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Chapter 6
Holly’s stomach lurched as Jaz drove towards the village. Eversley comprised of a large green, surrounded by five cul-de-sacs of houses, which had gradually sprung up over the years. The buildings around the green were made from quarried stone. Low walls lined the roads sprouting aubretia, which grew in crevasses bursting with purple blooms for much of the spring and summer months. There was a post office-come-corner shop, an antiques auction house, which brought in the ‘grockles’ as Joe called them – otherwise known as tourists, and The Eversley Arms – the only pub in the village, with its benches sprawling onto the village green.
Jaz parked in the small pub car park. They planned on having lunch before Holly went to check out her new home – the caravan. She did not want to do that on an empty stomach. Mitch had texted her earlier to let her know that her new home was in situ, and the key was in the lock.
As they approached the pub entrance, Julian the landlord ushered them in. ‘Sorry to hear about your troubles, Holly.’
‘Thanks, Julian. It’s a bit of a weird time for me. But as they say – the only way is up.’
‘Good for you.’ Julian pointed to a table in the window. ‘You can have the best seat in the house.’
‘Thanks,’ Holly said, smiling.
Julian had that big brother feel about him which Holly found comforting.
They walked through the dimly-lit pub with its small windows partly covered on the outside by a fast-growing wisteria. Holly gazed at her feet as she walked. She hated being the centre of attention and she was aware of all eyes on her. Her mum had always called The Eversley Arms ahot bed of gossip. But Holly had made more of an effort to be sociable since she had returned from London to Eversley. Networking was great for business.
Sitting in the window seat, Holly appreciated how pretty the village green was on a sunny day. She hoped that the sun would make her burned out home appear less terrifying when she went back there.
Julian handed them a menu each and smiled at Jaz. ‘That colour suits you. You really cheer this place up.’
Jaz’s face coloured up, clashing with her yellow top.
He returned to the bar to serve a waiting customer.
Holly raised her eyebrows. ‘What’s the blushing all about?’
‘I was so not blushing. More like red with embarrassment.’ Jaz pouted.
‘Why don’t you put Julian out of his misery? He’s adored you for years.’
‘He’s too old.’
‘He’s only four years older than us. Hardly ancient.’
‘And he’s got a kid.’
‘Noah’s lovely and it’s not like he lives here all the time. Julian’s an every-other-weekend dad. You’d get to do all the fun stuff.’
‘I don’t want to get involved with broken families.’ Jaz stared out of the window.
Holly stretched her hand across to Jaz knowing how sensitive she was when it came to her childhood. ‘Julian and Sophie have an amicable relationship. It’s quite normal these days.’
Jaz raised her eyebrows. ‘Right. So you get Ethan, the buff architect, and I get the slobby barman.’
‘He’s not slobby. He’s big because he plays rugby and it’s all muscle. And he’s nota barman,as you put it – he owns the place. And so what if he was a barman? He’s hardworking and good-looking. And that thick sandy hair of his and the beard. He looks like a viking.’
‘Maybe I’m not into that look. Shh,’ Jaz said as Julian returned to the table.
He placed beer mats in front of them. ‘What are you drinking?’
‘Sparkling water for me,’ Holly said, smiling.
‘Make that two,’ Jaz said quietly.
‘Heavy night was it?’
Jaz stared up to the ceiling and groaned.
