Page 61 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

Ben hadn’t known what to expect with regard to his feelings. His main concern had been that he might not feel anything at all.

But there, on the lake, with the reflected lights from inside the hotel glinting across the rippled water, he felt almost overwhelmed with emotion. He would have loved to have seen his dad again in that moment. But perhaps the lantern was enough, he thought.

‘It feels like he’s with us again,’ he found himself blurting out. ‘Wishing us and the hotel on.’

Lily took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. Without a second thought, he leant his head on her shoulder and she drew her arm around him to hold him.

He savoured her support and strength as they sat there, looking at the flickering light as it bobbed across the lake towards the other shore.

Then, just as the flame began to fade, Ben lifted his head to look at Lily. Her face was so close to his now and it seemed the most natural thing in the world in that moment to lean forward and kiss her gently on the cheek.

‘Thank you,’ he murmured.

It wasn’t a kiss of passion. It was a kiss of friendship, of support and of family love. He knew deep down that she knew that because when he drew back her eyes were glistening with tears along with his.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked softly.

He nodded, glancing once more at the lantern. The light was almost out now and they watched it in silence as the flame flickered one more time before disappearing altogether.

They sat silently for a few more moments and he was grateful that she allowed him to mourn and grieve in his own time.

Finally, when he was ready, he looked at her. ‘Shall we go back?’ he asked.

She looked across to where the family were still waiting for them on the dock and nodded.

Ben glanced once more at the basket which had disappeared into the night. His grandad had reassured him that the temporary netting he had put up underneath the wooden bridge would catch the basket before it headed downstream.

He glanced at the heavens above, nodding at the moon and stars before turning the boat around to start rowing back to the dock.

When they had climbed back out of the boat, the family embraced, with Lily standing nearby with Frankie and his friends.

And yet Ben couldn’t help but feel that it was because of her that he felt a little more at peace, a little more grateful for the moment of remembrance that evening. Once more, he was glad that she had stayed on with them at the hotel for the past few weeks.

The trouble was that he was beginning to secretly wish that she could stay on once the hotel was open again. He was getting used to having her around, needing both her support and craving her company.

But it wasn’t as friends that he wanted. He realised in that moment that he was beginning to really care for her.

31

After the candle ceremony on the lake, everyone gathered in the lounge for a drink, clinking their glasses together as they all sat on the chairs and sofas in front of the fire to warm themselves up.

There was a feeling of peace and contentment, despite the sadness of the day that they had just endured.

‘I must say, I liked that floating candle,’ said Dotty, looking at Lily. ‘Wherever did you get the idea from?’

Lily explained about the H?i An lantern festival in Vietnam that she had told Ben about.

‘So there’s more than one floating light?’ asked Dotty, still a little confused.

Lily smiled and nodded. ‘Oh, yes,’ she said, drawing out her phone and showing Dotty the photographs she could find online.

‘Oh, that’s very pretty, especially when there’s that many on the water,’ said Faye, looking over Dotty’s shoulder.

‘The only thing they do on the water around here is the duck race on the river at Cranbridge,’ said Frankie. ‘Good fun but not as lovely to look at. Don’t suppose we could have a race here, could we? Bring in the punters?’

‘We can’t have a duck race on here,’ said Ben, laughing.

‘No tide or fast current for a start,’ added Walter, with a grin.