by Amy Cross
"Will you hire her back?" I ask.
"Polly?" He pauses. "No. I think we can do better. She's had her chance. We need someone who's a little more like Rachel".
"That's what I was thinking," I reply, feeling a slight shiver as I realize that in some ways, Edward and I seem to be quite similar. "Cole disappeared," I say, once again looking over at the door that leads into the bar.
"Perhaps he already found alternative employment?" Edward suggests. "He's another one who shouldn't count on coming back to his old job. We need a more energetic bar. That man was always bringing the place down".
"I didn't think he'd leave without saying goodbye," I reply, unable to shake the feeling that Cole's departure means I'm completely on my own. I suppose I was kidding myself when I thought that he and I had started to become friends. As far as he's concerned, I'm just the woman who showed up and put him out of a job. I wish our last encounter had been a little more friendly. Still, I thought he was going to wait for Elizabeth forever, but I guess maybe he took the dress as a sign that it was time to move on. I just hope that, wherever he's gone, he's okay.
"It's going to be strange having the place so empty," Edward continues. "It hadn't occurred to me before, but it'll just be the family, and you, and during the day there'll be the contractors. I suppose we'll all be kept fairly busy, but it's still going to be quite a change". He pauses for a moment. "I hope I didn't embarrass you earlier, Laura. Sometimes my social radar can be a little skewed, and I end up saying things that might be better left unsaid".
"It's fine," I say, keen not to get into a deep conversation on the subject. The truth is, I'm starting to realize how awkward the next few months might be, living in the hotel when there are no guests. It's a large building, and there's a lot of space in which to rattle around. The thought of being stuck in this place with just Edward, Luke, Victor and the nurse for company is pretty freaky, and I figure it's going to take me a while to come up with some kind of survival strategy.
"I believe you spoke to my father today," Edward says after a moment. "I trust that there were no problems?"
"None at all," I reply, deciding I should probably not mention Victor's claims.
"I'm afraid he can be a little over-the-top," he continues. "Don't get me wrong. My father is a good man, and in his day he was a great businessman. Unfortunately, in recent years, he's been somewhat more difficult to handle. Ever since he was confined to the wheelchair, he's seemed to turn inward a little, to the extent that he comes up with increasingly strange conspiracy theories. Sometimes I wonder if he's starting to show the first signs of dementia. I hope I'm wrong".
"He just wanted to talk," I say, delicately skirting around the issue. "It was no big deal".
"Did he say anything interesting?"
I shake my head, although I'm pretty sure that Edward knows I'm holding something back. "Most of it didn't make sense," I tell him. "I don't really know why he wanted to see me at all".
"In a way," he replies, "I'm very glad that there'll be extensive work carried out around here. There have long been people who believe certain bodies might be buried somewhere in the grounds, and I'd like to put those concerns to rest".
"I'm sure no-one seriously believes that," I tell him. It's clear that he's referring to the suspicious disappearance of Elizabeth, but he seems keen to not actually use her name. "People talk a lot," I add, "but it's usually just hot air".
Edward pauses for a moment, eying me with unusual intensity. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" he continues eventually. "It's a little sensitive, but I must insist that you answer truthfully". He waits for me to answer. "You've been here for a while now. Almost a month. You must have heard all the stories. All the claims and counter-claims. The theories. I'd like to know what you think".
"About Elizabeth?"
He nods. "What do you think happened to her?"
I pause. Although I've been thinking about Elizabeth a lot, I haven't yet managed to crystallize my thoughts and come up with a proper conclusion. "I think she's alive," I say eventually, figuring that this is the most diplomatic answer. "I mean, I don't know what happened, but the idea that she's dead is just a bit too dramatic. I think she left". I wait for Edward to say something, but he seems to be expecting me to continue. "I think the simplest explanation is usually the right one," I add. "Like I said, I honestly don't know what she was like or what happened, but I guess she just decided to leave. People do that all the time, don't they?"
"You think so?" he replies. "You really think people just pack up and abandon their lives?"
"Sure, I mean..." Pausing, I realize that he seems to be referring to the manner of my arrival at the Heights. After all, he must have worked out by now that I pretty much severed all my ties to my former life before I came here. "Different people have different reasons," I continue, "but basically, yes, I think that sometimes life becomes too much and people decide the best way to deal with it is to just cut the cord. It's easier. It's less messy".
"You might be right," he says. Turning and looking across the empty reception area, he seems lost in his own thoughts for a moment. "There's something strange about a hotel with no guests. It's like a nursery with no children. Something just feels wrong and unnatural. Don't you agree?"
"It's just for a few months," I point out. "Once the work's done, this place is going to be busier than ever. Seriously, you're going to be stunned when you see how many people start coming here".
"Still..." He turns back to me. "I suppose it'll be a lot easier to deal with once the construction workers move in on Monday. Just the weekend's silence to deal with. If you change your mind about having dinner, let me know. There don't have to be any strings attached. I'm sure we could find something to talk about. Just as friends, you understand. Nothing more".
"Sure," I say, hoping he doesn't take the idea too seriously.
