Coming Home to Ottercombe Bay: The laugh out loud romantic comedy of the year. Bella Osborne

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       Chapter Five

      Back in the pub, Max was just finishing his Diet Coke and still chuckling about Daisy when Jason came in wearing tailored shorts and a neatly ironed polo shirt.

      ‘Perfect timing, it’s your round,’ said Max meeting his friend at the bar.

      Jason glanced skywards. ‘I doubt it but what are you having?’

      ‘A pint please.’ Monty was already on the case without the order having to be relayed. ‘You won’t believe who just bought me a drink,’ said Max raising one of his eyebrows.

      ‘I like quizzes,’ said Jason. ‘How many questions can I ask?’

      Max rolled his eyes. ‘Bloody hell, Jason, just give me some names.’

      ‘Okay, okay. Is it someone famous?’

      ‘No, and it’s not twenty questions, just guess already.’

      ‘Someone who looks like the photofit of the bloke who stole the gnome from the garden centre?’ Jason was a police officer who was keen to work his way up the ranks.

      Max was shaking his head in despair. ‘No, and that was just someone who left it on the bottom of the trolley and forgot to pay.’

      ‘This is what happens. Common crimes start to become acceptable and before you know it you have a crime wave on your hands. It’s like insurance fraud. Years ago nobody would have dreamed of putting in a false claim but nowadays practically everyone falsely claims for a new camera and sunglasses on their holiday insurance.’

      ‘You included.’ Max gave him a knowing glance.

      Jason looked outraged. ‘Good God, how many times have we had this conversation? I left my Ray Bans on the bus in Tenby and nobody handed them in.’

      ‘Yeah, that’s what they all say. But you, an officer of the law. Tut, tut, tut,’ said Max loving every minute of winding up his friend. ‘One last guess, I’m getting bored now.’

      Jason’s expression changed to one of serious concentration. ‘Right. I’m going to say … my mother?’

      ‘No. Daisy Wickens.’ Max leaned back on the wooden chair and put his pint to his lips all the while watching Jason’s reaction. Jason’s face lit up and he searched the pub, his eyes darting about before they came back to Max.

      ‘Really, where is she now?’

      ‘Dunno, she got the hump and left.’

      Jason frowned. ‘Did you upset her?’

      Max took a long slow sip from his pint and then placed it back on the table.

      ‘Not intentionally,’ said Max, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

      ‘Bloody hell, Max, do you get some sort of kick out of upsetting people?’

      ‘No, she’s always been a stroppy mare. She used to swan about for a couple of weeks each year like she owned the place. One minute she’d be hanging around with us, the next she’d ignore us. I can’t cope with that.’ He knew too well what sort of person she was. She was fickle and never lasted anywhere more than five minutes and those sorts of people were always going to hurt you eventually. He’d had it happen too many times – first his mother, then his father and more recently a now ex-girlfriend. If someone wasn’t likely to be a permanent feature in his life then he’d learnt, for his own self-preservation, to keep them at a distance.

      ‘I always liked her,’ said Jason his gaze drifting to his shandy. ‘She went through a lot with her mum and everything. She was only a kid.’

      ‘We all have stuff in our past that could mess us up, Jay. It’s no excuse.’

      ‘Agreed. But she was nice to me, you know, she’d show an interest. Didn’t mock like some.’ He СКАЧАТЬ