Page 23 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

Lost for words and feeling uncomfortable, Bill stood and stomped out of the room.

9

Jo woke early. Rain bounced against the bedroom window and pellets of water cascaded off the sill, ricocheting to the pathway below. It was a strangely comforting sound and as she listened to the elements, she felt a surge of happiness.

On reflection, everything was good in her life.

Both her sons were well. In Cumbria, Boomerville was booming and Hattie, dear Hattie, was back and Jo’s business was in safe hands. Hattie would liven things up, for her friend was a force to be dealt with, full of crazy ideas and schemes to amuse the residents. Jo knew too, that she was lucky at her time of life to have found a relationship with a man who loved her. Pete gave her strength and enabled her to do all that she did. Jo sighed with pleasure and snuggled into the soft down of the duvet. She wished that Pete was sharing the deliciously comfortable bed and felt smug as she traced her fingers over the silk of her negligee. She thought about their lovemaking and her body squirmed as she imagined him by her side.

But there was so much to be done at Flatterley Manor and it was time to get up and get on with her day. Jo threw back the cover, swung her legs out of bed, and walked over to the window to open the curtains.

A diffused grey light greeted her. It came from a dark sky, softened by green tones on the east-facing garden below. As Jo looked out, she could see that even in heavy rain and under thick cloud, Flatterley Manor was a beautiful property.

A place to bring joy to many future guests.

She hoped that everyone who came here would feel as happy as she did at that moment and find a balance in their life to take forward in whatever they chose to do. Many damaged souls had passed through Boomerville’s doors since she’d opened the revamped business and Jo thought of guests who, having tried new experiences, had gone on to find joy, even love, in the later years of their lives.

Jo wriggled her toes and felt the soft pile of carpet underfoot. Flatterley Manor had many features, including expensive furnishings, and Jo had been astonished when James took her on a tour to familiarise her with the building and its contents. She’d known that a certain amount of fixtures were included in the deal but had no idea that the house was more or less as the previous owner had left it.

‘None of this was appropriate to ship out to Los Angeles,’ James had explained. ‘The lifestyle is very different there.’

Jo still couldn’t believe that she’d bagged such a bargain.

A knock on the door startled her and she slipped on her robe then padded across the room. ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s James, with your tea.’

‘Oh, James, you don’t have to do this.’ Jo opened the door and reached for the tray.

‘Did you enjoy the chowder evening?’

‘It was entertaining.’

‘Is there anything special I can prepare for your breakfast?’

‘James, I can look after myself.’

‘It’s my pleasure, madam, I’m quite used to it.’

‘But I’m not.’

James retreated and Jo closed the door. She sat down and sipped her tea, thinking about the previous evening. Finbar was a skilled host, keeping the guests entertained, and after a delicious dinner, he’d announced the winners of the competition. There was much rivalry between the chefs and the trophy for the best chowder was a coveted prize. When a local band took to the stage and Finbar began a repertoire of songs, his versatility shone with wide-ranging hits from Elvis to Irish folk.

Jo was impressed and had thoroughly enjoyed her evening.

She made her bed and began to plan a list of jobs. Having poked her head into every nook and cranny of the building, she’d been pleasantly surprised by her findings. The manor was more or less ready to open to the public and there were meetings lined up with the council, Environmental Health and the Fire Officer, who were keen to allow the necessary permissions for the building to be used as a hotel. It would create jobs and encourage tourists to the area. She wondered if the previous owner had put things in place with the expectation of many parties, catering for multiple guests, for the kitchen was a dream, with every conceivable appliance.

Jo dressed carefully then brushed her hair and applied some light make-up.

She was ready for the day. When she reached the galleried landing, she ran her fingers along the polished bannister of the grand curving staircase that led to the hall, and imagined guests arriving at the front door to be greeted at a reception desk, before checking into one of the lovely bedrooms. Refreshments would be enjoyed in the elegant reception rooms overlooking the gardens.

Making her way to the kitchen, Jo thought about recruitment. James had indicated that he’d stay on for a week or so and Jo imagined that he probably knew many of the locals who’d worked at the manor over the years. There was a cottage in the grounds that had been used for staff accommodation but it needed a thorough clean and a coat of paint before it could be used.

Despite the lavish dinner the night before, Jo was hungry. She rummaged about in a fridge and found a pot of yogurt then cut a slice from a loaf. Placing it in the toaster, she searched for a spoon and plate. She thought about Pete. Strangely, she hadn’t heard from him. He normally called several times a day and sent silly texts covered in emojis. She dug into a pocket for her phone. As she looked at the screen, Jo smiled.

Therewasa text from Pete.

She remembered that she’d turned her mobile to silent mode the previous evening and had forgotten to turn it back on.

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