Page 10 of Full Service

“Remember the human cost, son.” Prentis’ voice was firm.

“Yes, Uncle Prentis. I have plans to visit each property and do an assessment of value and income. That’s why I want to keep it quiet for now, so I can talk with all the businesses individually and talk through what might happen.”

“Good lad. What is it you own in the town?”

“The butcher and the florist, I think I own that nerdy shop, and the garage.”

“You think? Hardly the world’s most attentive landlord, are you?”

“I bought them to stop them ending up in outside corporate hands, then handed management over to an agency. I didn’t want anyone I knew from Hiraeth feeling uncomfortable with the fact I held something over them.”

“I see.” Prentis looked at me over clasped hands. “So, you’ll be looking for somewhere to stay will you?”

“I was hoping I could stay in my old room,” I said.

Prentis shook his head. “Beca has been staying with me whilst Llywelyn makes some big changes to her house. She’s not moving as well as she was, see…”

“Oh, OK. I’ll see if Tudor has space up at the hotel.” I worried about my ability to pay, but knowing how quiet he always was I could probably get a special rate if I was staying for the next few weeks.

“You really haven’t been keeping up with the town you used to live in, have you? Things are changing around here.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, but Prentis just shrugged.

“I’ll show you,” he said. He finished the dregs of his coffee and gave a cheery little wave to James as he stood up. I quickly finished my coffee and followed him out. It was astounding how quickly he could move for a man of his age. I had to jog acrossthe street to catch up as he got into the car and turned on the engine. Despite the sun it really was a bitterly cold day.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked as he pulled out into the street without indicating.

“Nope,” he replied. “If you’ve not bothered to keep tabs on your own investments, then you’re not half the businessman I thought you were.”

He took a sharp turn up the old gravel track that ran up to theGwesty Maes Gwyn, the old and run-down hotel run by Tudor and his mother Claire.

But that wasn’t what I saw. The hotel looked entirely different. It had been repainted, for a start and the old sagging porch had been repointed and levelled.

“Wow.” I got out of the car to have a closer look. The double doors at the entrance had been polished to a shine and the whole frontage of the hotel had been cobbled. There were a few other cars parked out front. Finally, I noted the name change above the doors. My Welsh was rusty after years without use, but I knew whatCartrefmeant.Home.

“I’ll just wait here for you. I can’t see you being long!” Prentis gave a cheery wave out of the car window before winding it back up.

I shivered in the frosty December air and stepped up to the porch. The door swung open without a creak and I walked beyond it into the reassuring warmth of the hotel.

I could remember the old mahogany panelled lobby area from years ago when as a kid I used to run in and hide upstairs until Clare found me and kicked me out, or on one of the few occasions a couple of years later when I’d hooked up with Tudor in his room.

The place looked different now though. Not as dark and depressing, lit tastefully with new lamps and an LED strip under the reception desk. There was no one around so I pressed thebuzzer. Uncle Prentis couldn’t be so sure there’d be no space here.

“Coming!” shouted a voice from the staff accommodation corridor. I looked up and to my surprise it wasn’t Tudor but a vaguely familiar face I couldn’t place at first. “Hi, can I help you?” he was a handsome man with a pearly white grin made even more apparent by the fact his skin looked far too tanned for December.

And then the penny dropped. “Aren’t you…?” I started. If I wasn’t hallucinating it seemed I was talking to Daniel Ellison; star of stage, screen and every adolescent fantasy of mine.

“Yes, but don’t tell anyone,” he winked. “Just kidding. I’m Daniel. Danny. Tudor’s just training up some new staff in the dining room and we weren’t expecting guests until later in the day. How can I help?”

“I’d like to book a room, please. For the next couple of weeks at least.” I was star-struck being served by Hollywood royalty and I looked around the room to see if there were hidden cameras. Was this some kind of Undercover Celebrity show?

Daniel’s face dropped. “Ah. I’d thought you already had a room booked. Otherwise, we’re all out of space.” He pointed at a small poster behind him I hadn’t noticed. “It’sBloodConweek and Tudor had the bright idea of hosting it here. A chance for the fans to meet the author of theThrones of Bloodbooks and mingle with the stars of the upcoming series. Unfortunately, it means we’re all booked up for now. And then the Christmas bookings have us rushed off our feet right through to the big day.”

“Oh. Great. Thanks.” I grimaced.

“I really am sorry. The nearest hotel otherwise is…” Daniel consulted a map. “Aberystwyth. Easy enough drive but no train connection, if you’re determined to see Hiraeth.”

“I really must know…why are you even here?” I asked.

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