Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,38

found lacking for years. She pretended not to care that the one person who should be her greatest confidante was her greatest disappointment.

Regret expanded in her chest and she dragged in a few deep breaths. Her mother had inadvertently driven her to make many mistakes. Then again, she should own the crappy things she’d done. She’d been responsible for driving Ruby away and if she could take back every bitchy thing she’d done or said to her, she would. Although she’d apologised, it didn’t seem enough. To Ruby’s credit, she’d forgiven her when not many would.

Frequenting the roadhouse was Jane’s way of saying sorry and as she glanced around the retro interior, she wondered if offering her design services would be another way to make up for the past. Then again, this place was often packed, so it probably didn’t need changing. Patrons loved the old-style charm just the way it was.

She spied Tash eating with her daughter and something Ruby had said, about the single mother being judged yet turning her life around, resonated. They had another thing in common too: Tash’s parents had abandoned their pregnant daughter and Gladys had virtually done the same to her but for different reasons known only to her mother. As Tash laughed at something her daughter said, hope expanded in Jane’s chest. Tash had definitely come out the other side after shoddy treatment from her parents and she could too.

With one eye on the door, she ordered a sav blanc from Aldo, the young guy behind the bar who always tried to flirt with her, before finding a table towards the back of the room. She’d barely sat when Ruby appeared from her office near the bar, caught sight of her and waved. Jane acknowledged the greeting with a wide smile, hoping Ruby could read her sincerity behind it. She really wanted to put the past behind them. That had been another reason Jane had chosen The Watering Hole for her meeting with Mason tonight: she wanted to confront her shame from earlier that morning rather than running from it. If she wanted to make changes, she had to face up to her failings and coming here tonight was a start.

Ruby wound her way through tables and stopped next to her. ‘Hey, how are you?’

‘Better than I was this morning,’ Jane said, gesturing to the seat opposite. ‘I want to say thanks again for making me brekkie and being a good listener.’

Ruby sat. ‘No worries. You look great.’

‘Thanks. I’m meeting Mason Woodley here to discuss his ideas for revamping the bakery.’

‘Mason’s back? Last time I chatted with Betty she said he loved Paris and wouldn’t return in a pink fit.’

‘They’re expanding, apparently. They’re buying the empty shop next door and plan on knocking down walls and creating a French vibe for the whole place.’

‘It’ll be a shame to see the old bakery go.’ Something akin to regret flickered in Ruby’s eyes. ‘It was one of my go-to places.’ A wry smile twisted her mouth. ‘Nothing a good sugar fix can’t cure.’

Guilt peppered Jane anew at the angst she’d caused Ruby in high school, but she didn’t want to dwell on the past, not when she intended to take charge of her future. ‘I know the feeling. Betty’s been a good friend to me over the years—always supportive.’

If Ruby wondered why a woman old enough to be Jane’s mother was one of her closest friends, she didn’t show it. Instead, she fixed her with a curious look. ‘Have you seen Mason yet? As I recall, you two didn’t get along too well.’

‘He had very poor judgement back then.’

Ruby laughed. ‘More like he was the only guy in school who didn’t fall at your feet and you hated it.’

‘That too.’

‘I wonder if he’s the same geek who used to help me with physics occasionally.’

‘He’s not,’ Jane said, trying to sound nonchalant—and failing, if Ruby’s widened eyes were any indication. ‘We bumped into each other at the bakery earlier today and he’s … changed.’

‘How?’

How indeed. Jane could wax lyrical about his broad shoulders, strong arms, dark chocolate eyes, tousled blond curls and chiselled jaw. Instead, she settled for a less telling, ‘He’s more mature.’

‘Aren’t we all? Is he still good looking?’

‘You thought he was good looking?’

Ruby nodded. ‘Yeah. He was quiet but had that whole smouldering look down pat.’

Jane hadn’t noticed. She’d been too hung up on the footy players and, in year twelve, she’d only had eyes for Connor. Mason had been an annoyance,