Page 38 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

She stalked over to the sofa and flung herself on it, knowing that sleep would elude her for hours yet because she was still so upset.

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Noah sat on the bed watching Beth as she pulled a blanket over her head, feeling stunned by her anger towards him.

He thought about what she had said to him. Yes, of course he kept everyone at a distance, including his extended family. But wasn’t it completely obvious why that would be? They all knew his history, after all.

It was hard growing up knowing that your own mother didn’t want you. Even his dad didn’t always want him around either. So he kept everyone away before they inevitably let him down. Because that’s what everyone did.

And yet, despite feeling trapped into staying at Maple Tree Lodge, he cared that he had upset Beth. And he felt rattled too. So rattled, in fact, that he couldn’t sleep.

Her words came back to him. What was it she had called him?You’re unwilling to think about anyone and anything other than yourself, she had said. Selfish. And other words.

He didn’t like the thought of upsetting gentle Faye either. Perhaps that had been wrong of him.

The trouble was that nobody could understand what it hadbeen like for him growing up. He had had to take care of himself and he had been doing it for so long that it had become second nature. He wasn’t used to family dynamics and sharing his life with anyone.

He didn’t answer to anyone, and that included Beth, and yet he continued to mull over her words. He lay there for a while, hearing her toss and turn. In the end, he got up from the bed, slipped on a sweatshirt and went downstairs. He just needed to be anywhere other than near Beth’s silent disdain for him.

He headed downstairs in the darkness. What he really wanted to do was leave and never come back, to run away as he had done from his dad all those years ago.

However, he had made a promise to Walter that he would stay until the storm had passed. The wind was dying down outside but he couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Walter and it was too early to rouse him. Too early to make his escape. He just needed to get through the sleepless night until it was time to say his goodbyes and leave Maple Tree Lodge.

Deep in thought, it wasn’t until he was downstairs in the entrance hall that he saw a light glowing in the kitchen. He had intended to go into the lounge, hoping that the fire was still burning low, but instead he went towards the kitchen, thinking that somebody had left a candle alight and went in to blow it out.

Assuming the room was empty, he was surprised to find Ben sitting at the table, surrounded by candles and tubs of what appeared to be ice cream.

Noah thought that perhaps he should walk away and leave him in peace but Ben looked up and spotted him.

‘You couldn’t sleep either?’ asked Ben.

Noah shook his head, thinking that his cousin looked in as much emotionalturmoil as he felt.

‘Come in,’ said Ben, gesturing at the table. ‘Grab a spoon and dig in. It’s all defrosting anyway.’

Noah went across and sat on the opposite side of the table. The hour was late but he thought Ben looked particularly tired that evening, as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Noah grabbed the nearest tub of melting ice cream and took a few spoonfuls of delicious salted caramel. His stomach rumbled with the lack of dinner and he instantly regretted turning down Faye’s offer. Another regret over many that he had with himself, he thought.

‘I keep thinking about Grandad after his accident today,’ said Ben, suddenly into the silence. ‘He looked so frail lying there on the ground.’

‘He’ll mend,’ replied Noah. ‘He’s pretty tough.’

Ben sighed. ‘He’s not as tough as he thinks he is,’ he said.

‘Are any of us?’ Noah told him softly.

Ben nodded thoughtfully. ‘I know. It just reminds me of his age, although don’t tell him that. By the way, thanks for all your hard work today clearing the fallen trees. It’ll help get things up and running a lot quicker.’

‘No worries,’ replied Noah.

They ate in silence for a while until Ben spoke once more.

‘I hated to see all this go to waste.’ He gestured at the ice cream. ‘Not that it was going to get eaten anyway. We’ve had to ring round all the people due to stay this week. Who knows when the power’s going to go back on, so we can’t let them come here if it’s not safe.’

‘You can’t make do?’ asked Noah. ‘I mean, you are in the middle of the countryside. Surely this happens from time to time.’

Ben shook his head. ‘No heating. No lights. Can’t make itwork unfortunately.’ He looked downcast and sighed to himself before he caught Noah’s eye. ‘By the way,’ he added, ‘I didn’t have time to say thanks for giving me a hand helping Grandad to the taxi yesterday. You were pretty handy in an emergency and I was grateful, to be honest.’