Page 59 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

‘I would but I recognise that look in your eyes,’ he said, laughing softly. ‘So tell me, what are your plans for in here?’

‘Similar vibe to the one I want in the bedrooms,’ she told him. ‘Luxe cushions, blankets, all-round cosiness. Lots of hurricanelamps and soft lighting. Luckily the wood adds so much comfort and decoration that we won’t need to do too much painting in here.’

He nodded. ‘Sounds great.’

‘But you’re going to be needing a long ladder because I’m thinking lots of fairy lights entwined around all those lovely oak beams up there,’ she carried on.

He looked up and she heard him groan. But, to her pleasure, he didn’t protest. Finally, they were both on the same side, she thought with a smile.

She looked down at the table and idly picked up the small wicker basket that Walter had brought in earlier. Faye had turned it into a fruit bowl and it was filled with apples and pears.

‘This basket is so clever,’ she said, admiring the neatness of the entwined tiny branches.

She wanted to talk further with him but they were interrupted by the rest of the family and friends joining them in a noisy fashion.

‘That was an excellent dinner,’ announced Alex, sitting down on the opposite sofa.

‘I thought you only ate anything healthy and yet I’m sure you helped yourself to a second serving of Hannah’s chocolate cake,’ said Jake, sitting on a nearby armchair.

Alex glanced at Hannah as she sat down nearby with Frankie. ‘Well, it was too delicious to resist,’ he muttered.

As the conversation continued, Lily carried on watching Alex and saw the touch of rosiness in his cheeks. She guessed that it had nothing to do with the welcome heat of the fire and more to do with the look that he had just given Hannah, who had completely missed it as she laughed and joked around with Jake.

Lily smiled to herself. Alex’s secret was safe with her. But she made a note to casually ask Hannah about him at some point in the future.

Walter sat down next to Alex and smiled at Lily when he saw the wicker basket in her hand.

‘Still admiring my handiwork,’ he said.

She nodded. ‘Of course,’ she told him. ‘I still can’t believe that they float.’

‘You don’t trust me?’ asked Walter, raising his grey eyebrows in good humour.

‘Of course I do,’ she told him truthfully.

Later on, as the mood became more lively after Frankie’s cocktails were all finished, a rousing game of Monopoly was taking place on the large table.

Lily took advantage of the family’s laughter to talk quietly to Ben where they were sitting by themselves on the sofa.

She hesitated before speaking. ‘Your mum told me that it’s your dad’s birthday tomorrow.’

Ben took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly and nodding. ‘We’re going to the graveyard in the morning,’ he said. ‘Put down some flowers. Don’t like it there, to be honest. It’s too cold and impersonal. This hotel is a better memorial to him, I always think.’

There was a short silence as he looked deep in thought.

‘You know, when I was growing up, my dad was stationed in Vietnam for a year. We went to H?i An one weekend,’ she told him, thinking back. ‘They have a famous lantern festival at night there. Boats and everything else is decorated. It’s so pretty. But what they do have is some floating candles that they set off down the river. It was supposed to pay respects to people’s ancestors.’ She looked at Ben. ‘Perhaps we could do that tomorrow evening, if you’d like.’

He looked started. ‘A lantern festival?’ he asked, with a confused expression.

She smiled and shook her head. ‘I mean, set off one of your grandad’s floating baskets across the lake with a candle. We could light it as a way of paying our respects to your dad.’

For a second, he looked nonplussed and she expected him to laugh at her. But instead, he nodded slowly to himself. ‘This place meant everything to him,’ he finally said. ‘And with Grandad having made the basket, I think it’s a lovely idea.’

Lily felt pleased, hoping that the small ceremony might just take away the pain of the anniversary.

So they ran the idea past Faye and Hannah when they had the opportunity, both of whom approved of the gesture.

‘I think it’ll be lovely,’ said Hannah, looking teary.