Page 68 of Second Chance Summer
Actually, thought Lily, Morven hadn’t answered the question at all.
Elspeth scraped up a smile. ‘Anyway, would you like to come upstairs and I’ll show you to your room? I’m sure Sam won’t be too long.’
Lily went up the stairs, feeling the polished oak banister under her palm. The house had triple windows on both elevations, letting in loads of light. Everywhere there were comfy sofas and cosy nooks, bookcases and prints.
‘It’s good of you to have me.’
‘Sam wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I wish I’d never mentioned disturbing the spirits. Although I’m certain the island holds echoes of its past residents, I don’t think they’d come back ’specially to stalk guests. I’m sure the figure you saw is just some prankster.’
Lily had to smile. ‘I don’t think it was a ghost and I’m not sure Mabel Teague would decide to leave a message in pebbles for me.’
‘I doubt poor Mabel could even read and write,’ Elspeth said as she opened the door of a room at the front of the house, above the lounge. ‘Here you go. It’s only a single, but it’s always ready for guests and the bathroom is right next door. Nate stayed here the last time he came back to see Morven.’
‘It’s lovely. Very welcoming,’ Lily said, feeling comforted by the sight of the white duvet, Lloyd Loom chair and pastel colour scheme. It was fresh but soothing. ‘What a pretty chair.’
‘I’m glad you like it. The chair was Sam’s grandmother’s. His parents left it here when they moved to the mainland. Morven painted it green – pistachio she calls it – and made the cushion.’
‘It’s beautiful,’ Lily said, admiring the tapestry cushion, though wondering if it might explode when she sat on it.
She put her bag on the rug beside the bed and crossed to the window. Her room must be right over the porch, giving a view of all the comings and goings – and Hell Bay itself, with Stark looming mysteriously over the channel. Was anyone on the island right now, flitting about the hearths and leaving messages on her terrace?
She almost shivered but instead said enthusiastically, ‘What a view. It makes a change to be looking over at Stark.’
Elspeth had joined her at the window. ‘Yes, it must.’
Evening sunlight glinted off the windows of the cottages and reception hub. ‘I can see all the cottages from here.’
‘You can. Sam says you’ve been helping to renovate them.’
Lily laughed. ‘Renovate makes it sound as if I’m bricklaying and roofing. Sam’s done ninety-nine percent of the work already. I’m just lending a hand with the finishing touches to Samphire and Starfish so he can open them to visitors.’
Elspeth sighed. ‘I’m glad he’s agreed to accept some help. I didn’t want him to re-open the island mainly because I’ve been worried he’s heading for a nervous breakdown. It’s such a lot of work and responsibility. I think he underestimated how much. And he puts so much pressure on himself.’
‘Perhaps that’s true, but he’s now fully aware of what’s involved, which is why he’s going to recruit some experienced staff,’ Lily said soothingly. ‘The chef from the St Agnes Bistro is interested since the owner retired. Sam’s already placed ads with the recruitment agencies for a housekeeper too.’
Elspeth patted Lily’s arm. ‘Thanks for helping him. He finds it hard to admit he needs it.’
‘I’m no expert at hospitality, and he was dead against me getting involved initially. I just can’t stop myself.’
‘You’re both as bad as each other, but he needed thesupport. I’d do more if I didn’t have the café.’ Elspeth’s green eyes searched Lily’s face. ‘He’ll miss you when you’re gone.’
Lily laughed. ‘I’ve only been here ten days.’
‘That’s long enough to miss someone. In more than one way.’
Feeling her cheeks glowing, Lily glanced away and fixed her eyes on her overnight bag. ‘Should I unpack then come down and help you start dinner?’
‘Oh, there’s no need for that. I can manage.’
‘It would be no trouble,’ Lily said firmly, determined that Elspeth wouldn’t have extra work to do on her account. ‘I’ve enjoyed cooking while I’ve been here. I don’t have time at home and, believe me, I need the practice. I’ve run right out of my go-to recipes and I could count them on one hand.’
Elspeth relented. ‘Well, if you’d really like to. I was going to make a one-pot chicken and asparagus thing. It’s my mother’s recipe but I make it as a traybake ’cos it sounds trendier. We serve it at the café on Sundays sometimes. You could add that to your list.’
‘Sounds great. I’ll go home and make it for my mum and dad. Amaze the lot of them … I don’t get home enough but Iwillmake time from now on. That’s one of my post-retreat resolutions.’
Elspeth looked amused. ‘Well done, but don’t maketoomany, will you? Stick to a couple that really matter and just try your best. You don’t want to add not being the perfect chef or the perfect daughter to the list of things you can beat yourself up about, now do you?’
Lily felt a lump forming in her throat. Cara had always found time to visit their parents. Cara also found time to be a mum and to save the lives of other people’s children. Lily, however, was hellbent on sourcing the perfect bud vase for your hall or those handmade gin tumblers you’d been seeking forever …