He stares at me, as if he's hoping that I'll say something else. "If you need me for anything else," he continues, "anything at all, you know where to find me. Any time, day or night, don't be afraid to..." He pauses. "Well, I think you know what I mean. I certainly won't keep pushing, but I'm sure we have a common understanding".
"Totally," I reply, deliberately avoiding any specific commitments.
"I'll be in my office," he says after a moment, with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Can you lock up?"
Once he's gone, I find myself left with the slightly awkward task of making sure the hotel is empty before we batten down the hatches. I go from room to room, double-checking that every guest and every employee is out of the building, and eventually I get back to the reception area and realize that there's nothing left to do. Taking a deep breath, I wander over to the door and stare out for a moment at the beautiful, late evening sky. I can't stop thinking about Cole. Did he really give up on Elizabeth? Did he finally accept that she's not coming back?
With a heavy heart, I pull the door shut and turn the key, before making my way through the empty hotel, heading for my room. Edward was right. Something does feel very unnatural about the place now that it's almost empty.
Elizabeth
Five years ago
Sitting on a bench over by the ruins of the old summerhouse, I stare at the hotel and watch as guests come in and out of the main door. It's strange to emerge from the pressure cooker environment and view the place from a distance, and I can't deny that these moments of clarity are keeping me sane. As a gentle breeze blows across the clifftop, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I've only been at the Heights for a month, which means there's still a chance I can turn everything around. All marriages hit a stumbling block occasionally, and it'd be crazy to give up so soon.
"Mind if I join you?" asks a nearby voice.
Turning, I see Victor walking slowly toward me, limping a little.
"I was just getting some air," I tell him, trying to work out whether he knows about the fight between Edward and Luke. "Sometimes I like to come outside and think".
"I've been doing the same thing for more than half a century," he replies, taking a seat next to me. "I sat on this very same bench after I heard about my father's death, and then again when I was asking my late wife to marry me, and again after each of my children were born". He pauses for a moment. "It's funny, but sitting here has probably saved my sanity on more than one occasion. I suppose that must sound a little peculiar".
"Not at all," I tell him, feeling as if perhaps Victor understands me better than I'd realized.
"Of course," he continues, "I also sat here after my wife died, and after the fire that destroyed the summerhouse. Sometimes I come out here when things are bad, and I wait and wait until my mind finally clears. I don't believe in superstitious nonsense, of course, but there's something about this place that really seems to clear my mind. I've tried to persuade the boys to give it a try, but they're very different beasts. Juliet understands the lure of the place, though".
"How's Juliet doing?" I ask.
"She's fine," he replies. "Top marks in every class, as usual". He pauses for a moment, as if there's something on his mind. "To be honest, I've never had to worry too much about Juliet. She's the kind of girl who just gets on with things. Not like her brothers. They've always been much more tricky. I'm sure you've noticed by now that they have certain rivalries that run very deep".
"I never had any siblings," I tell him. "I guess I never understood how intense things could become".
"A father's duty is to protect his children," Victor continues. "Not to judge them or to punish them. I'm very proud of both Edward and Luke. They're different, of course, but they each in their own way manage to make me feel that they're on the right path. I usually overlook the more difficult aspects of their rivalry and focus on the positives. Edward runs this place like clockwork. In truth, he's a better manager than I could ever have been, and I'm quite certain that the hotel is safe in his hands. Luke's more physical and active. He could never be contained by this staid old place. As I'm sure you've realized, they're very combative at times, but they complement one another very well".
"They've definitely got a strong relationship," I reply, figuring that this probably isn't the right moment to start digging into the details of Edward and Luke's rivalry.
"The point I'm trying to make," Victor continues, "is that Edward and Luke need to be left alone to work out any problems that arise between them. Despite everything, they're still brothers. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
I stare at him for a moment, trying to work out whether he's trying to warn me about something.
"Those boys have my permission to deal with things however they see fit," he adds, "and I'll back them to the hilt. We're a powerful family, Elizabeth, and we manage events in our own way. Attempts to bring in external forces are always met with full force, and members of the family are required to remain loyal". Fixing me with a determined stare, he seems to have shifted gear suddenly; whereas a moment ago he was contemplative, there's now a kind of ferocity behind his eyes. "People who try to weaken the family never succeed," he continues. "When someone pushes at the family, the family pushes back harder. It's the way we've always survived, and there's absolutely no chance of that changing any time soon".
"So if -"
"Just something for you to think about," he says, getting to his feet. "I can see that look in your eyes, Elizabeth. You're doubting things. Just remember that the family will defend itself if it's attacked. If you're part of the family, you gain the benefits of this approach. If you're not part of the family, you see a different side of things".
As he walks away, I try to work out whether his words were designed to threaten me. It's almost as if Victor senses that I'm considering my options, and I can't shake the feeling that he's trying to make sure that I remain 'loyal' to the Bannister family. Sitting alone on the bench, I realize with a cold chill that I genuinely regret coming to the Heights. Still, that doesn't mean the situation can't be turned around. I'll give Luke a fair chance, and it's definitely possible that he'll come around and see the light. If necessary, though, I'll run, and I'll never let them find me. If that's my only option, then it's what I'll do, especially now I know that Victor sees me as a potential threat.
