Chapter 32
32
Gripping the arm of the sofa, Laura pushed herself to standing and dropped the empty cookie dough ice cream tub and spoon onto the coffee table before calling out to the incessant ring of the doorbell, ‘Coming.’
For once, she was grateful for its weak tune. She’d spent the night curled up in bed, wide awake, and her head ached with the lack of sleep. And guilt. She’d planned to get on with some of the renovating this morning, her idea being that it might help take her mind off Jackson, but she just hadn’t been able to face it. She’d got so far as to take the lid off the paint tin to begin the woodwork in the hallway and quickly decided it was ice cream she’d needed rather than a lungful of paint fumes.
She glanced towards the carriage clock on the mantelpiece and groaned. It was two in the afternoon already and her family was here. Looking around the vast sitting room, she shrugged. She should have been more organised and tidied, but she really didn’t have an ounce of energy in her body to care. When her mum had rung last night and told Laura she’d arranged for the family to come and visit, she hadn’t the energy or the space in her brain to protest. All she could think about was Jackson and all she could picture in her mind’s eye every time she’d tried to go to sleep was Evie Taunton click-clacking her way into Jackson’s hospital room.
Her parents could come, Jenny and Richie and their families could come, but nothing would change what had happened yesterday.
The doorbell sounded again, barely audible this time, and, taking one last redundant look around the sitting room, Laura walked through the hallway to the door, trying to plaster a fake smile on her face before pulling it open. ‘Hi, welcome to Pennycress Inn.’
‘Oh, Laura. I can see why you fell in love with the place now. It’s a stunning building and Meadowfield is such a cute, quaint village.’ Her mother bustled in, two huge picnic bags in her hands, and leaned over to land a kiss on Laura’s cheek before pausing in the middle of the hallway.
Propping her foot against the door to hold it open, Laura greeted the rest of her family with a smile she hoped they didn’t realise was false, before closing the door. ‘Mum, you didn’t have to bring food. I could have made something.’
‘Don’t be silly, sweetheart. I can’t expect you to drop all your tasks for the morning and prepare lunch for us. Besides, it’s just a little something – bread, olives, hummus, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, a little sweet treat for the kids…’
‘Thanks.’
‘So, do we get the grand tour this time?’ Jenny grinned as she pulled Tammy’s trainers from her daughter’s feet. ‘I know we’ve been before, but, in a way, I feel this is our first time, as all we got to see was the kitchen and hallway.’
‘Umm…’ Laura looked longingly towards the kitchen. She needed caffeine. ‘Why don’t you two, Tammy and Toby, show everyone round? You had the chance to explore the last time you came, didn’t you?’
‘Ooh, can we?’ Tammy clapped her hands together.
‘Yes, you’d be doing me a favour.’ Laura smiled as her niece began ordering people to get into pairs and queue up at the bottom of the stairs. ‘No sliding down the banister though, it’s still not fixed, so you’ll likely end up in hospital again, okay?’
‘Okay.’ Toby nodded solemnly before joining his sister at the head of the queue.
‘What have you found there, Jasper?’ Jane picked up her son as he ran from the sitting room into the hallway. ‘Here, I’ll have that, poppet.’
Reluctantly releasing the ice cream tub and spoon, Jasper rushed to join Tammy and Toby by the bottom of the stairs.
‘Are you coming to help, Jasper?’ Toby leaned down to his little cousin’s height and took his hand.
‘Here you go, Laura. Sorry, nothing’s safe with Jasper around.’ Jane laughed as she passed her the tub and spoon.
‘I’ll come and help you with this lot.’ Richie picked up the picnic bags and grimaced. ‘Jeez, Mum is stronger than she looks. I think she must have packed everything but the kitchen sink.’
Laura nodded and turned to the kitchen. Since her dad and Richie had visited and praised her work, she’d so been looking forward to showing her family around Pennycress. Yes, it was tatty in places and needed a lot of work, but it was hers and she at least felt as though she was accomplishing something on her own. But, if she was honest, she could have done without it today. Yesterday’s events with Jackson and Evie were too fresh, too sore.
She pinched the bridge of her nose as she made her way towards the kettle. And, despite all that had happened between them, she was worried about Jackson. Was he still in hospital? How long were they keeping him in?
She sighed. It wasn’t any of her business, not now.
‘Everything okay, sis? You look as though you’ve been up all night.’ Richie placed a bottle of milk on the work surface.
‘I will be.’
‘What’s happened?’ He laid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him before nodding at the ice cream tub she’d discarded next to the kettle. ‘Problems of the heart?’
Laying her cheek on his jumper, she took a deep breath before straightening up again. She couldn’t very well tell him why she was out of sorts, why she was worried. ‘Is it that obvious?’
‘It’s cookie dough. It’s always been your staple in any heartbreak situation. Is it because you saw Harry the other day?’
‘No.’ She shook her head and sighed. She’d have to say something to Richie. He knew her too well to see through her excuses. ‘Not him. Just someone I thought was something he wasn’t.’
