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“I don’t even understand why you’re suddenly so bothered about profits. The place has been ticking along fine for years. You’ve always said it’s profitable enough, given how little effort you invest in it.”
“I’d just like to get a better picture of what’s going on there,” her dad said evenly. “All I really know is what Kevin tells me, and I’m not sure how accurate his assessments of the business are. Plus, whenever I venture out there, the staff are all on their best behaviour, and I’m never there for long enough to figure out what’s really going on.”
“But why now?” Alegra complained, hoping she was wrong with her theory that his health problems were worse than he was letting on. She had a horrible feeling this was him getting his affairs in order.
Her dad stared at his shoes, his silence making her nervous. “Maybe it’s time to sell the place. This little health scare got me thinking, and … maybe it’s time.”
“Okay.” Alegra swallowed her emotions. “That’s fine.” Actually, it was more than fine. She’d been nagging him to sell the place for years. “But why are you so concerned about profits if we’re going to sell it?”
“It makes sense really.” Bella rocked back in her chair. “You’ll get a better price if revenue is increasing and the books are in good shape.”
Alegra mulled it over and quickly concluded that wasn’t the real reason. Especially given the way her cousin was avoiding eye contact with her dad. The two of them were in cahoots. Alegra was sure of it.
“Look,” she said after a prolonged silence. “I’ll go to Devon and check things out. If you insist on it, I’ll even pretend to be a waitress for a week or two …”
“A month,” her dad said forcefully, making her roll her eyes before continuing.
“I’m not agreeing to that,” she said, “but I will go. I’ll go because it’s clearly important to you. But I need you to respect me enough to tell me why I’m going.”
Keeping her eyes locked on her dad, Alegra rudely hissed at Bella when she tried to speak. If she was going, her dad needed to give her more than his flimsy reasons.
“Fine,” he said after a moment. “Wanting to find out how that place ticks is only part of it …” Alegra had a good idea of what he was going to say next and was suddenly unsure if she wanted to hear it.
“I think it would do you good to go back there. Ever since your mum died, you’ve acted as though the place didn’t exist. It can’t be healthy to shut out an entire chapter of your life. You had a good childhood in Hope Cove and I don’t understand why you always refused to go back there.”
Because it would hurt too much, she thought, while releasing a frustrated sigh. “Are you really thinking of selling it?”
“You know I’ve only hung onto it for sentimental reasons. I am thinking of selling it, but I don’t want to do that without giving you a chance to take a proper look around the place. Which is another reason I think working in the restaurant will be good. You can get a real feel for the place without people falling over themselves because you own the place and because …” He trailed off.
“Because I’m Alegra Harris?” she asked, her left eyebrow twitching. “How’s that going to work, by the way? Even if people don’t recognise my face, my name is fairly distinctive.”
Again, her dad waved a hand dismissively. “I told Kevin your name is Allie. I also said you’re just there on a trial basis to start with and that I’d deal with the paperwork. He shouldn’t ask too many questions.”
“It’s also not as though you’re mega famous,” Bella put in. “Famous golfers aren’t really proper celebrities.”
“Thanks,” Alegra said mockingly. “But I did get quite a lot of publicity if you recall.”
“That was ages ago. You’re overestimating people’s attention spans.” Bella winced. “Sorry.”
Instinctively, Alegra’s hand went to massage her shoulder. The painkiller she’d taken with breakfast had taken the edge off, but the pain was still there – a dull ache which was her constant companion.
“I’ll be spending my time at a golf club,” she said. “I think the chances of nobody recognising me are slim.”
“Just give it a go,” her dad said wearily. “If the incognito thing doesn’t work out, so be it, but go and spend a bit of time there.”
“I’ll go for two weeks and then we sell the place. That’s my offer.”
Her dad chuckled. “You’ll go for a month and then we’ll discuss selling.”
She moved to kiss his cheek, noticing that he made no move to stand, just as he hadn’t when she’d arrived. “Take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“Love you,” he said.
“You too.” She tipped her head at Bella, indicating she should follow her.
“And have fun!” her dad called as she left the office with Bella behind her.
“You’ll keep an eye on him, won’t you?” Alegra said as the two of them headed for the back door. “Let me know if there’s any change in his health. I’m not convinced his blood pressure tablets are working properly. If he’s unsteady on his feet or has any more dizzy spells, let me know straight away. And insist on him seeing the doctor again if you think he needs it.”
