Page 43 of Happier Days

Once they had their food, they found a spot on a picnic bench and tucked in.

‘This is amazing,’ she said after her first mouthful of food had gone down.

‘The pork or the atmosphere?’ Jack asked, wiping at his mouth.

‘All of it! The music is a great touch. I can’t believe you get to do this every month.’

‘Me neither. During summertime we barbecue. Winter months we have bonfires. There’s always live music, and there may even be dancing. The band changes later to a local indie group. They’re very good.’

‘What time does it finish?’

‘It’s always over by midnight, and it’s usually the locals who stay for the last hour.’

Brooke caught their eye, and Ava waved to her. The girl gave her two thumbs before laughing and merging back into the crowd.

‘She seems really lovely,’ Ava told him.

‘She is. I’m glad she takes after me and not her mother.’

Ava saw he was joking and smiled. ‘I was surprised, if I’m honest, that you’re so friendly with Katrina after what happened.’

‘It’s taken a while for us to get to this stage. I was hurt at first, but I didn’t want things to be awkward for Brooke. And maybe a part of me was glad it was over. We hadn’t been getting on for a while before. Obviously, I know why now, but we were staying together for Brooke, mostly. An unspoken rule, but there, nonetheless. Neither of us was particularly happy.’

In that instant, Ava realised she was falling for Jack. It was him who was making her feel alive again, not so much Sapphire Lake. She knew already that she didn’t want the night to end.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Once their food had gone, Jack took Ava around the different stalls, introducing her to people and getting her to taste a bit of everything she was offered.

‘I am stuffed,’ she cried, after an hour of it.

‘That’s why it’s all fast food in small portions, so you can try lots of things. It’s all good quality, mind. But this one is my favourite.’

They stopped outside a cream mobile unit covered in bunting. It was selling all kinds of sweeties.

Jack reached for a bag of toffee fudge and held it up. ‘This is what I come here for. It’s delicious.’

‘He has such a sweet tooth, that one,’ the woman behind the counter said. ‘He’s been eating my wares for years.’

‘That’s not as rude as it sounds,’ he whispered.

Ava almost choked seeing the look Jack gave her.

‘I’ve known him since he was a wee boy running around in his pants,’ the woman continued.

Jack raised his eyebrows, making Ava’s eyes water with laughter.

No, she really didn’t want the evening to end.

‘I thought we’d pop in to see Charlie next.’ Jack led her to his cabin.

Its door was open with a welcome glow inside. Several people were milling around, checking out his images.

‘Jack!’ Charlie raced across to him, shaking his hand and giving him a hug. ‘Glad you could make it.’

‘Like I ever miss a lakeside event.’

‘Well, there were a few times when?—’

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