The Ticket to Happiness

‘Great, because in the book the family are all corrupt money launderers and possibly murderers,’ Pippa pointed out.

‘I did use poetic licence. I just said you were inspiration, especially you, Pippa. Where was I? Oh yes, there’s a lot of pressure on book two, which is why I wanted to write it here, with you guys. I kind of feel the first book was largely created at Meadowbrook and so I want the same for this one. I like to think of myself as your writer in residence.’

‘I, for one, think this calls for champagne,’ Freddie declared.

‘Fred, you know what Harry said about us drinking the profits,’ Pippa cautioned.

‘Oh, put it on my bill,’ Hector laughed. ‘I don’t care about the cost. Having drinks with good friends to celebrate my film deal, it doesn’t get much better than this.’

‘I’m sure they’ll give you a big discount,’ Gemma teased.

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, get the champagne, Fred, and pour. I’ll deal with Harry if I have to. Hector’s not paying for his own celebration.’

‘Now that’s the sister I like best.’ Freddie jumped up and was back with a bottle of champagne in seconds.

Pippa thought this was the least they could do for Hector. Not only did he pay them, and not only did he entertain the guests, but he also put the hotel firmly in the limelight via social media. And he’d do anything to help them, after all. He deserved this – more than this.

‘In fact, I think we owe you a few crates of the stuff. And seeing as you do all that social media for us, I’m going to put it down as a marketing expense,’ Pippa said. ‘You can have whatever you want at any time.’

‘Including you?’ Hector raised his eyebrows hopefully.

Pippa didn’t know how to respond without being rude, so she just ignored him. She knew that Hector only wanted her because she was the only woman who resisted his charms. It was flattering, she guessed, but she needed a man and Hector was still a boy in too many ways. Besides, she’d explained to her entire family when they questioned why she wouldn’t even consider him. The minute she succumbed to him, he’d go off her. That’s what happened with men like Hector. She couldn’t cope with the rejection that would inevitably come.

‘Gus just texted. He said he and Amanda are going to grab a bite to eat at the pub. Shall we join?’ Freddie said, saving Pippa.

‘Let’s go,’ Pippa said. ‘Then it’ll feel like a proper celebration.’ And it would hopefully stop Hector looking at her with his moony eyes.

‘Harry and Connor aren’t coming. She’s probably got that baby stuck to her again,’ Freddie moaned.

‘Oh, Freddie, you’re so mean about your darling nephew. Connor and Harry are new parents, they need time to get used to it, and I think it’s wonderful the way they spend time together. As a family.’

Again, Gemma looked wistful, so Pippa quickly mobilised them. This wasn’t a safe discussion. Having Hector declare his ‘love’ for her was almost preferable, in fact. Life had been good, if not great since the hotel opened, but Pippa could sense a shift. She didn’t know what, but Gemma seemed almost as besotted with Toby as Harriet and as she didn’t have any family, she was pretty sure that she was more ready than Fred to have a child of her own, or at least for him to make a commitment to her. But she brushed those fears aside. Instead, they were going to have a nice meal and toast Hector’s success. Nothing would ruin that.

However, as it turned out, Gus managed to ruin it. As soon as they walked into The Parker’s Arms, Amanda shot Pippa an anxious glance and as Gus’s head was almost stuck in his pint glass, she could tell that he wasn’t happy.

‘You look terrible,’ Freddie said as they all sat down at the table.

‘Thanks, mate.’

Hector was dispatched to get drinks, with Gemma offering to help. Pippa grabbed menus and when they were all settled, she turned to Gus.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘My little girl,’ Gus said, and then he opened his mouth and closed it again.

Amanda patted his arm.

‘Fleur has a boyfriend. Not a date but an actual boyfriend. He’s seventeen,’ Amanda explained.

‘Far too old for her.’

‘Um, she’s sixteen,’ Pippa pointed out.

‘Nooo,’ Gus said and took a huge slug of his drink.

If it had driven Gus to drink, it had to be bad.

‘Alfie, that’s his name. Lives just outside Parker’s Hollow. They met in the village shop, which is so innocent,’ Amanda explained.

‘There’s nothing innocent about teenage boys,’ Gus said, waggling a finger at them. ‘He was probably trying to buy booze and cigarettes with a fake ID that he’s paid for by selling drugs.’

‘That’s true,’ Freddie replied and Hector nodded.

