Chapter 10

10

Megan ran the brush through her hair again. What was it with that little bit at the front? She could never seem to get it to lie right. She sighed. It was probably because she hadn't had her hair cut recently. Perhaps it was her body's way of saying she should be taking more care of herself.

Drawing her hair up into a ponytail, she wrapped her hairband around it and sank onto the bed. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. There was a part of her who quite liked this low-maintenance version of herself. Without her every-five-week haircuts, her hair was longer than it had been in years and having left her straighteners behind, it was recovering from the frequent heat treatment.

After spending the day outside yesterday, her skin was glowing too, without the need for endless fake tans, the gloss of her youth having returned without the need for ten different daily serums. Maybe this life was agreeing with her. She furrowed her brow before relaxing again. Yep, life was certainly less stressful without Lyle and that huge house to take care of. Maybe finding out who Lyle really was had been the best thing. She hadn't felt this happy, this motivated or eager to start the day in a long time.

Memories of yesterday's trip to the beach with Jay suddenly replaced all thoughts of Lyle and she watched her reflection as her cheeks reddened. What was that about?

She looked down at the duvet and ran her forefinger across the floral design, drawing around the petals of the roses emblazoned upon it. Jay did seem lovely – kind, thoughtful, funny – and eager to get to know her, to listen to what she had to say, to want to listen to what she had to say. When had Lyle last been interested in what she thought? Or her dreams?

She couldn't remember.

She shook her head. She was being silly. Maybe this was what was meant by a rebound? Maybe these feelings she was beginning to feel towards Jay simply weren't real. They were a coping mechanism to help her get over her failed relationship.

Then why did they feel so real? Why did her lips involuntarily curl into a smile every time she thought about seeing him?

Gripping the edge of the bed, she looked down at the garishly patterned red carpet and took a deep breath in. Regardless of why she was feeling the way she was towards Jay, she knew he wouldn't be feeling the same. Not in a million years. He had his life together. He had a lovely home in West Par, a daughter, friends; he didn't need or wouldn't even want someone like her. What did she have to offer? Nothing. Her life lay in tatters around her feet.

Nope, she needed to push all thoughts of Jay away and get on with what she had come here to do – to try to make up in some small way for Lyle's actions towards Wagging Tails.

A quiet knock on the door broke the empty silence in the room, shortly followed by Lisa's voice. ‘Are you in there, Megan?'

Pushing herself to standing, Megan pulled open the door as Lisa picked up her bucket full of cleaning products. ‘Morning.'

‘Oh sorry, I'll come back.'

‘No, no, it's okay. I'm just on my way out.' She grabbed her canvas tote bag from the hook on the back of the door. ‘I'll see you later.'

‘Hi, just in time for coffee. Did you want one?' Percy nodded towards the kettle as he took a mug from the dishwasher and placed it next to his and Flora's.

‘That'd be great, thanks.' Closing the kitchen door behind her, Megan pulled the sandwich she'd bought at the shop from her bag and opened the fridge, quickly realising yesterday's one was still sitting where she'd left it. ‘Oops, I'd forgotten I had one in here already.'

‘I bet the chips were worth it, though.' Flora finished scribbling in her notebook and smiled at Megan.

‘Yes, definitely.'

The chips and the company. She swallowed. Why had she even thought that?

‘Morning.' The kitchen door opened as Jay stepped inside, shortly followed by Ginny with Cindy.

‘Morning.' Megan mumbled and turned back to the fridge, this time to get the milk for Percy.

‘Hello, lovely.' Flora smiled at Jay. ‘All ready for another day of volunteering?'

‘Absolutely.' He grinned and looked over at Percy. ‘How's your back now?'

‘Good, good. Not a jot wrong with it today.'

Flora tutted. ‘You might be able to think you can pull the wool over everyone else's eyes, but I saw the way you got out of that taxi.'

‘There's nothing wrong with me.' Percy huffed as he placed Flora's mug down in front of her.

