Chapter 33
Alex looked at Hannah sitting next to him at the dinner table with concern and tried to cheer her up.
‘This is great,’ he told her, reaching for another slice of carrot cake.
It was true, he thought. The nutmeg and spices were an amazing contrast to the sharp but sweet icing.
Hannah smiled but he noticed that it failed to reach her blue eyes. ‘Thankfully there’s plenty to go around,’ she said, gesturing at the couple of cakes that she had brought in for dessert after dinner that evening.
He had caught her heavy sigh and wished that he some kind of magic wand to conjure up a whole load of new customers for the café to make it a success.
‘Is this my second?’ asked Ben, reaching out to take a brownie.
‘Third,’ said Lily, taking the brownie out of his hand. ‘This will be my second.’
Ben looked at his sister. ‘They’ll come, you know,’ he told Hannah. ‘The customers, I mean. It just takes time. Look at the hotel when we reopened it last year.’
Hannah nodded but didn’t look as if she believed him.
Alex wondered how he could take the pain away for her.
‘Any more of this and I won’t be fitting into my shorts this summer,’ said Lily, with a grimace. ‘No matter how delicious your cakes are,’ she added, reaching out to squeeze Hannah’s arm.
‘Well, you’ve got the perfect place to walk it off,’ said Walter, who had almost finished his chocolate cake.
‘Or swim,’ added Dotty, licking some icing off her finger and looking at Lily. ‘I think we’re up to seven people next week with Aimee again. Want to make it an even eight?’
Lily wrinkled up her nose. ‘I’m not that strong a swimmer,’ she replied.
‘At least they’re regular customers at the café,’ said Hannah.
‘So we need to fill up the café with elderly swimmers?’ said Ben, with a grin.
‘Excuse me?’ Dotty pretended to look affronted. ‘Who are you calling elderly?’
‘It’s certainly an idea,’ said Alex, his mind racing as he thought through the possibilities of bringing in more customers.
‘I’m not sure I’ve got that many friends, dear,’ said Dotty.
‘What I’m saying is that perhaps you should be utilising the lake a bit more,’ Alex found himself saying, thinking about the opportunities around Maple Tree Lodge and what that would mean for the success of the Boathouse Café.
Everyone turned to look at him.
‘What I mean is,’ he carried on, ‘I know how much I’m enjoying my morning swim. The setting is incredible. Seems a shame not to have more people using it.’
‘How?’ asked Ben, looking at Walter. ‘I suppose we’ve got those couple of boats.’
‘They’re hardly stable,’ Walter told him, making a face. ‘And one of them leaks.’
‘Anyway, I thought Del was bringing you some paddleboards. Isn’t that the latest fad these days?’ said Frankie.
‘It is,’ Alex told her, suddenly feeling inspired. ‘Actually, that’s a great idea. You’d probably need some safe areas, away from Dotty’s swim club,’ he added. ‘You know, you could even have classes for hotel guests.’
‘Are we talking about swimming or paddleboards?’ asked Hannah.
‘Both,’ Alex told her. ‘Why not utilise the water more?’
‘But why have it for just the guests?’ asked Faye. ‘I’m sure some local people would enjoy coming here. There always seems to be somebody on the river when I drive over it on the way to the supermarket.’
‘We could advertise locally,’ said Lily, looking at Ben.
‘So we’re going to have like a water sports centre?’ asked Frankie, looking confused.
Ben nodded. ‘Sounds a great idea but we just don’t have the money to invest in anything else.
That’s why I thought about Del and his cheap paddleboards which was a mistake.
We need proper equipment including wetsuits and all the other paraphernalia.
’ He sighed. ‘The trouble is that all costs money we haven’t got.
We’ve ploughed everything into the hotel and Boathouse Café.
Even the lodges will have to wait until we’ve got some more money as well. ’
The idea for lots more customers at the café suddenly dissolved and Alex caught the sudden downswing in the mood around the table.
It was such a shame, he thought. The Jackson family had always been so kind to him, especially these past five weeks when he’d been recuperating. How could he help them out?
