Page 7 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

Lily remained silent. This was obviously a problem between family members and nothing to do with her.

‘So you’re the interior designer,’ said Frankie, eyeing Lily up and down. ‘Heard all about you, of course.’

‘None of it good,’ joked Hannah, nudging Lily with her elbows.

‘Apparently you’re the creative one of Hannah’s group,’ carried on Frankie. ‘Let me see, Beth’s the brainy one and Ella’s the trendy one always on her phone.’

‘That’s about right,’ said Lily, laughing.

‘Hang on. What does that make me?’ asked Hannah in a mock-hurt tone.

‘The only one that can bake given your friends’ attempts recently,’ Frankie told her, with a wink.

‘Beth and Ella came here?’ asked Lily, somewhat surprised.

‘Over the summer,’ confirmed Frankie. ‘They came, sunbathed, drank a lot and laughed even more, from what I remember.’

‘Thanks to your cocktails,’ replied Hannah. Her smile faded and she looked a little awkwardly at Lily. ‘It was Beth’s birthday over August bank holiday. When you had that deadline…’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Haven’t I always?’ said Lily, in a breezy tone. She had seen the photographs, of course, but she still felt a small pang at the thought of her friends being there together without her. Thankfully she knew that they understood how important her career was and why she couldn’t always meet up with them.

In any case, at least this weekend would give her a chance to catch up with Hannah properly.

Hannah glanced at her watch and gave a shout of exclamation. ‘I’ve got to get a cake out of the oven before it burns. Frankie, would you show Lily up to her room? Shedesperately needs to wash her feet.’ She looked at her friend. ‘You’re staying in one of the guest rooms.’

‘There’s no need,’ said Lily, thinking that she didn’t want any of the guests to be inconvenienced. ‘I’m happy to bunk in your room.’

‘It’s fine. Anyway, it’s not like we haven’t got the space,’ said Hannah, rolling her eyes. ‘Get yourself sorted and then come and find me in the kitchen. Mum’s desperate to finally meet you after all this time.’

As Hannah walked off, Lily realised something as she glanced around. ‘Where are all the hotel guests, by the way?’ she asked.

‘I’m looking at ’em,’ drawled Frankie, giving her a pointed look.

‘Oh.’ Lily blinked. ‘It’s only me staying here?’

She couldn’t believe it. Especially as it was a Friday night. Given that it was the weekend, shouldn’t a thriving hotel be even a little bit busy? She wondered whether the renovation work was putting off potential guests.

But Frankie just sighed. ‘Just think of yourself as a very VIP.’ As she came around the desk, she glanced at Lily’s bare, grubby feet. ‘Are you some kind of tree hugger?’ she asked.

Lily shook her head. ‘I had a small accident and had to leave my trainers behind.’

Frankie’s eyebrows shot up but she didn’t reply.

‘So how many rooms do you have?’ asked Lily, still wondering about the state of the business.

‘Twenty,’ replied Frankie, reaching under the counter to pick up a No. 1 key. ‘So I understand you’re going to give the place a makeover?’

Lily nodded, before picking up her overnight bag and following Frankie up the wide staircase. ‘Yup,’ she replied. ‘I’ve come to help out.’

‘Well, the Jackson family need all the friends and help they can get at the moment, I reckon,’ said Frankie as they reached the landing.

Lily took a sharp intake of breath. Was the business in trouble? She made a note to ask Hannah later. After all, this was the important commission that she was pinning the start of her own business on. Perhaps it was just a quiet weekend now that the summer rush was over, she told herself.

Lily glanced across the entrance hall before Frankie led her down a hallway and opened up the door to Room 1.

Lily was surprised to find a pleasingly large double room with a large picture window looking out across the lake.

‘How lovely,’ she said.