A Small Town Affair

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘No you don’t my girl. Just stay where you are. I can’t believe you knew Jenny? And you didn’t tell me?’ Mrs Hetherington spluttered.

  ‘I was torn between being a loyal friend and being responsible. I’m sorry. But it wasn’t my place to tell you. That was a stupid slip of the tongue.’

  ‘Well this certainly changes everything. You’ll have to come back with us. Whatever your father says, this is our grandchild we are talking about. You’ll never manage on your own and indeed, why should you? Every child deserves a decent start in life.’

  ‘I need more time,’ Georgie insisted.

  ‘I need some time to think. I can’t get my head round it. Let’s sleep on it. I’ve booked us a couple of rooms. We’ll meet at breakfast in the morning and plan what to do next.’

  ‘All right. But don’t expect me to do anything I don’t believe in.’ She stood hesitantly, unsure of how she was supposed to react. Jenny broke the tension and gave her a hug. Her mother glared but gave her a hug too but Georgie could feel the tension and it was merely a token gesture.

  She lay awake for much of the night, tossing things round and round. It was becoming a habit. Jenny knocked on her door early next morning.

  ‘Can I come in? Or don’t you want to speak to me ever again?’

  ‘I suppose she had to find out sooner or later but it was all a bit sudden.’

  ‘I’m so sorry. I thought if I was here it might ease things a bit and then I do something stupid. I take it you’ve heard nothing else of the man himself?’

  ‘Seems he’s disappeared off the planet. But, I think I realise that I’m better off without him.’

  ‘You’ll be safe here. And your mum will help you sort things out . Might make your life easier. You’ll get paid too.’

  ‘I s’pose. So much for being independent. I have to find my own way through this. I’d better face up to her over breakfast. Hey, I haven’t been sick today. Maybe that’s one stage over with.’

  ‘Do you know how far on you are?’

  ‘Not really. It can’t be more than two and a bit months.’

  ‘Haven’t you seen a doctor yet? Done all the maternity stuff?’

  ‘When have I had time for all of that? You were only here a couple of days ago.’

  ‘Then that’s your next priority. Make sure you do it. Or we’ll stay on and make you go.’

  ‘Okay. Promise. It just makes everything seem so real. How will I cope with being a mother, Jenny? It’s such a shock.’

  ‘You’ll cope, when the time comes. Come on. Breakfast.’

  It was a tense meal but at least with so many people around, there was no chance of a heated discussion. Mrs Hetherington seemed reasonable and took the attitude that staying on good terms was better than losing her daughter altogether.

  ‘I’m going to give you a credit card for emergencies but please be sensible the way you use it. You can buy what you need. It’s one of my private ones I have in reserve and Daddy won’t know anything about it. You also need a car. I shall try to get Daddy’s PA to clarify matters with the insurance. You can’t go on like this. It’s ridiculous. Keep this hire car and I’ll let you know the situation. Now, promise to see a doctor and follow any advice you get and you must also promise to answer my calls. None of this hedging. Honesty, from now on.’

  ‘Thank you Mummy. You’re very generous. I’ll do my best to manage but it will be nice to know that you’re on my side.’

  ‘Oh no. I’m not. Not in any way. I’m horrified by the whole thing but you’re my only daughter and I can’t abandon you, whatever you’ve done. It’s up to you to organise work here. They’ll give you some sort of job if I ask. No concessions because of who you are.’

  She got up and left the table. Jenny stared at her friend.

  ‘That all sounds reasonable, don’t you think?’

  ‘I guess so. Yes, of course it does. I am still being organised to some extent. But I suppose I’m out of Daddy’s reach really. And of course, I still have this baby growing inside me. And I still miss Jay. I can’t help it but I love him. I’m trying hard not to.’ She felt tears burning once more.

  ‘Your hormones are all over the place. You’ve got to forget him Georgie. You have to get on and live your life without him now. Come on. You’ve only known him for three or four months. You’ve lived all the rest of your life without him.’