And then he realised he knew exactly what the answer was.
‘I’ll do it,’ Alex found himself blurting out.
‘Do what?’ asked Ben.
‘I’ll be your not-so-silent partner,’ Alex told his best friend with a grin. ‘I’ve wanted to invest in something worthwhile for a long time.’
It was true. He had been considering various investments but had never come across a project that he felt passionate about until that moment.
‘Do you have that kind of money?’ asked Ben, frowning.
Alex nodded. ‘I’ve been sensible over the years so yeah, I have enough to invest in this. I reckon it’s right up my street with the health opportunities for everyone.’
Ben looked delighted and the family burst into life once more with excited chatter.
‘Oh, yes, this could be really amazing!’ said Lily, clapping her hands together in glee.
However, Alex noticed that Walter wasn’t smiling and was actually shaking his head.
He held up his hand to quieten everyone down. ‘I’m not so sure about this,’ he said. ‘It’ll disturb the guests for one thing. They come here for the peace and quiet, not all of that messing about.’
‘Grandad, I understand your concerns but we need this from a business point of view this summer,’ said Ben, looking serious. ‘You know how tight things still are for us all.’
Alex blanched at the honesty of his friend.
Grandfather and grandson exchanged a long look before Walter finally nodded.
‘OK. I trust you, Ben, to get it right,’ said Walter, still not looking pleased. ‘But I don’t want the place ruined. Folks should be able to eat their breakfast in peace in our hotel, not overlooking Piccadilly Circus out there.’
‘I understand,’ said Ben, frowning. ‘So how do we keep everyone happy?’
‘Why don’t you have all the swimming at the other end of the lake beyond the boathouse?’ suggested Dotty. ‘There’s that smaller beach there and it would be more private for the swimmers too. Not all ladies feel confident swanning about in their swimsuits, you know.’
‘Good idea,’ said Ben, nodding. ‘And there’s a clearing over there that we can use as a car park instead of the hotel one. That way it doesn’t impact the hotel guests.’
‘So what are we talking about?’ asked Alex. ‘Paddleboards and more swimming clubs?’
‘Absolutely,’ replied Ben. ‘With you running it, that is!’
Alex laughed. ‘I’m not qualified as either a lifeguard or a teacher,’ he told his friend.
But Ben didn’t look put off. ‘But you’d be free, right?’ he said, with a grin.
Alex was still smiling. ‘Is that my only criteria?’
‘Nonsense,’ said Faye. ‘I think you’d be an excellent teacher. You’re very patient.’
‘And you’re always harping on about the health and safety to me and my friends,’ added Dotty, with a wink.
‘But I’ve never even used a paddleboard,’ Alex told them. ‘I only know how to swim, run and cycle.’
‘Well, you can’t do that without some level of fitness,’ joked Walter.
‘And I’ll have to find some kind of lifeguard course,’ carried on Alex.
‘There must be some online that we can look up,’ said Lily.
‘So what do you say?’ asked Ben. ‘The job’s yours, mate, if you want it. Just for those summer months that you were struggling to fill, if I remember.’
‘And the weather’s going to be amazing, according to the papers,’ added Frankie.
Everyone turned to look at Alex.
‘There’s a lot to sort out,’ he told them before stealing a quick glance at Hannah but even she was nodding thoughtfully.
‘It might just bring in a few more people to the hotel and the café,’ she said quietly.
Alex looked at her and found himself saying, ‘Well, if it helps the café,’ he began.
There was a general whooping around the table as everyone began to talk at once excitedly.
He was somewhat surprised at himself. It was another impetuous decision. But as he felt Tiny settle down next to his feet, he realised that the dog had been another impulse choice and had worked out for the best. Perhaps he’d been sensible for so long that it was time for a change.
‘This is great,’ said Ben, getting up and coming around the table to clap him on the shoulder. ‘Thanks for the support. I think it’s a cracking idea. And who knows where it will lead?’
Alex glanced across at Hannah once more. Who knows, he thought, and found himself smiling back at his friend.