‘Great idea,’ Freddie replied. ‘We can do that tomorrow. We’ll take the buggy and I can show you the rest of Meadowbrook, as well. In case Hector missed anything.’
‘That sounds great,’ Brooke gushed.
‘Count me in,’ Hector added.
‘Great,’ Pippa smiled as she got up to leave. She was glad they were all making Brooke feel welcome.
‘Fred said you’re ill which is why you couldn’t come up for dinner tonight?’
Pippa sat in one of the blue velvet armchairs that Freddie had commandeered from the house when his barn conversion was finished. Arthur, the cat, was purring on the sofa next to Gemma, who did look a little pale.
The living room in their barn had odd bits from the house in it, which weren’t needed for the hotel, and somehow Gemma had made the eclectic mix of furniture work. The living space was huge and open-plan, with a dining table at one end and a living room the other. It was modern but with character, Pippa thought, and when Gemma moved in she added a few more feminine touches. It was a lovely space, actually, and it seemed to suit both Freddie and Gemma; a reflection of both of their personalities.
‘No, I’m fine. I’m just upset because Freddie and I had another row. I said I felt insecure and he said that that was ridiculous. He asked how on earth he could make me feel more secure than he does already. I said I’d like a commitment and he replied that living with me was a commitment, that he wouldn’t have asked me to move in with him, to a house on the family estate, if he wasn’t serious. He said he loved me but that he didn’t want to be nagged or pushed all the time.’
‘He’s got a point,’ Pippa said gently, cupping her glass of wine.
The fact that she felt that Freddie had practically thrown her out of the hotel was now pushed further back in her mind as she defended her brother. She understood Gemma’s insecurity – it was down to her upbringing, she’d been abandoned by both her parents and brought up by her nan – but she also knew her brother. He fell in love with Gemma slowly and there was no way he’d hurt her. Freddie might be the fun one of the family but he had the Singer heart. He also knew how vulnerable Gemma was. He’d thought long and hard before trying to get into a relationship with her. He’d even spoken at length to Pippa about it and he’d said he wouldn’t try to do anything with Gemma until he knew he was serious.
‘I know, but I’m always sabotaging things. Just when I might be happy I get scared and then things go wrong. Freddie even said that he’d speak to Harriet and arrange to get something drawn up with the solicitor to make sure that I have a share in the house if that’d make me feel better. I mean a solicitor’s contract isn’t exactly the romantic declaration I was hoping for.’
‘Um, it’s hardly a Tiffany solitaire, is it?’ Pippa had to concede that one.
‘Exactly, and I said that, and he said he didn’t believe in marriage and no one he knew had a good marriage. I reminded him about Gus and Amanda and he pointed out it was a second marriage and that you’re also divorced, so by his logic, only second marriages work. As neither of us have been married before, in his eyes we ought to steer clear. He’s infuriating with his bloody logic.’
‘I don’t know what to say. I mean, Harry feels the same about marriage, and I’m not the biggest fan after my divorce, but the problem is that although we all know that Freddie loves you, you need to feel secure.’
‘Yes, and then I said about children and he said he saw them in his future, about five years at least.’
‘That’s not so bad. You’re only thirty, Gem.’
‘I know, and I’m doing my degree and I’d like to work for a bit, have a career, a bit like I did when I worked for you at the hotel, but I keep thinking he’ll find someone better than me. You know, more suited. Like Brooke.’
‘Is that what this is about?’ Pippa was shocked. Where had that come from? That hadn’t even occurred to her.
‘I know I only met her briefly, but she’s so confident and bubbly and gorgeous. I guess I’m jealous.’
‘You do know that kind of irrational thinking can drive people away, don’t you?’ Pippa pointed out gently.
It hadn’t crossed Pippa’s mind that Freddie would be interested in Brooke; it just hadn’t occurred to her. He seemed to enjoy her company, as did Hector, but he hardly knew her. Freddie loved Gemma, but he was a friendly, flirty guy, so Pippa could see why Gemma might worry. Although she was sure it was without foundation.
