Chapter 1 #3
They’d had this discussion over the phone before Jill went into the hospital, but Gaby wasn’t surprised she’d raised it again.
Gaby was always either working or rushing off to start a new job somewhere, and a two-week break was unusual.
Even when she did carve out time between jobs for what might loosely be considered a ‘holiday’, she usually spent it attending hospitality conferences or learning new skills or decamping to new destinations on her bucket list and checking out the best hotels and resorts and restaurants there, always hungry to absorb as much as she could about the industry she loved.
“Originally I only had a four-day gap between my Madrid contract ending and a new one beginning in Seville,” Gaby explained.
“When you phoned to tell me you’d received confirmation of your surgery slot, I hoped that might be enough time to help you through the worst of the recovery, but if you were still struggling after a few days, I’d planned to trigger a clause in my contract to get out of the Seville job for family reasons.
However, a week ago the Seville job fell through because the hotel I was supposed to be working at suffered a fire and roof collapse in their conference centre and they had to cancel all their bookings.
I would’ve been there for two months to manage their conference contracts, but as they’re now dealing with a serious structural emergency, they obviously don’t need me anymore. ”
“That sounds dreadful. I hope no one was hurt.”
“There were no injuries, thank goodness, because it happened overnight when the conference centre was closed.”
“That’s something, at least. But I’m sure you could’ve easily picked up work elsewhere if you’d wanted to.”
“I didn’t want to. I want to be here with you. Like I said, I would’ve triggered a clause to get out of the contract in order to be here with you if I thought you needed more help.”
“Well, while I’m certainly grateful to have your company and help, I would never have allowed you to break a work commitment in order to be here with me.
And I have no doubt you could’ve easily picked up another contract elsewhere after this Seville work fell through.
I feel sure I won’t need you running around after me for almost two weeks. ”
“Let’s just see how your recovery goes before you start deciding what you do and don’t need.”
“I don’t like the idea of stopping you from earning a living.”
“I’m choosing to be here. I want to be here. And as it happens, that nasty fire and roof collapse in Seville not only means I can come here without triggering contract clauses and letting people down, but it also means I can say yes to another opportunity that’s come up.”
Jill’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, do tell.”
“I’ve agreed to work a three-month contract with a cruise ship company, sailing from Southampton in two weeks’ time.”
Jill’s eyes lit up with delight at this news. “That’s fantastic, Gaby! You always said you wanted to do cruise ship work again sometime.”
Gaby had spent a year working on cruise liners in her early twenties and had loved it, but the lure of so many other opportunities and destinations meant she’d never pursued the chance to work in that part of the travel industry again.
The disappearance of the Seville contract gave her the freedom not only to come to Hamblehurst and look after her aunt for a while, but also to say yes to the cruise ship contract that would’ve been an impossibility had she already committed to Seville.
Breaking a contract for serious family reasons was one thing but breaking it in order to take a more attractive job wasn’t something that Gaby was willing to countenance.
Her integrity and reliability had taken her far in the industry and forged a reputation with hiring agents that she would never risk.
“The stars aligned in this case and I’m excited to do something different from the work I’ve taken on these last few years.
I’ll be working as a senior guest experience manager on board a liner called the Diamond Voyager, sailing from Southampton.
We’ll have three separate seven-day cruise holidays around the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean for the Christmas season.
I’ll be there for two months working on various cruise departures before we sail back to Southampton. ”
Jill looked thrilled and launched into questions about the cruise routes and the sort of work she’d be doing and what life would be like living and working on board. It was fun to chat about the exciting adventure that lay ahead, and Gaby was touched by her aunt’s enthusiastic interest.
“Well, it sounds like your selfless act in rushing here to look after me has opened up an opportunity that might not have come your way,” Jill said. “That makes me very happy.”
“Me too. And what will make me happier still right now is cooking a nice hot meal for you, Aunt Jill. You need to keep your strength up.”
“I am rather peckish. I heated up some soup at lunch time but after three days of hospital food, I’m in need of a good feed.
I did some batch cooking before I went in for surgery, and if you dig around in the freezer you’ll find some casserole things to choose from.
That will save you starting anything from scratch when you’ve only just arrived. ”
Gaby returned to the kitchen and soon found a spicy chicken casserole in the freezer. While it defrosted in the microwave, she put rice on to cook. Once the casserole was transferred to the oven to warm up properly, she carried her luggage upstairs to the guest room.
The room was bright and airy, just as she remembered it from the summer she’d stayed here when she was seventeen.
There had been redecoration in here too since her visit.
The soft cream walls were now painted a rich honey colour, and the pale blue carpet had been switched for a lush caramel tone.
The botanical-themed bedding looked brand new, and so too did the stack of sage green guest towels.
It was typically generous of her aunt to insist on fresh linens for Gaby’s stay.
The vase of pink roses on the white chest of drawers was a welcome addition. The bedside lamps created a cosy vibe. A luxury scented diffuser filled the room with a floral and feminine aroma that added the perfect finishing touch.
Gaby would feel entirely at home here.
That thought caught her by surprise. Moving from place to place several times a year for work meant she no longer thought of anywhere as ‘home’.
She rented carefully and affordably wherever she lived, usually opting for small units that provided little more than a basic kitchen and the minimum living and sleeping space required.
It was all she ever needed, because she enjoyed working long hours, and when she wasn’t working she was out exploring the city or destination where she’d landed.
The accommodations she rented were little more than a base and a place to sleep, and she didn’t spend money on unnecessary furnishings or accessories, not because she couldn’t afford to but because they simply weren’t needed or wanted.
She never thought of any of her rental accommodations as ‘home’. That the word had crept into her mind as she looked around the pretty guest room where she’d stay for the next few weeks was surprising.