  ‘I know you’re right but he’s still the best thing that ever happened to me. He made me discover myself in a way that was completely new. I’m glad I’ll have a part of him forever,’ she said as she touched her stomach.

  ‘You’re letting yourself wander into some fantasy world Georgie. Snap out of it. He’s gone. Now, come on. Help me pack. We’re driving straight back this morning. I have afternoon meetings again.’

  Georgie watched them drive away and went back inside. She had to organise a job and move into staff quarters rather than the guest room. It was about to become an even more difficult morning. Explanations were tricky. Despite the idea that nepotism would not come into the sort of job she would do, the manager was not comfortable with her tackling any more menial jobs.

  ‘I think I’d better make you a sort of personal assistant to me and other senior staff. You are familiar with all of the systems. I understand you helped set them up.’

  ‘Well, yes I did. But I don’t expect any favouritism.’

  ‘I can’t have you working in the kitchen. It makes sense for you to do something you’re good at. It will be of great help to me too. I’ll have to move you into one of the staff rooms.’

  ‘I expected that. If it’s convenient, I’d like to start properly in a couple of days. I have a few things I need to organise.’

  ‘That’s perfect. I’ll arrange office space for you and we’ll sort out a room. Thank you Miss Hetherington.’

  ‘Call me Georgie. It’s too much of a mouthful and would keep rubbing it in with the other staff.’

  ‘Georgie it is then. Thank you.’

  ‘Thank you James. May I call you that?’

  ‘Of course. We’re fairly informal amongst ourselves. Perhaps not in front of the rest of the staff.’

  ‘Okay. But please let me be Georgie to everyone. I don’t want the rest of the staff knowing who I am all the time.’

  ‘Your photograph is in all the brochures so it won’t be a secret.’

  ‘Whatever. Now I wonder if you could tell me where the nearest doctor is? I need to register.’

  ‘I can call the hotel doctor if there’s something wrong.’

  ‘No. There’s nothing wrong but I do need to register.’

  He gave her a card with various local information. She put it in her pocket. She needed to buy some more clothes for working and set off to the nearby town. She found the doctor’s surgery and went to sign in.

  ‘Do you need to see a doctor now?’

  ‘Well, there’s nothing wrong exactly. But I do need an appointment as soon as possible.’

  ‘Can you come back in half an hour? One of our lady doctors will be free.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. Thank you.’ Things were coming together nicely. She wandered into the High Street and saw there were several shops selling clothing. She looked into a charity shop window and saw a number of items of baby things. If all else failed, it was useful to know she could get such things.

  The doctor was helpful and gave her a handful of leaflets explaining what she needed to do.

  ‘And you’ve really no idea when it might be due? When was your last period?’

  Georgie shook her head.

  ‘I’m not entirely sure. Everything’s been something of a muddle lately. I didn’t even realise I could be pregnant till I did a test. Even that was after I’d been sick a few times.’

  ‘The first thing is to organise a scan and we’ll have some idea if your due date. I’ll arrange it right away.’

  ‘Thank you, doctor.’

  As she left, it hit her hard. This baby was becomin
g more and more of a reality.

  ‘Oh Jay. What have we done?’

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jay walked into the huge reception area of the Hetherington Hotel and looked around. The place was intimidating in its grandeur. He’d known it was a five star rating but was taken aback by the magnificence of the building. And to think, the heiress to all of this had shared a caravan with him. He drew himself up straight and took a deep breath, walking to the reception with an air of confidence he did not feel.

  ‘Can I help you sir?’ the receptionist said, smiling at the handsome man with more than her usual enthusiasm.

  ‘I wondered if Miss Georgie Hind is staying here?’

  ‘I’m afraid not sir. We have no-one of that name registered.’

  ‘She may be using her other name. Georgina Hetherington?’ The girl looked up from her computer screen in surprise.

  ‘I couldn’t give out that information sir.’

  ‘So she is here.’

  ‘I didn’t say that. I merely said that we don’t give out the names of any of our guests.’

