Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Shall we go?” she says. “We can get good seats.”
We take my kitchen chairs back inside and I lock up my house. I knock on Granny’s window as we walk past and give her a wave. Granny’s going to volunteer at the new flower gardens, but isn’t taking a job in the hotel. I don’t have the heart to tell her that Vincent might change his mind about the new gardens, now he’s not here. Not that I thought he’d said yes for me. But with Crompton out of sight, he might prioritize other projects instead.
“Have you heard from him?” she asks as we walk up the slope to the front of the house.
I hesitate, because I did get a comment on the Instagram picture of the lake. I’m pretty sure it was him. “No,” I say eventually. If he had commented, it didn’t mean anything. If he wants to communicate with me, he has my number.
He won’t use it, of course. His hat is somewhere else now.
I’ve just got to get used to that.
“I feel fine though.” It’s only half a lie. I miss him. It’s not a feeling I’m used to. Everyone in the world I like, I see all the time. Missing him feels like an icy rock, weighing down my stomach.
I don’t think it will ever leave me. I think a part of Vincent Cove will stay with me forever. And despite it being uncomfortable—the missing him—it’s better than it not being there. I won’t wish it away. Meeting Vincent and spending those weeks together were some of the happiest times of my life. It’s painful now, but I’m so pleased I had that time with him.
“You think he’ll come back?”
I don’t, but I don’t want Meghan to think Vincent’s lost interest in Crompton as a business. He knows how to make money without needing to oversee things personally. “I imagine he will.”
“Are you nervous about your new job?” she asks.
“I’m excited.” It’s true. I can’t wait to tell guests all about Crompton and get them as enthusiastic about the place as I am.
“I know I don’t have a job sorted out yet, but I’m excited too. It feels like this could be something really great.”
“I agree.” I wave at Sandra, who is coming from the other direction. “And the best of it is, I get to work with fantastic people I know, love, and cherish.”
Meghan links her arm through mine and we meet Sandra by the tent.
“We’re all early,” Sandra says. “I want a seat at the front so I get to tell this general manager I want a job giving out the tea.”
“You’re going to be the hotel tea teller, are you?”
She rolls her eyes. “Earl Grey, not gossip.”
We all shuffle through the door of the tent.
“In my day, if a tent had a zip, you were posh. Now look at this place. It’s got lights and everything,” Sandra says.
I laugh. “This isn’t the kind of tent you spend a week in the summer on a beach with. Although, it’s got air conditioning, so it’s the only kind of tent I’d want for that kind of trip.” I think about Vincent and wonder if he’s ever been camping. Maybe before his dad abandoned him. His life would have been completely different before he left—almost the exact opposite of mine before my mum died. I wish we’d had a chance to talk more, share more, heal more—together.
Just as we take our seats in the front row, Michael arrives with Molly and a woman I recognize from her profile picture on LinkedIn. Without thinking, I jump to my feet. “Olga, how lovely to meet you. My name’s Kate. I’m looking forward to being your head of guest relations.”
Olga gives me a warm smile and shakes my hand. “I’ve heard so much about you. You’re going to be able to teach me so much about this wonderful place.”
“I’m looking forward to it. We’re all very excited you’re here.” I introduce her to Sandra and Meghan. As they chat animatedly to Olga, I watch as people who’ve known me our entire lives file into the tent. There’s a palpable sense of excitement in the air and I’m contributing to it.
I’m no longer furious the earl sold the place. He probably should have done it ten years ago. I’m not nervous my world is going to be turned upside down, because that already happened when Vincent came into my life. Though I have a badly bruised heart, there are finger marks around my soul—being with him has changed me at my core.
I’d just been existing before Vincent. He brought me to life.
“Testing, testing,” Michael says into the microphone at the front of the tent.
“A bloody microphone as well,” Sandra says. “Can you believe it?” Anyone would think an alien spacecraft just landed in front of us.