Christmas Weddings

‘We could both do with him being here,’ Millie snapped. ‘He still owes me an explanation as to why he’s working for Blue Elephant, remember? And Bogota?’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Where’s that?’

Eleri stood up gracefully. ‘Colombia. South America,’ she added, as Millie still looked puzzled. She turned to Alex in concern. ‘Not the safest of countries to travel in.’

‘I assume, as it’s work, he’ll be well-protected. But, as it happens, I agree with you, Eleri. I voiced my concerns at him having to go there.’ Alex shrugged. ‘He’s a seasoned traveller, though, he knows how to look after himself.’

Irritation battled with worry within Millie. She tried not to pout. ‘I just wish I knew what was going on in his mind.’

Eleri began to pick up the cups and plates littering the table. ‘All will be well, don’t you worry. Jed would never do anything to hurt you. Either of you. He loves you both very much. I’m positive he has a very good reason for working for them.’ She smiled enigmatically and drifted to the kitchen, bestowing a serene glance on the cagoule couple, who blinked back, startled by the vision of calm and beauty.

Millie stared after her in exasperation. ‘Much as I admire Ri, and I do very much, I sometimes think she comes from a different planet. How is she so certain about these things? I think she’s off her rocker most of the time.’

‘Do you?’ Alex murmured, also staring. ‘I think she’s the most marvellous creation I’ve ever met.’

Chapter 11 (#ulink_118ec03b-279d-594b-b458-6384ec9a00b8)

Eleri accepted Millie’s offer of a lift up to The Lord of the Manor on the following Sunday. She couldn’t wait to look around. Alex had rung during the week and they’d had long conversations over some of the things he hoped for the hotel. It was an exciting project and, for the first time ever, since graduating, she was itching to put the skills she’d learned into practice.

They trundled along the pot-holed drive in Millie’s Fiesta. She changed gear to slow down and swore when the car resented her clumsy driving.

Eleri knew Millie still hadn’t heard anything from Jed. More worrying was his lack of communication with his brother. Jed had been gone for the best part of two weeks and Alex hadn’t heard from him either. From experience, she knew parts of South America could be dangerous. She’d asked her Tarot cards on the previous evening. Relieved when the star came up – her favourite – she knew Jed was okay. She’d been slightly more troubled by the moon card. His way forward, although eventually having a positive outcome, was clouded with uncertainty. She just wished he’d get in touch with those who loved him. She heard Millie swear again as she braked harshly, scattering gravel, and sensed her pain.

Alex greeted them at the main door. He wore a bulky overcoat, a beanie and woollen gloves. He clapped his hands together, causing some crows to fly up from out of the trees lining the driveway. He glanced up, following their flight into a cloudlessly blue sky. ‘Think it might be warmer out here than inside. Hope you’ve got something cosy to wear.’

Eleri reached into the back of the car for the thick woollen poncho she used as a coat. ‘We’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘Can’t wait for the tour.’ Once she’d tugged the poncho over her head, she examined the front of the hotel. An elegant building, it had a symmetrical Georgian facade. The roofers’ scaffolding was shrouding its beauty, but she could see it would be stunning once repaired.

‘Any news?’ Millie asked Alex as she locked the car.

Alex didn’t need to ask about what. ‘Nothing, I’m afraid. Not a sausage.’

Eleri watched the hope drain out of Millie. ‘It’ll be fine, Millie. Colombia is a lot safer than it used to be for Western travellers.’

‘Great,’ Millie mumbled, not looking convinced.

Alex shivered. ‘Shall we begin? It’s a little cold to be standing around too long. Thought we’d go over to where I hope to put the spa.’

He led them behind the main building of the hotel to what must have been the old covered swimming pool. The water had been drained from the pool and it lay forlorn and lonely in the echoing space under the shabby glass dome. The sharp winter sunlight only emphasised the neglect.

‘Hoping to get the glass replaced,’ Alex said. ‘I rather like the shape of the roof, although the glass has seen better days.’ He nodded to the wall of white-painted breeze blocks. ‘That’s all coming out. It’ll be bi-fold doors that can be opened in warm weather. Not like today, eh?’ He smiled kindly at Millie.

He was so obviously trying to be extra nice to her that Eleri’s heart melted.

‘We’ll have treatment rooms behind and maybe a small café. I’d like some advice from you, Millie, about what to serve.’ He grimaced. ‘I’d like to think the fad for green smoothies is over now but I’d like healthy stuff on the menu. That will fit into the whole ethos.’

