Chapter 22
Despite his assurances to Ben that it wasn’t a problem to be staying on the whole winter at Maple Tree Lodge, Noah still had a couple of personal reservations.
He looked around the static caravan that he had rented for the past five months.
It had been fine enough for the summer months but now that it was the end of October, it felt cold and damp.
He only had a couple of weeks’ rent left before the caravan park closed for winter anyway, so he packed up his belongings into his pickup truck before leaving once more.
Not that he had a lot else other than his clothes.
He had always travelled light throughout his life.
He had lost too many toys growing up from moving around from place to place to care too much about possessions.
So he had nothing personal to show for his life so far except his tools.
He had worked hard for everything that he had bought himself and nurtured and cared for them as much as other people watched over precious antiques.
It had been a long day’s drive so by the time he had returned to Cranley, he found only Walter and Faye sitting at the kitchen table. Everyone else had finished their dinner and had headed into the lounge.
‘I’ve saved you a dinner plate,’ said Faye, getting up from the long oak table and collecting it from the oven.
‘That’s very kind,’ replied Noah. ‘And by the way, I wanted to apologise about refusing dinner last night. It’s not a reflection on your food and I really did appreciate the offer.’
He knew that the price to pay for staying at the lodge was that he would have to put up with the family gatherings all winter. He could cope with it for a few short months surely, he told himself.
‘It’s absolutely fine,’ Faye told him, as she placed a plate groaning with pasta and meatballs in front of him. ‘We all need a break from the family sometimes. It can be a bit much when everyone’s talking at once.’
‘Why do you think we live in the cottage?’ added Walter, with a grin.
Noah smiled and was silently thankful that they seemed to understand.
‘This looks great,’ he said, picking up his knife and fork. ‘Thank you.’ Before starting to eat, he asked Walter, ‘How are you?’
‘Not so bad,’ replied Walter, shifting the sling across his arm and shoulder. ‘And feeling better with the news that you’re going to be helping Ben out with the lodges.’ He gave Noah a teary smile. ‘Must say, that’s the best start to my recuperation I could have asked for.’
Noah felt a little embarrassed at Walter’s gratitude and began eating. As anticipated, the food was delicious.
‘I’m sure you’ll be a huge help,’ said Faye, with a smile. ‘Especially given your expertise in carpentry.’
‘Not so sure about that,’ replied Noah, after swallowing. ‘I only really know about boats.’
‘Rubbish,’ Walter told him. ‘You know about wood. That’s the most important thing.’
‘It’s certainly a vital skill,’ added Faye, nodding.
‘Absolutely,’ said Walter, with a hearty nod.
‘It’s important to have that connection to the environment, being in touch with the natural world.
Think of the trees that we’ve had to fell to make the lodges.
When you’re felling a tree and then planting another, you can’t think about instant results.
This is about the next generation. And then the one after that.
By the time Ben and Lily’s children are old enough, those saplings will be towering up in the forest along with the rest of them. ’
Noah stayed silent. He had never thought about having children of his own, too scarred by what he had seen through his own childhood. He had always wondered how rubbish a parent he would make, given his own experiences.
‘Maybe we’d better let Ben and Lily’s relationship just take its time,’ murmured Faye.
‘I won’t go on about it,’ said Walter, rolling his eyes. ‘What I was trying to say is that working with wood is about appreciating the past as well as the future. About what my family have built.’ He looked at Noah. ‘Our family, I mean to say.’
Noah’s food lodged in his throat before he could swallow. His family? It was still a new concept to him.
Walter nodded. ‘Our ancestors built this lodge. Your great-great-grandfather discovered it and hid out here after the horrors of World War I. Nowhere better to come and find peace, by my reckoning. If that’s what you’re looking for.’
Noah carried on eating but could feel Walter’s pointed stare on the top of his head.
‘It is lovely and peaceful here,’ said Faye. ‘That was my first impression, especially having grown up in a town. I’d never seen so many trees in one place in my life.’
‘The forest is incredible,’ said Noah.
‘It is,’ replied Walter. ‘But where you see just trees, I see a big elm near the water where my parents hung a swing for me and my brother to use when we were little. It’s about history, you see?
How the seasons roll on, ever onwards. Wood never dies, as you know.
A tree will die back in the autumn after putting on its glorious show.
But then, after it’s taken a nap over winter, it comes back to life.
Through the seasons, it keeps giving back.
’ He gave Noah a piercing look. ‘It gives hope that nothing is ever lost forever.’
They exchanged a look before Noah gave him a nod in reply and finished his plate.
‘That was delicious, thank you,’ he told Faye.
‘Thank goodness the power is back on,’ said Faye, with a soft smile. ‘Although we’ll need to replenish the food in the freezers.’
‘Not much point if we get another power cut,’ Walter told her.
‘Maybe you’re right,’ said Faye, nodding thoughtfully. ‘At least until the new generator arrives.’
‘Ben ordered it already?’ asked Noah, in surprise.
Faye nodded. ‘Just this morning. He’s so excited. That generator is going to make all the difference in the world. No more cancelling bookings for the guests.’ She smiled at Noah. ‘I think it’s given him, and all of us, to be honest, a real boost that you’re going to be helping out this winter.’
As Walter nodded his agreement, Noah felt the pressure of the hotel’s future success and could feel the stress it must cause Ben on a daily basis.
But then he thought about Walter’s speech about the family legacy and history. His own family history. And perhaps in his own small way, he could make his own contribution to Maple Tree Lodge and its future as well.