Page 39 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

Noah gave a shrug. ‘I had enough experience whenever Dad was too drunk to get to bed,’ he replied.

Ben frowned. ‘Yeah. I see. By the way, I’m sorry I couldn’t make the funeral last month.’

Noah thought back. Apart from Walter and Dotty, it had been a small affair. His dad had upset so many people over the years. He had always been seen as good for a laugh but not so great at repaying debts and had fallen out of favour with many so-called friends over the years.

‘That’s okay,’ Noah told him. ‘And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t make your dad’s funeral last year either.’

Ben took another spoonful of chocolate ice cream. ‘Every day has been a struggle since then, you know?’ he told him, his voice flat and sounding beaten. ‘I’ve been grieving as well as trying to keep this place afloat so everyone has a home. And I’m still not sure it’s been enough.’

‘The hotel’s in trouble?’ asked Noah.

Ben grimaced. ‘Yeah. I was in London, getting on with my life. I didn’t really think, or maybe I didn’t want to know, just how bad things were here. It was only after Dad died so quickly and I started to look through the accounts that I realised just what a state everything was in, especially our finances.’

‘That bad?’ Noah couldn’t stop himself from asking.

‘Awful,’ said Ben, with a heavy sigh. ‘Dad wasn’t a very good businessman, to be honest. He was a wonderful dad thankfully, but hopeless with finances. Anyway, the hotel had never been a great success but it turned out that in recentyears, things had become so bad that he had to take on an extra mortgage. We were up to our eyes in debt. Well, when I say we, I mean Maple Tree Lodge. Only Dad knew. I think Grandad suspected how bad things were but we’ve never really discussed it. I know what kind of stress it put on Dad’s health so I can’t put that on Grandad as well.’

Noah didn’t say anything, trying to take it in that Maple Tree Lodge could be a burden as well as a blessing as a family home.

‘It’s partly my fault,’ carried on Ben, as if to himself. ‘I should have known how bad it was. We nearly lost the lot. Can you imagine me telling Grandma and Grandad that they’ve got to leave the only home they’ve ever had? That Mum would have to leave her home so soon after losing Dad? Let alone Hannah, who never wanted to leave and go anywhere anyway? And now we’ve even got Frankie living here, although she’s a great comfort to mum and a brilliant asset behind the bar.’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t get me wrong, it’s home and I love it. But it’s not exactly been a party.’

‘But you’ve got guests now,’ said Noah, thinking back to what Walter had told him. ‘The Boathouse Café does good business. And the light festival has been successful, hasn’t it?’

Ben nodded. ‘We just sail so close to the wind every month. And these power cuts put us back in the red every time because we have to cancel bookings.’

‘Can’t you do anything about the power supply?’ asked Noah.

Ben grimaced. ‘You should see the quote I’ve just got for a generator. I mean, it would be brilliant going forward, especially when it kicks in each time the power gets cut. But it’s so expensive that it would be all of our summer profits wiped out just like that.’ Ben blew out a long sigh. ‘Just when it felt as if we were finally getting ahead. Those lodges are going to be needed more than ever. It was all my idea, you see. Still trying to be the architectI was all those years. I thought I could contribute to the place, bring in something new and maybe even leave a little bit of a legacy here as well. My contribution, if you will. Something that might just be standing here long after I’m gone. And yeah, we thought they might bring in a tidy profit as well. Apparently these kind of places are very popular to hire.’

‘Sounds like a decent plan,’ said Noah.

‘It was,’ replied Ben. ‘But the idea was that Grandad and I did most of the work to keep the costs down. The wood is free, obviously. Just the furnishings and fixtures that would need paying for. Get it done this winter and then start getting our money back as soon as we could next spring. At least, that was the plan. Trouble is, I’m not the one with the skills. Yeah, I can wield an axe but it was Grandad’s knowledge that even got this place standing up. I don’t think I’ve even got the skills to complete the roof on that first lodge, let alone three more just like it.’

Noah sat in silence as he thought about Ben’s words. The weight of responsibility hung over Ben in a way that he had never considered. After all, Noah had only ever had his dad to take care of. Ben had his whole family, their home and their livelihood to worry about. It was a lot for one man to take on, he realised.

Ben appeared to try and brighten himself up. ‘Don’t mind me. I’m just wallowing in self-pity. And probably shock from too much sugar.’ He pushed the ice-cream tub away from him across the table. He looked across at Noah. ‘Anyway, about what I’ve just told you? I’d be grateful if you could keep it to yourself. I try and keep as much of the worry as I can away from the family. There’s been enough loss for them to deal with. The business side is my inheritance, my burden to share. My problem, not theirs or yours.’

Noah thought for a moment.

Family was an alien concept to him. Andyet he felt for Ben. He had seen how close they all were. Then he thought of Walter’s words about family. His surname was Jackson, after all. Then he remembered Beth telling him that she thought he was cold and unemotional. It was how he had survived a childhood full of constant disappointment. But it had also made him lonely. Seeing the Jackson family so close to one another had only highlighted that.

Noah thought back to what Beth had also accused him of when she had been so cross upstairs earlier that night. She thought that he was selfish. But she also thought that the family needed him. Was it true? It certainly sounded as if Ben needed him and, in turn, the rest of the family as well.

‘What if I made it my problem?’ he found himself saying.

Ben looked at him, confused. ‘What are you talking about?’ he asked.

‘I’m talking about me giving you a hand around here,’ said Noah.

‘Well, any time you can give me before you leave tomorrow would be greatly appreciated,’ Ben told him.

‘And what if I don’t leave?’ carried on Noah.

Ben looked surprised. ‘I thought you had a job to go to.’

‘I forgot to tell you with everything else going on,’ Noah found himself saying. ‘My next job got cancelled. The boat isn’t ready yet for me to begin work.’

‘Uh-huh,’ said Ben, with a nod, still deep in thought.