Chapter 49
Noah spent the day in somewhat of a daze. He tried to keep busy working on the remaining lodges but his mind kept wandering back to holding Beth in his arms all night and he couldn’t concentrate.
His head swam from the inner turmoil. He had become way closer to Beth than he had ever intended.
He had been so determined to stay away from her.
He had broken every rule he had ever made for himself and yet, when they had been alone last night, nothing in the world would have stopped him from returning her kisses when she had lifted her face to his.
When his stomach rumbled late afternoon, he realised that he had worked through lunch without even noticing. But not able to live on just fresh air, he headed back to the hotel to find some food, hoping it would stir him out of his stupor.
However, upon arriving in the reception, he came face to face with Jeremy who was in the middle of telling a small audience about some kind of scientific breakthrough that he had made many years previously.
Noah scowled at him. Jeremy obviously felt threatened by Beth’s success and wanted to overshadow her at every opportunity.
He had just stepped forward, his mind reeling with every kind of punishment that he could inflict on Jeremy, when Ben rushed out from behind the reception desk and took Noah’s elbow and led him away and into the office.
‘Don’t worry,’ murmured Ben so that only Noah could hear him. ‘We’re about to have an unexpected double booking and he’s about to be thrown out of here. Then he’ll be away from your girl for good.’
Noah turned his head to look at Ben. Your girl? he thought. He took a deep breath. ‘You know that our romance is just for show?’ he said. But even he could hear the lie in his voice.
Ben looked at him for so long that in the end it was Noah that broke the eye contact first.
‘I thought we were becoming mates,’ Ben told him. ‘I thought you could trust me with the truth at least.’
Noah blanched. ‘The truth?’ he repeated.
‘That you’re crazy about her,’ replied Ben.
Noah wanted so much to open up to him but his head was so mixed up and whenever he felt like that he retreated into the depths of his past where he had managed to keep himself safe all these years by not trusting anyone.
Ben studied him for a long while before nodding. ‘Well, you know where I am if you ever want to talk,’ he said.
As Ben turned to walk away, Noah caught him by the arm. ‘Thanks,’ he said.
Ben reached out to squeeze him on the shoulder briefly before heading across the entrance hall to break the bad news to Jeremy about having to leave that afternoon.
Noah blew out a long breath of relief before abruptly turning back outside to head towards the barn, having completely lost his appetite once more.
He hid away from everyone, including Beth, in the barn working on the boat until it grew late and the skies had already become dark. As he walked back along the track, he was glad to see the first star appear in the sky with not a cloud to mask the view that night.
By the time he returned to the hotel, everyone was busy preparing for the meteor shower and he was able to avoid talking to anyone, especially Beth, as the crowds were beginning to gather in the reception hall.
However, he was able to wish her ‘Good luck’ briefly as they all headed outside.
‘Thanks,’ she replied before walking on.
It shocked him how much he wanted to reach out and hold on to her. To never let her go. And yet he forced himself to stand as far away from Beth as he could endure.
But although he couldn’t see her in the crowd, he had forgotten about the microphone and so he could still hear Beth’s soft voice as if she was standing next to him.
‘Good evening, everyone,’ she said. ‘And welcome. We’re starting the new year off with one of the strongest meteor showers of the year and, thankfully, the skies are finally clear!’
A huge cheer went up around the audience.
As Beth carried on explaining about what they were about to see, Noah stared upwards.
He tried to concentrate on the vast, dark velvet sky above, punctuated by the glittering constellations that he knew so much about now, thanks to Beth.
Would he ever be able to look at the stars again without thinking of her? He didn’t think so.
Suddenly, the first meteor streaked across the night sky and everyone gasped at the beauty and wonder of the spectacle that carried on for a couple of hours.
Finally, the celestial show was over and everyone headed back to the hotel, chatting excitedly about what they had just seen.
The remainder of the night was busy serving guests food and drink until, sometime after midnight, all the guests had gone to bed and it was finally just the family remaining in the bar tidying away.
‘What a lovely night,’ said Dotty, with a yawn.
Walter nodded. ‘Told you those skies would clear,’ he said to Beth, who reached out to hug him.
‘You were absolutely right as always, Walter,’ she told him.
‘Let’s not get too carried away by telling him that,’ said Ben, with a grin. ‘But before you all turn in for the night, there was just one more thing I wanted to say.’
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
‘I’ve been thinking today about family and how it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes,’ he began, glancing at Noah. ‘But primarily I’ve been thinking about love. And talking of that most important of subjects…’
Ben suddenly sank down onto one knee in front of Lily and held out a ring box which he had just brought out of his jeans pocket.
‘Will you marry me?’ he asked, opening the box to reveal a diamond solitaire ring inside.
He had barely got the words out when Lily shouted, ‘Yes!’ and leapt into his arms.
Suddenly the whole family were cheering, laughing and crying, all at the same time. Even Tiny the dog woofed his joy at all the merriment.
Noah felt over the moon for Ben and Lily. They were a perfect couple and suited each other so well.
‘Champagne for everyone!’ called out Frankie, and there was another cheer. ‘On the house, of course!’
‘How wonderful,’ Faye was saying, with tears streaming down her face. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’
Noah waited to take his turn to hug the happy couple and offer his congratulations.
‘Thanks,’ said Ben, clapping him on the shoulder.
As Noah released Lily, Ella stepped forward.
‘We’re going to plan the most fantastic wedding for you,’ she said. ‘Or rather I am. Oooh, I’m having a wonderful idea…’
Hannah, who was standing next to her, shook her head. ‘Can we just enjoy the moment for one night?’ she asked.
‘You can but I’m already planning the theme,’ said Ella, with a gleam in her eyes.
Ben groaned. ‘We should have eloped,’ he muttered. But his smile betrayed his words.
‘Don’t you dare,’ warned Dotty, hugging her grandson for the fifth time.
Alex slapped Noah on the shoulder. ‘Looks like we’re all going shopping for suits at some point in the near future,’ he said, with a grin. ‘We’ll even have to get a bow tie for Tiny! It’s going to be an amazing year.’
Noah revelled in the excitement and happiness of the occasion. This was his family, he realised. And he was a part of them now.
He had always believed that by letting anyone in, they would only hurt him. But Walter hadn’t. Ben hadn’t. And Beth wouldn’t.
He realised in that moment that the blame of his past lay with his parents, not himself. That he was free to love and be loved.
If only he could just take that one leap of faith with the right person, he thought, looking across to Beth.