There was certainly nothing innocent about Fred when he was a teenager, that was sure.

‘He’s at the local sixth form, doing A-levels. Wants to be an architect and from what I can tell, he’s a nice boy.’

Amanda sounded slightly harsh. She had the patience of a saint when it came to Gus, but even she had a limit. And Gus was famous for being an overprotective father; although, of course, he adored Fleur.

‘He didn’t call me Mr Singer when he first met me,’ Gus said.

‘I’d have him shot,’ Freddie joked.

‘He’s probably on drugs,’ Gus added.

‘We all were at that age,’ Hector pointed out unhelpfully.

Pippa gave him a prod on his arm and hissed at him to shut up.

‘Oh, God, I need a whisky,’ Gus said.

‘No, you need to eat. Now, let’s order and stop talking nonsense. Gus, your daughter was going to have a boyfriend at some point and I really don’t think Alfie’s a delinquent. We might have to deal with the fact that at some point soon, Hayley will, too.’

‘Oh God, no.’ Gus put his head in his hands.

Hayley, his stepdaughter, was privy to the same kind of overprotectiveness as Fleur from him, but as she was more interested in sport than boys it hadn’t really been a problem.

‘Alfie’s decent. His mum and dad are both teachers. He doesn’t have any tattoos or a criminal record and as far as I can tell, it’s just a bit of hand-holding and snogging at the moment,’ Amanda said.

‘Don’t say that, please,’ Gus begged.

‘I give up!’ Amanda threw her hands in the air. ‘Right, I’m going to have the vegetarian pasta. Anyone else ready to order?’

‘Sorry,’ Gus said. ‘I know I’m being unreasonable, but it’s so hard to watch my little girl grow up.’

‘Listen, mate,’ Hector said. ‘You’re pretty lucky that Fleur’s sensible, clever and a credit to you. I know you’ll always worry; after all, we were teenage boys once. Actually, I acted like one until fairly recently. All you can do is trust her, support her and get either Amanda, Harry or Pip to do the girl talk with her.’

‘Oh God, not me. I mean we get on pretty well, but I’m still the evil stepmother,’ Amanda stated quickly.

‘I’ll do it,’ Pippa offered. ‘If you get Harriet to do it she might turn into a bit of a ball-breaker. You know, teach Fleur how to make boys cry.’

Not that Harriet was like that anymore, but then she still thought she was. She was quite soppy about Connor, but she’d never admit it.

‘Maybe I should get Harry to do it, then.’ Gus cheered up. ‘OK, thanks, Hector, you do make sense. And yes, my darling wife, let’s eat.’

‘Nightcap?’ Hector asked when they were back at Meadowbrook.

It was nearly eleven and as the hotel was empty bar Hector, there were no staff around. When it was like this, Pippa had struggled being alone, even for the odd night. The house was so big and although it was home, had always been home, she still felt jumpy at every little noise. She was glad that Hector was here. They had a few bookings at the weekend but until then, it was just the two of them.

‘Sure, we’ll drink the good brandy. It’s not in the bar, I keep it in the office, just like Dad used to.’ She led the way.

They settled into the sofa, nursing their drinks. Pippa had tucked her legs underneath her while Hector stretched his long legs out before him.

‘This reminds me of Dad,’ Pippa said after a while.

‘I wish I’d met him,’ Hector said. ‘I kind of feel that all you Singers are part of my family now, so it would have been nice to have known him.’

‘He’s still here,’ Pippa said, gesturing to the huge portrait of him they kept in the office. Their father was a little on the vain side. He’d had the portrait painted years ago and he kept it in his bedroom when he was alive. Now, it was far more suitable for the office. None of the guests needed a full-size Andrew Singer staring down at them.

‘Yes, he looks as if he’d be as overprotective as Gus. I feel that he’s warning me off with his eyes,’ Hector laughed.

‘Don’t be silly. You’re my friend and he’d have liked you. Actually, at first he wouldn’t but now, with this serious writing side of yours and stuff, he’d probably have liked you.’

‘I’ll take probably. Right, let’s have a toast. To my new book and to Meadowbrook, where it all began to make sense to me.’

As they clinked glasses, Pippa was lost for words. She never imagined that Hector felt that way, the way she did, about Meadowbrook. It was quite moving and she knew then that her father would have liked Hector. He would have admired the way he’d sorted himself out, grown up and was what her dad would have referred to as a ‘decent man’. High praise, indeed, Pippa smiled to herself.

