Chapter 23 #2
“You dealt with the clients with confidence and made them feel valued and that counts for a lot.”
“I’m just glad I could help.” She glanced back at the Riverford Hotel before she climbed into the car. “And this is such a beautiful place, Harry. It was a treat to work here.”
“That’s a nice thing to say. My family are really grateful for the help you’ve given us and they wanted to make sure I told you that.
And I’m the most grateful of us all. With no slack in the system and everyone completely busy with their own work, it would’ve been me who had to step in to deal with these event management jobs that we couldn’t cover.
I would’ve floundered trying to handle most of the problems that came up and which you took in your stride. ”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t have floundered. You’re a smart guy and you would’ve worked it out.”
He shook his head as he started the car and drove out of the car park. “No, I’m the numbers guy and the financial whizz. Actually running the show in our restaurants and hotels and pubs is absolutely out of my comfort zone. I would’ve been lost. You saved us and kept our guests happy.”
“I know you stuck around during the shifts I worked in case I needed advice about the ins and outs of your systems. That gave me peace of mind while I got on with it.”
“And yet you didn’t have to ask me a single question. Honestly, I’m so impressed Gaby. I only wish we could keep you and offer you a job with us.”
Gaby laughed. “You don’t need me. Your regular member of staff who runs event management will be back soon, right?”
“Well, we thought so, but now we’re not so sure.
Her mother is fully on the road to recovery after her accident and time spent in hospital, and we actually expected her to come back to work this weekend.
But she asked for more time off and when my father spoke to her about time-scales, she asked about options for going part time.
My father got the impression she’s rethinking her priorities and perhaps doesn’t want the responsibility of the management side of the job after all. ”
“It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.”
“Anyway, we think there’s a good chance we might be looking at a staff vacancy soon, so if you’re interested, we’d snap you up in a heartbeat.”
He glanced away from the road and waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh.
“I’m flattered, Harry. But you know I’ve committed to the next few months working on a cruise ship and I’m pretty excited about it.”
“I understand. But if you get seasick on board and have to bail out and find another job, you know where we are. We’d bring you into our team and make it worth your while, too.”
Gaby laughed. “I appreciate that.”
She did appreciate it and she was flattered.
It wasn’t unusual for her to be offered a permanent job when her temporary contracts came to an end.
She did excellent work and was always a valuable addition to whatever team she found herself working with, and she’d had several great offers over the years to stay on and become a permanent member of staff.
But she always turned those offers down because she liked to keep moving and there was always an exciting new destination and new job already organised and waiting for her.
It was wonderful to be asked to stay, but she rarely gave those offers a second thought, even when she especially loved the city or resort.
The lure of the next adventure always kept her moving on.
So why was it that this casual offer of a job from Harry Goodwin actually had her contemplating the idea of staying here?
She let it sink in for a minute. Was that really what she was doing?
Yes, she was. She was actually imagining what it would be like to stay on here in Hamblehurst.
The realisation left her stunned.
She’d said goodbye to some of the most beautiful places in the world over the years—Rome, Florence, Seville, Barcelona, Sydney—despite being offered great terms to stay.
And yet this vague offer of a job that would keep her in this little sleepy market town in the English South Downs was actually giving her pause for thought.
Clearly the sleepless night she’d spent had scrambled her brain. Why on earth would she want to give up the entire world for this quiet corner of Hampshire?
Because of Peter, that’s why.
She shut down the thought before it could take root. The idea was madness. She just wasn’t thinking straight. The combination of lack of sleep and busy morning spent working had left her addled.
Harry’s phone rang and he jabbed at the dashboard screen to accept it. Gaby was glad of the distraction from her ridiculous thoughts as someone else’s conversation filled the car, making it impossible for her to dwell on her mad notions.
“Hi, Dad,” Harry said.
“Hi, son. Where are you?”
“I’m on the road and driving Gaby home to her aunt’s house. She just finished managing our two events at the Riverford.”
