‘Of course it’s horrible. But you have to understand – I was so full of anger then. My whole life was a lie, where I’d grown up feeling as if I didn’t fit in. I’d felt so alone, with no brothers or sisters. Then finding out there was a family out there who seemed to love each other, who worked together, who had everything when I had nothing … well, it made me so resentful.’
‘That makes sense,’ Gus said.
‘But then I met you. And you were so nice to me. And although I was a hotel guest, as far as you knew, you included me, you let me be part of Meadowbrook, which I found even more confusing. I didn’t know what to do, but I did know that I didn’t want to go down the legal route, I soon realised that.’
‘But you seemed to enjoy being part of it, part of Meadowbrook,’ Freddie said. ‘I mean, you got involved.’
‘I loved it,’ Brooke said simply. ‘Almost as soon as I arrived, after I recovered from fainting.’
‘That makes sense now,’ Freddie said. ‘I mean, you fell at my feet, which lots of women do, but now I understand that seeing me, knowing I was your brother, well, it must have been a shock.’
‘I saw my dad … our dad in you when I first saw you and the stress got the better of me. But when I was in Meadowbrook it felt like home. Probably because I wished it so much. When I was little I used to wish I had brothers and sisters, and suddenly I did. You lot just didn’t know it. You are all such amazing people, I just wanted to be part of your life.
‘And then I didn’t know what to do. I was so trapped in everything and it was awful. I was beginning to settle, like with Chris and the gym, and in the end I had no idea how I was going to tell you. I was so scared of losing you that I kept going. But I didn’t have any money and my mum and I aren’t talking, so I couldn’t go to her for help, and then, well, then you discovered who I was.’
‘God, it’s a lot, it’s so much to take in,’ Gus said.
‘What I don’t understand…’ Pippa started, needing to tread carefully given Brooke had unburdened – and she did understand, a bit more at least. ‘Is why you didn’t seem to like me as much as the others.’
‘Way to go to make it about you, Pip,’ Freddie teased.
‘It wasn’t like that. I just managed to spend time with the others more. You know, Gus in the gardens or painting, Harriet at the sanctuary or with Toby, and Freddie behind the bar. But you were always so busy running the hotel. I just didn’t get to spend the same amount of time with you, which was why I was so pleased when we went to Wells and also when you wanted to do yoga.’
‘I didn’t realise. I guess it was a bit of a misunderstanding.’ Pippa realised that they just hadn’t had the chance to bond like the others, but maybe they would get the chance now.
‘Oh goodness, this is so much to figure out,’ Harriet said. ‘I feel so bad for you, Brooke, but in a way, I’m glad it’s all out in the open.’
‘As long as you really aren’t going to sue us,’ Freddie added.
‘I wasn’t going to sue you, exactly,’ Brooke pointed out.
‘Ignore him,’ Harriet said. ‘I know, but you do have a point. If you are part of the family, then you’re part of the family as far as we’re concerned.’
‘What do we do now?’ Brooke asked.
They all looked at each other and it seemed even clearer that Brooke was related to them. With the five of them sat around together, they looked like a family, Pippa realised, and she knew in her heart that Brooke really was a member of her family.
Pippa stood up and held out her hand to Brooke.
‘We go home.’
‘I can’t believe I’ve got another auntie,’ Fleur said, launching herself at Brooke. ‘I knew you were one of us. I mean, it’s obvious. Not only are you incredibly hot, but you’re also very good with animals, so it makes sense that we’re related.’
‘Thank you,’ Brooke said uncertainly.
‘Welcome home, love,’ Gwen said, hugging her.
‘Oh, Brooke, I’m so pleased you didn’t go back to LA,’ Gemma added.
‘We’d definitely have missed you,’ Connor said.
Even Toby smiled at her.
‘And that’s one happy ending! Even I couldn’t have written that one,’ Hector finished.
Chapter Thirty-two
‘Welcome to your first family meeting,’ Harriet said as they all sat around the kitchen table.
