Page 30 of Just the Beginning

That stopped him short. Had his great-uncle confided in her? Surely not, because otherwise why would he have been so angry with Rick earlier? ‘How so?’

She gave him a puzzled look. ‘I mean, come on, Davy’s going to want to sell up and retire at some point, isn’t he? Whoever takes over will no doubt want to put their own stamp on the place. Plus there’s no guarantee they’d want to keep me on, or any of the other staff for that matter.’

‘No, I suppose not.’ Davy had told him he had things in hand for the future, and Rick hadn’t pressed him on it. It hadn’t really occurred to him that he’d sell the hotel, but what else would he do with it? None of the family were in a position to take over from him… unless Anya wanted to, he supposed. It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest that perhaps Davy would hang on to the hotel after he retired and keep Anya on to run it, but that would be disingenuous of him, if not a little cruel, to dangle such a carrot in front of her. ‘Do you have any idea what you want to do in the future, or is that just too much to think about right now?’ They were almost at the café, so Rick stopped because he genuinely wanted to know what her plans were.

‘Chloe wants me to go into business with her,’ Anya said, not sounding too sure about it.

Well that was interesting, and if nothing else it was as clear an indication as any that Anya might be looking at sticking around for the longer term. ‘Oh really? Doing what?’

‘She has this grand idea about us setting up an interior design business together. I’m not sure it’ll go anywhere, if I’m honest, but I’ve said I’ll make a few items she can sell in her online shop.’

‘Clothes, you mean?’ he asked, recalling what she’d said at dinner about making a lot of her own outfits when she was younger.

‘Maybe, but I’m more into home furnishings these days.’ She pulled a face. ‘Well, I used to be, at any rate.’

He pictured the living room at the summer house and how different it had looked from when Chloe had been there, even though the furniture was basically the same. ‘You made all that stuff I saw when I came over? The throws and cushions and what have you?’ He whistled through his teeth. ‘I thought you must’ve bought it in some high-end place in London.’

Anya ducked her head, but not quite enough to hide her smile. ‘Thanks. It was really a hobby more than anything, a way to keep busy. I loved doing it, but it was only ever for me.’

‘Well, I think you have great taste, for what it’s worth.’ It was pathetic, really, how pleased he was when that earned him another shy smile.Get a grip. ‘And you and Chloe working together sounds like a fantastic idea. Anything that breathes new life into the village is a good thing. We need more local independent traders rather than big chains taking over everything.’

‘Chloe thinks there’ll be a market for it with all the incomers buying up properties for weekend retreats and holiday rentals.’

Rick thought his cousin had a point. ‘I agree with her, plus now you’ve got your newfound plumbing skills you’ll be able to add that to your skill set.’ He let his lips curl into a teasing grin that widened further when she rewarded him with another of those joyful peals of laughter. He liked this back and forth with her. He likedher.

‘It’ll take a lot more than knowing how to clean out the U-bend under a sink! But we’d hopefully be able to get Ryan and Matt to give us a hand making a few bigger things.’ She coveredher mouth with her hand. ‘Listen to me getting carried away with myself. I haven’t even taken the cover off my sewing machine since I got here.’

‘You’ll get there,’ Rick encouraged, liking the way her eyes shone as she talked about it. ‘It’s good to have plans, something to strive for.’

‘Something to look forward to.’

He nodded. ‘Exactly. Look at me. I started out helping Mum in the chandlery on Saturdays to earn a bit of pocket money and now I run my own business.’

‘It sounds great in theory, and I want to do everything I can to support Chloe after everything she’s done for me; I’m just not sure how much I can practically achieve. Between work and taking care of Freya I’ll only have the odd hour here and there once Ryan and Matt sort out a workspace for us. And the fabric I brought with me will only go so far. Once I’ve used that up, I won’t be able to afford to buy anything new, not for a while anyway, because every penny is going towards supporting me and Freya.’ She sighed. ‘I can’t even afford to pay any rent on the summer house and Aunt Helen keeps accidentally’ – Anya put the word in air quotes – ‘buying too much in the supermarket and filling my freezer. I wish I could tell her to stop…’

She looked so stressed and sad it was all Rick could do not to reach out and pull her into his arms. ‘Give yourself a break. It’s only been a few weeks, Anya.’ He gestured towards the café just ahead of them. ‘Come on, let’s get some lunch.’

She shook her head. ‘I’m not going to stay. I know Davy said I could take my time but he was moaning about his hip aching earlier, so I don’t want to leave him on his own for too long.’ Tilting her head to one side, she gave him a considering look. ‘Did he mention anything about that when you were talking to him earlier?’

Nice try. He thought he and Davy had kept their voices down, but Anya had clearly caught wind that all wasn’t right between them. ‘Can’t say he mentioned it, but a few aches and pains are to be expected at his age.’ They reached the door and he held it open to allow her to walk in first.

The smile she gave him didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘Of course.’

She brightened up when they walked in and Issy greeted them with a smile. ‘Well, two of my favourite people at once, this is a treat. What can I get you?’

Anya perused the glass counter for a moment. ‘Can I have a chicken mayo and sweetcorn brown roll for me and cheese and pickle on white for Davy, to take away, please? And pop in a couple of those lovely-looking Bakewell slices as well, as a bit of an afternoon treat.’ She fished in her purse and pulled out a twenty-pound note which she offered to Issy.

‘You’re not staying even for a coffee?’ Rick asked, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

She seemed to consider it for a moment. ‘I suppose I could. If I rush back too early Davy will only accuse me of fussing again.’ She turned back to Issy. ‘Add a small latte to that, please.’

‘No.’ Rick stepped up to the counter. ‘The coffee is on me as it was my suggestion.’ He sensed Anya bristle beside him. ‘Sorry, is that me trying to be too helpful again?’

For a panicked moment he worried he’d killed the mood, until she quirked her lips in a half-smile. ‘Normally, I’d say yes, but as this is actually Davy’s money I’m spending it’d be a bit cheeky to insist on using it to pay for my drink as well.’ She turned back to Issy. ‘Make that a large latte, seeing as Rick’s paying.’

‘Serves me right, I suppose,’ Rick said, shaking his head in mock sorrow.

‘It does indeed. I’ll go and grab us a seat, shall I?’

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