‘Umm, and you could have rung me for a lift instead of wasting money. I said to you when I dropped you off yesterday that I'd give you a lift in today so you could collect your car.'

‘Yes, well, I didn't want to put you out.' Percy lowered himself into his chair, wincing a little.

‘Um, I rest my case.' Flora took a sip of coffee and looked across at him. ‘You need to start thinking about yourself a little rather than everyone else.'

Frowning, Percy looked across the table. ‘As I said yesterday, you're a fine one to talk.'

Standing up, Flora ignored his comment. ‘I'm going to go and make a start on…' she said, picking up her mug and disappearing out of the door, leaving her sentence unfinished.

‘She's just worried about you, that's all,' Ginny said, placing her hand on his shoulder. ‘You gave her a scare yesterday when you hurt your back.'

‘Umm.' Percy shook himself. ‘Well, she's got nothing to worry about. I'll be just fine in a day or two.'

Megan watched as Percy took a sip of his drink and pulled the morning paper towards him, suddenly seemingly engrossed in what the Trestow Telegraph had to say about the proposal of a skatepark by the supermarket. She bit down on her lip. Maybe she should go and see if Flora was okay.

She picked up her mug and made her way into the reception area, careful to close the door behind her.

‘Are you all right, lovely?' Flora looked up from a stack of letters she was opening on the counter.

‘Yes, I just thought I'd come to see if you were?' Reaching the front of the counter, Megan lowered her mug to the surface.

Flora nodded. ‘I am, thank you. I'm sorry about that. I just worry about him. He's been my closest friend for years now.'

Megan laid her hand on Flora's forearm for a moment. Flora obviously cared for him very much, that was obvious.

‘I should go and apologise.' Flora pinched her nose. ‘I just wish he'd take more care of himself, that's all.'

She took off her reading glasses and propped them on the pile of letters in front of her just as the kitchen door opened and Percy hobbled through. Her face softened, and she smiled at him.

‘I was just going to come through and apologise to you,' she said. ‘I'm sorry I spoke to you the way I did.'

Walking across to the counter, Percy gave her a warm smile. He took Flora's hands in his. ‘No, I'm the one who should be apologising, love. I know you're only trying to look out for me.'

Deciding to give both Percy and Flora a little privacy, Megan walked back into the kitchen and closed the door quietly.

‘All okay?' Jay looked up from Percy's newspaper.

‘Yes, I think so.' She leaned against the counter. ‘I just thought I'd give them a bit of space.'

‘Oh, I'll nip out now before they get into one of their deep conversations. I need to take Rex out.' Ginny slipped out of the door.

‘Look, I was wondering…' Leaning back in his chair, Jay rubbed the back of his neck. ‘And don't worry if you want to say no…'

‘But…?' Megan frowned.

‘I thought the chips were really nice on the beach yesterday, so I wondered if you'd like to go out for dinner. If you're free, that is.'

Megan stifled a laugh and straightened her face. ‘The chips were nice?'

‘Aw no, you can tell I don't do this very often.' Leaning forward again, Jay ran his hand over his face, his skin blushing a pale crimson. ‘I mean, the chips were good, but the company was even better.'

Megan grinned. ‘I knew what you were trying to say.'

Chuckling, Jay shook his head. ‘Sorry, I completely blew that one, didn't I? So much for trying to be charming.'

Megan laughed and slipped into the chair opposite him. ‘I'd love to come for dinner with you.'

‘Great! That's great.' The blush subsided. ‘Maybe we could pop out after work today, then? And of course, by work, I mean our non-work day here.'

‘I'd like that.' Megan took a sip of her drink in an attempt to calm the fluttering in her stomach.

‘Great. Great.' Jay nodded and stood up, indicating to the door. ‘I'd better go and make a start.'

As soon as the kitchen door had clicked shut, Megan grinned. He'd asked her out. That had been a date question, hadn't it? It wasn't the same as when he'd asked her for lunch yesterday. That had just been friends grabbing a bite to eat, but the dinner would be a date. She picked up her mug and took a sip, hardly noticing the cool temperature of the liquid.