The Ticket to Happiness

by Faith Bleasdale

  ‘It won’t,’ Gus said. ‘Pip and I both married too young to know what we were doing. You’re older and I would say wiser but…’

  ‘Although it doesn’t always seem you know what you’re doing, you actually do in this case,’ Harriet pointed out. ‘Gemma’s the best thing that happened to you.’

  ‘I agree and she’s going to be so happy,’ Pippa agreed.

  ‘I need a ring, of course,’ Freddie said. ‘I want to do it properly but in a way that’ll suit us, so I thought I’d arrange a dinner at the hotel when it’s empty, just the two of us, in the dining room, because that’s where I first met her, and after dinner I’ll pop the question.’ He fiddled nervously with his hands.

  ‘That’s perfect.’ Pippa had tears in her eyes.

  ‘We’ll help you. Do you want to go ring shopping with him this weekend, Pip?’ Harriet asked.

  ‘I can’t. I’m visiting my friend, Maxine.’

  ‘Oh yes, the French girl no one remembers,’ Harriet teased.

  Pippa went red but thankfully this was Freddie’s moment.

  ‘OK, Fred, I’ll come with you. Gemma needs something beautiful but simple,’ Harriet said.

  ‘Thanks, Harriet.’

  ‘She’s got something beautiful but simple,’ Gus laughed. ‘Our Freddie.’

  ‘Oi!’

  They all laughed and then Harriet insisted on them having a toast. Pippa was so happy and with her weekend to look forward to, everything was looking rosy.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Before Pippa left for her weekend away, she called on Gemma. Freddie was at the hotel, so she knew she’d get her alone.

  ‘I feel as if I haven’t seen you in ages,’ Pippa said, hugging her friend.

  ‘My college work’s been a bit crazy. I’ve got exams soon and I get so stressed. Poor Freddie’s been so patient with me.’

  ‘And so he should be. You’re the same with him. Anyway, I need to tell you something and you have to promise not to tell a soul.’

  ‘Not even Freddie?’

  ‘Especially not Freddie.’ Pippa knew it was a big ask, but it wasn’t anything bad, so she hoped it would be OK.

  ‘OK, he’s not going to dump me, is he?’ Fear flickered in Gemma’s eyes.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Pippa said. ‘He’s head over heels in love with you.’ She wished she could tell her about the imminent proposal, that would give her reassurance, but she wasn’t going to ruin it for them. ‘No, this is about me. You know I’m visiting my old schoolfriend this weekend?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, I’m not. I lied, which I hate doing, but I met this guy; he was staying at the hotel.’

  ‘The corporate retreat guy, Harvey?’ Gemma smiled.

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘I saw the way you two were looking at each other when I was helping Freddie with the bar. You thought no one noticed but … And then Freddie said Harvey gave you his number.’

  ‘Great, I thought I was being subtle. Anyway, we’re going to a hotel in the Cotswolds. Gemma, I think I might really like him.’

  ‘That’s wonderful, Pip. Isn’t it? I mean, is he…?’

  ‘He’s older than me, yes, but he’s from a working-class background. He’s very successful and before you say anything, he’s not my usual type.’

  ‘No, he struck me as down to earth and quite … I suppose almost rough,’ Gemma said carefully.

  ‘I’m not sure he’s rough, but he certainly wasn’t born with a silver spoon and he’s funny, as well.’ Pippa knew that Mark was anything but funny and Edward wasn’t exactly a laugh a minute, either. ‘He’s very different and anyway, we’re spending the weekend together. I didn’t want the family to know, because Harriet would start doing background checks, Gus would worry and Freddie would tease. But it’s early days, so I just wanted to see how it went before I told them. However, you know where I am. I’ll text you the name of the hotel so if there’s a problem, you can find me, in case my phone doesn’t work. But I’ll contact you so you know I’m fine and Harvey isn’t an axe-murderer.’

  ‘He didn’t seem the type and I trust you, Pip. You know you really do deserve this happiness, so try to enjoy yourself. But stay safe.’

