Page 86 of Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge

But he knew that his grandad understood. That everyone understood. They needed guests to stay at the hotel in order to make a profit. It was too wretched a thought that after everything they might still lose their family home.

Frankie went across to the fireplace and lit the large pillar candles along the mantelpiece.

‘Candles are so cheery,’ said Faye, as Frankie sat down next to her.

They all were quiet for a while, sitting and hugging their drinks as they watched the flames lick higher and higher, keeping them all warm.

‘I must say, I liked those floating candles that we had on the preview evening,’ said Dotty, looking at Lily. ‘Show me your photo again.’

So Lily leant forward, going through her phone until she found the one to show Dotty.

‘Lovely but I think our lanterns were even prettier,’ said Dotty, handing the phone back to Lily. ‘You know, we should do it again but with more of them.’

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Walter, looking bewildered at his wife.

‘Our very own light festival,’ replied Dotty. ‘Like that!’ She pointed at Lily’s mobile phone.

Lily looked down at the picture on her mobile before looking at Ben. ‘Our own light festival?’ she repeated.

He looked straight back at her, nodding thoughtfully. ‘Our own light festival,’ he replied, his mind racing with the possibilities.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Walter. ‘Why is everyone saying the same thing over and over?’

Ben laughed. ‘Sorry, Grandad, to be so vague. It’s just that I think Grandma’s had a brilliant idea.’

‘Of course I have,’ said Dotty, with a flourish. ‘I always do.’

‘Can we do this?’ asked Hannah, looking around at everyone. ‘I mean, just create our own festival?’

‘Why on earth not?’ said Walter. ‘It’s our land, after all.’

Ben looked across at Lily for reassurance. ‘We could do it,’ she said slowly, staring back at him. ‘I mean, it’s a simple idea but very effective. We could add a bit of music over some speakers.’

‘It could be the USP that we’ve been looking for,’ said Ben.

‘And it doesn’t hurt the wildlife,’ added Walter. ‘The baskets are all made from our own trees.’

‘But who would it be for?’ asked Faye, looking concerned. ‘I mean, who’s going to actually see it?’

‘Anyone who’s staying or visiting locally,’ said Ben, his brain now buzzing with ideas. ‘We could throw it open to the locals, get the word out. And it advertises the hotel at the same time.’

‘Especially if they want a drink to warm themselves up with afterwards in the snug,’ added Frankie.

Ben’s eyes gleamed with possibilities for more profits. ‘Absolutely.’

‘Or a warm bed to sleep in that night,’ said Lily. ‘You know, people love this kind of thing, if we get it right. A show for those on Instagram.’

‘Free advertising too,’ said Ben, nodding. He was beginning to feel excited at the idea that this might actually work.

‘I’ve got about forty baskets in the workshop,’ said Walter.

‘We’ll need a few more than that, Grandad,’ Ben told him.

‘Then you’ll have to give me a hand, lad.’ Walter looked at him. ‘When’s the deadline?’

Ben looked at Lily.

‘No time like the present,’ she told him, with a shrug. ‘So let’s start on Saturday night. That gives us three days to organise ourselves and get the word out.’