Page 16 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

‘Toast would be lovely, thank you,’ said Lily. ‘Can I help?’

‘Oh, this is easy compared to the old days,’ Faye told her, with a wave of her hand. ‘I used to prepare breakfast for all the guests on the odd occasion when we were full.’

She sounded a little wistful and Lily guessed that perhaps Faye was thinking of her late husband. Perhaps it was a lot busier in those days.

‘I was thinking that it must be a beautiful place to wake up here every day,’ said Lily.

Faye nodded. ‘I thought so from the moment Tony brought me here. Ben and Hannah seemed to thrive growing up here as well. They were always messing about in the woods and on the lake.’

Gradually the family wandered in over the next half an hour to join them at the table for breakfast.

Frankie was first, heading straight for the coffee pot which had already percolated and was ready to be drunk.

Dotty followed almost immediately afterwards, greeting everyone with a warm smile. ‘Good morning, all,’ she announced, pouring herself a glass of cranberry juice before sitting down at the table. ‘I looked out of the window this morning and the maples are finally beginning to turn.’ She sighed happily. ‘What’s that quote? The leaves are changing and poetry is in the air.’

Frankie sat down with a large mug. ‘I don’t need an inspirational quote in the morning,’ she said. ‘I just need coffee.’

‘You should switch to rose tea,’ Dotty told her. ‘It’s a great anti-inflammatory.’

Frankie shook her head. ‘Caffeine helps maintain my sunny personality.’

‘Is that what we’re calling it?’ murmured Faye, giving her friend a smile.

Walter also wasn’t feeling particularly sunny when he joined them.

‘Nearly tripped over that damn scaffold in the hall,’ he said, with a scowl.

‘Did you hurt yourself?’ asked Faye, looking concerned.

‘Course not,’ said Walter. ‘I’ll be glad when the thing’s taken down though.’

Ben, who had followed his grandad into the kitchen, remained quiet as he helped himself to a mug of coffee.

Soon everyone was sitting down to eat their breakfast. Only Hannah was missing, obviously taking advantage of a lie-in after all the late nights at work recently. She had told Lily that she was exhausted, often staying late after closing time at the pub to help out with tidying up.

‘So how long is the hotel closed for?’ asked Lily, who had been wondering what extensive works had occurred so far.

The family turned to look at her as one.

‘It’s not actually closed to guests,’ said Faye in a faltering voice, flicking a nervous look between Walter and Ben.

‘Oh. Sorry,’ said Lily, feeling aghast at her error. ‘I just assumed with the building works…’

Her voice trailed off.

‘And that’s the problem,’ said Walter, with a frown. ‘Our guests agree. All this unnecessary building stuff is keeping them away.’

Ben said nothing but Lily noticed there was a slight shake of his head as if to himself. She could have kicked herself for creating more tension in the air before she talked to Ben about the commission.

Breakfast continued in a stilted silence as everyone finished their meal.

‘I need to go check on the sluices,’ said Walter, getting up from the table.

‘And I’m heading into Aldwych,’ said Frankie. ‘I need to go to the bank and see if they can lend me a million pounds.’

‘I’ll join you,’ said Faye. ‘I need some bits from the supermarket. What about you, Dotty?’

Dotty nodded. ‘I might come in and see what the charity shops have got in recently,’ she replied.