Chapter 45
Ben was delighted with the success of the lantern festival. So much so that they were inundated with requests for it to be held again the following weekend, especially from locals who had been unable to make the previous night.
‘The word’s got out,’ he told Lily. ‘Especially after all the photographs that were circulating online afterwards.’
‘We should make it every Saturday night,’ replied Lily. ‘That would appeal to those staying overnight and the locals will begin to think of it as a weekly event that they can come along to.’
‘I agree,’ said Ben, smiling at her.
He couldn’t stop himself from looking at her, sharing a secret look with her before she blushed and turned away from him as Walter joined them in the kitchen.
It was still a secret love. Each night, after the family had gone to bed, they would wrap their arms around each other and kiss until the dawn finally moved them apart. During the day, there were silent looks and snatched kisses when nobody was around.
Ben was falling in love with her day by day. He knew that she was still holding back a little, that she still didn’t wholly trust him not to hurt her. But he would spend the rest of his life proving it to her, if she would let him.
The Saturday night lantern festival became a huge draw for visitors during the remainder of January. They planned to change the lighting and music each month to update it for any frequent visitors.
‘We can theme it to the seasons,’ said Lily. ‘So January it can be greens, blues and pinks like the Northern Lights but on the water instead. Maybe there’s a way we can add some stars here and there as well.’
‘I’ll ask Grandad,’ replied Ben.
With Walter’s help, plastic stars were fixed upright on the floating baskets and added to the theme perfectly, along with many more baskets of candles to add to the spectacle.
Ben had also added lights along the jetty and around the veranda to add to the sparkle and ensure that the hotel was looking its best.
With the bar becoming busy with visitors each Saturday night, that added to the profits as well. Frankie had blossomed under stewardship of the bar and her banter and wit meant that there was always laughter and a festive atmosphere in the snug.
Hannah had gradually gotten used to baking for people other than the family and, after discussing recipes with Jake over the phone, had begun to create a different food menu for the bar each week. Ben loved to see his little sister slowly growing in confidence day by day.
When February began, Lily changed the lights to different shades of red to celebrate the month of Valentine’s Day and replaced the stars with hearts for a romantic theme.
‘Not that we need too much reminding of that,’ Ben told her, drawing her into his arms after they had lit the candles the first Saturday night of the month.
It had been almost four weeks of having her in his arms. Four weeks of a happiness that he never knew could exist. Four weeks of falling in love with Lily.
But best of all, as far as Ben was concerned, each Saturday night he got to watch the light festival from the best seat in the whole place.
Next to Lily, on the boat in the middle of the dark lake.
There they could kiss each other under the stars, wrapped up in their world of romance, surrounded by the candles shimmering on the surface and the reflected soft lights on the water.
With the light festival being so successful, they began to get more bookings for Saturday nights at the hotel with guests then adding Friday night to make a weekend of it.
Gradually the word began to spread across the area and beyond and it felt as if the hotel might just make it through the most challenging time of the year profit wise.
The icing on the cake would be the Dragonfly Dance, just around the corner on Valentine’s Day, thought Ben.
The tickets had now almost sold out with local visitors, but there was also a number of bloggers and influencers who had heard about the light show and wanted to come and stay for the weekend as well.
Consequently, they were almost full that weekend, which was unheard of so far.
Out on the water the weekend before the Dragonfly Lake dance, Ben checked his watch and groaned, pulling Lily ever tighter into his arms.
‘We have to go back soon,’ he murmured, bending his head to press his lips against her neck.
‘Mmm,’ he heard her say. ‘So soon?’
His reply was muffled by her soft skin. ‘Otherwise my family will start talking about us.’
Lily’s soft laugh made her neck vibrate and Ben sit up to look at her. ‘What?’ he asked.
She shook her head and reached up to stroke his face. ‘They might not be saying anything to you but there’s plenty being said to me behind the scenes.’
He was astonished. ‘Like what?’ he asked.
‘Like the fact that you’re so happy,’ she told him. ‘Like the fact that we spend far too long in this cold leaky boat when all the candles are already lit.’
‘Both of which have entirely plausible explanations,’ he replied, with a wink. ‘Good. I’m glad everyone knows.’
Lily’s smile dropped a little.
‘Don’t you want them to be happy for us?’ he asked her gently.
‘Of course, but I don’t know if I’m ready for all that attention yet,’ she replied, snuggling in tighter to him. ‘I like it being just me and you for the time being.’
‘That won’t change,’ he whispered, dropping his head down to hers and kissing her until he forgot all about his family, the hotel, profits and anything else.