‘Of course, which is why I’m so stupid. Do you think I should go to therapy?’
‘Yes, and you can take me with you.’
‘What’s wrong with you?’
‘I don’t know. I think I might be a bit lonely.’ Pippa’s eyes filled with tears.
‘Oh, Pip.’ Gemma reached over and hugged her.
‘It’s been ages since the divorce and apart from the disastrous encounter with Edward last year there’s been no one.’
Pippa found saying it, admitting that was what had been bothering her lately, was a slight relief. It didn’t solve the problem but it was out there now and she couldn’t take it back. Although she would only admit it to Gemma.
‘Oh, Pippa, it’s because you’ve spent the last year dedicated to the hotel. You never go out, you only meet guests and although most of the male guests who are single try to chat you up, you never reciprocate.’
‘Because they’re only here for a bit and they’re guests,’ Pippa replied. ‘I need to keep it professional.’
It was true she’d been asked out a few times, but no one took her interest. In a couple of cases she was suspicious they were actually married.
‘I know, and I agree, but maybe we should look at getting you dating again.’
‘But how? I really don’t know how to date.’
Her ex-husband, Mark, had wooed her when she was young and innocent. Then last year she’d met Edward at another hotel in the area when she and Gemma were doing research. He and she dated for a while but it turned out that not only was he trying to sabotage the opening of Meadowbrook as a hotel, but he was also married. There had been no one since then.
‘We could look at the Internet. I mean, it can’t hurt, can it? Especially as the hotel’s quieter at the moment.’
‘I don’t know.’
Pippa chewed her lip unsurely. She felt a bit like Internet dating was akin to admitting failure. She knew plenty of people did it, but that didn’t mean she should, did it?
‘Either that or you start going out to meet men. Which means out of Parker’s Hollow,’ Gemma laughed.
Pippa thought about it and she wasn’t sure that was her style, either. She didn’t want to get dolled up and sit at bars in the hope of meeting someone. It wasn’t her. Nor was the Internet, but at least she could do that from the comfort of her own home.
‘OK, maybe the Internet.’
It seemed the lesser of two evils. At least she wouldn’t have to leave the hotel.
‘Great, and it’ll be doing me a huge favour,’ Gemma said.
‘How?’
‘Keeping my mind off my fear of losing Freddie.’
‘We still need to deal with that, you know. Gemma, I don’t want you to ruin your relationship. You two are so good together and Freddie needs you.’
‘I know and you’re right. I’ll make more effort beating down my insecurity if you set up an Internet dating profile. How about it?’
‘Deal!’
Pippa shook Gemma’s hand.
‘See, who needs therapy, after all?’ Gemma laughed.
They clinked glasses before draining them to seal the deal. Arthur meowed loudly, which they both took as a sign of his approval.
Chapter Nine
‘Can I get you anything else?’ Pippa asked as she stood in the formal dining room with the seven guests who were enjoying a long weekend break.
They were a mixed group, two couples and three singles: a man and two women. Hector had said there was some late-night room swapping, so none of them quite knew
the dynamic among them all. But of course it was none of their business and discretion was important in the hotel trade. Meadowbrook prided itself on being discreet; although Pippa had been shocked last year when it became clear that two couples who’d booked in engaged in partner swapping. She kept trying hard not to blush and Freddie said she was so naive, especially as housekeeping reported residue of drugs in the bathrooms when they left. Pippa didn’t really know much about that kind of lifestyle, she was green, but running a hotel was certainly opening her eyes.
Anyway, these guests had spent their days lounging around the drawing room, mainly drinking and eating. They hadn’t left the house. They were obviously quite wealthy, as they drank the most expensive wine and champagne, as well as Patron Silver tequila and the finest malt whisky. Pippa’s eyes were already watering at the bar bill. Freddie had been working overtime. Which seemed to make him happy, as he and Gemma were still a little rocky. Pippa hadn’t quite worked out how to fix that yet.
