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Allie tilted her head. “Try me.”
“I was thinking I could drop down to working part-time on reception …”
“No,” Allie said slowly. “After all the work you’ve put in this last year—”
“I also did a lot of greenkeeping work,” Daisy said, interrupting her.
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“I really enjoy it. I know I don’t have any official training but I’ve been helping Grandad for years. He’s taught me all about it. I’ve even thought about taking a course, but I’m not sure when I’d have time.”
Allie’s eyes widened. “You want to continue doing greenkeeping work?”
“Ideally, I’d like to do both. Greenkeeping and reception. I also had this idea that if Grandad had me all trained up by the time he’s ready to retire, then I could take over from him. That way I could maybe take over the cottage too and he’d get to keep living there.”
It took Allie a moment to process everything Daisy was saying. “Ron can stay in the house as long as he wants to,” Allie said. “We’d never just kick him out.” She shook her head. “Do you really want to work on the grounds?”
“Yes. I know it’s traditionally a job for a man, but I can do it as well as anyone. I swear.”
“I believe you,” Allie said. “Of course you can do that if it’s what you want.”
Daisy glanced towards reception where the phone had started ringing. “Seriously?”
“Yes. Of course. And I really don’t think you need any formal training given your experience, but if there’s a course you want to take we’d fully support you to do that.”
“Oh my goodness.” Daisy put a hand to her heart. “I was so nervous about asking.”
“Why? I think it’s a great idea.”
Daisy’s eyes flicked in the direction of the ringing phone. “I need to get that,” she said excitedly. “But thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” Allie smiled as she was enveloped in a big hug.
“And don’t worry about Hugh,” Daisy said, breaking away. “I’m sure he’s going to call soon, and you’ll sort everything out.”
Allie didn’t quite have Daisy’s optimism and had begun to lose all hope of him getting in touch when her phone finally flashed with a call from him on Wednesday afternoon.
Sitting in her new office at the back of the clubhouse, she took a steadying breath before she answered.
Her heart was pounding but she managed to keep her voice even to ask how he was.
“Um …” He hesitated, which seemed like it could be a good sign. He missed her and was doing terribly. “I’m okay,” he continued. “I just have this … I mean, what I called for …” He growled slightly, sounding annoyed at himself for his lack of coherence. “I wanted to ask about Emmy’s birthday.”
“Right.” Allie had forgotten all about it. “Does she still want to have it here?”
“I tried to convince her to do something else, but she’s got her heart set on it. I know things are a bit weird between us, so if it’s not okay, I understand.”
“It’s fine,” Allie said, stubbornly ignoring the voice in her head that said it wasn’t fine in favour of the thought of seeing him again. “Which day? Saturday?”
“Yes.”
“That’s fine. Would she be happy to make it an early dinner so the place isn’t so busy?”
“That would be great.”
“Okay. I’ll speak to the chef and we’ll set something up. I’d say an hour on the driving range, and then food. I think that would work well.” It would also be a good trial to see if it was something they might offer generally.
“Thanks so much,” Hugh said. “Emmy’s really excited about it.”
