Читать книгу The Ticket to Happiness - Faith Bleasdale - Страница 13

‘Bloody hell! Who knew accountants could drink so much?’ Freddie’s eyes were wide as he sat in the bar with Pippa, Hector and Gemma, the evening after their six latest guests had departed.

‘I told you they all said they liked tequila. That should have been a warning sign,’ Pippa laughed.

‘Yes, well, that woman, Patricia, she was very frisky. She kept trying to touch my bum,’ Hector complained.

‘You know, you should stay here for free. No, you should actually be paid to stay here, the way you were the star attraction,’ Gemma stated.

It was true. Everyone wanted to talk to Hector. When the accountants discovered he was staying there – thankfully not until their last night – the group had insisted he join them for dinner and then drinks. Hector had obliged with good grace, although he did go to bed earlier than them, citing work. Pippa thought it was to get away from the groping woman, Patricia. She was so mild-mannered when Pippa met her – as well as throughout the painting workshop and the cooking – so when she drank and became a bit of a cougar, they were all taken aback. It had been fun, though. They’d loved their stay and the bar bill had been great for Meadowbrook’s profits. They left with a flurry of compliments and assurances they’d return. She wasn’t going to tell Hector that, though. Not yet. He really might demand to be put on the payroll.

‘So, tell us about your new book,’ she said instead, trying to change the subject as they sipped much-needed glasses of wine.

She had her feet up on the table. It was nice at times being at Meadowbrook without guests and it felt like home again. As much as she loved the hotel, she did miss having the house as a family home at times. But that was only natural. And as she was the only one who actually lived in Meadowbrook, it wouldn’t ever be the same family home again.

‘It’s sort of a sequel, although I’ve introduced some new characters. Did I tell you that the first one might be being made into a film?’

‘No way, mate, you never said. Congratulations!’ Freddie sounded delighted.

‘You know I was in LA before New York, going to all these meetings where everyone says they love you, they love the book? Well, on and on they went and often it comes to nothing. But I just got confirmation that there’s been an offer and they want to get started straight away. So although it might not see the screen, my agent’s confident it will.’

‘That’s amazing!’ Pippa leant over and kissed Hector’s cheek. ‘I can’t tell you how proud we are of you,’ she said.

He blushed. Hector always looked young for his age; he wasn’t quite thirty, but he looked even more like a schoolboy when he blushed.

‘So, you have to write book two now. What about the film script?’ Gemma asked.

‘They’ll be getting a scriptwriter in. I didn’t think I knew how to write a book and I’ve never written a script, so I don’t want to push it. But I get to consult on it and when I’ve finished this book, I’m probably going to go to LA for a bit.’

‘To live?’ Freddie couldn’t keep the horror out of his voice.

‘No, but maybe for a while. After all, why not? I’m pretty flexible, I’ve got no ties here.’ He glanced at Pippa, who pretended not to notice. ‘But the problem is that this new book has to be good. It’s great that The Coron Files was such a success and the family intrigue seems to be the main hook – you guys were my inspiration, by the way.’

‘Great, because in the book the family are all corrupt money launderers and possibly murderers,’ Pippa pointed out.

‘I did use poetic licence. I just said you were inspiration, especially you, Pippa. Where was I? Oh yes, there’s a lot of pressure on book two, which is why I wanted to write it here, with you guys. I kind of feel the first book was largely created at Meadowbrook and so I want the same for this one. I like to think of myself as your writer in residence.’

‘I, for one, think this calls for champagne,’ Freddie declared.

‘Fred, you know what Harry said about us drinking the profits,’ Pippa cautioned.

‘Oh, put it on my bill,’ Hector laughed. ‘I don’t care about the cost. Having drinks with good friends to celebrate my film deal, it doesn’t get much better than this.’

‘I’m sure they’ll give you a big discount,’ Gemma teased.

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, get the champagne, Fred, and pour. I’ll deal with Harry if I have to. Hector’s not paying for his own celebration.’

