Page 21 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

Ellashuddered. ‘Agreed.’

‘My budget isn’t exactly going to afford me the Ritz,’ Beth reminded them.

‘Who needs the Ritz?’ asked Hannah. ‘Anyway, talking of hotels, why don’t you just stay here?’

Beth looked at her generous friend. ‘Because I can’t afford your room rate,’ she told her. ‘However tempting.’

Hannah shook her head. ‘I’m not talking about as a hotel guest. I’m talking about you staying in the spare bedroom in the family quarters. After all, you’re family.’

‘That’s a brilliant idea,’ said Lily, nodding.

For a brief, glorious moment, Beth was tempted. To live at Maple Tree Lodge was a dream come true. But it wasn’t a practical solution, however wonderful it sounded.

‘I can’t,’ she told them.

Hannah’s face dropped. ‘Why not?’ she asked. ‘The room would be free.’

‘Exactly.’ Beth looked at her friend’s kind face. ‘It’s not right. I can’t just stay here indefinitely like some kind of freeloader.’

‘Who said you’d be freeloading?’ said Lily, laughing. ‘We always need help around here with cleaning and tidying up the rooms.’

‘And you can give me a hand in the Boathouse Café,’ added Hannah.

‘So you’d be paying for your keep in kind,’ said Ella, with a nod. ‘Right, that’s bed and board sorted and you’re staying here for the foreseeable future until you’re back on your feet again.’

‘Now wait a minute,’ began Beth, shaking her head. ‘I haven’t agreed that I’m going to stay here next.’

‘Don’t you want to stay here with us?’ asked Hannah. ‘Tiny still has real abandonment issues if you’re thinking of leaving any time soon.’

The bump underneath the kitchen table as the enormousdog, hearing his name, stood up and hit his head made everyone smile, including Beth.

‘You know the answer to that already,’ replied Beth, reaching out to stroke Tiny’s head as he appeared from under the table. ‘But it still feels like I’m getting nowhere with my life.’

Lily held up her hand to quieten her. ‘Life happens. Coffee helps,’ she added, reaching out to pick up her mug of coffee. ‘Now, let’s get our hive mind on and work out what you can do for a job next.’

Ella nodded in agreement. ‘One hundred per cent agree,’ she said. ‘You need to take control like I’m doing. As soon as I’ve reached 250,000 followers I’m branching out on my own and leaving my job because that’s the next step in my plan.’

‘And what is your plan?’ asked Lily.

‘World domination,’ replied Ella, with a grin. ‘I’m going to make it a beautiful, stylish place and ban Crocs forever.’

‘I love my Crocs,’ said Hannah.

Ella frowned at her. ‘For the sake of our friendship, I’m going to forget you ever said that,’ she told her, before turning to look at Beth. ‘Right. It’s time to earn a living from that big brain of yours.’

Beth sighed. ‘I’ve tried, honestly I have, but nobody wants me or my PhD,’ she said.

‘Then they must be mad,’ said Hannah, reaching out across the table to squeeze Beth’s hand.

‘I agree,’ said Lily, before turning her head. ‘Hang on. I think there’s someone at reception. I’ll be right back.’

As Lily left the kitchen, Beth leant down to stroke Tiny’s fur as he slumped against her feet. However, she slowly became aware that Ella was scrutinising her in a measured way.

‘What?’ she asked. ‘Have I got something on my face?’

Ella shook her head. ‘No, I was just thinking how we can market you,’ she replied. ‘It’s my job so let merun with this for a little while. You’re young, bright and when you’re not dressed in those awful dungarees, you’re smoking hot too.’

‘They’re vintage Levi’s,’ protested Beth.