Chapter Twenty-One
Sunday, 25 th June
A dull thump came from Stacy’s room, and Emily heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, Stace was alive and up. Emily abandoned her laptop on the coffee table and went to put the kettle on. All her instincts were screaming at her that something wasn’t right. Stacy coming back home on a Saturday night after a night out with David just didn’t happen – Pen ’n’ Paper was closed on Sundays, and even if David had to go to the hospital for some reason, Stacy would normally stay in Manchester in the hope of seeing him later in the day. And Stacy wasn’t the kind of person to stay shut in her room until nearly eleven on Sunday morning, either.
Emily poured water over Earl Grey teabags in two mugs, and stirred. She and Mo had gone to the cinema and then on for a pizza last night, and it had been almost twelve when she’d come home to find Stacy’s bedroom door firmly closed. And David’s shoes weren’t by the coatstand where he always left them. No jacket, either. Stacy was home alone…
Emily lifted the mugs and took them to Stacy’s bedroom door. ‘Got a cuppa here for you?’
The door opened, and Emily stepped back. Whatever Stacy had been doing in the past ten hours or so, it didn’t look as if sleep had played a big part in it. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, and her usually smooth complexion was blotchy.
Emily stepped into the room, handed over a mug and sat down on Stacy’s bed. ‘You look terrible. Come on. Sit down and tell me what’s happened. Is it David?’
‘Oh, Emmy…’ Stacy took the chair by the wardrobe, and cradled her mug in both hands as she spoke. Emily listened, struggling to keep her mouth shut. Hell – in comparison to David, scumbag Sam was beginning to sound like partner of the year.
‘…and in the end, I blurted out that I thought we should have a break to think things through. I don’t even know if we have a future together any more, Emmy. It’s a mess.’
Emily’s thoughts were whirling round indignantly. What she wanted to do was damn David to hell and then back again so that she could have another go at him, but saying that wouldn’t help Stacy now. She put down her mug and leaned forward to grasp Stacy’s hand.
‘You did the right thing, Stace. And what you need to do now is stop worrying about what David’s doing and thinking, stop worrying about all the what ifs, and use the time to work out what you want. It sounds to me as if he isn’t being honest with you about a few things, but I guess that’ll become clearer over the next few weeks.’
Stacy twisted her engagement ring round on her finger, then gave Emily a watery smile.
‘You’re right. He’s been the love of my life, Emmy, and I don’t want to give up on us before we’ve had a proper talk. I feel better now I’ve told you – it’s made things clearer in my head. ’
‘Good. But the way I see it, you’ve tried pretty hard to have a talk with David recently. I think you should wait three weeks at least before making any new plans for it. Concentrate on you. Do something exotic. Spoil yourself instead of saving every last penny for your bottom drawer.’
Stacy gave a half-hysterical giggle. ‘If my engagement falls through, I’ll be able to invite you on a world cruise in a luxury liner. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope we never set foot on board.’ She crossed the room and pulled a pair of jeans and a black top from the wardrobe. ‘I’m off for a shower. Then I’m going to pamper us both with some–’ She peered round Emily to see her alarm. ‘Some brunch.’
Emily gathered up the empty mugs. ‘You’re on.’ She wandered through to the kitchen, frowning. It sounded as if Stacy was still hoping to get things sorted with David. Well, all she could do was provide an ear to listen, and advice and opinions if she was asked. But a bit of spoiling wouldn’t do Stace any harm, would it? She went back to her laptop and opened up the Lakeside Hotel’s website. Seen in the light of Stacy’s problems, Alan’s suggestion was beginning to sound… possible. But it should be Stacy’s decision.
***
One long shower that used up all the hot water later, Stacy felt marginally better. Marginally. Okay, her life was in tatters, but a few weeks apart would make David clearer about what he wanted too, so she would take Em’s advice and try not to spend every waking hour thinking about it. It had all seemed so hopeless last night, alone in bed, not knowing if she’d ever share a meal with David again, never mind a bed, and wondering how to tell people they were ‘having a break’. It really was admitting you were in dire trouble, wasn’t it? Her mother was going to have kittens… And meanwhile, Emmy had Alan hankering after her, and even her confirmed bachelor of a brother and his girlfriend were looking at each other like two people who’d found what they’d always been searching for.
Stacy slumped, then set her shoulders and went through to the kitchen. Brunch.