‘Some more Bloody Marys, please,’ James, the self-proclaimed leader of the group, asked.
‘Sure, for everyone?’
‘Yes, but less spice for me, please,’ Carol, one of the single women, asked with a smile.
‘I’ll get them right away,’ Pippa smiled and left the room.
Freddie hadn’t arrived yet, as it was only breakfast and most of their guests didn’t drink at breakfast. Pippa, who only had a rudimentary knowledge of how to mix drinks, googled it so she could follow the instructions.
‘Hey, what’s going on?’
Brooke walked in wearing her customary gym wear and looking incredibly cheerful. She’d been with them two weeks now. It was the beginning of February and although Pippa hadn’t got to know her that well yet, Brooke was clearly trying to embrace Meadowbrook.
She’d hung out with the gardening club again and after Freddie took her on a tour of the sanctuary, she was now spending time there. It turned out she ‘just loved animals’, as well as gardens. She was enthusiastic about everything, in fact, and Harriet was even going to spend time with her later this week to talk her through how the sanctuary worked. She’d booked in a baking lesson with Gwen, saying it would be great to learn some traditional recipes as well as vegan baking before she went home.
Pippa was hoping that she could maybe spend more time with her, herself. She knew she had to be professional, but Brooke was young, here on her own and she was single like Pippa. Pippa didn’t want to push a friendship, of course, but she had to admit that it was nice, amid all the couples, to have another singleton around. They might, at some point, be able to bond over that. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to offer to take her out a bit, show her the area outside of Meadowbrook.
‘The guests want Bloody Marys. I didn’t like to tell them I didn’t know how to mix them, it’s Freddie’s area, but we don’t normally get asked for alcohol with breakfast!’
‘I know, boy they can drink. I had a nightcap with them in the bar last night but I had to leave them to it. I was done and they seemed to be getting started. But hey, I know how to make the drinks, I used to work in a bar.’ She joined Pippa round the side of the bar. ‘Get me vodka, the tomato juice and Tabasco to start. Pull out the glasses and put some ice in.’
Pippa did as she was told, relieved that Brooke had arrived just in the nick of time.
‘So, when did you bar-tend?’
‘Oh, when I lived in LA during college. Everyone does it. We all hope to be discovered but I never was.’
‘Did you want to be an actress?’
‘No, but I thought I might get spotted for something, we all did. You even need headshots to get to work in the best bars. It’s highly competitive, you know, because you never know who might walk in. After a while of bar-tending, which is a whole different world in LA, I went into fitness because it was something I enjoyed and was good at.’
‘That sounds so interesting. I’d love to hear more about LA,’ Pippa said warmly as Brooke started pouring out vodka.
‘Sure,’ Brooke said, ‘but before they start screaming for their drinks can you fetch some celery?’
‘Right away, boss,’ Pippa smiled.
The guests were once again sprawled in the drawing room. Hector had gone to London for the day, to see his agent, and Pippa had enough staff at the hotel, so she decided to take some time out. She was just wondering where to go, when Brooke appeared. She was wearing jeans, a cute jumper and boots. She had a scarf around her neck.
‘I’m thinking of going to explore, not sure where,’ Brooke said.
‘Would you like to take a walk with me? Or we could go for a drive? Whichever you’d prefer?’ Pippa asked impetuously.
She was going out anyway and actually, it would be nice to have some company.
‘Really? That’d be great. Can we go somewhere, like to another British village or something? I’d really just like to see the area, if you don’t mind taking me?’
Brooke sounded enthusiastic and Pippa was happy to be a tour guide for a bit.
‘I’d love to. Come on, we’ll take the car.’
Pippa didn’t often leave the hotel and she never went out with guests, but as she and Brooke sat side by side in her Mini, she enjoyed driving through the Mendip villages, showing off the countryside. She decided that they’d go to Wells for lunch, it was such a lovely town; although as it had a famous cathedral, it was technically a city.
‘This is the smallest city in England, I believe,’ Pippa said.