‘Thank you,’ Brooke blushed.
It had only been a week since they’d fetched Brooke back from Heathrow but it felt like a year. Not only was the hotel busy, but the Singers had also been spending as much time together as they could, catching up with Brooke’s life and trying to get to know her now the truth was out.
‘And you’re officially family now. Not that we doubted you, but the solicitors needed us to do the DNA test, so we could apply for you to stay here in the UK.’
Pippa’s head had been reeling. She’d relied more heavily on her staff to run the hotel while she came to terms with Brooke being her sister, a member of their family. And there was a lot for them to sort out.
Harriet had stepped in and was sorting out the legalities. Brooke wanted to stay in the UK, so they had to get her paternity officially recognised. The family solicitors were helping to find out what they needed to do regarding immigration. It turned out they had to get an official DNA test. But, Pippa thought, it was just a formality, as in their hearts they all knew already that she was one of them. And it turned out to be.
The solicitors also had to figure out how to get Brooke’s inheritance sorted. The family were more than happy to share, but certain measures – for instance, not being able to sell the house– made things quite complicated. It would take a while to iron it out. Brooke insisted she didn’t want money, but Harriet pointed out that she needed it. She had credit card debt that needed paying off and she had to live, so Harriet was taking care of that. Once again, Harriet was in her big-sister role, sorting everything out the way she always did.
‘I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done,’ Brooke said, her voice choked with emotion.
‘If Dad were here, he’d have made sure you were welcomed with open arms,’ Gus said.
Amanda grabbed his hand. The family were all finding this more emotional than they first thought.
‘He’d have loved you,’ Freddie added.
Gemma put her arm around him.
‘And he’d be over the moon with how involved you are at the sanctuary,’ Connor added while Toby gurgled contentedly on his lap.
‘Andrew would be proud of all of you,’ Gwen said, wiping a tear.
‘We need to sort out somewhere for you to live,’ Harriet said. ‘I mean, the hotel’s filling up and also, you can’t live in a hotel room forever.’
‘I could, actually; it’s so beautiful here,’ Brooke laughed.
‘We’ve got plenty of room,’ Gus said. ‘You should move in with us for a while, until you find your feet.’
‘And I’ve told you to go ahead with Chris and get the studio,’ Harriet said. ‘I’ve looked over the business plan and it seems sensible. We can advance you the money until it’s all formally sorted out.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ Brooke said. ‘It’s so much. Gus, Amanda, I’d love to move in with you and get to know Fleur more.’
‘Oh, she’s your number-one fan at the moment. Anyway, we’d love to have you,’ Amanda said.
‘I’ll miss having you around the place,’ Pippa said, meaning it.
They’d bonded over late-night chats, a bit like she used to have with Gemma before the hotel opened. Pippa and Brooke were growing a friendship as well as building a new sisterly relationship. She knew that the years apart meant it would never quite be the same as with Harriet, Freddie and Gus, but she was growing to love her and it felt as if it was mutual. Although the others were right, they both had a very similar stubborn streak and they both wanted to be the baby of the family. A role that Pippa had no choice but to give up.
‘I was hoping to come and work here. I mean, the studio won’t be open for a few months and I need to feel useful,’ Brooke said.
‘Hey, I’ll never turn away any help,’ Pippa grinned.
‘One more thing,’ Brooke said.
‘What’s that?’ Harriet asked.
‘Would you mind if I changed my name?’
‘What’s wrong with Brooke?’ Freddie asked.
‘Oh God, Fred, she doesn’t mean her first name!’ Harriet laughed.
‘You mean?’ Gus asked.
‘Yes, I’d like to be a Singer, if that’s all right with you guys?’
‘Oh, Brooke, you’re already a Singer, so of course you can!’ Pippa hugged her.
‘Right, well, all that remains is to open the champagne and formally celebrate,’ Freddie said.
‘Any excuse,’ Gus quipped.