Emily was at the table, jabbing away at her laptop. ‘Listen – Alan suggested something when he called last week. I said no – or at least, I said I’d think about it, and now I’m wondering if it would be a good idea for us both.’ She shot Stacy a wide-eyed smile.
Stacy broke two eggs into the frying pan. ‘So why am I getting the feeling I might not like it?’
‘You’d love it, but it would take a bit of effort and planning. You’re not allowed to say no straightaway.’
This was sounding increasingly ominous. Stacy abandoned the eggs and faced Emily. ‘I can’t say anything until you tell me what it is.’
‘A weekend break at Lakeside. Alan can get us a room for almost nothing, and if we fly out of Liverpool, we can get to Basle for almost nothing too, and he’d pick us up there. I think it would be fun. Shall we do it?’
Lakeside. A picture of the hotel slid into Stacy’s head, the old chalet, warm brown in the sunshine, the blue of the lake behind it and mountains in the distance – how good it would be to go back. But–
‘Oh, Emmy, wouldn’t it be better if you went alone? I’m sure that’s what Alan intended. I’d feel like a total gooseberry tacking along beside you and Alan, with him making eyes at you and you trying to decide if you should make them back.’
‘How many times? Alan and I are mates. Okay, he wants more and it’s not impossible that someday… Anyway, he’d be working some of the time, and we had such fun there, Stace. I’d love you to come. He did mention you and David coming when he suggested it.’
Stacy gave her a pointed look. ‘You can forget about David going, and Alan certainly meant us to come as a couple.’
She turned back to the eggs, frowning. On the other hand, a weekend break wasn’t forever, and she knew her way around Grimsbach and its surroundings. She could do some solo sightseeing in St Gallen, if Alan and Emmy needed time to work out what they were doing. She could walk along the lake path and enjoy the views of the lake; she could even take the boat across to Germany.
Emily was waiting, her face full of anticipation, and Stacy came to a decision.
‘Okay. Why not? I guess in the circs Mum and Dad would cover for me at the shop.’
‘Yay! Get going with this brunch, then. I’ll send Alan a message.’
Emily jumped up and swung out of the kitchen, barely a trace of a limp today. Stacy smiled, in spite of the gloom that was still heavy in her gut. Nothing like a spontaneous plan for a few days away, was there? Good for Emmy. And now that she wasn’t saving every penny for a few weeks at least, she would treat herself to something nice in the summer sales. She was going back to Switzerland. How cool was that?
***
Rico stepped onto the balcony, where his father was staring up the lake, a glass of iced tea in one hand and the now-usual deep lines criss-crossing his forehead. Dad hadn’t smiled for days after reading Grande’s casino proposal, but he was still set on moving his life back to the Ticino.
‘I’m disgusted – but that’s progress for you,’ he’d said on his return. ‘It’s a good offer, Rico, and unless something else comes up, I’ll accept it. I’m not upsetting my life plans to make a stand against a casino they’d only build further up the lake if they didn’t do it here.’
Rico could see his point, but it was still tough. They had until the sixth of July to accept the offer or refuse it, and the chances of anything else coming up in the space of a couple of weeks were minimal, weren’t they? And so far, Dad hadn’t been up for discussing possible alternatives.
Rico stood beside his father and leaned both arms on the wooden railing, the dry scent of the geraniums wafting all around him. Already the ‘this time next year’ thoughts were coming. This time next summer, he wouldn’t be standing on this balcony because the Lakeside Hotel would no longer exist. There’d be a building site here, and all the locals would be cursing Ralph in faraway Lugano. They’d be cursing him, too, for not taking over here.
Ralph stirred beside him, and Rico braced himself to make another attempt to change what was going to happen. ‘Dad? Any more thoughts about the sale?’ Was it even worth asking?
For a moment Ralph was silent, then he thumped so hard on the railing that the geraniums in their window boxes shivered.
‘Thoughts? Oh yes, I’ve had plenty of those. You asked me once what your mum would have said about selling the hotel.’ He stopped, his mouth working.
Oh no. Rico put a hand on his father’s shoulder. This was all too much for Dad, but while of course Mum would have wanted Dad to be happy, she’d have been horrified at the casino plan. In fact, it would never have come to this if she’d been here, would it? She’d have refused point-blank. And they’d have found another way.
