Chapter 24
Gaby followed her aunt into the kitchen, where the kettle was boiling.
“I thought you’d like a coffee after your busy day spent working,” Jill said, spooning ground coffee into the cafetiere.
“Perfect,” Gaby said. “That’s exactly what I need to give me a kick after my late night and early morning start.”
“Did you and Peter have fun?”
“We did,” Gaby said, and blushed as memories of lying in his arms in his bed rushed through her head.
Jill smiled and started the coffee brewing. “I’m so glad you two reconnected. Do you think you’ll keep in touch once you leave?”
“Maybe. I mean, I’m sure we’ll send a text to say hello from time to time.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound very promising. I thought you’d got along so well.”
“We did, it’s just… it’s complicated.”
“Is it?”
Gaby sighed softly. “I think Peter would like there to be more between us than there is.”
“But you don’t want that?”
“It doesn’t matter whether I want it or not. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Jill poured the coffee and set the cups on a tray. “You don’t have to leave, Gaby. You can stay here if you’d like to. You must know I’d love it if you did.”
“That’s sweet of you, Aunt Jill. But I’ve got a job lined up and I’ve made a commitment. I can’t let people down. I’d love having more time with you here, but I have to leave and get back to work.”
Jill nodded to the tray for Gaby to carry it through. Once they were settled in the living room, Gaby sipped her coffee and let out a sigh of appreciation.
“Great coffee, Aunt Jill. So, how was your day yesterday? And how are you feeling today?”
Gaby listened while her aunt talked for a few minutes about what she’d got up to yesterday and the time spent with her friends. She was a changed woman from the one Gaby had found when she first arrived, the pain and discomfort of those early days after her surgery now thankfully in the past.
“… and after being out and about enjoying myself yesterday, I feel really good today,” Jill finished. “In fact, I expect I’ll swap my crutches for a single walking stick this evening and see how that goes. My knee is feeling better every day.”
“That makes me happy, Aunt Jill. It’s been a tough recovery.”
“But one made far more tolerable thanks to you being here and keeping my spirits up.”
“I abandoned my duties today and yesterday,” Gaby said with an apologetic smile.
“Nonsense. You’re simply in high demand. Oh, I haven’t even asked how the shift went this morning.”
Gaby filled her in while they finished drinking their coffee, telling her about the events she’d stepped in to manage and the birthday cake the kitchen staff had created at short notice.
“It sounds like it all went very smoothly,” Jill said. “It was good of you to step into the breach and help the Goodwins with these gaps in their staffing coverage, especially on a Sunday morning when you might have enjoyed staying in bed a while longer after being out late.”
“I committed to helping them today and I wasn’t about to let them down.”
“Very commendable. Considering how much help you’ve been, it’s a wonder they didn’t offer you a job.”
Jill laughed but the amused look on Gaby’s face must have given the game away.
“Oh! They did offer you a job, didn’t they?”
“Sort of. Harry Goodwin said something to that effect.”
“But you’re not interested?”
“It’s not about whether I’m interested. I’ve already signed a contract to work for the next few months on the cruise ship. Like I said, I’m committed and ready to go.”
Jill set down her empty coffee cup and gave her a thoughtful look. “Still, it’s nice to have options.”
“It is. And that wasn’t the only offer Harry made this morning.
When he drove me home, he stopped off to meet his dad at a new property they’ve bought and are redeveloping into a boutique hotel and wedding venue, and he said that once they open next year, he’d love to talk to me about running the place. ”
Jill’s eyes widened. “Well, that’s quite an offer.”
“I think so too. I was flattered.”
“Does it interest you?”
“It might. Until they’ve finished refurbishing the place, it’s hard to know for sure because I have no idea where I’ll be working by then and what other offers I might already have.”
Jill gave her a thoughtful look. “I suppose there are still so many places you want to go.”
“Yes, so many.”
“It’s an exciting life you lead, my dear. I just hope…”
When her aunt stopped talking and turned towards the window, Gaby followed her gaze, thinking Jill’s beloved wild birds must be putting on another entertaining show at the feeders.
But when she looked out the window, it wasn’t garden birds that she saw.
It was Peter, climbing out of his car and walking towards the house.
Gaby’s stomach flipped into a tumble of somersaults as she jumped to her feet.
“I think you have a visitor, dear,” Jill said with a smile.
“I have no idea why he’s come here!” Gaby said as she rushed to the window and looked out. “I didn’t invite him over.”
“Well, go and answer the door and invite that nice young man inside,” Jill said when the bell rang. “I’ll make myself scarce.”
“No, Aunt Jill, you don’t have to go!” Gaby said, instantly dreading time alone with Peter. Their parting last night was hard enough without going through it all over again.
“There’s something I need to take care of in the other room,” Jill said, already shuffling on her crutches in the opposite direction along the hallway. “Please say hello to Peter for me.”
As her aunt closed herself off in the back room, the doorbell rang again.
Flustered, Gaby quickly checked her appearance in the hallway mirror and ran a hand through her hair which was messy and tangled after her busy shift working at the Riverside Hotel.
She did her best to tame it, but without a brush handy it didn’t much help.
And why did she care what she looked like anyway?
Don’t ask stupid questions. And stop talking to yourself in the mirror. You look deranged.
Drawing in a calming breath, she opened the door, wondering what in the world Peter was doing here.