‘Oh, sorry to hear that, sis. I’m always here if you need to talk.’ He squeezed her shoulder and lowered his voice. ‘Would it be easier if I made up an excuse to everyone and rescheduled today?’
‘No, don’t worry.’
‘You sure? I’m happy to turf them all out for you.’ Richie gave a quick grin.
She smiled. ‘No, thank you though. I think this distraction might just be the very thing I need.’
‘…And six!’ Tammy moved her counter across the Snakes & Ladders board set up on the coffee table in the sitting room. ‘Only three more spaces and I win!’
‘Well done, Tammy, but make sure you watch out for that snake there.’ Ruth patted her granddaughter on the shoulder and pointed to the board.
Shaking the dice, Toby released them onto the floor, watching as the plastic cubes chased each other across the carpet.
Before they had the chance to roll to a stop, Ava reached out and grabbed one in her podgy little hand.
‘No, Ava, that’s for big boys and girls, not babies.’ Standing up, Tammy tried to prise the die from her cousin’s hand, resulting in Ava screaming and running from the room with her treasure. ‘No, Ava! Mummy, Ava has the dice. She might eat it and then we won’t be able to finish our game.’
Laura watched from the sofa as Jenny, Jane and Richie jumped up from their seats and hurried out of the room, following the small thief.
‘Oh, the joy of small children.’ Ruth turned to Laura. ‘Of course, the worry never stops, even when those children grow into adults.’
‘I bet.’
‘And it’s inevitable that we worry, especially when one of them moves away.’ Her mum patted Laura’s knee. ‘But I’m proud of you for taking this leap. This is a really nice place you’ve got here.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Laura turned as Tammy and Toby came tearing back into the room, the stolen die held victoriously above Tammy’s head. She laughed. ‘You got it then?’
‘Yes. And now we can finish our game.’ Skidding to a stop, Tammy threw herself down on the floor again and passed the die to her brother.
‘I think this little one needs a distraction.’ Richie returned, Ava giggling in his arms as he tickled her, Jenny and Jane following shortly behind.
‘I’ll make us another cuppa, shall I? And then maybe we can get the food ready?’ Laura stood up.
Tilting her head, Jane looked behind her towards the hallway. ‘Is that your doorbell, Laura?’
‘Oh probably. I keep forgetting to buy new batteries for it.’ Laura gathered as many mugs as she could in one hand before walking out. Placing the mugs on the reception desk, Laura walked across to the door and pulled it open, before freezing. ‘Jackson!’
‘Laura, please let me explain.’ Standing on the doorstep, he still sported the gauze dressing above his eye, but he looked better, he had more colour in his cheeks.
‘You’re out of hospital.’ Why had she said that? Of course he was. He wouldn’t be standing in front of her if he wasn’t.
Jackson nodded. ‘Evie volunteers at the hospital. That’s why she was there. That’s how she knew I was there too.’
She let out a sharp laugh. ‘Ha, Evie volunteering. Now I know you’ve got something to hide.’
‘It’s true. And I was on the way to see?—’
She held her hand up as she heard Tammy’s and Toby’s voices coming closer. ‘I have everyone round.’
‘Jackson! I’ve just won Snakes & Ladders.’ Tammy peered out from the sitting-room door.
‘Oh wow. Well done.’ Jackson looked back at Laura.
‘Please leave. I can’t get through another afternoon of pretending nothing has happened between us, especially after yesterday.’ Looking down, she used the pads of her thumbs to dry her eyes.
‘Laura, please?’
‘I’m sorry.’ Closing the door in his face, she turned her back to the twins.
‘Come play with us, Auntie Laura.’ Tammy slipped her hand inside Laura’s and pulled her towards the sitting room.
Making sure to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand, Laura plastered a smile on her face again, trying desperately to bury the confused emotions inside her as Tammy pulled her through the doorway. Whatever Jackson had done, she still loved him and that was a feeling which wasn’t going to disappear any time soon. And she so desperately wanted to believe him about Evie volunteering at the hospital, but she just couldn’t think straight. Not with everyone here. Maybe once they’d left she’d be able to ring the hospital and find out if he was telling the truth. She sighed. If she had to do that – ask the hospital rather than believing Jackson – they wouldn’t work as a couple anyway. What was a relationship without trust? She just didn’t know what to think anymore.
‘Who was it, sweetheart?’ Her mum twisted on the sofa to look at her.
‘No one.’ Laura lowered herself to the floor next to the coffee table and the game of Snakes & Ladders.
‘You can be the yellow one. Mummy says it’s your favourite colour.’
‘Thanks.’ Laura blinked and tried to focus on the game board.
‘Jackson! So pleased you could join us.’ Her dad’s voice boomed above the chatter and laughter in the room.
Toby bounded into the room, sporting a large grin. ‘I’m a big boy now, I opened the door to Jackson.’
Jerking her head up, Laura’s heart sank. She really didn’t know how she was going to cope with him here, but what else was she supposed to do? Yell at him and tell him to leave? That would just result in questions she knew neither of them wanted to answer.
Hovering in the doorway, Jackson held his hand up in greeting.
‘You’re hurt! What happened, love?’ Standing up, her mum hurried across to him.