If she got to do tour guiding, then she might have to learn some facts. Not that Brooke noticed. She was so enthusiastic about everything that it was infectious. Pippa felt as if she was seeing the area afresh, through new eyes, and she could appreciate the beauty she often took for granted.
‘It’s awesome. The countryside’s so pretty, not like where I’m from at all. But then I’m nearer the ocean than the countryside, I guess. And LA is a city, but not a city like this tiny one. Wells, you say?’
‘Yes, it’s historically important, I believe.’ Pippa tried to sound authoritative for her American companion, although she really wasn’t. ‘But it’s also very pretty. Would you like to get something to eat?’
They headed to a small café, where Brooke ordered a healthy salad and Pippa guiltily had a sumptuous-looking quiche with chips on the side.
‘How are you enjoying your stay so far?’ Pippa asked.
Pippa felt that she was getting to know Brooke a little. Although according to Freddie she was ‘just adorable’, and to Hector she was bubbly and made him feel enthusiastic about writing, Pippa didn’t quite have the measure of her yet. She was definitely full of enthusiasm for Meadowbrook and she seemed to be keeping herself busy with plans for her business, but Pippa hadn’t spent one-on-one time with her before today, really.
‘Well, I really do love this area. Exploring has been great and you guys have been so welcoming. I think Harriet’s amazing, the sort of woman you can’t help but admire. So together, despite having a baby recently, and he’s so cute, I just adore him already. And I love the animals. I told Harriet that I miss my dogs. My mom has three at her house and I used to spend so much time with them, so I’m going to help out with the dog walking. And I offered to help out with Toby, too. I used to be an au pair for a while and I really love babies.’
‘Gosh, Brooke, what with helping out with the gardening club, the dogs and the bar the other day, you should be getting paid rather than paying us,’ Pippa joked.
She had to admit, she was a little surprised. It seemed when she was busy with the guests, Brooke had been busier at Meadowbrook than she thought; although Pippa was sure Harriet would fill her in when they talked, something they hadn’t done lately. Harriet was tied up and hadn’t been to the hotel. Nor had Pippa had much chance to go down to the sanctuary. She made a note to go and see her sister later. Brooke was reminding her of life outside the hotel, something Pippa needed to remember a bit more.
‘I think, Pippa, if I’
m honest, it’s because I could use the distraction.’
‘From what?’ Pippa leant in closer.
‘My father’s death was hard – you understand that, you all do – and then my mom and I … well, we had a big fight not long ago. I kind of took a long hard look at my life and I didn’t like what I saw. I felt as if I were failing.’
‘But you’re young, too young to be feeling like that, surely?’ Pippa automatically reached out and squeezed her hand as tears filled Brooke’s eyes.
‘I guess, but you know by twenty-five, I should have some idea. You know, back home a lot of my friends are settled now, some married, some even with kids. So I realised that whatever I was doing wasn’t working for me and then I made a crazy decision to come here. I figured that if I started afresh then everything might make sense.’
‘You know, it’s incredibly brave to come to a new country on your own, where you don’t know anyone and you don’t even have a job. I could never do anything so bold.’ Pippa was being honest.
‘Really? But you seem so together, like you could do anything you wanted to do,’ Brooke said, sounding almost wistful.
‘That’s very kind of you to say that, I mean even think that, but my life’s not as great as you might think. It may look like I have it all, but…’
Pippa wanted to open up and tell her about how she’d been feeling the way she did with Gemma the other day, to admit to loneliness, her failed relationships, her struggles, but she remembered that Brooke was a paying guest and she lost her nerve.
‘Well, maybe, but you seem it to me.’
‘Thank you, Brooke, that does make me feel better and honestly, I hope you’re not too homesick. And I know you are a guest, but if you want to talk about anything, you know where I am.’ Despite everything, offering a hand of friendship wasn’t going to hurt. ‘Especially if you want to talk about your father—’
‘Sure thing,’ Brooke cut in. ‘So, can we go see this famous cathedral?’
The Ticket to Happiness Page 8