Chapter 31
After the candle ceremony on the lake, everyone gathered in the lounge for a drink, clinking their glasses together as they all sat on the chairs and sofas in front of the fire to warm themselves up.
There was a feeling of peace and contentment, despite the sadness of the day that they had just endured.
‘I must say, I liked that floating candle,’ said Dotty, looking at Lily. ‘Wherever did you get the idea from?’
Lily explained about the H?i An lantern festival in Vietnam that she had told Ben about.
‘So there’s more than one floating light?’ asked Dotty, still a little confused.
Lily smiled and nodded. ‘Oh, yes,’ she said, drawing out her phone and showing Dotty the photographs she could find online.
‘Oh, that’s very pretty, especially when there’s that many on the water,’ said Faye, looking over Dotty’s shoulder.
‘The only thing they do on the water around here is the duck race on the river at Cranbridge,’ said Frankie. ‘Good fun but not as lovely to look at. Don’t suppose we could have a race here, could we? Bring in the punters?’
‘We can’t have a duck race on here,’ said Ben, laughing.
‘No tide or fast current for a start,’ added Walter, with a grin.
‘Well, there’s a very small current but it would be the slowest duck race in the world,’ said Ben.
It was good to see him and his grandad getting along so much better, thought Lily. They were even able to share a joke these days.
Faye sat back next to her and they continued their conversation.
‘So you think I should make a wreath for the front door?’ asked Faye. ‘When we open to guests, I mean.’
‘Of course,’ Lily told her. ‘Given your passion for floristry, I think it’s a great solution. We could wrap some holly over the fireplaces and beams. Even up the stairwell.’
‘I think that sounds great, Mum,’ said Hannah.
‘Oh, she’s not the only one I’ve got plans for,’ said Lily, with a grin. ‘I was thinking that when the lounge is ready, perhaps we could have a tea trolley where guests can help themselves to not only a hot drink but one of your delicious cakes as well.’
‘If you think they’d want that,’ muttered Hannah.
‘Of course they will,’ said Alex fiercely. ‘Nobody could ever turn down one of your cakes.’
Hannah smiled gratefully at him but Lily knew that her friend would need more encouragement to bake her cakes for anyone beyond the family. Thankfully everyone else thought it was an inspired idea and would keep encouraging her.
Hannah was also going to help Faye with the breakfasts, using the recipes that Jake had given them for some more updated menu items.
‘Evening, all,’ said Dodgy Del, wandering into the lounge.
‘Del! What on earth brings you here tonight?’ asked Walter.
‘I was just passing and thought I could drop off those strings of fairy lights that I promised Lily,’ said Del.
‘Talking of which,’ said Lily, standing up and looking down at Ben. ‘There was just one more thing, if you want to follow me.’
‘Uh-oh,’ she heard Ben mutter, as he too stood up.
She led him over to the far wall. ‘What are we going to do with this place?’ she asked Ben, opening the door to the snug.
‘The snug?’ he asked, looking surprised.
‘It’s hardly snug,’ she told him, heading inside and switching on the lights. ‘It’s actually a really great size.’
She could now see that it was actually a large room, despite the many boxes in there. It didn’t have any furniture but what it did have was a stone bar along one side and a couple of smaller tables piled up in a corner.
‘Was this ever used as a bar?’ she asked.
‘A long time ago,’ said Ben, blowing out a sigh. ‘I could ask Grandad. But it hasn’t been used for years, I reckon.’
Lily’s mind was racing as she turned around the room once more.
She could imagine leather sofas and darker walls, giving a warmth and maturity where the lounge could be sunny and light.
Perhaps even a snooker table, she thought, next to the armchairs and coffee tables.
It would be perfect in the summer with the view of the lake and the door open to the long veranda.
But she could also imagine the fire on in the winter, the sun low in the sky, cosy sofas and blankets and rugs softening it up.
‘Oh, no,’ she heard Ben mutter.
She turned quickly to face him. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘I recognise that look on your face,’ he told her, with a soft smile.
‘What look?’
‘The “this is going to cost me money” look,’ he replied, raising his eyebrows at her.
She laughed. ‘Listen, don’t you think the bar is a good idea?’
‘Yes, but…’ he began.
However, Lily was on a roll and interrupted him. ‘Imagine all our guests coming in here before dinner, spending lots of lovely money on drinks and then relaxing. Think of all that extra profit coming into the hotel.’
‘You’re just trying to tempt me with the thought of more money,’ he said, laughing.
Then his smile faded and his look was replaced by something more searing as he carried on staring down at her. Their eyes still locked together, she held her breath, his eyes glinting in the overhead light as time began to stand still. Her pulse began to thump as she looked up at him.
Suddenly all the lights went out and they were left in the darkness.
‘Del!’ came the usual shout from the lounge as Frankie raged about the power being shorted out again.
‘I’m going to have to sort out some kind of electric car charging system as well,’ said Ben. ‘If only for Del when he keeps coming over.’
They smiled at each other in the semi-darkness then took a step backwards, but all the time his eyes were dark and probing, as if asking her the question as to what happened next.
Then the lights flickered back on as Walter flipped the switch in the electrics cupboard and the moment was lost.
‘So, a bar, eh?’ said Ben, still looking at her.
Lily tried to cool her racing pulse. ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ she said, in an overly bright tone, still trying to concentrate back on the hotel and not the thought of standing close to Ben.
‘Staff is a problem though,’ he reminded her. ‘I’m not sure until we’re up and running whether our funds will be able to stretch to a full-time barkeeper. And where on earth would we find one anyway?’
‘Luckily I have just the solution to that particular problem,’ she told him with a knowing smile.