‘Well, it’s not every day that you get a new sister,’ Freddie persisted. ‘And you know, that means we’re officially outnumbered now, Gus.’
‘Hadn’t thought of that.’
‘Should I go and find Hector?’ Pippa said.
They all nodded.
Hector was in his room when Pippa knocked.
‘Can you come and join us? We’re having a drink to toast Brooke. You know, now she’s definitely, one hundred percent, without a doubt, a Singer.’
‘I’d love to. Pippa, how are you really dealing with it?’
‘You know, I was convinced she was a con woman, but now she’s actually one of us, I guess it makes more sense that she’s not. I thought I’d hate not being the baby of the family anymore, but it’s not so bad,’ she laughed. ‘Although, it’s weird getting used to thinking of Brooke as my sister.’
‘You’re amazing, Pippa, and she’s lucky to have you as a sister. Right, let’s go for this glass of champagne.’
They found everyone in the bar. Freddie and Gemma were dishing out glasses. They toasted Brooke and then Hector cleared his throat.
‘We have something else to celebrate,’ he said. ‘I’ve finished my book.’
‘Well done, mate!’ Freddie slapped his back before refilling his glass, then everyone else’s.
‘That’s amazing.’ Pippa kissed his cheek.
‘So I’ll be out of your hair by the end of the week,’ he added.
‘So soon?’ Pippa felt startled.
‘Oh no, we’ll miss you, Hector. Are you going back to London?’ Harriet asked.
‘For a week I am but, well, I thought I might try LA. You know, now Brooke’s moved here, I feel I should move there, rebalance it!’ he joked while looking at his feet.
‘For how long?’
Freddie sounded stricken. He was getting used to having his friend around.
‘I thought I’d see. I’ll pop back at Christmas – can’t have Christmas in the sun, after all – but you know, maybe even indefinitely.’
As they all chattered about how much they’d miss him, Pippa felt a chill crawl over her. She was so used to having Hector around that the idea of him not being there was bad enough, but the idea of him being in another country, well, it didn’t feel right. But then if that was what he wanted, then she had to respect that. And maybe, if she ever took a holiday from the hotel, maybe she could visit him. She could see Hector in Hollywood, with his books and his film deal and surrounded by adoring women. No! she wanted to shout. No, don’t go, but she didn’t say anything.
‘Let’s toast Hector. We’ll miss you but you deserve every success.’ Pippa hoped her voice didn’t crack.
It wouldn’t be the same without him here, this stay she’d really got used to having him around. Even when she felt he spent too much time with Brooke, even when she was briefly seeing Harvey. He’d leave a big hole in Meadowbrook. And in her, she suddenly thought.
‘To Hector,’ they all echoed.
Brooke had gone to bed. Freddie was still drinking but Gemma was giving him ‘the look’, so he decided to call it a night. The others had all left them hours ago and Pippa was, for the first time in ages, properly drunk. The bar was a mess but could wait until morning. She went and sat on the sofa, taking a full glass of wine with her, which she didn’t need but somehow decided she wanted it. There was so much emotion at Meadowbrook at the moment – a new sister, Hector leaving, the hotel about to get incredibly busy – everything was changing and Pippa didn’t always like change. Hector sat down next to her. She realised how she’d let Hector be her anchor without her realising, but she was drunk so maybe she was just being silly.
‘Are you going to miss me?’ he asked.
‘I actually really will,’ she said.
‘Do you remember when we first met?’ Hector asked. ‘You were married to Mark and I tried to chat you up.’
‘You did, and you called Mark old, which meant that he hated you. But also you’d just been thrown off a TV show for having sex with too many women.’
‘I know, I’m not proud of that. I know I made money the easy way, or the lazy way, maybe, going on all those TV shows, but you know, when I started writing, things really changed for me.’
‘I know, and no one is more surprised than me that you’re actually good.’ Pippa shook her head. Was that the right thing to say? No, possibly not.
