The Lake House

by Christie Barlow

  Ella was on a roll. ‘Flynn, I’ve just had another idea, how about getting the locals involved? Maybe throughout the night they can share their own memories of The Lakehouse, making them feel more connected to the place? I can ask them for any old photos, maybe video footage? It shouldn’t be too hard to organise.’ Ella knew she was babbling but she had lots of ideas whizzing around in her mind and couldn’t wait to get started.

  ‘Ella, you’re a genius!’ bellowed Flynn. ‘Let’s get this show on the road.’

  As soon as Ella hung up the phone, she had mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation. It was going to take a lot of hard work to pull this off, but she was going to give it everything she’d got.

  ‘You’ve made their day.’ Dolores grinned at Ella, opening the black book. ‘All the names no longer with us are crossed out and the rest are still contactable.’

  Ella’s eyes widened. ‘Dolores, look at all the famous names in here!’

  ‘My whole life is in that book.’ She held up the decanter. ‘Another tipple?’

  Ella shook her head. ‘I’d best not, I’ve got a lot of organising to do.’ She gripped the book. ‘And I will guard this with my life.’

  ‘You have, and I’ve only got two weeks to pick my outfit, and that will take a lot of planning.’

  The last thing on Ella’s mind was her own outfit. She had a star-studded bash to organise and she knew just the man who could help her… Roman. Ella knew she had brilliant organisational skills and could pull the night together, but what she was unsure about was all the technical stuff – microphones, amplifiers and instruments. She knew she had a lot to learn in the next two weeks, but she was ready for it.

  Slipping the black book into her bag, Ella thanked Dolores and stood outside on the pavement whilst she rang for a taxi. She was going to take the bull by the horns and go over and see Roman straight away. She was eager to get the ball rolling and knew she was capable of making this the best night ever. She kept her fingers crossed that Roman would agree to help.

  Chapter Ten

  Climbing into the taxi, Ella wished she’d had Roman’s number. Now she was travelling through the streets of Glensheil, she wasn’t sure how he was going to react to her turning up unannounced, but she was just too excited to wait until tomorrow. Ella took in the view as the taxi turned off the main road and before she knew it, the river was back in sight. She could see the water taxi in the distance and knew Roman wasn’t on shift tonight. Ella smiled as she recognised the road and she was hoping Roman would be as excited as she was about the event.

  ‘If you could just drop me here please,’ asked Ella, feeling the taxi slow down as the driver indicated and pulled up at the side of the road. After paying, she stood for a moment and took a breath. Arriving outside his beautiful home, her feet echoed over the wooden bridge that led to the path of his garden, which Ella noticed was very well maintained. The property had such stunning views, and for a second she watched a couple of swans gliding through the water, and a mallard with its brown speckled plumage, bobbing its head under the water. It was all so very peaceful. ‘What an amazing view to wake up to each day,’ she murmured.

  Walking up to the duck-egg blue wooden back door, she rapped lightly and waited. Through the panes of glass, she noticed two suitcases with a small holdall placed on top. Ella heard a door shut inside followed by footsteps, and she locked eyes with Roman through the glass as he walked through the kitchen towards her. Immediately Ella noticed his bloodshot eyes and knew he was upset.

  ‘What are you doing here? Is everything alright?’ he asked, staring at Ella as he turned the key and opened the door.

  ‘I’m just about to ask you the same thing. Are you okay? You look kind of distressed.’

  ‘Far from okay – end of my tether, to be honest.’ Roman sounded fraught. ‘And I just don’t know what to do anymore.’

  Ella could see that Roman was nearly at breaking point. ‘It looks like I’ve arrived at the right time, a friend in need and all that.’

  Roman opened the door wide and Ella immediately noticed that he was wearing a wedding ring, and that really was a shock to her system. Not once had Roman ever hinted he was married, and she’d only discovered Megan existed by accident. She felt hurt that he’d kept such an important piece of information from her, especially when she thought they had a connection and she knew that hadn’t been all one-sided. Almost immediately she felt that slumping sensation in the pit of her stomach… uncertainty about everything. A feeling she just couldn’t cope with anymore. Then her eyes veered back to the two suitcases standing in the hallway.

