Chapter 30

30

‘So, what do you think?' Primrose dragged the mop across the floor.

‘I've really enjoyed today,' Megan said as she scrubbed at a stubborn dribble of what looked to be mint ice cream on the counter and smiled. She had enjoyed it. With there always being either customers to serve or machines to clean or ice cream to restock, the hours had sped by and she could hardly believe that her first shift was over.

‘That's good to hear. You'll be back tomorrow then?' Primrose paused and looked at her, the mop still in hand.

‘I'd love to come back tomorrow.'

Did that mean she officially had the job then? Primrose hadn't said anything about today being a trial, but Megan had assumed it would be.

‘If you'll have me, of course.'

Primrose chuckled. ‘Oh, you've done a marvellous job and I hope you'll accept the job offer.'

‘Yes, I will. Thank you.' Megan grinned.

‘Good, good.' Primrose glanced outside. ‘I'll just bring the chalkboard in, and I think we'll be ready to lock up.'

‘I'll go and get it.'

Megan threw the paper towel she'd been using to clean the counter into the bin and rushed around the counter onto the shop floor.

Opening the door, Megan stepped outside and took a deep breath in, the warm salty air filling her lungs. It felt good to be back in a job, to be earning and to be working towards independence and her future.

She looked down at the A-frame chalkboard displaying a selection of the ice cream flavours written in Primrose's delicate cursive writing. It was the perfect advertisement to draw in passers-by on their way down to the beach. She carefully closed it and picked it up. It was heavier than she'd imagined it would be, but she guessed it needed to be to withstand the gusts from the sea on windier days. Turning, she headed towards the door, pausing as movement on the beach caught her eye.

It was Jay, Mia and Leanne. Jay and Leanne were standing opposite each other, throwing a brightly striped beach ball between them as Mia ran in and out of the waves that lulled up the beach.

Megan placed the A-frame back down and watched for a moment – as Mia circled around her mum, laughing as she then threw herself into Jay's arms, who picked her up and swung her around before passing her across to her mum.

They looked like the perfect family. To anyone passing by they did. All three of them were grinning from ear to ear and laughing. If she hadn't been told their history, then she would have thought so too.

Shaking her head, she picked up the A-frame again and carried it inside. Even when they'd been in the ice-cream parlour, Jay and Leanne had been fine with each other, friendly. She couldn't imagine her and Lyle ever getting to that point, even being in the same room together and tolerating each other would be unlikely, but Jay and Leanne had seemed normal, had seemed happy in each other's company.

She stood the board against the wall by the door and glanced back out of the window. They did appear happy. It wasn't an act for Mia; she was certain it wasn't. If it had been she'd have been able to pick up on something, on some slight awkwardness or intolerance and the only time Jay had looked in the least bit uncomfortable was when he'd first come into the shop and introduced her to Mia.

‘Perfect. Thank you.' Primrose appeared from the kitchen carrying her handbag. ‘You can get off now, love. I'll see you at ten again tomorrow?'

‘Definitely.' Megan took her bag from behind the counter and held her hand up in a wave before stepping back outside. She looked down towards the beach again. They were still there, Jay, Leanne and Mia. Still playing together. She turned and headed back up the lane towards the edge of the village and Wagging Tails.

‘Is that you, Megan? We're in the kitchen,' Flora's voice called out.

Megan closed the front door of the cottage and slung her bag down by the shoe rack before heading towards the kitchen. Flora, Percy, Poppy and Mack were sitting around the table. ‘Hi.'

‘Hello, lovely. How was your first day?' Flora stood up. ‘Do you want a cuppa?'

‘No, I'm okay, thanks.' Megan shook her head. ‘It was great, thanks. Primrose seems really lovely, and to be honest, the hours flew past.'

‘Glad to hear you enjoyed it.'

‘We're just deciding what film to see at the cinema this evening.' Poppy turned to her. ‘Do you fancy joining us?'