Chapter Seven

‘I don’t see why I have to be the bloody driver,’ Freddie moaned. ‘I’m not a chauffeur, I’m a serious bar manager and co-owner of the hotel.’

‘You picked Hector up happily enough,’ Pippa pointed out.

‘That’s different, he’s a mate,’ Freddie whined.

Pippa laughed. Her brother acted like a toddler at times; she was almost expecting him to stamp his foot.

‘Fred, I can’t go because I’m needed here. We’ve got guests leaving and I’ve got to get Brooke’s room ready. I’ve got a skeleton staff as there’s some kind of cold bug going round, so someone needs to pick her up from the airport.’

‘But why me?’ Freddie persisted.

He didn’t like being ‘staff’, even though technically he was, but then he’d always been slightly work-shy. Since he’d started managing the hotel bar and running all the hotel’s social media, Freddie had began to work harder than ever, largely owing to Gemma, Pippa thought, but he still didn’t like to do anything that he didn’t want to. Which was a lot of things.

When they first lost their father, the terms of their father’s will stated that the four siblings had to live together in the house for a year and work in the sanctuary. Freddie had been appalled when he was first put on chicken duty, although he was very fond of them now and he spoilt them. But, that hadn’t happened overnight. It had taken a boot up Freddie’s backside to get him to actually do some work – and that boot had come from their father, from his grave.

‘Harry would kill me if we paid a cab to pick her up and included in her price is airport transfer. Fred, she’s an important guest. She’s staying with us for at least two months and she’s paid the full amount up front, so we need to make sure her stay, from the moment she steps out of the airport until she leaves here, is perfect. I trust you to give her the right kind of welcome.’

‘Hummph. What’s this woman’s story, anyway?’ He folded his arms but she could see he’d thawed a little.

‘It’s quite strange, actually. She’s only twenty-five, which seems very young. She’s from California. Apparently, she has some kind of English ancestry who she wants to find out more about and is even thinking of setting up a business here.’

‘Doing what? And when you say here, I’m guessing you don’t mean Parker’s Hollow?’ Freddie frowned.

He had a point. This was a lovely village but young people didn’t exactly pour in to set up businesses here. It was definitely an older person’s type of village; although there had been an influx of younger families lately what with the new housing developments on the outskirts – much to the horror of many of the long-standing residents. It had crossed Pippa’s mind to question why she’d chosen Meadowbrook, but Harriet told her not to pry. After all, they’d find out soon enough when she was staying with them.

‘Not sure, but we do know that she’s vegetarian and she eats a lot of eggs – free-range, of course,’ Pippa grinned.

Their chickens laid eggs and as the coop had almost doubled with ex-battery hens in the past year, they had plenty at the moment.

She continued, ‘And she drinks a lot of green juice. She sent the recipe over and poor Vicky’s getting to grips with the blender and wheatgrass as we speak.’

‘OK, so I’ll go and get her from Heathrow. Please tell me I don’t have to wear a chauffeur’s uniform.’

‘No, that would look silly, especially as you need to introduce yourself as one of the owners of the hotel. No, just look smart. Your best jeans and blazer would work well, I think.’

‘How will I know who she is?’

‘Oh, we made a sign for you. Don’t worry, Fred, we’ve thought of everything. Oh, and take the Range Rover, remember. No Porsche.’ Pippa didn’t want the poor woman arriving terrified.

‘You ruin all my fun,’ Freddie mumbled before heading out.

Pippa was intrigued about their new guest. She knew so little about her but she was looking forward to meeting her. She was also looking forward to having another woman about the place, although Harriet had warned her not to try to push friendship on this guest. While Pippa had taken umbrage at the time, she knew her sister had a point. Pippa did know how to be professional but she could try a bit too hard to be friends with people at times. Gemma had been a case in point. When Gemma came to Meadowbrook to work for them, Pippa had determined they’d be best friends. They’d become so over time, which only proved her right, but she also accepted that she could be a bit pushy and Brooke was a paying guest. Pippa knew she’d have to remember that. Friendly but professional. Of course, if she was going to see a lot of her, a bit like with Hector, then surely it wouldn’t be like the other guests, would it? Pippa knew she’d have to try to find the right balance.

‘Hey.’ Gemma walked in and found Pippa in the office.

‘Gosh, it’s like a revolving door around here. Freddie’s just left, you’ve just arrived.’