  ‘Are you going somewhere?’

  ‘No, I’m not,’ he replied, immediately picking up his phone as it rang. ‘Have you seen her?’ he asked the caller. ‘Do you know where she is?’ Roman was frantic, raking a hand through his hair. He seemed at his wits’ end, and the second he hung up the call he began to pace up and down the hallway.

  Ella took hold of his arm. ‘I’m going to make you a drink,’ she said, taking control and shutting the door behind her.

  ‘Tea is really not going to help me.’ He blew out a breath. ‘I’ve just got no one left to call now. No one has seen her.’

  ‘Seen who?’

  Roman stared into Ella’s eyes.

  ‘Roman, who?’

  ‘Megan, she’s gone again.’

  ‘Gone where?’

  ‘I don’t know, probably Edinburgh, but I can’t take much more. The way she’s going, she’ll end up dead.’

  ‘Let’s go and sit down,’ Ella said with authority and Roman didn’t object. She followed him down the hallway into an impressive living room that looked like it could be featured in Scottish Life.

  In each alcove at the side of the striking fireplace were shelves spilling over with books. There was a cosy two-seat settee and leather wingback armchairs placed at either end of the coffee table in front of the log fire, which was currently kicking out some heat. There was also a dresser full of photographs.

  Ella swallowed down a lump as she picked up a photograph of a younger-looking Roman with his arms around a girl. ‘I didn’t know you were married.’ Ella cast a glance towards his ring and put the photograph back. ‘Why would you keep that from me? I’ve not got a clue what’s going on here, Roman, but I felt something between us and I thought you did too. There’s something going on in your life that you won’t talk about, but after everything I’ve been through, you just need to be honest because I’ve had a bellyful of lies and secrecy – enough to last me a lifetime. I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t have said you have a wife, a daughter. I actually came here to ask you to work on a new project with me, but all this is just a little too much.’ Ella stood up.

  ‘Please don’t go. I’m not married. I’m really not. Please sit down.’

  Ella sat back down and watched Roman remove the ring from his finger and place it in the middle of the table.

  ‘I’m not making a fool out of you; you are the first person who has brought a smile to my face and made me think about life again in a really long time. I don’t go buying hot chocolate with all the trimmings just for anyone, you know.’ Ella knew that Roman was trying to lighten the mood. ‘But you were right, I’m at breaking point and I need help. I just can’t hold it together anymore, and today is really not a good day for me.’

  There was a calmness to Roman’s voice which Ella wasn’t expecting. ‘Heartcross was a new start for me too.’ He took a breath. ‘But it’s all spiralling out of control now.’ Roman stood up and picked up the same photograph that Ella had looked at and placed it down on the table next to his wedding ring. Ella could see his hand shaking as he brushed away a tear from his eye. She didn’t say a word but she leant forward and put a hand on his knee.

  ‘What is it, Roman?’ Her voice was soft.

  He blew out a breath. ‘I was getting married, hence the ring, but we never quite made it to the altar.’ Roman’s voice faltered but he carried on. �
�Hattie and I met at school, we were childhood sweethearts, inseparable. We had grand plans to live in a mansion with an army of children running around our ankles. Hattie got pregnant at sixteen, before we’d even started college. At first our parents were mortified, telling us how stupid we were, how our lives were ruined, but Hattie and I stuck to our guns and we had a beautiful baby girl, Megan.’ He took a breath. ‘At first we lived with Hattie’s parents who were worth their weight in gold. They helped us with the baby and when we were eighteen I proposed. We couldn’t afford a lavish wedding, just a small group of family and best friends. I forfeited my stag do to look after Megan and encouraged Hattie to go out with her friends, as her favourite local band was playing at the pub. I didn’t mind – I just wanted her to have fun, as she worked so hard looking after our daughter.’

  Ella was still listening intently and could see that Roman was building up to something. He picked up the wedding ring and put it in the palm of his hand then squeezed it tight.

