The temperature had risen slightly overnight, but it was still cold. Ava popped her hands into her coat pockets and trudged along to Sapphire Lake. She’d got used to walking past the cottage where she’d stayed and enjoyed having a sneaky peak.
There was no one in the kitchen today, perhaps the family had gone out. She wondered who lived there now. Maybe she’d ask Jack later.
Once at the lake, she took the bridge across it and stood in the middle, snapping from different angles. It was all so tranquil after the night before.
She made her way through the log cabins, waving at Ruby, who was sitting behind her counter sipping a hot drink, and then at Charlie while he levelled up one of his frames on the wall.
She turned right onto the paved area where the event had taken place. You’d hardly believe it had been so rowdy the night before. Most of the debris had been cleared, two young lads sweeping the remainder up. Luckily, she’d taken some pictures last night on her phone. It had the capacity to come up with some excellent close-up shots.
Someone shouted her name, and she looked back to see Stella coming towards her. Ava waited for her to catch up.
‘I’ve just been for a bracing walk,’ Stella said, catching her breath for a moment. ‘Did you enjoy yourself last night?’
‘Yes, it was wonderful,’ Ava gushed, only just realising she hadn’t seen her at the event. ‘I loved the whole atmosphere. I bet it’s incredible during the summer.’
‘You must come for a visit and see.’ Stella slipped her arm through Ava’s, and they began to walk. ‘No leaving it so long next time.’
Ava chuckled. ‘I’m not sure I want to leave at all, and I’ve only been here for two weeks. It feels as if I’m on holiday, not here for a work thing.’
‘Sapphire Lake has a habit of getting under people’s skin. I think that’s why we have so many returning visitors. How’s your mum doing? I’ve been meaning to ask once I got you alone.’
‘She’s fine, I don’t see much of her,’ Ava admitted. ‘We’re not really close.’
‘Neither are our family now.’ Stella sighed. ‘I miss Noah so much. Cara, too, but at least sometimes I can persuade her to come home for a night.’
‘I’m sorry how it’s worked out.’ Ava gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘Maybe things will get better in time. I know how close you all were. It must have been a terrible shock when Dan died.’
Stella was quiet for a moment. ‘It’s like a part of me extinguished when he did. I know it’s silly, but as a parent, you don’t expect your children to go first.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Ava’s thoughts turned to Georgia. ‘I would be devastated if anything happened to my daughter.’
‘You must bring her to visit one day.’
‘It would be an honour to introduce her to you and your family.’
Stella gave a faint smile. ‘Jack wants us to finish the extension. Has he told you we’ve been thinking of selling the hotel in the not-too-distant future?’
‘He mentioned something about it.’ Ava didn’t want to say too much, hoping not to be disloyal. ‘I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t think it would be the same without you running it. But I do think it would be a good idea to finish the rooms.’
‘Have you seen them?’
‘Not yet, no.’
‘The thing is, I… I don’t want anything to be different than it was when Dan was alive. I feel if we change anything, I won’t see him in the rooms anymore.’
Ava could understand that. ‘He’ll always be in your heart,’ she said.
Stella smiled. ‘What would you do with the hotel, if it were yours?’
‘I’d make it more of a community hub. It could be the heartbeat of the village, like the lakeside events. Bring the locals together more often, and then people from outside the village, too. You could have author talks, perhaps with Jack hosting, and the book cabin could supply the books.’ She turned towards Stella excitedly. ‘And evening classes. Art classes with Charlie; jewellery lessons with Ruby. Your chef could do cookery lessons. There’s so much potential.’
‘Photography know-how, perhaps?’
Ava smiled shyly.
‘It always shocks me how an outsider views it. I know we’ve done some great things with it over the past few years, but we could do more.’ Stella changed the subject suddenly. ‘Why don’t you stay on a bit longer? You could do the artwork for us, lodge in the hotel.’
Ava chewed on her lip. ‘I’m worried I’d never want to leave.’
