Page 42 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

‘Well, if we get this right you’ll have the best recommendation from us,’ said Walter.

‘Where will you go?’ asked Hannah, looking concerned.

‘I’ve no idea,’ Lily replied truthfully, with a sigh.

‘You should stay on with us in the meantime,’ said Dotty, smiling warmly. ‘This place is beautiful in the summer.’

Lily shot Ben a quick glance. ‘That’s very kind,’ she began.

‘Perhaps Lily has other places she would like to go, Grandma,’ said Ben.

Dotty frowned. ‘But she just said that she had no plans,’ replied his grandmother.

‘Of course Lily is welcome to stay with us to help finish the hotel,’ said Ben. ‘And after that, it’s up to her.’

Walter nodded thoughtfully. ‘Well, we’ll be glad to have you stay on, however long that’s for.’

‘And I’ve decided that the first thing I’m going to do tomorrow is hang a brand-new door on the boathouse,’ said Ben, obviously trying to change the subject for which Lily was grateful. ‘Preferably one that opens from both sides.’

‘What for?’ asked Frankie, looking confused, despite the laughter around the table. ‘Who’s going to be using it?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Ben, his laugh fading. ‘I thought perhaps that in the future we could use the boathouse for something. That’s why I’ve made sure that the electrics and plumbing updates reached that far.’

‘I’ve always loved that building,’ said Dotty in a dreamy voice. ‘The view is one of my favourites.’

‘Mine too,’ said Walter.

‘So we’ll see it renovated as well very soon?’ asked Dotty in a hopeful tone.

‘I think we’d better do the hotel first, Grandma,’ Ben told her, looking a little pale. ‘Before the money runs out.’

‘Oh, we’ll be fine with Lily in charge of the interiors,’ said Dotty, looking not at all concerned. ‘I guarantee that the place will be packed with guests as soon as she’s finished making it look pretty.’

‘I hope so,’ said Lily, giving Dotty a warm smile.

She took heart from the fact that the family weren’t concerned that she no longer worked for the interior design firm. In fact, they seemed more interested and excited by the fact that she was staying on for as long as the updates took.

She was excited too, she realised. It wasn’t just about the job, whatever prospects it would bring her. She wasn’t quite ready to leave this warm and loving family yet.

She looked at Ben once more. He really was quite handsome, she decided as she watched him chat to his mum and Frankie. But it must have been just the strong drink talking, she thought.

After dinner, when the family took their drinks into the lounge, Lily stayed behind in the kitchen with Hannah to clear the table and load the dishwasher.

Lily sensed that Hannah was still upset about her lie and wanted to clear the air. But it was Hannah who spoke first.

‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about losing your job. Don’t you trust me?’ asked Hannah, once they were alone.

‘Of course I do,’ Lily told her. ‘And it was wrong of me not to tell you as soon as I found out.’

‘I should have known,’ muttered Hannah. ‘You’ve always been a little secretive with all of us.’

‘Not deliberately,’ said Lily quickly, anxious that she might have damaged their friendship forever.

She thought back to her conversation with Ben and decided that the time had come to be a little more honest with her best friend.

‘The trouble is,’ she carried on tentatively before hesitating.

Hannah watched her and said nothing, waiting for her to speak.