‘Oh, I missed him?’ Gemma sounded anxious. ‘I’m going to college in a bit. I was hoping to catch him before I left.’

‘You guys literally must have just passed each other.’

Pippa’s brows knotted. She knew Gemma well. When Gemma had come to work at Meadowbrook as their hotel consultant, Pippa and she had become close. Even though Gemma had tried to keep her and the rest of the family at arm’s-length, they soon broke down her barriers. It wasn’t easy and her situation turned out to be complicated. Gemma was serious and hardworking but anxious and almost secretive. They later found out that was because she wasn’t actually qualified to do the job they hired her for – although she was certainly capable – and she’d stolen her old boss’s CV. It had sent Pippa into a rage; she couldn’t believe her friend had lied to her. But then Gemma had explained that her boss was horrible, her nan was in an expensive nursing home and she had nowhere to live, so she’d taken the first risk that she’d ever taken in her life… And she hadn’t expected to get close to the people she worked with.

In the end, Pippa understood. Gemma had had a terrible time, had hardly any family and then her only relative, her nan, had died just before the hotel opened. Pippa had recognised that Gemma wasn’t a bad person and she’d done an amazing job with the hotel. Eventually, she’d thawed and they’d reaffirmed their friendship, and when Gemma and Freddie got together, it had made Gemma more part of the family. And their relationship had seemed wonderful for the past year. Gemma was definitely a positive influence in Freddie’s life and he helped bring out her lighter side. Everyone agreed they were made for each other; they were certainly very good for each other.

‘Freddie and I kind of had a fight,’ Gemma blurted out. Then she burst into tears.

Pippa led her to the sofa, sat her down and passed her some tissues.

‘About what, Gem?’ she asked.

‘Oh God, I’m such a fool. I knew it was too good to be true. This life. Meadowbrook, the hotel, us then Freddie and the beautiful house…’ Her words were interrupted by her sobs.

‘Hey, it’s not too good to be true. You deserve it all.’

Pippa put an arm around Gemma. This was the old Gemma, riddled with insecurity, never feeling good enough. Pippa felt her heart breaking for her. It had taken Freddie a while to get Gemma to agree to move into the barn conversion with him. At first she’d lived at the hotel, sharing Pippa’s apartment – the living room had been a bedroom for a while – then she’d tried to rent somewhere nearer her college. But Freddie had begged her to live with him and eventually she’d relented. They lived with Albert, the cat that Freddie had adopted for her from the sanctuary to persuade her to move in with him. Albert had been Gemma’s favourite. Pippa never knew her brother could be so romantic, especially as Albert loved Gemma but didn’t like Freddie. Although when he first lived with them he’d hiss at Freddie, now he largely ignored him. But Freddie loved Gemma and Pippa thought her being there, with her boyfriend and her cat, and the rest of the Singers not far away, had given Gemma a new family and made her feel secure. But now, it seems she might have been wrong about that.

‘You know I’ve been struggling. When the anniversary of nan’s death came up I felt as if I went right back to when she died. I miss her, you know, and I still feel so lost sometimes. But I’m also lucky. I’ve got you and I’ve got Freddie and the family. But you know how insecure I was and still am sometimes. I try to fight it but it never goes away. Not properly.’

‘I know, but my annoying brother loves you, Gemma.’

Pippa was stern, although sometimes Gemma did need a bit of a talking to. Mind you, Pippa did, too. That was how their friendship worked. Gemma would tell Pippa she worked too hard and Pippa would tell Gemma she was too hard on herself.

‘I do know that, deep down, but Freddie’s so confident, as you know. I’m not and I think I’m trying to push him into something he might not be ready for.’

‘What do you mean?’ Pippa asked, feeling herself go cold.

Maybe her suspicions were right. Her brother had never been a fan of commitment but with Gemma that was changing. However, Pippa knew that he had to make the changes in his own time.

‘I mentioned marriage and babies. Seeing Harriet with Connor and Toby, well, it kind of makes me want that. I want my own family.’ She dissolved in tears again.

‘Oh, Gem. Freddie loves you and perhaps he should be thinking along those lines at his age. In fact, he might well be. But you know, he’s not the kind of guy you push into doing things,’ Pippa said gently.

‘I know. He said he didn’t like children and he really didn’t want a baby. He said he preferred chickens.’

Pippa couldn’t help but laugh.

