Giles protested that it wasn’t as it seemed, which obviously made things worse for his companion. The woman stood up and, after a few choice words, threw her wine over Giles before walking out.
Ava had gone back to Nancy, and to her surprise found that she wasn’t as upset as she’d imagined. So they’d ordered meals and a bottle of wine and made a toast to new beginnings.
When she’d finally got home that evening, an almighty row had broken out. For once Ava hadn’t backed down. Eventually he’d got the message, packed a suitcase, and left.
It hadn’t been easy. Giles had put up a good fight, always charming to her friends yet hostile to her when he managed to get her alone.
She laughed to herself when she recalled that as soon as their divorce papers were signed, the woman he’d been with at the restaurant was engaged to be his wife.
During the months afterwards, she’d realised that when they’d been together Giles had seemed to take immense pleasure in putting her down. She’d become a shadow of her former self, not going out much unless it was with him. In a way, he’d controlled her every move by belittling her at the slightest opportunity. He was never violent, nor angry. He was just… charming with a hint of menace.
Time flew, and before she knew it, the train rolled into the station. Ava gathered her belongings and parked her thoughts for now.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the platform. Anyone would think she was eloping or on the run from something, the emphasis she was giving to this trip. It was only four weeks. She would stay for the allotted time, get her head down; perhaps by then, she’d be ready to figure out what to do next with her life.
Once in a taxi, the shadows of houses, the odd lights in windows illuminating them, made way for rolling hedges. Ava finally relaxed a little in her seat.
Half an hour later, the vehicle took a right, a sign indicating Sapphire Lake was a mile away. Although she couldn’t see much, Ava did recognise some of the bends in the road. Her memoryof riding on a push bike or going out with her parents in the car came back as they went underneath the railway bridge. Back then, the field to her left had homed several donkeys but was now a row of businesses across from a garage forecourt. An Italian restaurant stood at one end, a convenience store and post office at the other, and a florist, hairdresser’s, and a small bakery sandwiched in between.
Up to the roundabout, the car went right again, turning into Lake Road. It was narrow there, pavement on one side only, and cars parked in whatever spaces they could find. Then it opened up, houses to the left on a steep incline. Further along would be the cottage she had stayed at most summers as a child. It would be bittersweet to see it again. But for now, she sighed with relief when the sign for Sapphire Hotel came into view.
CHAPTER THREE
The taxi driver drove down a sweeping drive, depositing Ava outside the front doors. She glanced at her watch: it was past nine p.m. now. She was desperate for a cup of tea and couldn’t wait to get settled into her room.
‘Are you staying with friends or seeing family?’ the man asked once he’d retrieved her suitcase from the boot of the car.
‘Work,’ she replied, pulling up its handle. ‘But I’m hoping to have a bit of down time, too.’
‘That’s good. Sapphire Lake is amazing at this time of year. Well, to be fair, it’s beautiful all year round.’
She smiled, not letting on that, as a child, she’d fallen into the lake and thought she was going to drown until she’d found she could easily touch the ground beneath the water. The ledge she’d been paddling on had been slippy – a few steps on it and whoosh, over she’d gone. It had been an early lesson that had taught her to respect the lake and the beast behind the beauty.
Once inside, Ava’s gaze roamed around the hotel reception. It seemed to be almost the same as she remembered. Light oak wooden panelling on the walls, a reception desk built to match. The red carpet had been replaced by cream marble tiles, inset with runner carpets. Several oil paintings and charcoal drawingsof Sapphire Lake, sold by a local artist, adorned the walls, the only bright colours amongst the pales.
The young woman behind the desk gave a radiant smile, as if she was welcoming Ava back rather than it being their first encounter.
‘Good evening, I’m Sara. You must be Ava?’
‘Yes. I’m so sorry I’m late. Trains.’ She rolled her eyes in frustration.
‘Oh, don’t worry, you’re here now. I’ll get the chef to make you something. Sandwiches okay? Perhaps a bowl of chips?’
‘Sounds like heaven. Cheese and onion?’
‘I’ll get it brought to your room as soon as it’s ready.’
‘Thanks, that’s very kind of you.’ While she waited for Sara to sort out the relevant paperwork, she glanced around, memories of her and Eliza Broadhurst sliding down the bannisters in a fit of giggles flooding back to her. Eliza was the same age as Ava and had been her friend for the four summers she had holidayed there. Ava wondered if she’d still be around or if she’d moved out of the village and onto pastures new.
‘You’re on the third floor, room four.’ Sara handed her a form and a pen. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but it has a wonderful lake view. And as you’re going to be here a while, you’ve been allocated one of the best rooms.’
Ava smiled again as she signed her name. Was Sara always this friendly with guests? Or maybe she was out to make a good impression.
‘Eliza told me you’ve stayed at Sapphire Lake when you were younger?’ Sara took back the form.
‘I was just thinking of her.’ Ava couldn’t help the smile spreading across her face. ‘I used to spend summers here with my parents. Eliza was the first person I came to find whenever I arrived. How is she?’
‘She’s doing well. She’s not on the rota for a couple of days, but she says she can’t wait to catch up with you again.’