  ‘That night, Hattie got drunk, and I mean drunk like I’d never seen from her before. She rolled in and literally collapsed in bed. We were all staying at her parents’ house but that night I took Megan to the spare room so we didn’t disturb Hattie. In the morning, Hattie’s mum was cursing her for being late getting up, and I had to go to work, but I was hanging on just to give Hattie another five minutes, as I knew she would have the hangover from hell, and looking after a two-year-old all day wasn’t going to be any fun.’

  Roman squeezed his eyes shut. ‘I was changing Megan when I heard her mum scream. I’ll never ever forget that moment. I walked into the room…’ The tears were freefalling down Roman’s face now, but he took a breath and continued. ‘Hattie was lying on the bed, still wearing her clothes from the night before. During the night she’d vomited and must have choked. She was already gone when we found her… If I had stayed in the same room as her that night, I could have helped her. She might still be here today.’ Roman was distraught. ‘It never gets any easier talking about it. And I didn’t want to talk about it, but today’s just brought all those memories back to the surface again.’

  Ella was stunned. The knot in her stomach was twisting. She could see the bottom had fallen out of Roman’s world, and she didn’t know what to do or say. She moved closer to him and held him tightly as he cried.

  ‘I’m so sorry, this is awful,’ she murmured. There were just no words that could make this situation any better, it was so utterly heart-breaking. She held him until he pulled away,

  ‘And that’s the reason I don’t drink. Not a drop has passed my lips since that day. Alcohol killed Hattie.’

  ‘I saw you pour the champagne away… into the pot plant, of all places.’ Ella squeezed his knee. ‘But what I don’t understand is what’s happening now.’

  ‘Megan is what’s happening now and she’s out of control. I feel a failure as her dad, just saying that.’

  ‘You aren’t a failure, I’m sure you’re a wonderful dad.’

  ‘I wanted to handle it on my own. What’s happening now is Megan’s business but I’m at a loss as to how to support her. I have got outside help… from Oasis Lodge. It’s Megan who has the problem with alcohol, not me – and that’s probably all my fault too. I brought Megan up as a single father and with my job, we were on the road a lot. She was surrounded mostly by hard-drinking men, no mother figure in her life; and yes, she skipped a lot of school, but I had no choice.

  ‘I was good at my job and it paid well, but on the road, Megan started pinching booze backstage from as early as thirteen, and I had no clue. She technically left school at sixteen and came on the road with me full time, wanting to learn about the business, but that environment wasn’t good for her and soon the booze became her life. She wouldn’t listen to me when I told her how booze killed her mother, she just rebelled even more.

  ‘That’s why I gave up the job and moved here. I brought her with me, but the situation has got worse, she’s blaming me for leaving her friends behind, she can’t even hold down a job, due to drink. The boat job is perfect, it’s a steady income, and I’m off the road and can keep a closer eye on Megan. But that’s proving rather difficult when she gives me the run-around, and that’s exactly what she did today. That’s why I was late for work.’

  ‘What happened this morning?’ asked Ella.

  ‘Today, she should have gone into rehab for four weeks. Between myself and her counsellor, she finally acknowledged that she has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and I managed to secure a place at the Lodge for her, but then I woke up and she’d gone AWOL. She’s stolen money from me, my iPad has gone, and I spent all morning looking for her and lost track of time.’

  ‘And you’ve not heard from her since?’

  Roman shook his head. ‘I’ve rung everyone I know and no one has seen her. Usually I would have heard something by now from someone.’

  ‘So what can we do?’

  ‘We?’

  ‘Exactly that, we – a problem shared and… and I really don’t know what to say. We’ve both been through the mill, but what I would suggest is, be open with Flynn. Tell him what’s going on. He’s not going to judge you, and you need that job. Then we’ll make a plan to find Megan.’

  Roman didn’t speak. He picked up the ring and the photograph and walked over to the dresser. For a second he stared at the ring in his hand, then placed it safely back in a drawer alongside the photograph.

  ‘I will talk to Flynn. I suppose I felt ashamed – I wasn’t in control and I felt a failure. I love Megan so much and she reminds me a lot of her mother, and all I want to do is protect her – which is ironic, really, when it was me who put her in an environment that was laden with booze.’

