Page 87 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

‘Done,’ he agreed, with a nod.

It was a frantic three days to get the inaugural Dragonfly Lake Light Festival up and running. Music had to be found and speakers set up. Thanks to Dodgy Del, the sound system was soon organised. Advertising was the main thing but once an announcement had been placed on theCranbridge Timeswebsite, which covered the whole area, they were inundated with requests and bookings. In fact, they even brought in extra provisions for the bar in preparation.

‘This doesn’t mean that everyone will turn up,’ Ben told Lily, as she unpacked some more gin. ‘I’m still trying not to get my hopes up.’

‘You’ve always got to have hope,’ she told him softly.

And he was delighted when she reached up to kiss him on the cheek.

‘Yes, you do,’ he murmured, still feeling her soft lips on his skin.

If the light festival was a success, he was beginning to think that perhaps there was a future at the hotel after all. For everyone, including Lily.

44

The first visitors to the inaugural Dragonfly Lake Light Festival turned up at five o’clock. As it was the darkest time of the year, they had arranged for an earlier start as it meant that some preschoolers were able to come along on the Saturday night before their bedtime.

‘It really is a family event,’ said Lily, looking at the throng of families standing along the beach as she and Ben headed towards the boat underneath the boathouse.

She was so pleased that it was a good turnout.

‘I just hope they’re not disappointed,’ said Ben, looking nervous.

‘I just hope they don’t all drink Frankie’s newest cocktail,’ said Lily, shuddering in memory of the taste test. ‘I think it was the strongest one yet!’

Ben laughed and they climbed into the boat.

This time they had seventy or so candles to light up and so, once they were in the middle of the lake, they both brought out separate lighters.

‘Ready?’ said Ben, into his walkie-talkie, which they’d had to buy in deference to the complete lack of signal away from the hotel.

‘Ready,’ replied Hannah after a short pause.

They could both hear the soft music begin and that was their cue to get lighting the wicks of the candles. They then worked as quickly as they could, gently placing each light into the water and letting it drift away.

Just before Lily lit the last of the lanterns, she looked at Ben. ‘You know, they say that you should make a silent wish when you send one out across the water,’ she told him.

He glanced down at the lantern in his hand for a moment before nodding. ‘OK then,’ he said. ‘Together?’

‘Together,’ she agreed.

So they placed their lanterns on the water at the same time and gave them a gentle push away from the boat. In silence, they watched the steady stream of lights drifting across the lake. The only sound was the oohs and aahs as the audience enjoyed the view from the beach.

‘It’s so pretty,’ said Lily, with a smile, looking across at the baskets floating away.

The reflections of each coloured light appeared to double the effect which was very pleasing and added to the magic of the spectacle.

‘Hannah says she’ll take some photos from the beach for the website,’ said Ben.

‘You know,’ said Lily, looking at the lights drifting away, ‘we could use some different colours. Maybe even have themed nights.’

‘That’s an idea,’ said Ben.

As the lights floated away from them, they were enveloped back in the soft darkness of the winter evening. The stars peeped down on them through the holes in the clouds as they driftedalong on the water in the boat. Lily looked across the water and thought it was like being in a dream, both of them surrounded by fireflies.

In the soft light of the inky black, she could just make out Ben sitting opposite her. He was watching and smiling at her.

‘What?’ she asked.