  ‘Love you, Gem.’

  ‘Love you, too.’

  Pippa followed the satnav instructions to the village in the Cotswolds that Harvey had picked. Part of her would have liked to go to London, to his place, because you can learn a lot about a person from where and how they live, but then there’d be plenty of time for that, she hoped. She smiled as she drove, thinking of the texts that Harvey had been sending, telling her how beautiful she was, how he couldn’t wait to take her in his arms again … it was all so romantic.

  Pippa’s relationship history had made meeting men very difficult for her. Mark had destroyed her confidence and her trust in her own judgment had been further beaten by Edward, the married rival hotel owner who’d tried to use her to stop Meadowbrook from becoming a hotel. Harvey was the first man she’d let even a little close to her since then, but there was something about the way he was so secure in himself that she hoped would rub off on her.

  Pippa knew she’d come a long way this year, but she also had a way to go. She was getting to know herself for what felt like the first time and the problem was that there was much she didn’t like. She believed that becoming self-aware was a good thing, but then discovering her negative characteristics was showing her that it might not be all it was cracked up to be. The need for everyone to like her, the fact she was such a people-pleaser, those traits were also a bit too prevalent at times.

  She’d been drawn to Harvey’s seeming straightforwardness. She didn’t know that Harvey didn’t have any skeletons but he was open with her and she did know that he was divorced. In fact, he was definitely single. One of the female guests on his retreat told her, after a few too many glasses of Malbec, that all the women in his team had tried to date him at some stage but he didn’t mix work and pleasure. And although she couldn’t let herself trust him one hundred percent, so far there were no warning bells. But, she conceded, it was early days, very early days.

  He was the first man who’d made her feel interested in a while. Yes, he was over ten years older than her, but she’d always liked the older man. There was something about someone more mature that made her feel safe. That was the main problem with Hector. He was lovely, they were great friends and she found him attractive, but he was far too young.

  So far, Harvey was perfect. He didn’t need money, didn’t need her hotel and wasn’t married, so already he was streets ahead of the last two men in her life. She decided to relax and have fun; after all, she deserved it, didn’t she? She felt a bit guilty about the fibs she’d told, but she had good reasons for doing so.

  Another thing about Hector was although he was still clinging on to the crush he had on her, she was pretty sure that the minute she agreed to go on a date with him, he’d soon be over her. Hector was a classic case of a man who had women falling at his feet, so when someone didn’t they had to pursue them until they did. Unfortunately for Hector, Pippa wouldn’t play that game. She wasn’t going to give in to him only to be discarded and ruin their friendship. See, she wasn’t as silly in relationships as most people thought.

  She shook her head as the satnav told her she’d arrived at the perfect country house that was to be her home for the next two nights – it was time to focus on Harvey, not Hector.

  She texted Harvey from the car to say she’d arrived then sat and waited. They’d arranged to meet at six in the evening, as Harvey said he’d leave work early, but she didn’t want to go into the hotel alone. Although she wasn’t doing anything wrong, there felt something a bit seedy walking into a hotel on her own to meet a man. She shook her head – she was just being old-fashioned.

  He texted ten minutes later to say he’d been delayed and that he’d be there in an hour and for her to go in by herself. She assumed it was traffic and a
s he was probably still driving, she didn’t want to keep disturbing him, so she grabbed her bag out of the car and went to check in, trying not to feel silly about it.

  The hotel was very pretty. Not like Meadowbrook but it was a farmhouse style, with lots of old stone and a big open fire in the reception area. She tried to ignore the feeling of being someone’s ‘bit on the side’ that checking into a hotel alone made her feel. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, so why did it feel like she was?

  The receptionist was perfectly friendly as she explained her partner had been delayed – it felt good to say the word partner rather than man she hardly knew – and she was shown their room. It was gorgeously big, with views over the countryside, a four-poster bed and an old-fashioned clawed bathtub in the actual bedroom. There was a full en suite with a massive shower as well and as she fell onto the bed, sinking down into it, she beamed. This was utterly lovely. Harvey had done well and shown excellent taste already. There was a knock at the door and she opened it to a guy holding a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.

