Page 26 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘There must be somewhere they can stay,’ added Walter, frowning.

There was a short silence as everyone thought hard.

‘I know just the place,’ said Hannah suddenly.

Alex watched as her face lit up into a smile and was so distracted that for a moment he lost his focus.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, still trying to hear what she was saying and not the shiny rose colour on her cheeks as he gazed at her.

‘What about the upstairs apartment in the boathouse?’ Hannah looked at Ben. ‘What do you think?’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s plumbed in.’

‘Detached,’ added Hannah.

‘It’s a pretty big space up there,’ said Ben.

‘Away from the hotel guests at night,’ added Lily.

‘And the boathouse will be closed in the evenings so you get your privacy,’ said Hannah with a final flourish.

Alex leaned back in his chair, nodding thoughtfully. Perhaps it might just work for the next month whilst he literally got back onto his feet. But beyond that? He wasn’t sure.

‘Excellent,’ said Ben, with a nod. ‘So that’s decided. You and Tiny can stay here at Maple Tree Lodge for the summer.’

It sounded so tempting, to be in his favourite place all summer. But Alex immediately decided it had to be on his terms.

‘That’s a very generous offer but we need to decide up front how much rent I’ll pay you for the apartment,’ he said. ‘If I decide to take it on, that is.’

Ben immediately shook his head. ‘On the house, mate. You’re family.’

But Alex wouldn’t be deterred. ‘Nope,’ he replied. ‘I insist on it, otherwise me and Tiny are out of here. I need to pay my way.’

His voice betrayed how fiercely independent he suddenly wanted to be. He had been leaning on his parents for so long but he was ready to stand on his own two feet at last. Even if they couldn’t support his own weight at the moment, he added to himself ironically.

He looked his best friend in the eye and finally Ben slowly nodded. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘We’ll agree a fair rate. Deal.’

Alex found himself nodding as well. ‘Great. Well, if you’re sure. But look, what about Tiny making a mess in your brand-new apartment?’

‘Oak floorboards,’ Walter told him. ‘Any more reasons that you can think of not to do this?’

Alex finally found himself smiling. ‘I’m quickly running out of them.’

‘Why don’t we go and have a look?’ asked Hannah.

And as Alex looked at her pretty face once more, he found he was all out of excuses.

14

Feeling a bit guilty that she might have pressured Alex to keep Tiny, Hannah decided to show him the apartment in the boathouse to at least see if he continued to agree with her. Ben came along for moral support and seemed pleased with her idea.

She found herself hoping that Alex stayed for the summer as the tentative plan was, at that moment. It would be lovely to have him around for a while longer. She had not been surprised when he had insisted on paying rent for the apartment. Alex was good and true, one of the few men she had met in her life that were.

‘I think this might just be a cracking idea,’ said Ben.

Alex still looked unsure and kept his eyes on the path as he manoeuvred his way along on crutches.

They’d left Tiny fast asleep with the rest of the family keeping an eye on the dog in the kitchen.