Page 49 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

But for once, his mum’s cooking didn’t tempt Ben. And he found he had a much better idea. ‘Let’s go out,’ he told her.

Lily looked at him in surprise. ‘Out? Like this?’ She glanced down at her splattered clothes once more and laughed.

‘Well, maybe we’ll get changed first,’ he told her. ‘Come on. There’s a great Italian place nearby. My treat to say thank you for all your hard work.’

‘I’m not finished yet,’ she reminded him.

‘Thank goodness,’ he said to her. ‘Because as you know, I’m useless at interior design.’

She laughed. ‘OK, well, if you’re paying for dinner then it’s a date,’ she replied with a soft smile. There was a short silence as her smile dropped and she blushed. ‘I mean, well, you know what I mean,’ she stammered.

‘I do,’ he told her. ‘I’ll see you downstairs in half an hour.’

As she wrapped a piece of plastic around her foot to stop spreading the paint across the remainder of the bedroom floor and hobbled out of the room to clean up, Ben smiled to himself at her gaffe.

So, it wasn’t a date, he reminded himself. Of course it wasn’t. But still, the thought of having Lily all to himself made him rush through his shower and choose his clothes afterwards with more care than he had done for a long while.

24

Lily sat down at the small table for two in Platform 1, the Italian restaurant in Cranfield. It was only a quarter of an hour’s drive away from Maple Tree Lodge.

Ben had told her that it had been the waiting room of the old railway station and now she looked closely, she could see the memorabilia and posters that adorned the place. But in the dark evening, it felt warm and, dare she say it, even romantic. Fairy lights were strung all across the ceiling and along with the glow of the nearby fireplace, each table had a flickering candle as well.

She felt a little shy at sitting there alone with Ben, despite every other table being full.

‘It’s a good thing they had a cancellation,’ said Ben, picking up a menu that had been left on the table. ‘It’s very popular because the food is so delicious.’

Lily glanced at the plates of food that had just been served on the next table. ‘It looks amazing,’ she told him.

She glanced down at the knee-length skirt that she was wearing. It was only Ben and a casual meal out and yet she had found herself selecting her black V-neck jumper and suede boots with care. As well as rushing to wear a full face of make-up foronce. Her hair had only needed brushing but was still fluffy from the shower.

She looked across the table at Ben. There was no trace of the paint splattered t-shirt and jeans that he had been wearing only a short time ago. Now he was wearing a smart blue shirt and dark trousers, only his damp hair a reminder that he too had needed a shower before heading out.

He looked up at her from the menu suddenly and she was mildly embarrassed to have been caught looking at him.

‘What are you going to have?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know,’ she told him, immediately glancing down the options. ‘It all looks delicious.’

‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ said a man in a chef’s apron coming to stand next to their table. ‘You haven’t tasted it yet!’

‘Ryan! How are you?’ asked Ben, standing up to shake the man’s hand.

‘Good to see you, mate,’ replied Ryan. ‘It’s been too long.’ He then looked down at Lily. ‘Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m the owner and chef here.’

‘I’m Lily,’ she replied. ‘I’m helping out at Maple Tree Lodge.’

‘Yeah, I heard from Del that the place was being done up,’ said Ryan, nodding in approval before looking at Ben with a concerned look. ‘How are the family bearing up?’

Ben nodded. ‘They’re OK, thanks,’ he replied. ‘Early days and all that but battling on, as Grandad says.’

Ryan smiled. ‘Well, Walter was always a tough one,’ he said. ‘Send them my love, would you?’

‘Of course,’ replied Ben.

‘So what’ll it be?’ asked Ryan, nodding at the menu.

‘I was thinking about the risotto,’ Lily told him.