Page 75 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

Hannah blushed once more and tried to concentrate on making her pastry.

‘You OK?’ asked Ben, noting her blushes. ‘You look like you’re overheating.’

‘I’m fine,’ Hannah told him. ‘Actually, I wanted to run something past you. A lot of the swimmers have been requesting that they take their drinks outside so I was going to order some takeout cups. Reusable ones, if I can, as they’re so much better for the environment. Plates too, if I can source them. What do you think?’

Ben’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I think that’s a great idea. You know, you don’t need to run everything past me. You’re the boss here, not me.’

‘OK,’ said Hannah with a nod. ‘Alex said he’ll get me a good bargain on the cups and plates.’

‘Good lad,’ said Ben, but he was still frowning. ‘I guess you wanted someone else to double check your numbers and him being an accountant was the obvious choice.’

Was her brother put out? She couldn’t quite tell.

‘Alex offered,’ she told him. ‘You know that I’m no good at numbers.’

‘Yeah, and I’m no good at baking, sis,’ said Ben. ‘We each have our plus and negative things. What’s your point?’

He was teasing her and yet she suddenly found that she didn’t want to joke around with him.

‘I could never compete with you,’ she said simply.

Ben’s face instantly dropped. ‘And I don’t want you to,’ he said quickly. ‘We’re not in competition. We never were.’

Hannah sighed. ‘I know. It’s just…’ She hesitated briefly. ‘It’s just that you’re so good at everything.’

It was true. Her brother had made school and his career look so effortless, whereas her life had been somewhat harder, a struggle, for so long.

Ben studied her for a moment. ‘Is that what you think?’ he asked her softly.

‘You just make everything seem so easy,’ she told him. ‘I’m glad for you, obviously. But I just wish some of that confidence had rubbed off on me, that’s all.’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘You know, not all of it was easy. When I was in London running the architect firm, I hated it most days.’

Hannah was shocked. ‘You never said anything,’ she told him. She was shocked that he too had faced difficulties of which she hadn’t had a clue.

‘There was lots of other stuff going on,’ he said. ‘And I didn’t want to admit that the path I’d taken was completely the wrong one.’

‘I had no idea.’ She shook her head.

‘Nobody did,’ he told her. ‘Not until I told Lily.’

Hannah smiled, grateful that he had someone to confide in. ‘You really love her,’ she stated.

He nodded. ‘Yup. I do. And talking of which, you’d better be prepared for a bridesmaid dress at some point down the line.’

Hannah gave a little squeal of joy. ‘And it’ll be my best day ever.’ She stepped forward to give him a hug. As she held him close, she said, ‘I wish you’d told me you were struggling.’

‘You were here looking after Mum, Dad and our grandparents,’ he said against her shoulder as he held her tight. ‘That’s more important than any job or career misery. And makes you a far better person than I am.’

She stepped back and looked at him. ‘It’s not a competition,’ she said.

He nodded. ‘Which is exactly what I’m trying to tell you, sis.’ He frowned as if to himself. ‘I’ve been a decent big brother, haven’t I?’ he asked. ‘Supported you whenever I could? Done my best?’

‘The very best,’ she told him.

He sagged with relief. ‘Good. You know, I’m happy now,’ he replied. ‘And that’s all I’ve ever wanted for my baby sister as well. To be happy.’

‘I’m getting there,’ she told him, with a smile.