Page 42 of Happier Days

After the funeral, she’d hoped not to see Katrina much again. When she brought Brooke to visit, Katrina stayed in the car rather than coming in now. It made it much more bearable, but Stella missed afternoons once school was done. Before, Brooke would often call in of her own accord, Stella would share cookies and tea with her, and then she’d go home. It always made for a highlight of her day.

And even though Stella knew that Brooke was getting older and wouldn’t necessarily call so often, those visits had been wiped out, too. In fact, the fallout from that one incident had damaged her family. She hoped it wasn’t beyond repair.

Speaking of which, it was time.

With shoulders held high, she walked along the corridor to the double doors at the far end. They were kept locked, no visitors able to go in for health and safety reasons. Stella unlocked the door, slipped inside, and closed it behind her. Taking in a deep breath, she glanced around.

She was inside a large room, windows at waist height along either side of the walls letting in lots of light. But the sight wasn’t a good one. There were piles of laminate flooring shoved out of the way in the corner, waiting to be laid in a square to make a dance floor. The rest of the room was a concrete floor, ready to have carpet fitted once the walls were decorated and then soft furnishings added.

She sniffed. As well as a dusty smell, she could sense the sharp tang of fresh paint, despite the room being empty for over two years. Dan had wanted to create somewhere to hold intimateweddings, with a suite above for a bride and groom. When there were no bookings, the space was going to be used as a conference centre, smaller rooms upstairs let out for different-sized groups.

Stella walked through, slowly running a hand over a pile of chairs that were still covered in cellophane. Everything had been planned, it was going to be a new venture. But it had all ended.

The worst thing she’d had to be a part of was making the decision to switch off the machines that were the only thing keeping Dan alive. He’d never regained consciousness after the fall.

Feeling brave, she went upstairs and surveyed the bridal suite. The room had been decorated, and it, too, was waiting for carpeting before furniture could be added. But there was an en suite that needed doing.

Next to it, all the rooms needed plastering, electrics and plumbing added. It would only take a couple of months to put right, but none of them had wanted to continue with the project. It seemed wrong without Dan seeing it through.

The lake views out of the windows that side were stunning. Stella remembered standing on the lawn with Max and Jack, as Dan told them of his plans, pointing out where everything would be going. He’d been like a child, so animated and excited.

And now he was gone. And for the life of her, Stella couldn’t feel any enthusiasm for getting the job finished. If they did sell the hotel eventually, and even knowing it would fetch more money complete, she didn’t want to think of Dan not being there to see it.

Wiping tears that had fallen, she went downstairs again, slipped out of the room, and locked it up. Back in her office after returning the keys, she relaxed. At least no one had seen her. But she’d had to go alone.

Maybe now she might be able to take a look at Jack’s plans.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Ava had butterflies in her stomach as she set off for the lakeside event. It was a few minutes to six, and people were piling in from every direction on foot.

Jack had told her the evening would bring in a lot of money from the surrounding villages and towns. Eliza said she tried not to be put on the work rotas for each one, but it didn’t always happen. Tonight was one of the not-happening ones, so Ava was heading there alone.

She drew nearer to the café, hearing music getting louder with each step. It sounded like a brass band was playing, and she imagined how magical it would have been to hear it play Christmas carols last year.

Up ahead, Jack was waiting for her, and she waved to show him she was nearly there. He came to greet her, the huge smile on his face the most welcoming thing she could see.

‘Ready to be wined and dined, so to speak?’ he asked, holding out his arm.

‘You bet.’ Ava linked her arm through it. ‘Where are the kids?’

‘They’re all here somewhere, and they message me if they need me. We have a meeting point, and I check in on my phoneif I haven’t been able to spot any of them for half an hour. But genuinely they have so much fun that they stick around.’

The music became louder as they made their way through the cabins, all lit up on the outside and in. Some of them were open. Ava noticed Ruby’s wasn’t. She’d told Ava she could make a small fortune but found it was the one night a month that she preferred not to work as everyone she knew was in one place. Poppy loved it, too. Sometimes Ruby opened for a couple of hours and then joined in, but not tonight. Ava hoped she’d spot her out.

They walked on and rounded the corner to the large, cobbled area that led down to the lake. Ava gasped when she took in the transformation. All the kiosks and camper vans were selling food; the smells were delicious; fairy lights lit in every colour imaginable. The queues were long, the menus varied, and the buzz of chatter almost deafening. Her favourite stall was a Land Rover Defender that had been converted into a coffee bar.

‘This is fantastic,’ she shouted to Jack over the noise.

Jack grinned. ‘What do you fancy for starters? Pulled pork? Beef burger? A bacon roll? Chips?’

‘Pulled pork, please.’

They joined the queue and chatted like the old friends they were. Moments later, Brooke appeared with her cousins, introductions were made, money was handed out by Jack, and the kids were gone again.

‘You see?’ Jack chuckled. ‘They only want me for my money.’

‘Surely not,’ Ava quipped.

---