Page 83 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

As she wandered from room to room, she was enveloped in either the sweet smell of pine or the aroma of Hannah’s delicious gingerbread cookies and cinnamon buns.

Certainly the guests continue to agree that Hannah’s baking was delicious.

‘It’s sooo good,’ said one lady, her mouth full of an iced bun.

‘What’s winter for if not to load up on carbs topped with sugar?’ replied Frankie, with a large grin.

Frankie had created a couple of Christmas-themed cocktails which had also gone down well with the guests, as well as the family. The Holly Jolly Christmas cocktail was a particular favourite with everyone who tasted it.

But despite all the positivity around the arrival of the festive season, there was no denying that the hotel bookings since reopening were a little slow.

‘It’s the holidays,’ said Walter over dinner the week before Christmas. ‘Folks want to be with their families, not stay at a hotel.’

‘I disagree,’ replied Ben, with a frown. ‘I mean, surely our bookings should be better than they’ve been.’

Walter sighed as he looked at his grandson. ‘We’ve had lots of people stay in the three weeks since we opened,’ he said. ‘And every one has told us how much they love it here. Just take heart from that, son.’

Ben nodded but Lily could tell that he was still seriously worried about their finances.

It was a concern, certainly, but everyone was able to brush off their worries when the last of the guests had left and they could celebrate Christmas alone in their home.

They had an extra visitor with Jake who declared he had no desire whatsoever to stay with either of his parents that Christmas.

‘Dad’s new girlfriend isn’t even as old as me,’ he told Lily, rolling his eyes in despair. ‘And Mum’s new husband is an absolute bore. So I eagerly accepted the kind invitation to come here.’

‘I think you invited yourself,’ murmured Ben.

But everyone was happy to have Jake stay with them, especially when he announced that he would be cooking Christmas dinner to give Faye a much-needed rest.

Christmas morning brought great excitement as they all sat around the tree in the lounge to open their presents. Lily’s parents had wired her money as usual. But the Jackson family presents felt more personal. Especially because most of them were homemade.

They had all been on a strict budget, given the state of their finances, so had agreed on only one present each but that had meant that they had to be a little more creative with their gifts.

Dotty was first up and delighted to find her old Nikon camera inside. ‘We got it repaired,’ Faye told her. ‘Now that you’re taking photographs again it was time to bring it out of storage.’

‘It’s wonderful,’ said Dotty, hugging it to her chest. ‘This was my first camera and my favourite. I can’t wait to get outside and take some pictures later.’

Faye was equally pleased with the three-tiered ribbon holder that Ben had carved out of wood for her. Hannah had filled each tier with different colours and styles of ribbons.

‘This is perfect for my flower arranging,’ beamed Faye, looking a little teary. ‘I absolutely love it.’

Hannah received two homemade wooden chopping boards, one for herbs and one for bread. ‘Grandad and I doubled up by mistake,’ said Ben, laughing.

‘But we’d figure you’d use them both anyway,’ added Walter.

‘I shall use nothing else,’ Hannah told them.

Ben had taken great care to carve Walter a wooden stool for him to sit on whilst he was busy in the workshop.

Walter’s eyes were a little misty as he looked at his grandson. ‘That’ll come in very handy,’ he said, before proudly showing Lily the skills that Ben had used to make it.

Frankie received a bar apron made out of leopard-print material and declared it, ‘Sexy and perfect. Just like me!’

Lily hadn’t expected anything as she knew that she wasn’t family. And yet Jake had received a carved gentleman’s tray to hold his watch and cufflinks, which he was chuffed to bits with.

Then Ben went behind the tree to bring out the largest wrapped present of all which he placed in front of Lily.

‘For me?’ she said, looking down at the present in wonder.