Chapter 25
Hannah had begun her walk with Tiny when she realised that she had forgotten his treat bag. Being an oversized puppy meant that bribes were essential in case of any misbehaviour, especially where the wildfowl on the lake was concerned.
So she was just on her way back to the boathouse to grab them when she spotted Alex’s dad coming the other way.
Surprised to see him again so quickly, she walked up to him, hoping that nothing was wrong.
‘Hi again,’ she said with a smile. ‘Would you like me to bring you both a cup of tea? It’s really no problem. I’m sure you’ve got lots to catch up on.’
Alex’s dad looked a bit shocked. ‘Oh, no, thank you,’ he said quickly, with a frown. ‘I’ve got to get going actually.’
Given his angry expression, Hannah guessed that their meeting hadn’t gone very well. Alex had told her of his dad’s dismay when he had said that he wanted to give up competing but she couldn’t believe that he would take it that badly.
Alex’s dad gave her a nod as if to take his leave of her and started to walk away.
But Hannah found herself saying, ‘Please don’t leave. Not so soon and not like this.’
His dad stopped and turned around, looking surprised at her.
‘What I mean to say is that Alex is in a lot of pain at the moment,’ she began, blushing furiously. ‘So I’m sure he would want to see you, whatever he says.’
‘He hasn’t told me anything except his desire to give up competing,’ snapped his dad. ‘So what else is there to say to each other?’
His dad was looking upset but Hannah knew that she had to try to somehow bridge the gap that seemed to exist between them both. Because she cared for Alex, she realised.
‘He’s in pain,’ she told him. ‘And I think he’s a little lost too. His whole world has been turned upside down with this injury. He needs support, not blame.’
His dad raised his eyebrows. ‘This was all his own doing,’ he replied. ‘Alex chose to compete in that race. Against my advice, I have to add.’
‘He came here to help his best friend and my family,’ said Hannah. ‘He knows that the hotel is still struggling and he wanted to support us by taking part in the triathlon. Don’t you think that that’s worth more than any medal? That his kindness and the way he values his friends is more important?’
‘He doesn’t have the luxury of time to help people out when he should be competing,’ said his dad.
Hannah began to get a little cross. ‘Your son is one of the kindest, most generous people that I’ve ever come across. Despite being in pain, he’s been helping me out with the café paperwork because I’ve been struggling with it.’
‘Perhaps you should look to your own family for support,’ said his dad.
‘We do support each other,’ she told him. ‘Because we’re family. Could Alex say the same about you?’
His dad drew in a deep breath and Hannah wondered whether her loose tongue had gone too far in its temper.
‘Athletes like Alex have different kinds of goals,’ he replied after a short silence.
‘But life isn’t just about achieving goals,’ she told him. ‘It’s about kindness, support and friendship.’
‘But Alex is different,’ said his dad. ‘His athletic abilities are special. He has a gift. He should be using it, not wasting it in the middle of nowhere.’
‘But it’s the rest of him that’s special too,’ she told him. ‘Not just his athleticism, don’t you agree? Can’t you see that?’
‘I see a quitter,’ snapped his dad. ‘And that’s no good to anyone.’
‘Rubbish,’ said Hannah. ‘I suffer with dyslexia and he’s been helping me out with the paperwork for the café, otherwise I would have been a quitter too.
But let me tell you something,’ she carried on, getting up a head of steam.
‘If I had quit the café, my family would have been there for me every step of the way. Because that’s what families do. Support each other.’
His dad went to speak but Hannah found that she couldn’t stop talking now.
‘We lost my dad last year,’ she said. ‘And I would give anything to have him here now with us. Do you know how lucky you are? My grandfather can’t see his son any more. He doesn’t have that choice. You do and you’re still walking away from him.’
His dad huffed out a sigh. ‘Look, it’s complicated,’ he said.
‘No, it’s not,’ replied Hannah. ‘Alex is a credit to you, not a failure. It’s just a shame you can’t see him in that way. Because he’s amazing and one of the best men I’ve ever known. I’m so proud of him. You should be too.’
She turned on her heel and led Tiny away towards the boathouse. She was shaking with anger and found herself taking a few deep breaths along the way to calm herself down. She didn’t want Alex to know that his dad had been so cruel.
And yet, when she went into the boathouse and walked onto the balcony, she realised that Alex was hurting anyway. He was standing at the railing but when he spun around to look at her, she realised that the pain in his eyes wasn’t from his foot, it was from his soul.
So despite trying to keep him at arm’s length since her drunken kiss, she couldn’t stop herself from stepping forward to draw him into a hug.
‘I’m so sorry it didn’t work out with your dad,’ she murmured against his broad chest.
He squeezed her a little closer and she felt him give a shaky sigh.
‘We’ll work it out,’ she told him. ‘We’ll think of something to make him see it your way.’
She hated to see him upset, desperate to take his pain away from him.
Because she had meant every word she had told his father. He was good and decent and kind. And she was beginning to really care for him now.