Chapter 23 #3
“It sounds wonderful,” Gaby said. “It will be beautiful once it’s restored. I’m sure any bride would be thrilled to get married here.”
“We hope so. And of course, we’ll develop our hospitality offers to complement the core aspect of our wedding business. But for now, we’re focusing on the refurbishment and bringing this place back from the brink.”
“Dad has adopted a no-expense-spared policy where the refurb is concerned,” Harry said. “I think he wants to send me to an early grave.”
Gaby laughed as Mr Goodwin grinned and slapped his son on the back.
“If anyone can make magic with the numbers, son, it’s you.
” He turned to Gaby, still grinning, and said, “My son is a financial genius. He knows every penny we spend here will be more than worth it. Once this place opens next summer, there’ll be so much money rolling in he won’t know what to do with it. ”
“That’s a fast turnaround,” Gaby said, glancing again at the building which looked like it would take years to bring back to life.
“The bones are good here,” Mr Goodwin said. “Most of what this place needs is cosmetic and our architect and builders seem confident that they’ll be finished by late spring.”
“I wish you luck with it,” Gaby said. “I’ll keep an eye on your company website and look for pictures once you open this place so I can see how it turned out.”
“Dad, I’d better get going,” Harry said. “I don’t want to keep Gaby any longer as she’s only here for one more night with her aunt before she leaves.”
“Of course not,” Mr Goodwin said. “Gaby, it was great to meet you, if only briefly. Thanks again for all your help this past week. We’re very grateful.”
“My pleasure.”
Gaby said goodbye and climbed back into Harry’s car. As they drove off, she looked back at the beautiful old house and saw Mr Goodwin going back inside with his clipboard and laser measurement tool.
“What a terrific project,” Gaby said. “Your father is right. That place is going to be beautiful once it’s finished and it will be perfect for weddings.”
“I joke about what this refurbishment is doing to our company finances, but I know it’s a solid move,” Harry said.
“No investment is ever guaranteed, obviously, but we’re all confident about this one, which is why we’re moving quickly with it.
My father’s been researching this place for a while and investigating costs and profit projections, but he only told us about it recently once he was sure of everything.
We’re all looking forward to adding something new to our family business. ”
“I really wish you lots of luck with it, Harry.”
He turned from the road to glance in her direction.
“I know you’re committed to your cruise ship contract, and you’ve already turned me down when I offered you a job, but when Maldon House opens next year, we’ll need a manager to run it.
If you think that’s something that might interest you, I’d love to talk to you about it sometime. ”
Gaby stared straight ahead as the rolling countryside sped past the windows and her mind turned again to the prospect of working here and staying here.
She couldn’t deny it was attractive. The Goodwins clearly knew what they were doing judging by the time she’d spent working in their hospitality businesses so far, and she could already imagine how magnificent Maldon House would look once it was reopened.
A job working for these people, and in this place, held an attraction she hadn’t expected.
But that was only part of it.
She was attracted to the idea because of Peter.
Beside her in the driving seat, Harry was still chattering about the new business venture and the job he promised would be hers if she wanted it. Gaby smiled and nodded along, her mind racing.
“Thank you, Harry,” she said. “I’m really honoured.”
“We’re a long way from thinking about hiring decisions for Maldon House, but maybe can I drop you an email once we reach that stage and find out if you’re interested?”
As that prospect was far off in the distance, she nodded. “Of course. Thanks for thinking of me.”
Harry turned onto Foxglove Street and they said their goodbyes and promised to keep in touch. Once he drove off, Gaby stood on the pavement for a moment and let out a slow breath.
After everything that had happened last night with Peter, and now this afternoon’s unexpected turn of events, her mind was literally spinning.
The door of her aunt’s house opened and Jill stood there smiling.
“I saw you getting out of the car and thought I’d save you the trouble of digging around for your key,” Jill said. “It’s lovely to have you back.”
Gaby smiled and went to join her aunt. She’d come here to Hamblehurst to help Jill and spend time with her, and yet she hadn’t seen her since yesterday morning.
With only a few more hours remaining until she left, it was time to focus her attention on her aunt and enjoy what time they still had together.
Joining her aunt in the house, she pushed thoughts of jobs in Hamblehurst—and more importantly, thoughts of Peter—firmly out of her head to concentrate on what really mattered.