  ‘But it’s vital I contact her as soon as possible. It’s very urgent.’

  ‘What makes you think she is here?’

  ‘Just a hunch. She left her previous job and I think this is where she would have moved to next.’

  ‘You could leave a message and if she does contact us, we could pass it on. Can I ask your name?’

  ‘Never mind. I’ll stay around for a while and perhaps I’ll meet her.’

  ‘Shall I say who was asking for her?’

  ‘That’s another way of asking my name. I might try to contact her by phone. Thanks for your help.’ I don’t think. He went outside and wandered down the imposing drive. The gardens were looking wonderful with plenty of early autumn colour. Though the Clarence Hotel was nice, it came nowhere near to this standard. He sat on a seat outside the walls and looked at the sea. He would stay there for a while and see if Georgie returned. It was probably a hopeless cause even trying to provide some sort of explanation. He’d never met anyone like Georgie before. Now he knew why, he thought looking back at this hotel. There were several Hetheringtons around the country, probably all as splendid as this one. He was totally out of his depth in her world and if he’d know from the start who she was, he’d have been far too inhibited to speak to her. After a couple of hours, he gave up and went into town. It was pointless trying to speak to Georgie. He had done far too many things wrong for her to forgive him. He had been stupid and destroyed the only true love of his life. He drove away in the borrowed van and decided it was time to make himself a new life. He had finally untangled the mess he had created in his past and now he had to move on. Perhaps he could visit his sister. She would surely give him a temporary home for a while.

  Georgie drove back into the hotel drive a few moments after he had left.

  ‘Has Mr Willerby assigned me a new room yet do you know?’

  ‘I believe so. He’s in the office. I’ll give him a buzz. Oh, a gentleman was asking after you. I didn’t confirm you were staying here. I hope I did the right thing?’

  ‘What sort of gentleman?’

  ‘Well, if I’m honest, a rather gorgeous looking gentleman. Very tall. Dark hair. Amazing greenish eyes. Might have been brown. One of those difficult to colours to determine.’ Georgie went pale.

  ‘Did he leave any message?’ she stammered.

  ‘No. He wouldn’t give his name. Said something about contacting you by phone?’

  ‘I’ve set my phone to ban his number. Thanks anyway.’

  ‘If he calls again?’

  ‘I simply don’t know. Actually, let me know but don’t confirm that I am here.’

  ‘I see. Leave it with me.’ The receptionist had a glint in her eye. Here lay some juicy gossip she thought. What with Mrs Hetherington coming down last night and then leaving first thing ... and Georgie starting to work here ... it all looked highly suspicious.

  James came into reception and gave her the number of her new room. The staff rooms were quite small compared to the guest rooms but still provided comfortable accommodation. Georgie was given a room with en-suite. No nepotism of course, she thought.

  She settled in, trying hard not to think about Jay possibly close by. Would she see him if came to the hotel again? Was he here because it was her family’s hotel or did he have an explanation for his dreadful behaviour? Did she want to see him or would it merely be rubbing salt into her already bleeding wounds? She tried to be objective. He was certainly everything she could have wanted physically but he was a liar and a thief. He was a coward, especially leaving her the way he did. She remembered the lovely times they had shared. She thought of his gentle care for her at times and his humour at others. But when it had mattered most, he had run out on her. But she loved him, if she actually knew what love was. Despite everything, she loved him with her whole being. Was this enough to give him a chance to explain? She knew exactly what Jenny would say.

  Don’t do it. Let him go. Forget him.

  Good advice, she muttered. She should do all of those things but would she have the strength to follow it through? Perhaps he wouldn’t come again, anyway. Follow her instincts if he did, she decided.

  It seemed pointless to drift around so she decided to begin work next day. She went to the desk she had been assigned and began to familiarise herself with the tasks she was to take on. James spent some time with her and gave her a few jobs to do, jobs that she knew were non-essential, trivial things. She looked up whenever the bell rang on reception, wondering if Jay would show his face again. Jenny sent an email asking how things were going. She said that Jay had been looking for her and her friend immediately phoned her.