‘Now that’s the sister I like best.’ Freddie jumped up and was back with a bottle of champagne in seconds.

Pippa thought this was the least they could do for Hector. Not only did he pay them, and not only did he entertain the guests, but he also put the hotel firmly in the limelight via social media. And he’d do anything to help them, after all. He deserved this – more than this.

‘In fact, I think we owe you a few crates of the stuff. And seeing as you do all that social media for us, I’m going to put it down as a marketing expense,’ Pippa said. ‘You can have whatever you want at any time.’

‘Including you?’ Hector raised his eyebrows hopefully.

Pippa didn’t know how to respond without being rude, so she just ignored him. She knew that Hector only wanted her because she was the only woman who resisted his charms. It was flattering, she guessed, but she needed a man and Hector was still a boy in too many ways. Besides, she’d explained to her entire family when they questioned why she wouldn’t even consider him. The minute she succumbed to him, he’d go off her. That’s what happened with men like Hector. She couldn’t cope with the rejection that would inevitably come.

‘Gus just texted. He said he and Amanda are going to grab a bite to eat at the pub. Shall we join?’ Freddie said, saving Pippa.

‘Let’s go,’ Pippa said. ‘Then it’ll feel like a proper celebration.’ And it would hopefully stop Hector looking at her with his moony eyes.

‘Harry and Connor aren’t coming. She’s probably got that baby stuck to her again,’ Freddie moaned.

‘Oh, Freddie, you’re so mean about your darling nephew. Connor and Harry are new parents, they need time to get used to it, and I think it’s wonderful the way they spend time together. As a family.’

Again, Gemma looked wistful, so Pippa quickly mobilised them. This wasn’t a safe discussion. Having Hector declare his ‘love’ for her was almost preferable, in fact. Life had been good, if not great since the hotel opened, but Pippa could sense a shift. She didn’t know what, but Gemma seemed almost as besotted with Toby as Harriet and as she didn’t have any family, she was pretty sure that she was more ready than Fred to have a child of her own, or at least for him to make a commitment to her. But she brushed those fears aside. Instead, they were going to have a nice meal and toast Hector’s success. Nothing would ruin that.

However, as it turned out, Gus managed to ruin it. As soon as they walked into The Parker’s Arms, Amanda shot Pippa an anxious glance and as Gus’s head was almost stuck in his pint glass, she could tell that he wasn’t happy.

‘You look terrible,’ Freddie said as they all sat down at the table.

‘Thanks, mate.’

Hector was dispatched to get drinks, with Gemma offering to help. Pippa grabbed menus and when they were all settled, she turned to Gus.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘My little girl,’ Gus said, and then he opened his mouth and closed it again.

Amanda patted his arm.

‘Fleur has a boyfriend. Not a date but an actual boyfriend. He’s seventeen,’ Amanda explained.

‘Far too old for her.’

‘Um, she’s sixteen,’ Pippa pointed out.

‘Nooo,’ Gus said and took a huge slug of his drink.

If it had driven Gus to drink, it had to be bad.

‘Alfie, that’s his name. Lives just outside Parker’s Hollow. They met in the village shop, which is so innocent,’ Amanda explained.

‘There’s nothing innocent about teenage boys,’ Gus said, waggling a finger at them. ‘He was probably trying to buy booze and cigarettes with a fake ID that he’s paid for by selling drugs.’

‘That’s true,’ Freddie replied and Hector nodded.

There was certainly nothing innocent about Fred when he was a teenager, that was sure.

‘He’s at the local sixth form, doing A-levels. Wants to be an architect and from what I can tell, he’s a nice boy.’

Amanda sounded slightly harsh. She had the patience of a saint when it came to Gus, but even she had a limit. And Gus was famous for being an overprotective father; although, of course, he adored Fleur.

‘He didn’t call me Mr Singer when he first met me,’ Gus said.

‘I’d have him shot,’ Freddie joked.

