Chapter 29

They were still laughing about their afternoon adventure when they pulled onto Annette’s driveway a couple of hours later.

“Is someone else coming for dinner?” Sam asked, looking at the car parked next to Max’s in front of the house.

Josie’s stomach lurched and Sam looked at her questioningly. She stared in confusion. “It’s Jack’s car.” 

In the kitchen, Jack looked about as awkward as Josie felt. He was sitting at the table with Max and Lizzie while Annette bustled around, setting yet more food on the already well-laden table.

“You’re late,” Annette said. “I told you dinner would be at five.”

“Sorry,” Josie said. She was fairly sure it was only five minutes past but being late for dinner was really the least of her problems.

“Jack’s here,” Lizzie said, glaring at Josie.

“I can see that!” Josie gave him a puzzled look and sat in the chair beside him. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve been waiting for you for hours,” he said pointedly.

“It’s nice to put a face to the name,” Annette said. “We’ve been getting to know each other.”

“Josie told me you’re a great cook,” Jack said to Annette. “Smells like she was right.”

Sam quietly took a seat at the end of the table, and Josie rubbed her sweaty hands on her jeans. What on earth was going on?

“It’s lovely to see you, Jack,” she said. “But why exactly are you here? You could’ve called first.”

“I tried,” he said with an undertone of annoyance “You weren’t answering your phone.” Of course. She’d completely forgotten about calling him back.

Annette joined them at the table. “Tuck in before it gets cold!” There was a roast chicken and all the trimmings. It was Josie’s favourite meal, but her appetite had vanished. She looked at Jack, waiting for more of an explanation. If only she’d remembered to call him back.

“I thought it’d be good to finally see this place too after I’ve heard so much about it.” He casually piled food onto his plate and then turned his attention to Sam. To be fair, Sam had been glaring at him fairly ferociously since they walked in and it was hard to ignore. “Sorry,” Jack said. “We’ve not been introduced. I’m Jack. Josie’s boyfriend.”

For the briefest moment Josie closed her eyes with the vague hope that she might open them to find this had all just been a very weird dream. No such luck. “Ex-boyfriend,” she said quickly. “Remember?”

“It’s hard to keep track,” he said with a boyish smile. She knew he was joking. It was Jack’s sort of humour. She didn’t really appreciate it at that moment.

Josie finally glanced at Sam. He looked blankly back at her, clearly not enjoying the joke either.

“How’s work, Jack?” Max asked. Josie was grateful for the change of subject and dutifully put some food on her plate, even though she was fairly sure she couldn’t eat a thing.

“Good thanks,” Jack said through a mouthful of food. He pointed his fork at Josie. “I need to talk to you about work. Something happened …” He glanced around and shook his head. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Are you still at the mobile phone shop?” Lizzie asked.

He nodded. “Seems like I’m quite good at sales. The staff are all nice. It’s a good place to work.”

Lizzie nodded benignly before Max moved the conversation on once again, asking Sam about the car boot sale. Conversation floated around Josie and she nodded and smiled in what she hoped were appropriate places. It was hard to concentrate. How on earth had her lovely day with Sam ended with the world’s most awkward meal with her boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend?

“Hurry up and eat, Jack,” she said finally. “I’ve got to feed the dogs. I’ll show you around the kennels.”

 

***

 

“What on earth are you doing here?” she hissed as soon as she was alone with Jack.

“You weren’t answering my calls. I was worried about you.”

“Sorry,” she said weakly. “I’ve been busy the last few days. I can’t believe you just turned up here.”

“It’s great here,” he said as they wandered towards the barn. “I can see why you like it.”

She nodded and looked around; everything had become so familiar to her that she forgot how beautiful her surroundings were. So many shades of green. The grass was dotted with delicate daisies and buttercups.

“Annette’s really sweet,” he added. “And it seems like it didn’t take you long to get over our break-up!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The guy who looked like he might punch me when I said I was your boyfriend … I presume there’s something going on with you two?”

She wasn’t sure what to say and opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. She couldn’t lie to Jack. “It’s early days.”

“So you’re all settled?”

“Yeah,” she said as she opened the barn door. “I think I am.”

Conversation was interrupted by barking dogs, and Josie told Jack all about her new job as she fed the dogs. It was good to catch up with him. She only wished she’d known he was coming. No doubt she’d have some explaining to do to Sam.

After they left the barn, they automatically migrated towards Jack’s car. “I’m sorry you drove all the way here,” Josie said. “I promise to keep in touch better in future.”

“There was a reason I was trying to get hold of you,” he said. “But now that I see how happy you are it seems a bit irrelevant.”

“I don’t want to get back together with you,” she said instinctively. “I’m sorry but—”

“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.” He reached into his car. “I brought your mail.”

Josie shook her head. Trust Jack to change the subject when things got awkward. “Thanks. But what did you want to talk about so urgently?” As soon as he passed the stack of post, she saw the familiar logo on the first envelope.

