Page 38 of A Summer Wedding at Pennycress Inn
Hearing her mobile ping from her pocket, Ellie pulled it out and glanced down to read the message:
Thank you for a lovely evening. Have left the van at yours and will walk home. Hope that’s okay? Murray x
He’d gone already. Ellie blinked as she felt her heart drop. It was still early. Why had he left so suddenly? Maybe he’d assumed she’d be chatting to Mrs Jedd for ages or maybe he had to get up early tomorrow. Slipping her mobile back into her pocket, she ran the pad of her forefinger across her lips. They’d kissed. That must have meant something, mustn’t it?
‘…and that’s what we enjoyed doing, going to the Winter Gardens and dancing until the early hours.’ Mrs Jedd frowned. ‘You’ve not been listening to a word I’ve said, have you?’
Snapping her head up, Ellie looked at Mrs Jedd as she felt the sear of embarrassment flash across her cheeks. She’d been caught out. ‘Sorry, I…’
‘I know. You’re tired. I can see it on your face. I don’t suppose you’ve slept much since Rick moved out.’ Mrs Jedd’s voice softened. ‘You’ll find someone else, Ellie. You’re young, you’ve got your whole future ahead of you.’
Ellie nodded slightly. Perhaps she already had. She just wished she could be sure whether the kiss she’d shared with Murray had meant as much to him as it had to her.
‘Go on, get yourself off to bed.’ Mrs Jedd dismissed her with a flick of her hand before turning away. ‘Night, love.’
‘Night,’ Ellie repeated back. She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard her neighbour be so understanding before.
21
Pulling into the little car park behind Pennycress, Ellie couldn’t help but feel disappointed when she didn’t see Murray’s van. When she’d left home she’d noticed it had gone from outside her cottage and she couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened he hadn’t knocked to say hello or anything, so she’d been hoping to catch him here this morning. Shaking her head, she smiled. He’d probably parked out the front on the road. She sometimes did, but she’d wanted the excuse to walk through the garden and see Murray before going in and getting to work.
Memories of yesterday evening whirred in her mind. It was all she’d been able to think of since Murray had left her cottage. She must have relived that kiss a thousand times already, although she still didn’t really know what to make of it all.
One thing she did know, though, was that she wasn’t going to get carried away. She wasn’t going to allow herself to begin dreaming up all sorts of scenarios about them getting back together, him telling her he’d made a mistake all those years ago, wiping both their histories and starting over.
She wouldn’t. She really wouldn’t.
Besides, everyone knew that real life wasn’t like the movies and the elusive true love the fairy tales promised. Even if they did both want to try again, they still shared a not-so-rosy history and that wouldn’t just disappear.
No, it wouldn’t work. It really wouldn’t work. And Murray likely didn’t want to try, anyway.
Ellie pulled the key from the ignition. She needed to get a grip before she showed herself up. And she needed to focus. Laura and Jackson’s wedding was quickly approaching, and she still had numerous things to source and sort. She didn’t have time for daydreams. However warm and cosy they might be.
Stepping out of her car, she closed the door, grabbed her bags from the boot and headed towards the back door. Stealing her one hundredth glance around the garden just in case she’d missed Murray and he jumped out from the hedge or dropped down from the willow tree, Ellie closed her eyes momentarily, pushing all thoughts of him from her mind before letting herself in through the glass doors into the kitchen.
As she closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the comforting aroma of vanilla, cinnamon and coffee. ‘Morning. Something smells delicious.’
‘Morning, Ellie. That’s some French toast I made for our guests earlier. I can make you some up if you like?’ Jackson pointed to a glass bowl on the work surface in front of him. ‘I have some mixture left.’
‘Ooh, that would be fab if you really don’t mind, please?’ Ellie placed her bags on her designated table and began unpacking her notebooks and mood boards. ‘I didn’t have time for breakfast this morning, so I must admit I’m absolutely starving.’
‘Well, that definitely needs rectifying.’ Jackson turned back to the bowl and began mixing. ‘I’ll pour you a coffee too.’
‘Thank you.’ Ellie smiled. If there was a positive from Rick having looted the cottage, it was this – working at Pennycress and having the opportunity to sample Jackson’s amazing cooking. Even if she’d had the time to scoff down her usual go-to measly bowl of cereal, it didn’t come close to Jackson’s offerings. And being honest, even if she had all the ingredients – and utensils – she’d still not be able to cook anything as scrumptious as he could. Sitting down, she began flicking through her notebook, keeping her voice light as she spoke. ‘I didn’t see Murray when I came through.’
‘No, he’s had to go to the suppliers.’ Jackson walked across with a steaming coffee mug and placed it in front of her. ‘Oh, before I forget, where did you park? Miss Cooke is on the warpath and has hired one of these companies to come and clamp anyone who parks illegally.’
‘Oh, I parked in the car park.’
‘That’s good then. Probably best you carry on parking there, at least until Miss Cooke gets bored. It’s the lines that need addressing, not the drivers. The yellow paint has practically worn right down all along the road out here, and I can’t imagine it’s any better elsewhere in the village.’
‘I hadn’t noticed a problem with the parking. I had with the road markings but not the parking.’ Ellie picked up the coffee mug and took a sip, the bitter taste waking her a little. ‘Thank you for this.’
‘You’re welcome.’ Going back to the kitchen area, Jackson began cooking the French toast, the room quickly filling with the warm fragrance of vanilla and cinnamon once more. ‘I haven’t either. I think there was a van parked outside the hardware shop for a few days. Whether that’s what has sparked Miss Cooke’s sudden interest in parking regulations, I’m not sure. It was only poor Neil Parson’s son who’d come to visit him.’
‘Ah, yes, I bet that was it then.’ Ellie rolled her eyes, their tyrant of a mayoress strikes again then. ‘I’m sure we’ll hear all about it this evening at the meeting.’
Jackson groaned. ‘Thanks for the reminder.’