‘Thanks, Pippa; although hopefully you didn’t quite mean it like you just said it. Anyway, you know, I’m not just a pretty face. I am serious about how I feel about you, you know. I mean, like I am about my writing. I fell for you the moment I first set eyes on you.’
‘Oh, Hector, don’t be silly, you didn’t even know me then.’
‘But over the years I’ve got to know you and I fall for you more and more each day.’
He looked so earnest and her stomach fluttered, but Pippa had had too much to drink. She couldn’t trust herself – this wasn’t a conversation to have when drunk. This was a conversation she felt too scared to have full stop, in fact. Even if she wasn’t sure why.
‘Hector, I’m really drunk, so you know, not a good time for this chat.’
He sighed. ‘I’ve been trying to have this chat for ages but there’s always some excuse. Pippa, I really need you to know and I need you to take me seriously.’
If she wasn’t so drunk, she’d have felt sorry for him. And if she didn’t suddenly see three of him, she might have taken him seriously. But she couldn’t do this. Even if there was part of her, the drunk part of her, that wanted to, she knew she couldn’t.
‘Hector, sorry, but I’ve had far too much to drink and I really need to go to bed.’
She felt as if everything was spinning. It must be the drink, she decided as her stomach did somersaults, and she fled before anything terrible could happen.
Chapter Thirty-three
The hangover woke her. Her head pounded, her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth and she was desperate for a drink. Thankfully, she had the day off today. She vaguely remembered Hector trying to talk to her and she knew she couldn’t face him when she felt like this. He’d have to wait.
She had to admit that her feelings towards him were beginning to confuse her. He did make her flutter, but then he always had; although she’d refused to take him seriously, convinced that the minute she succumbed to his charms he’d go off her. She still believed that. And he was also young. Pippa had only ever dated men older than her and Hector was younger. Only a few years but still … She wanted to settle down and she wanted a child, but she didn’t think Hector was ready for anything more serious than a dinner date.
Of course, she could ask him that question, but actually she didn’t want to. Although, of course, if she told him what she wanted from him he might run a mile. But then she didn’t want to lose his friendship. They’d grown closer and when he said he was going to LA, she’d realised how important he was to her. Also, of course, she’d been jealous when he’d spent time with Brooke before; although initially she’d encouraged him and her dating. Why was she so confused? What was happening to her? Surely she couldn
’t be falling for Hector? No, no, no …
So, he was one of the nicest people she knew. He was handsome, kind and interested in both her and Meadowbrook. More than that, he was part of the community and like family to them. And he was so handsome. Had she already thought that? But he was young and yes, he was successful – actually, incredibly successful – and he was also serious about his work and clever and interesting. She’d always thought of him as lazy, but with his books he’d proved that was no longer the case. And he wasn’t a ladies’ man anymore, was he? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard about him being with someone. Even in the hotel, when the guests threw themselves at him, he didn’t succumb. Was he really serious about her? She just couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. After all, there was too much at stake. If she dated him and he lost interest, which she was pretty sure he would, then it would affect the whole family. Freddie was particularly close to him and also, now he was Toby’s godfather. Of course, there was no way that Pippa could jeopardise that relationship.
She felt ill but more than that, she was in a tizzy, so she did the only thing she could do and fell back to sleep.
A persistent knocking woke her. She reluctantly dragged herself out of bed and opened the door. Brooke, looking immaculate, stood on the other side.
‘Oh, boy, you look horrible,’ she said.
‘Thanks.’
Pippa stood aside. She could feel her hair matted and sticking out. She didn’t even want to look in the mirror. Although her head was better than it had been earlier, she still felt dreadful.
‘I’m sorry. Look, Pippa, I needed to see you and this was by your door. I think Hector slipped it under there.’
She handed Pippa a piece of paper. Pippa had to blink a few times before she could focus.
Dedication for Hector Barber’s book number two
To Pippa, my one true love
‘I don’t…’
Words failed her. He was dedicating the book to her? That was just so amazing! But claiming she was his one true love? Really? Did he really mean this?
The Ticket to Happiness Page 29