‘He’s probably on drugs,’ Gus added.

‘We all were at that age,’ Hector pointed out unhelpfully.

Pippa gave him a prod on his arm and hissed at him to shut up.

‘Oh, God, I need a whisky,’ Gus said.

‘No, you need to eat. Now, let’s order and stop talking nonsense. Gus, your daughter was going to have a boyfriend at some point and I really don’t think Alfie’s a delinquent. We might have to deal with the fact that at some point soon, Hayley will, too.’

‘Oh God, no.’ Gus put his head in his hands.

Hayley, his stepdaughter, was privy to the same kind of overprotectiveness as Fleur from him, but as she was more interested in sport than boys it hadn’t really been a problem.

‘Alfie’s decent. His mum and dad are both teachers. He doesn’t have any tattoos or a criminal record and as far as I can tell, it’s just a bit of hand-holding and snogging at the moment,’ Amanda said.

‘Don’t say that, please,’ Gus begged.

‘I give up!’ Amanda threw her hands in the air. ‘Right, I’m going to have the vegetarian pasta. Anyone else ready to order?’

‘Sorry,’ Gus said. ‘I know I’m being unreasonable, but it’s so hard to watch my little girl grow up.’

‘Listen, mate,’ Hector said. ‘You’re pretty lucky that Fleur’s sensible, clever and a credit to you. I know you’ll always worry; after all, we were teenage boys once. Actually, I acted like one until fairly recently. All you can do is trust her, support her and get either Amanda, Harry or Pip to do the girl talk with her.’

‘Oh God, not me. I mean we get on pretty well, but I’m still the evil stepmother,’ Amanda stated quickly.

‘I’ll do it,’ Pippa offered. ‘If you get Harriet to do it she might turn into a bit of a ball-breaker. You know, teach Fleur how to make boys cry.’

Not that Harriet was like that anymore, but then she still thought she was. She was quite soppy about Connor, but she’d never admit it.

‘Maybe I should get Harry to do it, then.’ Gus cheered up. ‘OK, thanks, Hector, you do make sense. And yes, my darling wife, let’s eat.’

‘Nightcap?’ Hector asked when they were back at Meadowbrook.

It was nearly eleven and as the hotel was empty bar Hector, there were no staff around. When it was like this, Pippa had struggled being alone, even for the odd night. The house was so big and although it was home, had always been home, she still felt jumpy at every little noise. She was glad that Hector was here. They had a few bookings at the weekend but until then, it was just the two of them.

‘Sure, we’ll drink the good brandy. It’s not in the bar, I keep it in the office, just like Dad used to.’ She led the way.

They settled into the sofa, nursing their drinks. Pippa had tucked her legs underneath her while Hector stretched his long legs out before him.

‘This reminds me of Dad,’ Pippa said after a while.

‘I wish I’d met him,’ Hector said. ‘I kind of feel that all you Singers are part of my family now, so it would have been nice to have known him.’

‘He’s still here,’ Pippa said, gesturing to the huge portrait of him they kept in the office. Their father was a little on the vain side. He’d had the portrait painted years ago and he kept it in his bedroom when he was alive. Now, it was far more suitable for the office. None of the guests needed a full-size Andrew Singer staring down at them.

‘Yes, he looks as if he’d be as overprotective as Gus. I feel that he’s warning me off with his eyes,’ Hector laughed.

‘Don’t be silly. You’re my friend and he’d have liked you. Actually, at first he wouldn’t but now, with this serious writing side of yours and stuff, he’d probably have liked you.’

‘I’ll take probably. Right, let’s have a toast. To my new book and to Meadowbrook, where it all began to make sense to me.’

As they clinked glasses, Pippa was lost for words. She never imagined that Hector felt that way, the way she did, about Meadowbrook. It was quite moving and she knew then that her father would have liked Hector. He would have admired the way he’d sorted himself out, grown up and was what her dad would have referred to as a ‘decent man’. High praise, indeed, Pippa smiled to herself.