“What’s this?” The logo was from the acting agency.

“I got one too,” Jack said. “The TV show finally got commissioned. Filming starts in a few weeks. They’re offering all the extras their jobs again.”

“Wow.” She fingered the envelope, shocked. “Are you going to do it?”

“I don’t think so. I like where I’m at now and this would probably only be a temporary gig. They need an answer soon, that’s why I was trying to get hold of you. I thought you’d be interested and didn’t want you to miss the chance. But now I’ve seen this place, I can’t imagine you’d want to move to London.”

She walked away, needing to move.

“You’re not interested in it, are you?” he asked, following her. She walked until she reached the fence and climbed up to sit on it.

“I don’t know. Is it for real? They’re definitely doing it?”

“Twelve episodes for definite. Then they review again.”

She frowned. It sounded good. A few months ago she’d have been over the moon and snapped it up. Now she felt completely confused.

“I couldn’t leave Annette,” she mused.

Jack sat beside her on the fence. “It seems like she relies on you.”

“She does.”

“So you’re a country girl now?” he said with amusement. “I never thought this would end up being a permanent thing.”

“Neither did I,” she said.

“But you can imagine staying here long term?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged and her eyes roamed her surroundings before landing back on the letters in her hand and the logo with the stars. “Why did this have to come now?” she said, irritated. “All those auditions I went to and all that time I spent on the phone to Michaela begging her to find me a job. And now I get this! I’d completely given up on it.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I feel like I shouldn’t have brought it. You could just throw it in the bin …”

“I probably should.” She inhaled deeply, taking in the wonderfully fresh air.

“I think I’ll get going,” Jack said. “We’ll talk soon?”

“Yeah.” She headed back to the car with him. “Thanks for coming. It was sweet of you.”

“It would’ve been much easier if you’d just answered your phone.”

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.

“There’s still some of your stuff at my place,” Jack said. “I should’ve brought it. I didn’t even think.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pick it up next time I’m in Oxford.”

“Okay. Tell everyone I said bye.” He kissed her on the cheek before getting in his car. “And let me know what you decide about the job.”

She watched him drive away and then headed back to the house, taking a deep breath before she walked in.

“What’ve you done with Jack?” Annette asked when she joined them in the living room.

“He had to get back.”

“What’s going on?” Lizzie said. “Why did he just turn up without warning you?”

Josie held up the envelopes in her hand, discreetly shifting the one from StarSearch to the middle of the pack before dumping them on the stairs. “He brought my post, that’s all.”

“A four-hour drive just to bring your mail?” Max said. “Surely he could’ve posted it to you?”

“He could,” Josie said. “But he didn’t. Anyone want a drink?”

Since everyone else had coffee, she went into the kitchen to get one for herself.

“Everything okay?” Sam asked, joining her.

“Yeah. Sorry. I had no idea he was going to turn up. It was slightly awkward.”

“A little bit,” he agreed, leaning on the work surface. “Was there a reason for his visit? Other than bringing your post.”

“Not really.” She busied herself making coffee and tried hard to ignore the guilt that crept in when she thought about why Jack had really come. No doubt he had expected Josie to be thrilled by the news about the TV show. He probably thought she’d have started packing as soon as she heard. She really couldn’t leave Annette, though. Sam reached for her hand. She couldn’t leave him either.

“Are you sure everything’s okay?” he asked.

“Yes!” She gave him a hasty kiss before moving back towards the living room. “Come on.”

“I’ve got something to show you,” Lizzie said, when Josie sat beside her. She reached into her handbag and then casually held up an ultrasound picture.

The smile spread slowly across Josie’s face, and she beamed at Lizzie, who looked like she was about to explode from excitement.

“What is it?” Annette asked, squinting to see.

“A scan picture of a baby!” Josie told her.

“That’s not quite true,” Lizzie said, handing the black and white picture to her for a better look.

Josie gasped and her hand shot to her mouth. “No?”

“Two babies!” Max said.

“Oh my goodness!” Annette’s eyes filled with tears and she stood to hug Max and Lizzie.

“Twins?” Josie said, not quite believing it.

Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I was terrified enough at the thought of one baby! Then we found out it’s twins.”

“Oh my God!” Josie squealed, wrapping her in a big hug. “Congratulations!”

“Are you crying?” Max asked when she hugged him.

She wiped at her eyes. “I’m just emotional. It’s so exciting.”

Sam looked almost as emotional as her, and she automatically hugged him too.

“You owe me a fiver!” he whispered in her ear. She gave him a friendly jab in the ribs then perched on the arm of the chair when he sat down. He ran a finger over the small of her back until she shuffled and swatted him away. She was far too ticklish.

“When are you due?” Annette asked.

“December,” Lizzie told her happily. “It’s been so hard not telling anyone.”

