Page 26 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

Twisting in her chair, Nicola looked across at the bar. Jill was right. Charlie was sitting there tucking into a sandwich, a stack of what looked to be paperwork of some kind placed on the bar next to him. She watched as he chatted to the bartender. Charlie seemed quite friendly, and whatever he was saying was making the bartender laugh. Huh, was it only her he reserved the grumpy demeanour for?

She turned back to Jill. ‘Yes, it’s Charlie, but he’s most definitely not “my” farmer and after the fiasco yesterday, I doubt very much he’ll ever speak to me again.’

‘Ah yes, Miss Cooke walked past the inn earlier and she stopped and chatted, as she does. She mentioned that a couple of the girls from the netball team took themselves on an adventure around the farm.’ Jill grimaced.

‘Yes, I thought he was going to pop a vein the way he was overreacting.’ Nicola picked up her sandwich again. ‘At least they got their trailer measurements for their float design, so hopefully we won’t have to bother him for a while now, not until closer to the carnival.’

‘Umm.’ Jill shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

‘What?’ Nicola groaned, unsure if she really wanted to hear the answer. ‘Please tell me Miss Cooke’s not planning on kidnapping me and forcing me to go along to the farm with the netball team again?’

‘No, no. They have their measurements, as you said.’

‘So…?’ There was something else; she could tell by the way Jill was averting her eyes. It was a habit she’d had since they’d been children. ‘Go on, hit me with it.’

‘I kind of need to pop along myself to take measurements from the other trailer he’s lending us.’ Jill glanced towards Charlie’s back. ‘But don’t worry, I won’t be kidnapping you or forcing you to come with me. In fact, I’ll ask him first. Give him some warning.’

‘Well, good luck. I don’t fancy your chances of him agreeing, if last night is anything to go by.’ Nicola sank her teeth into the sandwich. The sooner this carnival was over and done with, the better, as far as she was concerned.

‘Hey.’ Jackson arrived back at the table and passed around fresh drinks before sitting down next to Laura.

‘Hey, you.’ Laura grinned. ‘Are you free for a bit now?’

Glancing around the pub, Jackson nodded. ‘I should be, yes.’

Nicola watched as Laura took Jackson’s hand and squeezed it between their chairs. She lowered her sandwich to her plate. This was it. They were going to tell them they were closing Pennycress Inn.

‘We’ve got something to tell you both, and I wanted to come here for our staff meeting so Jackson could jump in too.’ Laura shifted in her chair again.

Nicola held her breath. If Laura did tell them they were closing, she would shortly be out of a job. She didn’t think she’d be able to keep it together. She’d likely break down in tears right here in the middle of the pub.

‘Jackson’s sold his house and…’ She looked at her fiancé before turning her attention back to Nicola and Jill. ‘He’s moving into Pennycress.’

Letting out a long breath, Nicola sighed with relief. ‘He’s moving in?’

‘Yes. The house will hopefully exchange in the next week or so and Jackson will move into the inn.’

‘Oh, I’m so happy for you both!’ Jill squealed and pushed her chair back, hurrying around to the other side of the table and giving both Laura and Jackson a huge hug.

‘Thank you.’ Laura grinned.

Nicola cleared her throat. ‘Yes, that’s great news! Sorry, I was convinced you were about to tell us you’d decided to sell up or something equally awful.’

‘Sell Pennycress? No chance.’ Laura reached across the table and squeezed Nicola’s hand. ‘I love it too much, and I love our team too.’

‘So do I.’ Standing up, Nicola hugged Jackson and Laura in turn. ‘You really had me worried, though!’

‘Aw no, nothing to worry about.’ Sitting back down, Laura grinned. ‘I’m hoping Pennycress will keep going from strength to strength.’

‘I’m sure it will.’ Nicola smiled as she watched her mum walk across the pub towards them. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from finding out what the staff meeting was about, especially as she’d known how worried Nicola had been.

‘Hello, you four. Are you enjoying your lunch?’ Vivienne placed her hands on Nicola’s shoulders.

‘Hi, Vivienne. All good thanks.’ Laura stood up to hug her. ‘In fact, Jackson and I have got some good news.’

‘You have?’ Vivienne smiled. ‘You’ve set a date for the wedding?’

‘Ah, no. Not yet.’ Laura laughed. ‘But Jackson is moving in with me, into Pennycress.’

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