‘Oh look, there’s Jasper.’ Cassie tapped on the window as he passed.
Stopping, he turned and looked inside. With a wide grin, he nodded at Cassie, who was waving unnecessarily vigorously given the man was right in front of them by now. Then his eyes slid over to Adira. She met his gaze full on. There was a slight pause before either of them smiled in acknowledgment, as if both sizing the other up. It wasn’t lost on Lisa, and she gave a sideways smirk to Cassie, who was stifling a giggle.
‘Come in!’ Cassie called, mischief dancing in her eyes.
Adira chewed her bottom lip. She watched Jasper pause to consider, then he shook his head politely.
‘Gotta go,’ he mouthed back, then waved again before moving on.
‘Well, that could have been cosy,’ Cassie said, still trying to keep a straight face, whilst Lisa’s shoulders were shaking behind her menu.
‘What?’ Adira asked, staring at them with a frown.
‘Nothing, just saying, that’s all.’ Cassie’s hands went up defensively.
After a light lunch and a good chat, the three of them said their goodbyes. Cassie was going to visit each shop with the flyers and Lisa was returning to the Inn. Adira decided to walk back along the riverside, using the route she had taken that morning.
Instead of crossing the humpbacked bridge though, she took her pumps off in an attempt to jump barefoot along the stepping stones in the river. It was getting really hot and she longed to sink her feet in the cool water. On doing so, though, she slipped and missed her footing, sending her tumbling into the shallow stream.
‘Agh!’
Her body hit the cold water and the pebbles on the floor of the riverbed. She closed her eyes, shivering.
Suddenly, two strong arms reached out to ease her up. Jolting her head up in shock, she was faced with brown eyes staring down at her.
‘Are you OK?’ Jasper had seen her fall and rushed down to help.
‘Y… y… yes,’ she stammered, still shaking.
‘Come on, let’s get you out.’
Without waiting for her to reply, he lifted her body up and carried her effortlessly to the other side of the river.
‘Sorry, you’re getting wet through.’ Adira was mortified as he waded through the river.
Jasper smiled wryly down at her. ‘Not as wet as you,’ he half laughed.
It took a moment, but then, seeing the funny side, Adira joined in. She felt safe and secure in his arms, held against his broad chest. She could feel his heart beating against her as she breathed in that bergamot scent of him.
‘There you go.’ He gently let her down to stand beside him once reaching the side.
‘Thanks, Jasper.’ She gave a shaky smile, feeling a tad foolish, then bent down to put on her pumps she’d been carrying. Luckily, they were only damp, not drenched.
‘I’ll escort you, shall I?’ he teased, mouth twitching.
‘I’m not usually so clumsy,’ she tried to make light of the situation. Their eyes met and held. Everything stood still.
‘Come on, you need to get into dry clothes,’ Jasper quietly told her.
Adira nodded in agreement, unable to speak.
Chapter 16
Adira woke with the sun streaming through the camper van. Stretching lethargically, she contemplated what to do with the whole day to herself. Basking in contentment, she once again reflected on her previous lifestyle, where the alarm clock would shrill her out of a deep sleep. Adira had never been a ‘morning’ person. Her body clock had never been in tune with the five thirty a.m. starts. She pictured dragging herself out of a warm, comfy bed to wrestle with the early London traffic, then face another day in a dog-eat-dog environment. She grimaced at the memory. Literally feeling a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, she threw back the covers with optimism.
After breakfast, her thoughts turned back to the tombstone she had seen in St Jude’s graveyard. Ever since reading its inscription, a spark of inquisitiveness had ignited within her:Grace Conway, 1891–1941, devoted wife and mother.
The dates coincided with Edie’s lifetime – Adira knew Edie had been a war baby, born in 1941. How sad if Grace Conwaywasin fact a relative, dying the same year that Edie, her possible granddaughter was born. She made a mental note to ring and ask Edie how much she knew about her grandmother. All Adira knew was that her name was also Grace Conway. Hopefully Edie would be able to fill in the blanks. The thought that Adira had landed in Lilacwell, the very village where maybe a family member had lived, once again made her shiver. The whole scenario intrigued her, giving her a sense of validation; like she was meant to be here.
