Ava went to him, wrapped her arms around his waist. ‘I’m sad that you feel sad, but it’s okay. You have to remember Dan in whichever way you can. Whether that’s through laughter, tears, photos and videos, or plain old memories.’
‘He’s still a part of me, I guess.’ Jack wiped his cheeks and rested his chin on her head. ‘I miss him so much, even after what he did.’
‘It’s going to be okay,’ she reassured, unsure what else she could say to him. Her words might be soothing at the moment, but it was only Jack who could carry his grief.
He nodded. ‘I think it’s done me good to show you the rooms now. I have so much to look forward to, but the past was holding me back. I’ve hated coming in here since Dan died. Now, it’s as if I can see how we can honour him.’
Jack gave her a tour of the rooms and told her of the proposed plans to complete them.
‘It’s going to be amazing,’ she said, eyeing it all again for one last time. ‘Dan clearly had a vision for it. It will be lovely to see it finished.’
Jack nodded. ‘Shall we grab some lunch, and then I’ll leave you to it for the rest of the day? How are those cover designs coming on?’
‘Oh, I haven’t had much time to sit down and do them yet, but I am working on them.’
Jack frowned. ‘I don’t expect you to do them in your own time. What do you have planned for this afternoon?’
‘Website tinkering.’
‘Forget that and create me some designs.’
‘Well, if you’re sure.’ Ava couldn’t think of anything better she’d rather do.
‘I’m sure, and if I can interest you in my cooking for dinner tonight, perhaps you might have something to show me this evening?’
Ava spent all afternoon working on Jack’s covers. So much so that she almost lost herself in the zone and was late. A quick shower and change of clothes, and almost a jog along to his place, and she found a more mellowed Jack in his home.
She sniffed with appreciation as he let her in. ‘What’s cooking? It smells delicious.’
‘Chicken and new potatoes, is that okay?’
‘Perfect.’ She removed her jacket only to find him staring at her. ‘What is it?’
‘You remember your walk when you saw Mum at the weekend?’
‘Yes, I went to take some photos of the lake, and she saw me. We walked back together.’
‘What did you say to her about the hotel?’
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Ava’s heart sank. ‘Did I speak out of turn? I’m sorry.’
‘Not at all.’
‘We were talking about Sapphire Lake. I was telling her how I feel about going back to London and I?—’
‘What did you say about that?’
‘I would miss this place as it’s got under my skin already.’ She smiled, not wanting to say out loud that she would miss him, too. ‘I told her that the hotel could be turned into a more of a community hub. It has so much potential.’
Jack gazed at Ava with such a jolt of affection that it almost floored her.
‘How you see the village through fresh eyes is great to hear. I love you for helping to change her mind. I’ve been trying to get her to think outside the box for months, and you’re here for two weeks and she listens.’ He shook his head in amazement. ‘If I can persuade her to read through the proposal now, I might be able to get her to hire you to do the PR around a grand opening. It’s going to be months away, but I think she’d be keen to keep you here as much as I am.’
Ava dropped her eyes momentarily from his stare. Was he telling her he wanted her to stay?
‘I already feel as if I’ve been here forever. It’s such a weird feeling. Going through a divorce with Giles knocked the stuffing out of me, my confidence still at rock bottom. And yet… being here is making me see things differently.’
