Page 68 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

‘Faye, what are you doing out in this weather?’ he asked, looking amazed.

‘It’s okay, Michael,’ she replied. ‘I’ve got our nephew here to keep me safe.’

Michael gave Noah a onceover. ‘Have you indeed?Come in, come in.’

Noah knew that he wasn’t technically Faye’s nephew, only Walter and Dotty’s. And yet, he felt warmed by her referring to him as such. Once indoors, Faye explained the parcels that Noah was carrying and the elderly man looked both pleased and a little teary. ‘My word,’ he replied. ‘How kind of you and the family, Faye.’

‘You’re welcome to come back with us and stay at the hotel until the weather clears up,’ replied Faye. ‘We’ve got power now thanks to Ben’s new generator.’

‘What an invite!’ he replied, with a smile. ‘But I’ve got my battery radio all set up and England are going to take the first test in the Ashes, hopefully. But I shall enjoy a hot meal and a cup of tea, thanks to you.’

Noah checked Michael’s fire which was cheerfully aflame on the opposite wall and went to fetch a few more logs.

He received a hearty handshake from Michael before they left.

‘Noah Jackson, eh?’ he said. ‘Glad to make your acquaintance, son.’

It was a familiar story as they went from house to house to check on their neighbours and friends in the close vicinity. Some had camping stoves all set in readiness for a power cut, others were grateful for the food and drink, even raving over the addition of Hannah’s cakes.

It was a couple of hours before they headed back to Maple Tree Lodge, empty-handed but pleased to have ensured that everyone would be having a hot supper that evening.

‘Not sure the power will be back on this evening,’ Ben told them when they arrived back at the hotel. ‘But the generator’s holding firm, thank goodness.’

They headed into the lounge to warm up in front of the large fireplace.

As Faye and Frankie updated everyone on their neighbours, Noah sank into a chair.

‘Here,’ said Beth in a soft tone as she placed a cup of tea in front of him. ‘I think you deserve it.’

She sat down next to him on the sofa and he was pleased that for once, she wasn’t in a talkative mood. He leant back and looked at the fire which was roaring in the nearby hearth.

He was feeling pretty mixed up inside. He had been a part of something good that afternoon, helping out the local community. And yet he had been a definite part of the Jackson family too. Everyone now knew who he was.

His gut reaction instantly told him to flee, to run away just like he had when he was sixteen years old, but he managed to calm himself down with a few deep breaths.

He relaxed and looked around the family as they all chatted. His family.

Normally the thought would unsettle him but, in that moment, he felt proud to share his name with such generous people.

He was starting to become a part of the Jackson family. And he was beginning to like the idea as well.

36

The following morning, Noah heard that the power had been restored to the local villages. He felt pleased for the local people that he had met the previous day, especially as it was beginning to turn colder after the storm.

The high winds had yet to die down though and so work on the lodges had to be halted for another day. He had intended to hunker down in the barn to spend the day working on his boat and yet, as he walked through the entrance hall on his way out, he found Lily and Dotty weaving a Christmas garland up the vast oak staircase.

Remembering his promise to Faye, he swerved into the kitchen instead and picked up the box full of the nativity scene to take with him to the barn.

Once there, he spent a surprisingly enjoyable morning fixing and restoring the figurines, first repairing any damage and then waxing and polishing them. It was therapeutic to work with any type of wood, he realised. But also to know that he was giving something back to the family Christmas, as he couldn’t stophimself thinking of the Christmas bauble that he had decorated all those years ago.

The wax brought up the beauty of the original colours and he returned the nativity to Faye, feeling pleased with himself.

She was thrilled. ‘Oh, Noah,’ she cried, when she saw what he had done. ‘It looks like new! Thank you so much!’

Faye had insisted on fixing him a delicious lunch and, buoyed up from good food and seeing the nativity placed on the reception desk in the entrance hall, he headed back to the barn with a spring in his step.

He had already replaced the frame of the hull and was sanding one of the new cedar planks that he had bought for the starboard side of the boat when the door to the barn opened later that afternoon.