“I can’t believe you’re having twins!” Josie said in complete shock. “That’s crazy.”

“I know. I’m terrified.” 

“I’m so happy for you,” Josie said. At one time, Lizzie had been adamant she never wanted children. That had been when she was completely wrapped up in her career. Back before Max had come along and turned Lizzie’s world upside down.

Lizzie seemed relieved to be able to talk about the pregnancy, and they chatted for almost an hour. She talked about morning sickness and how they were going to decorate the nursery, and what she’d do about work, and lots of little things that she’d obviously been dying to talk about but couldn’t. The excitement was infectious. When she complained about how tired she’d been, Lizzie started yawning, making them all laugh. She couldn’t seem to stop, and Max suggested they get home. 

When Josie mumbled about checking on the dogs, Sam offered to come with her. They waved Max and Lizzie off first.

Sam watched Josie intently as she walked around filling up water bowls and chatting to the dogs. “We could take a couple of them out for a walk,” he suggested. “It’s a nice evening.”

She agreed. They’d all had long walks in the morning and Annette had said she’d had them out in the garden. None of them would complain about the extra exercise, though.

Sam leaned on an old stable door while she clipped the border collie on a lead. “You can leave her off,” Sam said. “She’s as good as gold.”

“I’m still scared of losing dogs,” she said. “Which others can I take without a lead?”

Sam glanced into the stalls. “Get Pippa and Jeanie.”

She looked at him and shrugged. “The Scottish terriers,” he said, walking down the barn and letting them out himself.

“They only arrived yesterday,” she said as the three dogs jumped around Sam. Usually she at least knew the names of the dogs. “And I don’t usually take more than two at a time.”

“These three are fine,” he assured her.

“How do you know more than me?”

“They’re old customers. And I’ve been helping Annette out since I was about six!”

She sighed and followed the dogs outside.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked, hurrying to keep up with her.

“I’ve been here two months and I still don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“It doesn’t seem that way to me,” Sam said. “And Annette seems more than happy with you.”

She opened the gate behind the barn and the dogs slipped through beside her legs. “I can manage the business side of things no problem. It’s the dogs I’m not good with. That’s a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? Someone working in a kennels who’s not good with dogs? I have no control over them.”

“That’s just experience.”

“I’m not sure it is,” she said. The letter from the acting agency popped into her head, and she wondered whether she would be better to go and do something she knew she was good at. But then Sam’s hand slipped into hers and she remembered everything else she’d have to give up, not just a job she wasn’t very good at.

He squeezed her hand. “You worry too much.”

They walked in silence for a while, and Josie couldn’t stop thinking about the acting job. It would be amazing to be back on the TV set. If only the offer had come earlier. Or not at all. That would’ve been better. Her mind whirred in overdrive. She shouldn’t even be giving it a moment’s consideration.

“Are you going to tell me what happened with Jack?” Sam asked as they reached the bottom of the hill and walked along the small stream in the valley.

“He brought my mail,” she said. Suddenly, she wanted to get back and open the stupid letter and see for herself what they were offering.

“And wanted to get back together, presumably?”

She hesitated. That would be an obvious reason for his visit. “He just wanted to chat things through.”

“But everything’s fine? He understands it’s definitely over?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

She felt guilty. Jack’s reappearance had obviously worried Sam. “I’m sure. You really don’t need to worry about Jack.”

“I just think it’s weird that you were in a relationship which basically had an on/off switch.”

“It wasn’t like that.” It was, though, in a way. “It’s hard to explain.”

“And he’s not going to keep turning up to try and get you back?”

“No.” She began to lose her patience with the conversation. “He’s okay with it.”

“Idiot,” Sam said flatly, then turned and beamed at her.

She reached up for a kiss. “I guess I owe you a fiver, by the way.”

“You do! Can you believe they’re having twins?”

“No,” Josie said, chuckling.

Sam glanced around, automatically checking on the dogs. Usually Josie would be obsessively looking around, but she felt more relaxed with Sam around. “Two kids at once,” he remarked. “I’m scared for them!”

“Really?” She gazed at him intently. Even though it was very early days, she realised she had a spark of envy for Lizzie and could just imagine having a family with Sam one day. The thought didn’t scare her at all, not like it did when she’d been with Jack. “I can imagine you having a few kids …” She hoped the comment didn’t freak him out.

His arms tightened around her waist and he gazed lovingly at her. “I would be very happy with a few kids. I just think one at a time would be best.”

“I think you’re right,” she said, beaming. “They’re going to have their hands full.”

He kissed her gently before they moved apart and set off back the way they’d come.

“I’ll let you off with the five pounds,” Sam said. “I never mentioned twins, after all.”

“That makes me very suspicious. Max already told you Lizzie was pregnant, didn’t he?”

“No,” he said, laughing. “I’m just very perceptive.”