‘It’s nothing. I’m fine.’ Jackson dismissed her concern and looked towards Laura.
‘Thanks for standing me up yesterday afternoon.’ Richie jiggled Ava on his knee and indicated Jackson’s dressing. ‘I hope that wasn’t the reason why?’
‘Yes, it was, mate. Sorry. I was in a car accident.’ He held his hand up, palm forward, as the noise suddenly increased, with her mum, Jenny and Richie asking what happened and if he was okay. ‘I’m fine, really, but that’s not the reason I’m here. The reason I’ve come round, uninvited, is to tell you all why I was travelling down to see you, Richie.’
‘I thought we were going for a beer and a catch-up.’ Richie frowned.
‘No.’ Jackson cleared his throat. ‘I was coming to tell you that I’ve fallen in love.’
‘Are you sure you’re okay? That bump on the head…’ Jenny reached up to her own forehead.
Laura froze, her breath caught in her throat, the yellow counter in her hand. Was he going to do, say, what she thought he was?
‘I wanted to tell you all, we both did…’ He caught Laura’s eye. ‘…when we came for the roast dinner, but I chickened out and it’s my deepest regret, as I’m pretty sure I’ve messed up the best thing to happen to me.’
‘Jackson, bud, come and sit down. You’re making no sense.’ Richie shifted along the sofa, making room for him.
Taking a shuddery breath, Laura’s eyes darted from Jackson to her brother and back again. Richie had no idea what his best mate was about to tell him.
‘No. Thanks, but no. This is something I’ve got to say.’ He turned to Ruth and Phil. ‘I love your daughter. I’m in love with Laura. We didn’t plan this, but it’s the way I feel and the way she felt too, until I messed things up.’
Laura dropped her counter, the small yellow piece of plastic clipping the coffee table the loudest sound in the suddenly silent room.
‘This is a joke, right?’ Richie stood up slowly, shifting Ava in his arms. ‘Laura’s not in love with you, mate. She’s just had her heart broken by some idiot.’
‘That idiot is me.’ Jackson spoke quietly but clearly. ‘And for that, I’m truly sorry.’
‘Laura, that’s not true, is it? You and Jackson?’ Richie looked from his sister to his best mate and back again.
Laura’s mouth turned dry. He’d really told them. He’d told her family, Richie, that he loved her. That meant he did, didn’t it? He wouldn’t have said that, said anything, if he wasn’t sure how he felt. All the mistrust and worry about whether something was going on between him and Evie melted away. Him telling her family as he just had was all the confirmation she needed – he did love her. He loved her! Taking a deep breath in, Laura nodded, her voice a whisper. ‘It’s true.’
‘But…’ Richie shook his head, trying to clear the confusion. ‘How long have you been seeing each other?’
‘Just since she moved here, but I’ve felt this way about her for years.’
‘No, you?—’
‘I have too.’ Standing up, Laura cleared her throat. ‘I love him, and I have for years, too.’
‘You still love me?’ Jackson locked eyes with her.
‘I still love you.’ The room, her family, faded into the background as she walked the few steps towards him and sank into his arms, feeling his lips on her forehead. She’d almost lost him. She’d almost let what Harry had done cloud her judgement but now she was sure. She was more sure than she ever had been that Jackson was telling her the truth. ‘I love you.’
‘Laura, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have chickened out on telling everyone.’ Jackson cupped her cheeks and leaned down, their lips meeting.
‘Eurgh!’ Tammy’s voice shattered the silence, the moment passing.
Pulling away from him, Laura looked around the room and, as if Tammy’s voice had broken the spell, she blinked as her family gathered around them. She could feel her heart racing as she waited with bated breath for her family to react. She swallowed and reached for Jackson’s hand, gripping his clammy palm with her own. This was the moment of truth, the moment they’d both been dreading.
‘At least we know you’ll look after her, Jackson, love.’ Her mum pulled Jackson towards her and kissed him on the cheek before turning to Laura. ‘And I don’t doubt you’ll look after him, too.’
‘I can’t believe you two are together! This is crazy!’ Jenny held her hands against her cheeks before drawing them both into a hug.
Laura nodded as her dad, Jane and Rob congratulated them until the only person left was Richie. She met his eyes. ‘This wasn’t planned.’
‘No, it really wasn’t. I’m sorry, mate, but I can’t lie to you, to myself, to anyone any longer.’ Jackson shifted position.
Turning, Richie handed Ava to Jane before looking at them both and shaking his head slowly.
‘I really will look after her, Richie.’ Jackson’s voice was firm.
Sighing loudly, Richie ran the palm of his hand over his face. ‘I don’t know what to say… apart from this is going to take some getting used to.’
‘I get that.’ Jackson nodded.
But then, stepping forward, Richie wrapped his arms around them, Laura with one arm and Jackson with the other, before releasing them. He pointed at Jackson. ‘But if you ever make her eat cookie dough ice cream again, we’ll be having words.’
‘Cookie dough ice cream?’ Jackson frowned.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Laura laughed and hugged her brother again. ‘Thanks, Richie. Your blessing means so much to me, to us both.’