  ‘You can’t seriously think of speaking to him. Georgie, for heaven’s sakes. You’ll be asking for more heartache.’

  ‘I know. I know all of that. But I still need some sort of explanation. I’ve been over and over it in my mind and I have to know what I did that was so wrong. What did he mean by his words when I told him about the baby?’

  ‘Snap out of it Georgie. You’re torturing yourself over and over again. Get on with life and make the most of it. You’re a lovely young woman. You’ll be a mother with a gorgeous baby. Settle for that. I’ll call you later.’

  ‘Okay Jenny. Thanks again for caring.’

  Georgie settled into a routine of working and though she doubted her broken heart would ever heal. The other staff were all aware of her condition and though curious, respected her status in the hotel hierarchy and said nothing to her face. As Christmas approached, she was quite large and had been given a March date for the birth. She was no closer to knowing what to do when the time came. She had spells of misery that occasionally drove her near total despair. The thought of her unborn child kept her going. Her mother called regularly and though often sounding distant, was still offering some support.

  ‘Are you thinking of coming home for Christmas?’ she asked halfway through December.

  ‘I don’t know. How would Daddy be about seeing me in this state?’

  ‘Not at all comfortable but he has to know soon. I can break it to him. I’d like to see you, anyway.’

  ‘I do miss you Mummy. I’m sorry about everything.’ She broke down and once more tears flowed in a way she was getting used to. She tried to blame the hormones, as ever. ‘I’ll have to go Mummy. Sorry.’

  Christmas. Here at the hotel it would be crazy busy. Hetherington Hotels made a big feature of seasonal activities and Christmas breaks for large numbers of guests. Perhaps staying for all of that, would be the best thing she could do. It would take her mind off what she was missing at home and the changes in her life since last year. She wondered where Jay was and what he would be doing for Christmas. She forced her thoughts away from him. She allowed herself to think of him just twice a day but it was hard to stick to it. Where was he?

  On one of her rare days off, she had driven back to Poltoon but it had been a disa
strous visit. The Beach Café was shuttered up and the beaches deserted apart from a few hardy locals who were surfing. She shivered and drove away. She had been tempted to go for a coffee at the Clarence Hotel but had resisted. If Jay had returned to work there, she could never have coped with meeting him in public. She drove around Redruth again, thinking she might catch a glimpse of him walking round the streets. Futile. Stupid. She cursed herself all the way back to the safety of the Hetherington. Would she ever get over him?

  As expected, the Christmas period was frantic. She worked harder than she had ever worked in her life and by the time January was into double figures, she was near collapse. James Willerby took her one side.

  ‘I think you need to take a break. In your condition and working at the rate you have been you’ll be damaging your baby as well as yourself. Why don’t you go home to your parents?’

  ‘Has my mother been talking to you?’

  ‘No of course not. But I can see you are exhausted. My wife could never have kept working the way you’ve been doing all these weeks, when she was expecting our first child.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you had a family. How dreadful of me. I’ve been so wound up in my own troubles, I never even asked.’

  ‘That’s all right. I try to keep home and work separate anyway. Look, if you’d like to talk to my wife, I’m sure she’d be happy to answer any question you might have about birth and babies and so on.’ He gave her a phone number and urged her to call. The next day she went to the Willerby’s home for coffee.

  ‘You know, the one thing that helped me most, was having James around and the support of my mum and dad.’ Sarah Willerby was a lovely lady with two little children playing happily around her feet. ‘I’m not trying to pry in any way but you mustn’t think of trying to cope on your own. You have resources behind you and whatever the circumstances, parents who will certainly care.’

  ‘I suppose so. Thank you. I’m still wallowing a bit. As you suspect, the father of my baby had let me down badly. I won’t see him again.’

  ‘I’m sorry. But you have friends. Don’t underestimate the importance of that. Your emotions will be all over the place whatever happens.’