Chestnut Lane by Anna Jacobs

Author:Anna Jacobs [Jacobs, Anna & Jacobs, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2021-09-22T18:30:00+00:00

Jane joined them, smiling in that comfortable way she had.

‘You must be hungry,’ Jez said, standing up to help her to a chair. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to send out for something fresh?’

‘I am hungry.’ She looked at the table. ‘No use wasting good food, however rich you are, Mr Winter. And this looks delicious to me.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

They sat round the table, eating the simple food prepared to tempt a child’s appetite.

‘I enjoyed it,’ Jez said afterwards.

Jane smiled at him. ‘Good. Now, I can see how tired you are, and it’s been an eventful day for me and Tom, so we should all go to bed.’

Jez gave his slightly crooked smile. ‘You sound like you’re mothering us, too.’

She looked from one to the other and reached out to pat each man’s arm in turn. ‘You seem to need it – both of you. I’ve never had children of my own, but I wanted them very badly. And since my husband died, I’ve mothered quite a few lost souls. But you’ve only to tell me if I step out of line. I’ve not been a nanny before, not had anything to do with famous folk, either, so I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to do.’

Jez picked up her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Do what seems right to you, Jane. There are no rules and I don’t need anyone to curtsey to me. I’ve really enjoyed your company tonight. But you’re right: I am exhausted. So I’ll leave you now.’ Yawning, he wandered off to his bedroom.

Tom looked at Jane. ‘He’s kind, isn’t he?’

‘Very. But he’s lonely. It’s a good thing you got in touch with him. He’ll help you to spread your wings and you’ll give him family to love. Swanning around with young women who don’t wear enough clothes and staying up late like he’s been doing isn’t good for anyone. Now, I’d better go and unpack.’

Tom let Craig escort him down to his own room on the floor below. When he was alone, he looked round and sighed. It felt empty and unwelcoming. Comfortable as the bed was, it took him a long time to get to sleep, because his head was spinning with the day’s events.

But he was on the right track now, he was sure of it, and wouldn’t waste this opportunity to make a new life for himself and his children.

His main worry was Gail. She was like a loose cannon. You never knew what she’d do next.

It’d be best if she accepted Jez’s offer to go into rehab!

No. He couldn’t see her agreeing to that. But he desperately didn’t want to drag his kids through the courts – and he didn’t know what he’d do if he lost custody of them to her.

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