Page 78 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘What do you mean?’ asked Cathy looking startled.

Belle rolled her eyes. ‘The restaurant is a disaster. It’s not going to make any money, so Pete will have to sell the place and then it’ll go to a new owner. Or be pulled down to make some flats or something, I suppose.’

‘Pulled down?’ Grandma Tilly looked shocked. ‘Of course not. It’s the only thing in the village that’s been here as long as I have.’

‘Apart from the church,’ drawled Josh before looking back at Belle. ‘But I agree with my grandmother. It’s not the end of the world.’

‘Thanks everyone,’ said Belle, standing up. ‘It’s been really kind of you to stay behind and try to cheer us up, but I think we’ll call it a night. It’s been pretty exhausting, to be honest.’

She looked around as her friends stood up, but it was just them in the bar.

‘I saw him head out into the garden,’ said Josh quietly. ‘If I know my brother, and I’m afraid to say that I do, he’ll be sulking in a corner somewhere. Although this time I feel he may deserve some of the blame.’

Belle nodded. ‘Me too, to be honest.’

Josh gave her a quick hug. ‘Tomorrow will seem better, I’m sure,’ he said.

‘Thanks,’ said Belle, with a grateful smile. ‘Goodnight.’

She unlocked the door to let them all head out and received hugs and goodnights from her friends before they left.

Finally it was just Belle standing alone in the lounge. She could hear Andre still clattering around in the kitchen. She had no idea what he could still be doing as the customers and staff had all left, but she didn’t want to see him now.

She needed to see Pete. Although she had no idea what she was going to say to him. But she guessed that he would be the only one who was feeling as bad as she was at that moment.

Pete sat in the dark garden, not even feeling the cold night-time temperature which had dipped to almost freezing.

He knew that he should be in the inn with Belle, trying to talk to his family and friends. But he had nothing to say. He was out of words and out of excuses.

All he knew was that it was all his fault. The evening had been a disaster, but surely he should have seen it coming? It was his responsibility. He had hired Andre. He had insisted on the fancy menu and booked the restaurant critic. And now the review would be fatal for the inn.

‘Hi.’

On hearing her voice, he turned his head to find Belle standing nearby, her arms clutched around her as she shivered in the cold night air.

‘Hi,’ he replied, quickly looking away.

‘I just wanted to check where you were,’ she said.

He gave a grunt of humour as he stared down at the ground. ‘Why, are you thinking of pushing me in the river?’ he asked.

‘It’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had.’

His whole body sagged under the weight of responsibility. ‘I know,’ he replied. ‘And I’ve had some pretty awful ones recently.’

‘Yes. You have.’

He finally willed himself to look up into her dark eyes. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said.

She nodded her acceptance but remained quiet, her arms still wrapped around her as she stood in front of him.

‘So what happens now?’ he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘We open up the bar again tomorrow and then it’s the village bonfire night celebrations. There are always a few more customers on that night so that will help takings.’

‘And then?’ He couldn’t stop himself from asking. From needing to hear it from her.

‘And then I don’t know,’ she said simply. ‘I guess we’ll take it one day at a time. That’s what I normally do after a failure.’