Page 14 of A Second Chance in Seabury
For a second, Hannah was sorely tempted to run to meet the little group so that she could get her doggy-cuddle fix after all. But then she realised there was no need, because the little group seemed to be heading straight for her.
Squinting slightly, Hannah realised that one of the cyclists was Sarah from The Sardine. Lou had clearly turned up to relieve her from her shift at last. But who was the lad cycling next to her? He looked familiar…
Wasn’t that Mr Eaves’s son?
Hannah hadn’t seen him for a few years now, but that had to be the grown-up version of the little boy she’d helped Aunty Millie to look after on occasion.
Before she could tell for sure, she was distracted by a huge, hairy, heavy Stanley head dropping right into her lap.
‘There you are, gorgeous boy!’ she crooned, dropping her face onto the top of his silky head and breathing in his warmth.
Stanley’s tail promptly went into overdrive, wagging nineteen to the dozen. Hannah laughed and wrapped her arms around his silky neck in an ecstatic hug.
‘Dad said you’d be here.’
The deep voice made Hannah look up at last. Sure enough, that couldn’t be anyone other than the boy who’d thrashed her at Snakes and Ladders when he was little.
‘Hi Jason!’ she said with a grin. ‘Wow, you’ve… grown! I swear you were just five years old two seconds ago.’
‘Try nineteen years old!’ laughed Jason.
‘Nineteen?!’ she gasped, suddenly feeling very old.
‘Yep.’
‘It’s his birthday today, you know,’ said Sarah, smiling across at him.
‘Well, happy birthday! Wait…’ Hannah blinked in confusion as her brain started to catch up. ‘Did you just say yourDadsaid I’d be here?’
‘Uh-huh,’ Jason nodded.
‘Erm… is there a problem at the house?’ said Hannah, wondering how on earth Mr Eaves knew she’d be sitting on a bench on the other side of town.
‘No!’ said Jason, shaking his head. ‘Nothing like that. It’s just, Dad said you were back in town, and we’re having a bit of a birthday celebration tonight, and we were wondering if you’d like to join us?’
‘Join you?’ said Hannah, doing her best to hide her surprise… and probably failing miserably, judging by the look of amusement on Sarah’s pretty face.
‘Yeah,’ said Jason. ‘I’d love it if you’d come.’
Hannah smiled. It was such a lovely, genuine offer… and what did she have to look forward to other than a lonely evening cleaning the house, followed by falling asleep in front of her laptop? A quick trip next door for a drink and a slice of birthday cake might actually be quite nice.
‘Okay, thanks. I’d love that.’
‘Great!’ said Jason. ‘So, we’ll meet you in the hotel at seven, then?’
‘The hotel?’ said Hannah in surprise. ‘I thought… your place…?’
‘Trust me, it’s better this way,’ laughed Sarah. ‘Hattie’s food definitely beats anything Mr Eaves might attempt to cook. No offence!’ she added, with an apologetic glance at Jason.
‘Definitely none taken,’ he laughed. ‘Cheese and chutney sandwiches are great and everything, but?—’
‘Hattie’s cooking wins!’ said Sarah, with a decisive nod.
‘Right!’ said Jason. ‘So… can I tell him you’ll be there?’
‘Okay, sure,’ said Hannah, feeling a bit mystified as to why she was being included in the party. She could understand being invited next door. After all, Mr Eaves knew she was home alone, and it was a neighbourly thing to do. But asking her to join a family gathering at the hotel was something else entirely. Unless… maybe this was a big do. ThiswasSeabury after all, and there was a good chance the entire town was invited. ‘Erm… who else is going?’
‘Just us two and Dad,’ said Jason. ‘Oh, crumbs… sorry about that!’
