Page 34 of Sunny Sundays at Primrose Hall

Jackson’s wide grin told her that she was already forgiven, as he turned to look at his brother.

‘Tom, a big thanks to you too for stepping in to help out. Someone over there said how they thought they’d been talking to me earlier in the day when of course they’d confused me with you. Which just goes to show how dispensable I really am.’ He glanced between Pia and Tom, looking contrite. ‘Anyway, thanksto you all. I really appreciate it. I’ve seen what I came here to see, have had some interesting conversations with some of my old mates and I might even have lined up a new bike in the process.’ Pia’s stricken expression gave away what she thought to that idea. ‘Which will obviously go straight into the garage and will be admired from a distance,’ Jackson quickly added to appease her. ‘For the time being, at least.’

She shook her head at him indulgently.

‘So no harm done, heh?’ he said to Pia. ‘I’ll be back at the hospital in time for a no doubt delicious and inspiring tea.’ He rolled his eyes and grimaced. ‘No one will ever know I was away. Although I could just quickly say hello to the dogs before I leave. It seems like years since I last saw them.’

It was funny to think that it was only a week since the accident because in many ways it seemed much longer. The normality of their usual life seemed like a faded memory now.

‘Come on,’ Pia said, taking charge of the wheelchair and breaking into a trot, shaking off the remainder of her bad mood with Jackson. ‘We’ll have a quick cuppa and I’m sure we can find you something delicious to eat if you want it. There’s some leek and potato soup on the Aga and there’s a great selection of cakes to choose from too.’

At least Jackson’s appetite hadn’t been affected and he managed a bowlful of soup, followed by a slice of moist carrot cake. Seeing him at the kitchen table, she could almost imagine that it was just a normal afternoon and the accident had never happened, but only for the briefest moment.

The dogs went mad seeing Jackson again and Pia had to herd them carefully around the wheelchair so that they didn’t launch themselves into his lap, but judging by the look on Jackson’s face, it was more than worth it for the way it lifted his spirits. He exhaled a big sigh.

‘God, it’s good to be home. Do you think I could stay and not go back? I’m sure that hospital bed would be better utilised by someone else.’

‘Absolutely not, Jackson. Do you really…’ Her words trailed away as she saw the half-smile on his lips, his dark brown eyes twinkling with mischief. He was kidding her, but after everything else he’d done, she wouldn’t put it past him to do something like that. She shook her head, wondering if his absence had been noted yet at the hospital.

‘You really ought to get back, Jackson, before they send out the search parties for you.’ As lovely as it was to have Jackson at home, she was getting very twitchy and annoyed again that he’d ever thought this was a good idea in the first place.

‘Okay, I get the hint.’ He reached out a hand for her, squeezing it tight. ‘I miss you. Us. All this,’ he said, sweeping his head around the room.

‘I know, me too, but it won’t be long before you’re home again properly.’ At least she hoped that was the case. Neither of them could know for certain, but she was keeping everything crossed that he might be discharged soon. She’d made the mistake of googling his type of injury and discovered all sorts of horror stories about patients undergoing weeks and sometimes months of treatment in hospital and rehabilitation centres. She really couldn’t bear the thought of that, and as for Jackson, she was certain in those circumstances he would definitely be contemplating another escape party, and that needed to be avoided at all costs.

23

‘Oh, my goodness, you missed all the excitement outside.’ Sophie breezed through the double doors to the stables to relieve Katy from minding her stall. Tom had gone into the hall with Jackson and Stu for some refreshments.

‘Why? What happened?’ Katy was all ears.

‘Well, you’ll never guess who turned up in a wheelchair in an old vintage ambulance?’

Katy shook her head.

‘Who?’

‘Jackson Moody. Honestly, it was like something from a movie set. I don’t think Pia was too happy about it because apparently she didn’t have a clue that he was coming. He played hooky from hospital and had managed to persuade someone to bring him here, in an old World War II ambulance, no less!’

‘Isn’t that typical of Jackson? I can just imagine him doing something like that. I think he’s fond of a grand gesture. I remember, I think it was only the second time I met Jackson, we were in the Three Feathers and he sent over bottles of champagne, as a thank you for us supporting the first Christmascarols event here at the hall. As if we needed thanking! But it was very lovely of him.’

‘Yes, I think Jackson’s a law unto himself and Pia was a bit shocked at him turning up like that, but hopefully it’s all sorted now. I can imagine how Pia felt, though. She just wants him to get better, but I think Jackson likes to do things his own way.’ Sophie chuckled.

‘I get that impression too. Mind you,’ said Katy breezily, ‘I could quite happily put up with all his mercurial champagne-drinking ways if it meant living in the lap of luxury in that beautiful house. And you have to admit he’s pretty hot too,’ she fanned her hand in front of her, ‘although don’t tell Brad I said that. No, it would be no hardship whatsoever being holed up with Jackson.’ Katy clasped her hands to her chest and went all dreamy, obviously conjuring up all sorts of scenarios with Jackson.

Sophie shook her head indulgently at Katy.

‘I know you don’t mean that. You’re absolutely besotted with Brad and your lovely family.’

‘Hmm, I suppose, but a girl’s allowed to fantasise, isn’t she?’

Sophie nodded in agreement, but it wasn’t Jackson who filled her fantasies, but rather his older brother Tom who, to her eyes, was a much more attractive and charismatic proposition. She wasn’t sure at what point her feelings for him had changed from being simply platonic to something more meaningful, but it had certainly come as a big surprise. She had told herself for weeks that she didn’t have the time or the inclination for a relationship. She’d fought long and hard for her freedom and independence, revelling in her newfound single status, and she certainly had no intention of giving all that up for the sake of a man, especially when she knew how easily it could all go so wrong.

Why then was she so suddenly enamoured with Tom, whose natural and easy charm so attracted her? She supposed theyhad opened up to each other and shared details about their respective pasts, which had created an intimacy between them. She’d seen Tom’s gentle, caring side and it made her feel safe and warm inside. He really listened to her, instead of being simply eager to get the conversation back onto him, which she’d found a lot of men did. Tom was genuinely interested in what she had to say, listening intently as though he was consigning it all to his memory, his dark eyes shining with attentiveness as she spoke. Although maybe it was just her hormones playing tricks on her, stirring sensations within that she hadn’t felt in a long while.

‘Sophie!’

‘What?’

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