Page 16 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

‘We’re going to put up a small veranda here with a couple of seats so people can enjoy the view, day or night,’ Walter told him.

Noah wondered what it would be like to wake up every day with a view like that. For the peace and quiet which he certainly hadn’t been experiencing in the caravan which had been next to a busy road.

‘Who’s doing the building work?’ he asked.

‘Me and Ben,’ Walter told him with a grin. ‘As well as Alex. Although they both work under my tutelage,’ he said, laughing.

‘I’m sure it’ll be a real money spinner,’ said Noah.

Walter’s laughter faded a little. ‘Let’s hope so. Things are still pretty tight around here, even with all the recent renovations. After all, there’s a lot of us to support here these days.’

Noah realised for the first time the responsibility that Ben must be under. Hospitality was a tough business, especially in the modern climate. In that respect, businesses had to keepmoving forward. The lodges were an inspired idea and he was tempted to ask how much it would be to rent one for the weekend in the future.

It was strange that the hotel wasn’t doing as well as he’d thought. Now that it was Sunday afternoon, perhaps all the weekenders were leaving and the place quietened down during the working week.

‘Don’t know much about the hotel industry,’ he said.

‘Neither did my son,’ said Walter. ‘Put himself under too much pressure but some folks just aren’t the business type. Take your dad, for example. What did he end up doing for a job in any case? Last I heard he was running a bookies.’

Noah shook his head. ‘The last place Dad needed to be was in a gambling environment,’ he replied, with a grimace. ‘Dad never really settled at any job.’ Or any relationship either, he added to himself.

Walter nodded thoughtfully. ‘That wild streak in him, I guess. Never known anyone as restless as him when he was growing up.’

‘Except me, perhaps,’ said Noah.

To his surprise though, Walter shook his head. ‘That wasn’t messing around though, was it? That was survival, I reckon.’

Noah gave a start at the old man’s perception.

Survival was true, he thought. As soon as he had been old enough to take care of himself, he had done so. Because nobody else was going to step forward to do it anyway. Sometimes he had had to support his dad as well. But by the time he was sixteen, the sheen had worn off his dad’s endless roundabout of girlfriends and businesses, neither the relationships nor the money lasted for any length of time. It was then that he had left his dad behind and escaped to the seaside.

Contact had always been intermittent but he normally heard from his dad every six months or so. Thenhe had received a sudden phone call out of the blue when his dad had become terminally ill. He had needed his son’s help one last time, to be with him at the end. And Noah had done so willingly. He had felt a mug for doing so but like Walter said, it was a blood thing. Family. You had to do right by them because in the end you had to live with yourself later. His dad might have been deeply flawed but at his funeral, Noah had found himself thinking that he had no regrets regarding his own behaviour. He had been a good son. At least, that was what he was hoping had happened. And there was nobody to judge him now, in any case.

‘Listen, I know you’re planning on leaving today but at least stay for dinner tonight,’ he heard Walter say.

It was more of a command than an offer, thought Noah. In his hesitation to reply, Walter spoke on.

‘It’s roast lamb, my favourite, and Faye does the best Yorkshire puddings.’ He gave Noah a small smile. ‘One more day spent with your family. What more scary a thing have you faced than this?’

Noah laughed at his uncle’s piercing perception, however uncomfortable the thought of a cosy family dinner made him feel. ‘Okay. You win. I’ll head off in the morning though.’

‘If you want.’

Noah glanced around the empty shell of the lodge once more. ‘I wouldn’t mind spending a weekend here myself when they’re done,’ he found himself saying, glancing once more at the view.

Walter looked at him. ‘You’re welcome any time,’ he replied. ‘And you’re family so it would be free.’

‘Thanks.’

Noah knew that he would never take him up on the offer, no matter how tempting.

He had always envied the Jackson family their closeness but family wasn’t for him. The past had proved that.

8

Despite it being an unplanned visit, Beth had enjoyed her day at Maple Tree Lodge, as always, and found herself reluctant to head back to London that evening.

‘Why don’t you stay here for a few more days?’ Hannah told her. ‘Don’t go back to that grotty flat yet.’