‘So you’re still going with some kind of chill zone for burned-out executives?’ Eleri asked.

Alex nodded. ‘That was always my intention but I was never sure quite how to achieve it.’

‘Well, there’s lots of things we can do. Water features, soft lighting, the right sort of music,’ Eleri said. She turned to Millie. ‘Do you remember that place we went to in Panburi?’ Millie nodded, but didn’t answer, she was obviously miles away, so Eleri went on. ‘It was this fabulous spa and hotel right on the beach in Thailand. Lots of tropical dark wood and silks. You could try that sort of thing here. Not those colours,’ she added, hastily. ‘Not in the UK, it wouldn’t feel right, but maybe stick with natural materials, local woods and fabrics, to aim for a really tranquil atmosphere.’ She scanned the sad and defeated room, visualising how it could be. ‘Beech, pale blues, creams and whites. They would look great in here and would reflect that you’re not far from the sea. You could carry them through to the main building, if you like, but warm them up slightly. Add some red and more vibrant blues.’

‘I like the colours used at Millie Vanilla’s,’ Alex put in, clearly out of his depth.

‘They look good, don’t they?’ Eleri answered, as Millie still wasn’t listening. ‘I hate to say this, Alex, but you’re right, you know. It is colder in here than outside.’ She shivered violently. ‘Could we go inside the hotel now, do you think?’

Alex led them on a quick tour of the rest of the hotel and they ended up in the shabby and cluttered office behind the desk in the foyer. He brought over a tray of coffee and sandwiches and toed an ancient electric fire closer to them.

‘Coffee, I think, to warm us up, and then maybe you can both have a look over –’

He didn’t finish, as a familiar voice sounded from the door. ‘Coffee. Just what the weary traveller needs.’ Jed dropped his case and grinned. ‘Actually, having just drunk nothing but the stuff for two weeks, I’d rather have a big mug of tea. Hello everyone.’

Chapter 12 (#ulink_651a8701-adf4-51db-a3d9-de42a5a22094)

Pandemonium ensued. Millie ran over and hugged him to her, Eleri grinned and introduced herself and Alex busied himself by making tea and shuffling another chair next to the fire.

Once everything had calmed down, Jed took a seat nearest the fire and looked about him. ‘It’s so good to be home, although it’s funny to think of the Lord as home.’ He unzipped his jacket. ‘And I know it hasn’t been long but at times it seemed I was away forever.’

‘You look tired,’ Alex said, with concern.

‘Yes well, at times it wasn’t much of a picnic. And I’m sorry I’ve been out of contact. Communications were a little ropey where I was.’ He blew out a breath so that it made his over-long fringe shoot up. ‘It’s been quite the trip.’

‘Trouble?’

Jed pulled a face at his brother. ‘You could say so. Once or twice.’

‘The gang culture still not sorted, then?’ Eleri put in. ‘They’re called the bandas criminales, I believe,’ she added.

Jed took a swig of tea and shrugged. ‘Looked to be still active where I was travelling.’

‘Why were you there, then?’ Millie asked, with an edge to her voice.

‘Work. Trying to source coffee growers.’

‘For Blue Elephant.’

‘Yes, Millie. For Blue Elephant.’

Eleri gave Alex a sharp glance. ‘Alex bach, did you say you were going to show me the old stable block?’

‘Did I?’ Alex looked surprised and then caught on. ‘Oh yes.’ Untangling his long legs, he got up and held out a courteous hand. ‘You said you had some ideas to turn them into self-catering accommodation. I’d love to hear about them.’

They left without Jed and Millie noticing.

‘I can’t believe you’re working for them.’ Millie hurled the words across the room.

Jed pushed a weary hand through his hair. ‘There are times when I can’t quite believe it myself.’ There was a heavy silence, then he added, ‘Do we have to do this now, Millie?’

‘Yes, we have to do this now, Jed! You know how I feel about that company. You know what they might do to my business. How could you get a job with them, of all people?’ Millie bit down on her anger.

Another silence. Jed dropped his empty mug onto the desk with a thud. There was a beat going in his cheek. He rose and went to the window, looking out into the grounds, as if longing to escape. He was still wearing his orange puffa and it glowed against the silvery-blue sky. ‘This place is going to be great when it’s finished. Must be Georgian. Or older. What do you think?’