‘That’s such a Freddie thing to say. And you know he doesn’t mean it. But, Gemma, he does love you, I can see that. Anyone can see that. But you need to give him some time.’

‘I know, and there’s no rush.’ Gemma was only thirty, after all. ‘I just can’t help myself. You know, everything’s going so well, so why am I trying to sabotage it?’

‘Million-pound question. Listen, we need to spend a bit of girly time together, give Fred some space. Let him stew with his chickens. Once he gets back from picking up our new guest, that is.’

Gemma laughed. ‘I could certainly do with that.’

‘Let me settle in the new arrival and then perhaps we can have a trip into Bath for some shopping and lunch.’

‘Sounds lovely. Thanks, Pippa, I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘You don’t have to know.’ Pippa hugged her. ‘That’s what friends are for.’

She just prayed Freddie and Gemma would work this out, because she didn’t want to lose her friend and she also knew how much Gemma didn’t want to lose Freddie. Not only that, but Pippa knew how much Freddie needed Gemma. She just hoped that Freddie knew it, too. She thought he did but equally, she knew that he was probably panicking about Gemma’s grown-up demands. Just as everything seemed to be going smoothly, problems were mounting once more.

What with Harriet and the baby, Gus and Fleur, and now this, Pippa was worried. Was there yet another storm about to break? She sincerely hoped not.

Pippa had run out of things to straighten. She had even straightened up Hector, who was working in the bar. He’d chosen a table by the window and was typing away. Pippa had taken him coffee after coffee, trying to keep busy. She didn’t know why she was nervous, but it was probably because the hotel was quiet, so their new guest, Brooke, would notice everything. She wanted her to arrive and think how perfect, how wonderfully British it was, that was important to Pippa.

She had a group of women arriving the following day, best friends, who were participating in a painting workshop with Gus for a long weekend. That would certainly add a bit of life to the place but for now, she hoped that Brooke would fall in love with Meadowbrook. She was the first American that the hotel would welcome and she hoped the Englishness of the place would go in their favour. But she was worried that a young Californian woman would find it a bit dull or lonely being here alone for two months. Yes, she said she was looking at setting up a business, but what would she actually do every day?

She shook herself; she was fretting for no reason. She was polishing some already polished glasses at the bar, just for something to do. The rhythmic typing of Hector’s laptop was fairly soothing and it was almost as if she were polishing in tune. The bar was designed with a nod to art deco, and the tables and chairs scattered around had been inspired by Freddie’s obsession with Bright Young Things. It was quite dark, the furniture, but the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led out to the patio brightened up the room. The bar ran across the top of the room, commanding it, and mirrors above reflected the bright array of liqueur that they provided. It really was Freddie’s domain and it was a huge hit with all the guests.

‘Hi.’ Freddie bounded in suddenly.

Pippa almost dropped the glass she was holding. Hector looked up.

‘Haven’t you forgotten someone?’ Pippa’s voice was filled with horror. ‘Where’s our guest?’

‘She’s asleep in the car, or at least I hope she’s asleep.’ He didn’t look happy.

‘What do you mean? Is everything all right?’ Pippa asked, chewing her bottom lip anxiously.

‘Whether everything is all right, Pip, depends on your point of view. So there I was at Heathrow, stood with the sign … actually, the other drivers who were waiting thought I was one of them and they struck up conversations with me about traffic. They were very friendly but what do I know about traffic? I know nothing about traffic, so I had to nod and agree that the M25 was the worst motorway ever and I don’t even know if that’s true or not.’

‘Freddie, the guest?’ Pippa pushed.

‘Oh, yes, so I was waiting and after what seemed like ages, a blonde woman, almost hidden behind her luggage trolley, appears. She made her way over to me and blinked at my sign, so I went to greet her, told her I was Freddie Singer and then she fainted on me!’ Freddie explained.

‘You should be used to girls falling at your feet,’ Hector joked.

‘Well, maybe, but not actual fainting, though. We had to get help, first aid, and it took ages for her to come round. I got her some water and when she did wake up, she was really embarrassed. Kept apologising. So eventually we got her into the car – I had to push the luggage and they put her in a wheelchair; although she said it wasn’t necessary. Anyway, when we got to the car, she sat in the back and didn’t speak to me. When I asked her a question with no response, it became clear she’d fallen asleep. So I panicked the whole way back that there’s something wrong with her. What if she’s unconscious? Perhaps I should have stopped and checked.’ He scratched his head.