‘No, thanks for asking, but I think I'm going to head up and take a nap.' Megan smiled. Any other day she would have jumped at the chance and invited Jay along too but she just couldn't shift the feeling of unease about her and Jay's fledgling romance. Not after seeing him with Mia and Leanne this afternoon. She wouldn't be able to concentrate on a film and she'd be lousy company too. ‘I'm shattered after today.'

‘No worries.' Poppy smiled.

‘Have a great night and I'll see you later,' Megan said, holding her hand up before leaving and heading upstairs. It was true, she was tired. She hadn't spent as long on her feet as she had today for a long time. Even when she and Jay had been digging the foundations, they'd taken numerous breaks, whereas the work at the ice-cream parlour had been constant.

She paused halfway up the stairs. She had forgotten to ask how the construction of the new dog kennels had gone. She turned to walk back down, but she could hear that conversation had already resumed, the four of them talking about the film choices for the evening. She'd ask when they got back. If the build hadn't been successful, they would have said.

Up in her room, she leaned against the closed door and rubbed her eyes. Despite images of Jay, Mia and Leanne on the beach replaying in her mind's eye, she might just have that nap now. She was tired enough.

Megan pushed herself away from the door and sank onto the bed, lying back against the pillows. The window was open, and a slight breeze was blowing, the floral curtains gently swaying.

Shifting position, she pulled her mobile from the back pocket of her jeans and checked for any messages. Nothing. Jay still hadn't texted her. Yes, she'd seen him at the ice-cream parlour, but he'd come in because Mia had wanted an ice cream, not to see her.

She reached her arms above her, gently laying her hands against her forehead. Now that Leanne had broken up with Patrick, should Megan even be dating him? This was his chance to get back with Leanne, to make his family whole again.

Yes, Leanne had cheated on him, had broken his heart, but that didn't mean he wouldn't forgive her, that didn't mean she didn't want to get back with him. Leanne had moved back into the marital home quite happily. Didn't that suggest something? Didn't that suggest that she hoped to get back with him?

Or was Megan just imagining things? Life wasn't that simple, was it? It wouldn't be easy for Jay to forgive Leanne for what she'd done to him, but equally, Megan didn't want to be the reason he didn't try. She and Jay had only been dating briefly whereas he and Leanne had years of history together, they had a daughter together. They had been married, been a family.

She couldn't compete with that. She didn't want to. Jay had been so happy on the beach. She'd seen that. He'd been relaxed and happy. In his element.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she closed her eyes for a moment. She knew what she needed to do, and she knew she needed to do it now. Before she talked herself out of it, before he contacted her.

Sitting up, she leaned against the pine headboard and wrote a text.

Thank you for a lovely time, but this isn't going to work – Megan

She pressed Send before she changed her mind and turned off her mobile.

Looking towards the window, she sighed. That was it then. She and Jay were over. She'd been daft to think she could just walk into a relationship with him, anyway. Things were never that simple. She should know that by now. Life with Lyle hadn't been simple. And before, when she thought it had, it turned out that he'd been having an affair with someone she thought was her friend.

Obviously, Jay would never have cheated on her, he was one of the good guys and now, with Leanne single again, he deserved the chance to get back with her, for Mia to have her family together again. Jay didn't need Megan standing in the way.

‘Megan, we're off now, lovely.' Flora's voice wafted up the stairs. ‘Have a good evening.'

Megan cleared her throat. ‘Thanks. You too.'

She listened for the front door to click shut, and after it had, Cindy began to whine.

‘Cindy, Dougal, I'm up here.' She stood up and opened her bedroom door for them.

Less than a minute later, Cindy had bounded up and onto her bed, quickly followed by Dougal. Megan smiled. She'd miss them when she moved out. Especially Cindy. She'd even missed her today at the ice-cream parlour. She was so used to her being there, right beside her at Wagging Tails, it had felt odd her not.

Sinking back onto the bed, she held open her arms as Cindy laid her head on her stomach. ‘I've done the right thing, haven't I?'

Cindy looked at her for a moment, her deep brown eyes thoughtful, before she closed them.

It was done now. However much it hurt, it was for the best. She had to let him go, she had to.