But Mum wasn’t here now.
‘She would want us both to be happy. Okay, she wouldn’t want a casino built on her hotel, but, Dad…’
Ralph wiped his face with both hands. ‘I hate this too, Rico. But it’s too much money to throw back in their faces. Suppose we didn’t sell to Grande, suppose we limped on, making less and less money, and then went bust in three or four years? Because that’s what would happen without new energy and a new concept for the place. It’s a hopeless situation, son. Or at least–’ He caressed the balcony rail with a brown, weather-beaten hand. ‘It’s hopeless for the hotel. Not for you and me.’
So ‘all’ they needed was someone with hotel-concept ideas that would fit in with what Lakeside was now. Where did you find someone like that? A vague thought floated into Rico’s head. ‘A guy I was at uni with has a brother who’s an estate agent in Zurich. Why don’t I have a word with him? He might know someone…’ It didn’t sound likely even as he said it.
Ralph gave him the most cynical look in the world. ‘Someone who’s itching to buy a failing and elderly hotel? But have your word, by all means. I’ll wait until the last possible moment before accepting Grande’s offer, you can be sure of that.’
He trailed back into the living room, and Rico went to look out Fabian’s email address. Asking cost nothing.
The bar staff were rushing around with drinks and snacks when he went downstairs later. The terrace was doing pretty well by today’s standards, with half the tables occupied by people having lunch. They’d had seven bikers overnight to add to the four people who were spending next week here, whoopee. Guest numbers were back in double figures, but unless more bikers came tonight, they’d be back to breakfast for four tomorrow. His mother would be having forty fits if she was here.
Rico leaned on the bar to talk to Alan. ‘Did you ask Emily if she wanted to come for a weekend?’ And more to the point, was Stacy coming?
A grin broke over Alan’s face. ‘I did. She wasn’t sure at first, but she messaged earlier to say she was finding out about flights and would be in touch.’
Rico waited, but Alan had finished, and short of asking, there was no way to know if Stacy was coming too. And maybe it would be best if she wasn’t…
A message pinged into his phone, and Rico sat down at an empty table to read it. Fabian had supplied his brother Michael’s email address, but added that Michael was on holiday in Goa until Tuesday, so there wasn’t much point contacting him yet. Rico sent a thank you back, and saved Michael’s details. Maybe, maybe, hopefully, maybe. And now he was clutching at straws.
***
Emily jabbed at her laptop, and the printer whirred into action. She lifted the sheet of paper it spat out, and skipped – well, not quite, but she was skipping in her head, anyway – across the hall to tap on Stacy’s door.
‘Can I come in? I’ve printed out our itinerary. Next Friday evening, we’ll be drinking prosecco on the terrace at Lakeside.’
Stacy was slouched over her desk, but she reached out and took the itinerary. Emily dropped onto the bed. ‘You should get an early night. You still look like death warmed up.’
‘That’s what no sleep does to you. I’m trying to work out how to break it to Mum and Dad that David and I are having a break.’
Emily knew Janie. She was going to have a fit no matter how Stacy broke it. ‘Ouch. Will you do it tomorrow?’
‘I’ll have to. We’re working together nearly all day.’ Stacy glanced through the itinerary. ‘Looks okay. If Mum and Dad can’t cover for me on Saturday for some reason, I can ask Jo. She said before she’d be able to help at weekends if we needed it.’
‘I’m sure your mum won’t mind. So we’re all set. Stacy, I have a good feeling about this.’
Stacy laughed. ‘I’m glad to hear you so positive about visiting Alan – I bet he has a good feeling about it too! And thank you for cheering me up. I do feel a tiny bit better about things.’
Emily hugged herself. It was true, she was looking forward to seeing Alan. Things had straightened out in her head, somehow, since his visit here, especially since the way they’d parted. He might not be her Mr Right until the end of time, but he was a good bloke and she liked him. Whether they could build on that or not was in the stars, but another trip to Switzerland could clarify that. One thing was definite: she wasn’t going to let scumbag Sam dictate her life any longer.
She blew Stacy a kiss. ‘Glad to hear it. But never mind Alan, and never mind David, too. I know he’s still your fiancé, but he’s being a king-sized prat. If he behaves like this now, while you’re engaged – well, think about it, okay? I’m here if you want to talk. And remember – this weekend’s for you and me.’