see each other at weekends, or you can go down to London anytime and stay over. I don’t see a problem.’
‘You make it sound so easy.’ He sighed. ‘Life isn’t always simple.’ They broke apart. ‘Besides, I’ve just said. This conversation is not happening.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The doorbell went again, and Jack winced when Brooke squealed. She dashed to let her cousins in. He followed close behind, hoping to see his favourite sister-in-law.
‘Hey, guys,’ he said to Milly and Tom as they rushed through to the living room with Brooke. ‘Make yourselves… at…’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t they ever slow down?’
‘You only have one child, Jack Broadhurst,’ Alison admonished playfully. ‘Imagine what it’s like to have two.’
He kissed her on the cheek. ‘Great timing, you’ve just missed the witch.’
‘Just good planning. I got Tom to ask Brooke what time she would be here.’
They shared a mutual smile this time. Both of them had been through so much two years ago, that they’d been able to help each other through the worst of things. Alison had come over to see him when Brooke was here, the children going out for a walk while they chatted. Cried. Shouted. Ranted. Sometimes they’d laughed when they’d been reminiscing. It had been a tonic for them.
Now, however, it wasn’t needed as much. They still got together a lot, the five of them going out for lunch or dinneron a regular basis. But the angst had gone, and they were both accepting of the situation.
Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ‘Are you coming in?’
‘No, I’m in a bit of a rush. Dave’s taking me out this evening.’
Jack roared at the expression on her face. ‘You look like you’re going on a sneaky date.’
‘I am, sort of. Just have to take the time when I can.’
‘You know I’ll always watch the kids for longer than a night.’
‘I do, thanks. And I’m sure I’ll take you up on it later in the year.’
‘Things going that well?’
Alison beamed. ‘They are.’
‘Good to see.’
She touched his arm before shouting over his shoulder, ‘Bye kids, see you tomorrow. And I will see you soon for lunch or dinner, Jack? I’d like to introduce the two of you.’
‘Oh, it’s that serious?’
‘It might be.’
