Page 40 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

As Jack followed Lily across the entrance hall, voices and laughter bubbled up from beyond the French doors. The sound of a happy family. He grimaced, knowing that he was about to break their happy mood.

How on earth was he going to tell everyone that the Willow Tree Hall was in danger of being razed to the ground? All of the homes, the close community that they loved, gone forever.

He had only been there a week or so ago, after so many years’ absence, and had never dreamed that he would be returning so soon. But he had to tell Sam and the family first. After all, the houses, the community, everything was down to the Harris family.

He followed Lily outside and found the family seated around a long oak table. It was a happy scene, the table groaning with food and everyone chatting and laughing.

‘Hello again!’ said Annie, looking up with a smile.

‘Hey,’ said Sam, springing up to shake his hand. ‘What are you doing back here?’

‘How nice to see you again,’ said Arthur from the head of the table.

‘There’s plenty of food,’ said Annie, gesturing at the many bowls and plates of food piled up on the table. ‘Grab a plate if you want.’

Their warm welcome made him feel even worse.

‘Hey, Jack!’ said Will, also getting up to shake his hand. ‘Long time no see. I was sorry to miss you last week.’

‘Good to see you too, Will,’ Jack told him.

‘Come and take a seat,’ said Will, sitting back down and giving the purple-haired woman to his right a nudge. ‘Jack, this is my wife, Skye. Budge up, Mrs Harris.’

The pretty woman smiled indulgently at Will. ‘Hi,’ she said.

They all shuffled along the bench to make extra space.

‘Jack can always sit on my knee if there’s not enough room,’ called out Rose, with a wink and a cheeky grin.

But he could find no humour that evening and shook his head. He needed to be standing up for this, he felt.

‘Is everything OK?’ asked Annie, frowning.

Jack gulped. ‘Not really.’

The lively discussions around the table began to falter.

‘What is it?’ asked Sam, looking concerned. ‘Is it your parents?’

‘No,’ said Jack, quickly. ‘They’re fine, thanks. But I need to tell you what I’ve found out at work today.’

‘Is this about the offer to turn us into a hotel?’ asked Sam, smiling. ‘Because it feels like one already when we’re feeding this lot.’

But his smile faded as he realised the seriousness of Jack’s expression.

‘Like I said before, my boss was very keen to buy this property,’ began Jack. ‘You turning him down didn’t go down too well.’

Will shrugged his shoulders. ‘So? He sent you and we said no. The guy will have to move on.’

‘He isn’t a man that people say no to very often,’ said Jack. ‘He’s used to getting his way.’

‘Like Will said, so what?’ asked Sam. ‘I mean, I don’t want to be rude, but it’s his loss.’

Jack took a deep breath. ‘The trouble is that it could be yours as well.’

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Sam.

‘It turns out that he knows some very influential people on the council,’ Jack told them. ‘People who could cause problems for the village. And for this family.’