  ‘You were just trying to survive, be a single father, earn a salary with a job that you loved.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Ella,’ Roman sat back down next to her.

  ‘You have nothing to be sorry for.’

  ‘When you stood up before and were about to leave, I couldn’t let you. I knew I had to swallow my pride and let down my guard. There was something about you that morning when we met, an instant connection. I knew we were going to be good friends, and hearing your story, I knew it must be hard to open up. But it made me see you were trustworthy, and it’s been a long time since I’ve trusted anyone or been close to anyone. I never thought I was worthy.’

  Ella was close to tears. Roman was wearing his heart on his sleeve and it had taken a lot for him to open up. ‘You are worthy – more than worthy – and we are both here for the same reasons, to move on and have a fresh start. I’m here to help, and I know it’s difficult for you, but with a father as good as you, Megan will come good. Just believe.’

  Ella held out her arms and they hugged each other tightly. ‘We’re a right pair,’ she said.

  ‘And I mean it when I say thanks – you’ve talked some sense into me. Something had to give.’

  ‘You don’t need to thank me.’

  ‘Why did you come tonight?’ Roman asked, checking his phone, but he had no new messages.

  ‘Because I need your help.’

  Roman raised an eyebrow. ‘That sounds intriguing. Shall I make us a drink and you can tell me all about it? It’ll keep my mind occupied.’

  Ella knew his thoughts had turned back to Megan. ‘How long does she normally go missing for?’

  ‘It depends. Usually days, but today I hoped we would get up and I’d drive her to the centre and in four weeks’ time we would all be in a better place. I know it’s selfish to say, but it would give me a rest too. I would know exactly where she is, and more than likely I’d get a good night’s sleep. The other problem is, she’s classed as an adult, so as much as I love her, she is her own person and I have no control over that. She’s more than likely gone back to Edinburgh. She worries me sick.’

  Hearing her phone ring, Ella saw Callie’s name flashing up on the screen. ‘I’ll just take this. It’s only Callie, she’s probably telling
me she’s staying at work a little longer.’

  ‘Hi Cal,’ answered Ella, taking the call. ‘The news report was fab, wasn’t it?… Yes. I’m actually with Roman now… why?’

  Ella looked towards Roman. ‘Okay, we are on our way. It looks like Roman has the speedboat docked outside, we can use that.’

  Ella hung up and looked at Roman. ‘Don’t panic, but Megan isn’t in Edinburgh. She’s been drinking and has been a little loud over at The Lakehouse.’

  ‘You’re kidding me?!’ Roman was up on his feet. ‘That’s my livelihood! I’m hanging on to my job by a thread as it is.’

  ‘Apparently, according to Callie, she’s gone in shouting the odds and has upset a few diners, and Flynn was about to ring the police when she made a comment about her dad working there.’

  Roman was already reaching for his house keys. ‘This is typical of Megan, doesn’t give a damn about anyone…’

  Ella could see that Roman was getting angry and she took hold of his hands. ‘And breathe… Don’t go shouting or losing your temper, she needs our help. Let’s stay calm, get Megan calm, and fingers crossed, her place is still available at Oasis Lodge. This isn’t Megan, it’s the alcohol. It’s an addiction. Okay?’

  Roman nodded. ‘I just want my girl back, I just don’t recognise her at all.’

  ‘And she will come back, but what she needs is support, not anger. Let’s stay calm.’

  Roman exhaled loudly. ‘I’ll do my best.’

  ‘Good, because that’s all any of us can do.’

  As the speedboat bounced over the waves, they arrived at The Lakehouse in record time. Callie was looking out at the entrance of the restaurant and hurried down the jetty towards them.

  ‘What’s going on? Where’s Megan?’ asked Ella.

  ‘We aren’t quite sure. Flynn asked her to leave because she was causing a scene. Honestly, we weren’t aware she was your daughter, Roman. The boat was about to leave so Wilbur agreed to sail her back to Heartcross, but then she started shouting in the restaurant, staggering between the tables, and a couple of glasses were broken. Flynn was in the middle of an important business meeting when Megan started shouting about her dad working here, and that’s when we realised.’