Page 44 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘No, don’t. I don’t want him thinking we’re not grateful.’ Jill shook her head firmly. ‘Nope, we’ll cope. It’s only a few days until we can go up to the farm and start assembling it, anyway.’

‘Okay, if you’re sure.’ Nicola let the patio door close quietly behind them. She’d speak to him, anyway. She’d just let him know how things used to be and how the other clubs were working at the farms of their trailers.

‘Mummy, Mummy, Sebastian just painted my part of the squirrel. He’s drawn a pink bow on it.’ Willow raced towards Jill, almost knocking her and Kasey over.

‘Oh, don’t worry, sweetie. I’m sure your squirrel looks fantastic with the pink bow. Let me set all this down and I’ll come and take a look.’ After watching Willow run back to her painting partner, Jill turned to Nicola and muttered, ‘You’d never have guessed I asked them to keep it authentic, would you? But what would I know? Just because I’ve never seen a squirrel wearing a bow, it doesn’t mean there’s not one out there somewhere.’

Nicola laughed as she placed the bags on the picnic table. ‘I’m sure it will still look good.’

‘Yes, and there’s nothing wrong with a splash of creativity, is there?’ Jill grinned as she lowered Kasey to the ground, who immediately began running towards his big sister. ‘Don’t touch the squirrel, Kasey!’

‘Oops.’ Nicola grimaced as she watched Jill chase after her toddler, only just saving the plywood squirrel from certain destruction.

‘Hello?’ Charlie’s voice sounded from behind her.

Turning, Nicola felt a rush of warmth filter through her body as she watched Charlie step out of the inn and onto the decking, one hand above his eye shielding them from the sun. ‘Hey, Charlie. What are you doing here?’

Pausing at the top of the steps down to the garden, Charlie surveyed the scene below before joining her. ‘This looks fun.’

‘Fun and chaotic all mixed into one.’ Nicola grinned as they watched Jill race after Kasey again, this time narrowly saving him from knocking over a bottle of paint. ‘What can I do for you? I mean, it’s lovely to see you, but…’

‘I found this around the campfire this morning and I’m guessing it’s yours.’ He pulled a silver bracelet from his pocket, a tiny horseshoe charm hanging from it. ‘It’s beautiful and all, but not quite my colour.’

‘Haha.’ Holding her hand out, she let him clasp it around her wrist. ‘Thank you. I assumed I’d lost it around the house. My mum bought it for me when me and Nathan broke up. She said it would bring me good luck.’

He raised his eyebrows, a smile dancing on his lips. ‘Maybe it has.’

Looking up at him, she met his gaze. Did he mean him? ‘Yes, maybe it has.’

Jackson bounded down the decking stairs towards them, his cheeks a little flushed and his T-shirt dusty. ‘Hi. Oh wow! This looks fun!’

‘Hi, Jackson. Yes, Jill’s brought the forest school kids to work on their float again.’ Nicola looked around the garden. ‘I think… Ah, yes, Laura is over there painting hedgehogs by the looks of things.’

Jackson tilted his head, looking towards where Nicola had pointed. ‘Aren’t they rabbits?’

‘Umm… maybe.’ Nicola shook her head. Whatever they were, Laura looked as though she was having fun.

‘I’ll go over and see her.’ Jackson grinned. ‘I’ve just brought some bits across from next door and wanted to ask her where I should put them.’

‘Oh, yes, move-in day!’ Nicola smiled as she watched Laura noticing Jackson was here and holding up the plywood animal she and a group of children had been painting. It was a deer.

‘That’s right. I haven’t got much, but I still think it’ll take a while so wanted to make an early start.’ Jackson gave Laura the thumbs up.

‘I can give you a hand if you want, mate?’ Charlie nodded towards Jackson.

‘Oh really? That would be great, if you’ve got the time?’ Jackson slapped him on the back before heading towards Laura.

‘No problem.’ Charlie placed his hands on his hips and surveyed the garden. ‘I’ll let Jill know she can bring everything over to the farm and work from there from tomorrow.’

Turning, Nicola raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? Why the change of heart?’

‘You’ve got the wedding here and I can move at least one of the trailers into the big barn at the bottom of the farm. It’s empty in there and away from where we’re working.’ Charlie ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Besides, it’s not for long, is it?’

‘No, the carnival will be here before we know it.’ She grinned before cupping his cheeks with her hands and pulling him in for a kiss. ‘Thank you.’

24

‘Argh, Nic! Can you remember where these are supposed to go?’ Laura held up two large ceramic statues of a bride and groom as she looked around the decking.

---