  ‘This was ordered for your arrival. Shall I open it for you?’

  Pippa was about to say no, she’d wait for Harvey, but then the bath looked so inviting and what was more decadent than a glass of champagne in the bath? So she nodded and let him into the room.

  By the time she’d finished her glass of champagne the bath water was getting cold, so she dragged herself out reluctantly. After wrapping herself in a soft oversize towel, she sat on the bed and picked up her phone. It was gone seven. She poured another glass of champagne and dialled Harvey’s number. His phone went straight to voicemail.

  As she sipped her drink, she thought about the hotel she was in – after all, she might as well work if she was going to be on her own. The room was beautifully furnished but she knew the rates they charged here weren’t that different to Meadowbrook. The staff were uniformed, which was something they didn’t do – they just ensured everyone wore the same colour to identify them as staff. Pippa thought she might change that in the summer; they could perhaps do something a little more. She’d think about that later.

  She looked at the room service menu, which was standard but expensive, and she began to feel hungry reading about the ‘home-made stacking vegetarian burger’, but she couldn’t eat before Harvey arrived. She was a little irritated – he was supposed to be here by now and he hadn’t even had the decency to call her. She downed the champagne and refilled her glass. If the whole bottle of Veuve Cliquot was gone before he arrived, then it would serve him right.

  At eight, she called again, but the phone still went straight to voicemail. Pippa was beginning to feel she’d been stood up, but even more humiliating than being left in a bar or restaurant was being left in a hotel, miles from home. She was going to kill him when he turned up, or at least give him stern words. But then what if something had happened to him? What if he’d been hurt?

  She logged onto the hotel Wi-Fi and searched the Internet for accidents. There were none reported. She got dressed in a black dress that she thought would be smart enough for dinner but not too much, although at this rate she’d only be eating in the room by herself. God, what did you do in cases like this? This was why she was better off single.

  Just as she was about to succumb, call Harriet and tell her everything, begging her to tell her what to do, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Harvey on the other side. Her first emotion was relief, followed by anger.

  ‘I know, I’m sorry,’ he said, kissing her before she could even speak. ‘I got delayed at work, then the traffic was horrific and my phone died. I couldn’t find my car charger. It’s been one of those terrible weeks and all I wanted was to be with you, so I feel like I’ve messed up before the weekend’s even begun.’

  ‘I drank all the champagne,’ Pippa stammered. He was so good-looking – and standing there with his shirt slightly unbuttoned and his overnight bag slung over his shoulder, he seemed even more so. He also looked contrite, like a lost puppy, so she couldn’t exactly be angry with him. ‘I took a bath. Waiting for you seemed forever, after all, and then I had a drink and then another one. Before I knew it, it was all gone,’ she said, her voice a little tipsy.

  ‘I’ll get more,’ he said, walking into the room and picking up the phone. ‘Or would you rather go straight for dinner?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  ‘Well, I am really hungry – ravenous, in fact,’ she said, trying and failing to be angry with him.

  He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

  ‘But I think I need this more,’ she said, feeling like a teenager again as she kissed him.

  She was so cross that he was late but so happy he was here. As she let him lower her gently onto the bed, the happiness overtook her and the anger fled completely …

  In the end, they ordered room service and more champagne. They wore the soft, cosy robes that came with the room, and decadently ate and drank in bed. Pippa felt amazing. Harvey was amazing. She couldn’t believe not only how passionate he was, but also how comfortable they were together. He wasn’t posh, either, which was her usual type. He was rough around the edges and when he told her more about his upbringing, he was anything but middle class.

  ‘I can’t believe you used to shoplift,’ she said as she snuggled into him.