“Thank you, Gaby. Harry tells me you’ve been indispensable. We’re all so grateful.”
“I’m glad I was useful,” she said.
“Harry, I’m glad I caught you on the road.
Is there any chance you could stop off at Maldon House on your way back into Hamblehurst?
There’s a box of stuff in the boot of my car that your mother needs at the Stables, but I just got here and I’m busy taking measurements.
If you’re passing and you could pick up what she needs, it will save me having to stop what I’m doing and drive over there. ”
Harry turned to Gaby. “It’s a ten-minute diversion out to Maldon House from where we are. Do you mind if we detour?”
“Not at all,” she said.
“Thanks,” Harry said with a smile. “Dad, we’ll be there shortly.”
“Thanks, son, and thanks Gaby. See you both soon.”
At the next junction on the country road, Harry flicked on his indicator and took the turn, speeding past open countryside and rolling fields of pasture.
“So, what’s Maldon House?” Gaby asked.
“It’s my father’s latest stroke of genius and which will either kill him or kill me,” Harry said with a laugh.
“Maldon House is an old run-down country pile that my father believes can be turned into a lucrative boutique hotel specialising in weddings. And he might just be right if it doesn’t bankrupt us first. My parents are the visionaries where it’s concerned and I’m the unlucky dupe who has to make the numbers work. ”
“That sounds like a fun project.”
“Fun is the word my parents would use. Ulcer-inducing is the one I’d pick. It’s going to cost us a fortune.”
Gaby laughed. “But you think it will be worth it?”
“My parents have been working in this business all their lives and they’ve never been wrong about anything.
I think they’re right about this and I happen to think my father has found a real gem in this place.
But it’s still a lot of money to invest and it’ll tie up our capital for a while before we see a return.
I thought my parents would want to ease into retirement at this point in their lives and hand things over to me and my sisters.
Instead, they’re throwing themselves head-first into one of the biggest projects they’ve ever taken on. ”
“That sounds like a great attitude to have. As someone who’s always moving on to the next big thing in life, I approve.”
Harry laughed and turned the car down a lane. At the end of it stood Maldon House. When he parked and they got out, Gaby looked around and instantly understood the attraction of the place.
The house was run down, even from the outside that was obvious, but it had a grace and elegance that was just crying out to be restored to full its glory. Sitting amid overgrown gardens and surrounded by ancient woodland, the place was brimming with character and history.
Harry’s father emerged from inside the building with a clipboard and tablet device tucked in his hands.
He waved and walked over to greet them both, and after saying hello to Gaby and thanking her again for all her help at their venues, he exchanged a few words with Harry about the boxed items he wanted him to take back to Hamblehurst.
While father and son transferred the box of things from one car to the other, Gaby couldn’t help admiring the beautiful old building they were restoring, with its soft golden stone and tall windows and excellent aspects.
“It’ll be a beauty once we’re finished,” Mr Goodwin said to her, smiling proudly as he too gazed at the house. “It’s a crying shame it’s been left empty for so long, but it’s in good hands now and we’ll turn it into a wonderful asset.”
“Harry said you plan to specialise in weddings here?” Gaby asked.
Mr Goodwin nodded. “Given the layout and size, we think that’s the best way forward to make it work. It will still operate as a small luxury hotel for general visitors, but we’ll target the wedding market to maximise profit with the function rooms we’re designing.”
She followed him as he walked back towards the building, intrigued.
“This space here will cater for weddings up to one hundred and twenty guests,” he said, pointing to the eastern side of the house.
“And the room at the other side will cater for smaller celebrations up to sixty guests. The hotel will have twenty bedrooms, including two bridal suites. And out here in the grounds, we’ll landscape it all to make it look pretty for wedding photographs, add in some rose gardens and whatnot.
If you peek around the corner, you’ll see there’s a small orangery still standing which we think could be a big selling point once it’s redeveloped.
We could serve reception drinks there and have a place for guests to mingle outside in the garden before they sit down to the wedding speeches and meal. ”