Page 90 of The Summer Island Swap
‘I was as surprised at first, when Gran mentioned it to me,’ said Rick, ‘but it makes perfect sense.’
‘How so? I have bills to pay. A flat to maintain for – I mean, with – Amy… and our cat.’
Rick took his eye off the horizon for a second. ‘Only Gran would have the audacity to ask someone to give up their London life!’
Margot snorted. ‘What, give up pollution and noise, the hustle and bustle, for tranquillity, blue seas and sunshine? It wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice.’ She paused. ‘Or would it? What’s your gut reaction, dear?’
‘No one has ever…’ I swallowed. ‘Your confidence in me… it means a lot. I can’t help worrying, though, that it’s misjudged.’
Her face softened. ‘You remind me of myself, you know. I doubted myself a lot when I was younger.’
‘Seymour?’ asked Rick, as he waved to a passing fishing boat.
‘Yes. Husband number one – but only in the numerical sense. I was eighteen. We got married at the end of the first year when I was studying fashion at university. We thought it was wild and exciting. My parents were furious. They’d never liked him – told me he was jealous of my talent.’ She pulled down the sleeves of her colourful kaftan. ‘Turns out they were right. By the end of the second year he never wasted an opportunity to put me down. I learnt quickly not to show him my ideas in their early stages and it killed my creativity for a while. Mum and Dad were brilliant. They gave me the strength to divorce him in my early twenties. It took a while for me to shake off the doubt he’d planted inside of me.’ She took my other hand. ‘Sarah, look at everything you’ve achieved – go-getting. A hard worker. A person with aspirations. Responsible. And, from what my grandson says, not someone to be messed with.’
‘I never said anything like that,’ he protested and glared at his gran.
She grinned. For all her sharp edges and feistiness, Margot was a very jovial person. ‘It’s because ofallthose reasons that I see myself in you.’
‘But you’ve got so much business know-how, Margot. Why do you need me?’
‘I know nothing about hotels. You’re the expert. That goes for your computer skills as well. Plus you are someone I can trust.’
‘Gran’s an excellent judge of character,’ said Rick. ‘Granddad told her not to employ Nia and Brandon all those years ago – he didn’t feel they had enough experience in housekeeping. She certainly proved him wrong.’
‘A gut’s a great thing. One should always follow it. Not your heart – or at least when it comes to business,’ she said. ‘It will be a challenge. Bringing in bookings will be the number one priority. I imagine looking after the guests, once they are here, will be easy compared to that.’
‘Never assume anything,’ I said and laughed. ‘I once had a male guest ring down to reception on his mobile phone – Best Travel doesn’t have room service. He said there was a problem with the television and the kettle. He wasn’t happy and wanted to see the assistant manager or manager about it. In retrospect he knew we were both women. When he answered the door, the man was wearing nothing but a smile.’
‘Goodness me!’ Margot’s jaw dropped.
‘Then there was the hen party that came back drunk. They congregated in one room and played Truth or Dare until the early hours, despite several warnings. The man next door to them eventually knocked and complained. The woman who answered was dared to kiss him by her friends. He was furious and almost got her charged with sexual assault. His wife was even more angry and threw a punch.’
‘See. You’ve got the knowledge I need. Clearly I have a naive idea of the hotel industry.’
‘Still sure you want to go ahead?’
‘There must be pleasant guests as well!’
‘Yes. One regular knits egg cosies. She brings me a different one each time she stays. And many guests always leave their room as tidy as they found it. They’re polite. Grateful for any assistance and take the time to give us good reviews online.’ I bit my lip. ‘On the one hand I feel excited about your offer – seeing the chocolate production through, for example. And looking after guests on a much more personal level than I’ve been able to at Best Travel…’
‘I sense abut…’ she said.
‘Amy. Our flat.’ I shrugged. ‘I can’t just drop the life I have. And there’s the salary. I know Crocker & Crowley is struggling but I’d at least need what I earned at Best Travel to pay the mortgage, building insurance, council tax… It’s our home. I wouldn’t sell up – certainly not until Amy and I saw how things panned out for both of us.’
‘I’ve thought about that,’ said Margot. ‘Done my own research. Looked at the figures. I was flabbergasted at how much other Virgin Island hotels charge. Like you say, I agree, if done properly, this venture could soon rake in thousands. And once the shoe company has reduced its number of stores… and as Seagrass Conservation continues to expand…’
Rick looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.
‘We’d be short-sighted not to invest some of that money into a decent salary for you. My first rule of business – you have to put in, to get out. You’ve already shown me just how hard-working and innovative you are.’
I pictured myself living alongside Rick. And Margot. Nia and Brandon. And, of course, Chatty. Golden sunrises instead of London smog. A morning dip in the sea instead of a musty commute.
Margot let go of my hands. ‘You must make your own decision, my dear. I’m here for any questions. I’ll support whatever you decide.’
She leant forward and gave me a hug. Her embrace reminded me of Mum. It felt comforting, being so close to a person who genuinely appeared to care. A person I really seemed to click with. Someone who could advise me and offer life experience.
I had no parental figures. Prue was purely professional. The neighbours were friendly but had their own children.