  ‘Only as a kid. I realised that if I didn’t get myself on the straight and narrow, I’d end up like lots of the men in my neighbourhood, either in dead-end jobs or prison. So I got a job in a bank, worked my way up from total dogsbody to trader, worked harder than anyone else, and here I am. But the problem is that I’m married to my job. My ex-wife used to complain all the time. She liked the money, mind, but she didn’t like the hours.’

  ‘I work all hours at my job, as well,’ Pippa said, trying to point out that she wasn’t in the market to be a trophy wife. Been there, done that, never again.

  ‘I know, I know, and that’s one of the things that attracts me to you. You might be a posh bird, but you’re a grafter, too.’

  ‘I am, and I did come to being a career woman a little later in life than most but I love it now.’

  She snuggled in further. It was so nice being close to Harvey. His arms felt as if they were more than capable of holding her and he smelt so nice…

  His phone rang and he looked at it.

  ‘New York,’ he mouthed before answering. ‘Yup?’

  Pippa went to the bathroom to check her face. She was flushed but she didn’t look too bad, despite the champagne she’d had. She could hear Harvey chatting away about things she had no clue about. Harriet would, she thought. Harriet would probably like Harvey and his city ways.

  She splashed her face and went back to the bedroom. She got into bed as Harvey, phone still plugged on charge, was pacing around, talking loudly, swearing occasionally and gesturing animatedly. It didn’t mean anything to her but she wished he’d get off the phone. It had been so romantic for a couple of hours, making up for his late arrival, but now that was gone.

  He’d told her, in fairness, that he was married to his job, but until now she wasn’t sure she believed just how much. However, when he did hang up and he came over to her, kissing her gently, she forgave him instantly.

  ‘You are just too beautiful! Sometimes I don’t know if you’re real,’ he said.

  ‘Oh God, Harvey,’ she replied.

  Then she was lost in him.

  They ate breakfast in the small dining room. She liked that there was no buffet. It was all on a menu, and coffee, orange juice, toast and anything else they wanted was brought to them. A little like Meadowbrook, but then in the dining room they did have some buffet items.

  ‘Do you prefer this hotel to Meadowbrook?’ she asked.

  ‘Only because here I’ve got you to myself. And none of the rest of my staff are here.’ He laughed and she joined in.

  ‘I think it’s very sweet here. I’m trying to see if there are ways to improve Meadowbrook.’


  ‘They’re very different. This hotel is lovely but it doesn’t quite have the character you have. Or it does but in a different way. Anyway, food’s good, but not quite up to your standard.’

  ‘You really know how to win me around, don’t you? What are we doing today?’

  ‘Ah, well, the thing is, Pippa, I’ve got a report to write this weekend – don’t say anything, I know, I know, but a deal came up last minute, which is why I was on the phone to New York so long last night. It’s not going to ruin our weekend, but I need a couple of hours this morning to make a start.’

  ‘I’ll rephrase my question, shall I? What am I going to do?’ She tried not to sound as annoyed as she felt.

  ‘There’s a lovely town not far. How about I drop you off there and we find somewhere to meet for lunch later? I’m sorry, but this happens. And in a couple of hours I’ll be all yours again.’ It seemed pointless to argue. ‘I’ll make it up to you, I promise,’ he begged.

  Pippa shopped in the quaint little high street. It was all very nice, cute shops and lovely buildings. But although she was enjoying herself, she wished she wasn’t quite so on her own. She was so attracted to Harvey and she loved his company, but if their first weekend away together was interrupted by his work, then it didn’t exactly bode well, did it? She thought that if she were trying to start a relationship with someone, she’d move heaven and earth to give them her undivided attention. Actually, she had a bit. After all, she’d arranged cover at the hotel so she could come here. She’d even lied to her family and he wasn’t being very accommodating, was he? Harvey might not be married, but he had a mistress and it was work – or perhaps she was the mistress and work was the wife, that made more sense. Although at least he wasn’t trying to hide it. Pippa had to weigh up whether or not Harvey was worth it. But with her cheeks flushed thinking of the previous night, she still felt he was.