Part Seven
Mirror Image
Prologue
"You alright, Laura?"
Staring straight ahead, I watch as rain pours down outside the cafe. It's a typically dull, gray day and although I'd hoped to spend a few hours relaxing in my old hometown, it seems I'm not going to get the chance. Even the seagulls are hiding from the weather, and I know this place well enough to realize that the downpour has set in for the day. I could wait until midnight, and the rain would just keep coming. I guess this is just that kind of town, and that kind of life.
"Laura?"
It was stupid to come, I suppose. After all, I spent the first eighteen years of my life trying to get out of Folkestone, so why the hell did I come back today of all days? There are so many bad memories here. Just around the corner, there's the street corner where my grandfather dropped dead of a heart attack while he was taking me to the sweetshop when I was a kid; a little further along, there's the junction where my parents' car was hit by a lorry; over on the other side of town, there's the school where I spent eight miserable years being bullied. Sometimes, I feel as if I don't really have a personality, as if I'm just a reaction to a collection of incidents.
"Laura?"
"Huh?"
"Jesus," Hayley says, smiling as she takes a sip of coffee, "you're really out of it, aren't you? Don't worry, I won't take offense. Just try to remember your own name, okay?"
I smile weakly. Hayley's the only person from the past who really means anything these days. We've had good times together over the years, and I feel bad for leaving her here in this drab little town. We always swore we'd get out of here together, and we made a pact years ago that neither of us would ever leave without the other. Then things changed, we drifted apart, became friends again, drifted apart for a second time, saw each other around, and finally we reached this strange kind of impasse where our old promises don't seem to mean very much. I'll miss her, but at the same time I'm glad to be the one who's moving on.
"So you'll pop back occasionally, won't you?" she continues. "I mean, just 'cause you're heading off to some fancy new life, don't think you can forget all about the rest of us. We're still your friends, and we'll be your friends long after you've lost your new job". She smiles. "I'm only joking. You know I think you'll do brilliantly, don't you? You've always been headed for the top. Promise me one thing, though. When you get there, send a rope ladder down for the rest of us, okay? Well, just for me. Fuck the rest of 'em".
Smiling, I take a sip of tea. I can't say it to Hayley, of course, but there's no way I'm ever going to come back. In truth, this is probably the last time I'll ever see her, and although there's a part of me that's sad that things are working out this way, there's another part of me that thinks this is the best way: a clean break, with no regrets and no second thoughts. It's not my fault if Hayley's given up the fight and decided to stick around in Folkestone. If she wants to waste her life, I don't mind. I just hope she understands that I can't sit around and watch. I've got my own life to live, and I'm ready to get started.
"I should get going," I say, finishing my tea before getting to my feet. "I've got a long drive, and I don't want to get to the hotel after dark. You know how I hate driving during the night".
"Look after yourself, okay?" she says, "and keep in touch".
"Totally," I reply, patting her on the shoulder. "Take care".
As I walk toward the door, ready to go out into the pouring rain, I realize that this is it. I'm really leaving this crappy little town forever. The moment I've dreamed of for so long is finally here, and in a few more minutes I'll be out of here permanently.
"Elizabeth!"
Stopping, I turn back to Hayley, but something feels wrong. Wait, what did
she just call me?
"Don't be a stranger, yeah?" she says with a smile.
I stare at her for a moment. Did she really just call me Elizabeth? What the hell's going on here?
For a moment, I stand completely still, and then suddenly I blink a couple of times and I realize I'm in bed, in my dark little room at the Heights. It was all a dream. Sitting up, I realize that I haven't properly thought about Hayley for years. That meeting in the cafe in Folkestone happened over a month ago, just before I came to the Heights for the first time, and the whole dream was basically a re-run of what we said to one another. The last part, though, was different. When she called me Elizabeth, that was... I pause, still not feeling as if I'm properly awake. Damn it, with Edward having accidentally referred to me as Elizabeth so many times recently, I think I'm starting to lose my mind. Taking a deep breath, I settle down under the covers and try to get back to sleep. The last thing I need to do is dwell on these things, and a dream is just a dream. Still, it means that Edward Bannister is getting under my skin, and now he's even infiltrating my subconscious. Figuring I need to find a better way to mark a separation between my work and private lives, I close my eyes and decide to worry about it in the morning.
The past is the past, and the future is the future, and it's not as if they can ever meet.
Laura
Today
I shouldn't be doing this.
I should just grab another cup of soup, stick it in the microwave for a few minutes, and then eat it in my room. After all, that's what I've done for the past week, even after the builders moved in and started renovating the hotel. I've been working sixteen hour days, continuously going over the plans and making sure I'm on call for every decision that needs to be made. I'm exhausted, and while the first week is finally over, there are still eleven more to go. The hotel's basically a building site, and we're spending something like £100,000 per day on the project. To say that things are a little stressful would, all things considered, be a massive understatement.