Chapter 22
Despite her conversation with Hannah the previous evening, the following morning Lily was still feeling a little sheepish about not telling the Jackson family that that she no longer had a job with Hans Haubermann.
But they had been so kind about her redundancy that she couldn’t help but feel enveloped by their kindness.
‘Losing your job is never easy,’ said Hannah over breakfast at the dining table. ‘I’ve been through quite a few jobs already as well.’
‘Mainly because they took advantage of you and worked you all hours until you couldn’t take any more,’ Lily reminded her.
Hannah gave her a sheepish grin. ‘Perhaps,’ she said.
‘But you’ve always had your family around you,’ said Lily. ‘And I can see why you needed them. They’re very supportive of each other.’
Hannah frowned. ‘And you didn’t have that?’
‘Sort of,’ Lily told her, with a small shrug. ‘To a point, in any case. But it was always about their careers and then mine too. So I tried to emulate them. But I’m not sure it’s quite me.’
‘Maybe now you’re staying, you can unpack everything you brought with you,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m not sure you’ve opened at least one of those boxes since the last move.’
Lily looked at her friend. ‘Is that your subtle way of suggesting that I move around too much?’
Hannah gave her a wink. ‘I didn’t plan on being that subtle, to be honest.’
Frankie had just come into the kitchen and came over to stand at the end of the table. ‘What’s all this about moving about?’ she asked.
Lily’s initial reaction was to baulk about opening up. But then she remembered her conversation with Ben in the boathouse. About the problems she had caused herself by not being honest. And she decided to take a small tentative step forward.
‘When I was growing up we moved around so often that I kind of got used to not having anywhere to call home,’ she said. ‘That didn’t stop when I moved to London. But I didn’t really enjoy it.’
‘I understand,’ said Frankie, for once looking serious. In a quiet tone, she carried on, ‘I know what that’s like. It’s disruptive, isn’t it? Lonely too because you never get to know anyone.’
Lily was startled and found herself nodding in agreement. ‘It was,’ she said. ‘Really lonely.’
She looked at Frankie once more.
Frankie saw the question in Lily’s eyes and sighed. ‘My ex-husband never could keep a job. Or his fidelity either, the big cheat. And that’s the polite version as you’re a guest here.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Lily.
‘I’m not,’ said Frankie, giving herself a little shake.
‘I’m far happier and better off without him.
Let me tell you something, ladies. Marriage is like a deck of cards.
In the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond.
But by the end, you just wish you had a club and a spade. To bury him, that is.’
Lily joined in with Hannah’s laughter but she was beginning to realise that Frankie used her humour as her protective armour.
‘You should join a dating app,’ Hannah told her.
Frankie made a face. ‘You first, sweetheart.’
Hannah shook her head. ‘No way. I’m happily single. What about you, Lily?’
Ben had just entered the room and for some unexpected reason she found herself blushing as he overheard the conversation.
‘I’ve been single for so long it’s a way of life,’ muttered Lily.
Frankie rolled her eyes. ‘Youth is wasted on the young, as they say. Get out there and live life. Change things up a bit, why don’t you?’
‘There’s been enough change in my life these past couple of weeks,’ said Lily, still avoiding looking at Ben. ‘Talking of which, and with regard to me being more open with you all, I’m going to tell Beth and Ella as well about my job,’ Lily told Hannah.
Hannah looked surprised but pleased. ‘Let’s do a group call,’ she said. ‘So we can all chat together.’
Lily nodded. ‘OK. You set it up. I’m going to ring my parents first.’ She checked the time and headed into the lounge to make the call to Australia.
She had decided that it was time to tell them the truth about her job. She had been dreading admitting that she had lost her job but to her surprise they were very supportive.
‘So what next?’ asked her dad.
‘Well, after I finish helping Hannah’s family here, I want to set up my own business.’ Lily still wasn’t sure it was exactly what she wanted but, as expected, they were thrilled with her ambition.
‘Our career girl,’ said her mum. ‘We’re proud of you.’
Lily’s smile grew a little rigid as she realised that she was still trying to be something else, something bigger, but at least being honest about losing her job was a tiny step forward in the right direction, wasn’t it?
The conversation with Beth and Ella was thankfully a little more balanced.
‘Listen, we’ve all lost jobs at one time or another,’ said Ella. ‘It’s rubbish but you’ll get another one. Especially with your skills.’
‘In the meantime, she’s staying put at Maple Tree Lodge to give us a hand,’ Hannah told them.
‘Excellent,’ said Beth. ‘Listen, I’ve got some holiday owing so I can come and help. Many hands make light work and all that.’
‘Great,’ said Lily.
‘Me too,’ added Ella. ‘I’ll come whenever I can.’
‘I love you guys,’ said Hannah, beaming.
‘Me too,’ Lily told them. ‘And I’m sorry I couldn’t be honest with you all before now.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Beth. ‘We’re your besties, OK?’
‘Exactly,’ added Ella. ‘We’ve got your back, and your front too.’
Lily felt the tears prick at her eyes as she realised just how grateful she was for her friends’ support.
Keeping the theme of transparency, Lily had decided to reveal her secret project to the family.
So later that morning, she asked everyone to follow her upstairs and showed them all the bedroom that she had been secretly updating.
She was relieved to see the family’s enthusiasm over the new colourful décor.
‘I like it,’ said Walter, nodding his approval. ‘Especially keeping that wall of wood.’
‘So do I,’ said Ben, with a smile.
‘I love the colour,’ said Hannah, reaching out to stroke the warm green of the painted walls.
‘But this isn’t finished, is it?’ asked Faye, looking around.
‘Not by a long shot,’ replied Lily with a grin.
She looked at Ben to help her out.
‘I’m getting in touch with the carpet fitters today so that we can get all the bedrooms kitted out,’ he said.
‘What colour carpets?’ asked Dotty.
‘A warm beige,’ Lily told her. ‘To match the wood in each room. Talking of which…’ She took a deep breath and looked at Ben. ‘There was another feature I wanted to talk to you about. Four-poster beds.’
Ben’s eyes widened as he glanced down at the divan bed, still covered up with its plastic wrapping. ‘The trouble is that I’ve just paid for all twenty new king-size beds,’ he began, looking stressed.
Lily put up her hand. ‘That’s not what I meant,’ she told him. ‘The beds are great but just a little bland. Not romantic enough. So I was thinking that perhaps you could add an oak frame around the new beds to make them into four-posters.’
Ben looked at his grandad with raised eyebrows. ‘What do you think?’ he asked.
‘I think we’re going to be busy, lad,’ said Walter. But Lily was grateful to see him smiling his approval.
‘You’re not the only ones,’ said Lily, looking at everyone else. ‘There’s an awful lot of plain walls that need colour put on them in the rest of the bedrooms.’
‘OK,’ said Faye. ‘Well, it’s not like I’ve got anything else to do.’
‘I’m at work at five,’ said Hannah. ‘But am around until then.’
‘And my artistic talents are crying out to be used,’ added Dotty with a warm smile.
They all looked at Frankie, who had remained quiet until then.
She made a face. ‘Well, I’ve just checked my bank account. Unfortunately I’ve worked out that I’ve got just enough money in my savings to retire early and live comfortably for about two minutes. So I suppose I’d better help you!’
As everyone laughed, Lily found that she was grateful for her secret designs being out at last.
She glanced at Ben and found him smiling back at her. Perhaps, she thought, the fresh start for the hotel might just be a new beginning for her as well.