Page 17 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

Now that her waitressing job had finished, Beth realised that with her relationship with Jeremy at an end as well, she really was at a bit of a loose end. And Maple Tree Lodge was comfortable and cosy compared to the mould-riddled tiny flat she had been renting. So she accepted Hannah’s invite to stay and, in lieu of thanks, Beth gave her a hand in the Boathouse Café, pleased to see how busy it was, especially on a Sunday. The place had become a place for local villagers to meet and so Beth was quickly enlisted to help out serving delicious lunches, pastries and drinks.

By the time dinner time came, and the café was finally closed for the evening, Beth headed back to the kitchen, grateful for the chance to sit down.

Despite her being under the impression that he had been due to leave that day, Noah had also stayed on for another night. Perhaps, wondered Beth, it was to do with what appeared to be a boat he had inherited.

Faye’s roast dinner was as delicious as always, despite Noah being an awkward dinner companion. She wondered why he had bothered to stay, given his obvious reluctance to even talk to the family. He had answered any questions from the family in short answers, not giving too much away about himself, she noticed. She tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but it was hard when he was making it so difficult for anyone to hold a conversation with him.

She thought back to the conversation with Dotty and Faye over breakfast. He’d obviously had a tough time early on in life but then again, who hadn’t?

After a somewhat stilted family dinner, Beth wandered away whilst the family all began their evening chores around the hotel. She was reminded that it was Sunday night. Normally she would be waitressing at the restaurant, but that had just been shut down. Having not heard from Jeremy either, she was now having to face a future without any income. She needed to find a job and fast. But what? And where?

She had always stayed in London, near to the Royal Observatory, desperate to pick up any volunteering work. Also, there were enough places where she could waitress and yet she felt ready for a change. She was thirty-two now. When was her life going to begin?

As always whenever she felt low, she was drawn to the skies outside. It was her comfort blanket, much like the family inside the hotel. But the stars were her constant, even when she was away from her friends and the Jackson family.

She wandered through the lounge, empty now that theweekend guests had headed home. The roaring fire looked cosy and inviting but she shook her head, her need to see the stars too great. Later, she told herself. Besides, what use was a romantic, crackling fire with nobody to enjoy it with?

She thought briefly of Jeremy, sighing to herself. She missed him. Or did she, she wondered. He wasn’t a particularly relaxing person to be around. Perhaps she just missed the idea of him. The idea of being somebody’s happy ever after. Somebody’s someone special. Something she wasn’t sure she had ever been.

Deep in thought, she opened up the glass door to the veranda outside. Closing it behind her, she took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air. The nights were cooler now and she was glad she had slipped on her coat before heading outside.

The wind was picking up, she realised. The threat of a storm the following day was in the weather forecast but at least the skies were clear for now, any clouds blown away in the breeze.

She was about to look up at the stars when she had the sudden feeling she wasn’t alone. Turning her head, she found Noah in the semi-darkness, leaning on the glass balustrade. He had been looking out at the lake, lit from the full moon above and its reflection glittering on the water ahead of them.

‘Sorry,’ she found herself saying. ‘I didn’t realise anyone was out here.’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Free country,’ he said, turning his head to look at her. ‘More than enough room for both of us.’

She felt relieved that she hadn’t interrupted some deep moment for him. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt regarding his awkwardness at dinner, she wondered if he had perhaps felt overwhelmed by the Jackson family, who were a close-knit group when they were all together. She felt like that sometimes but only in a good way.

‘Isn’t it the most perfect night?’ she said,turning to look up at the vast expanse of sky. Although some ambient light was drifting out from the hotel, it still didn’t obscure the magnificent vista around them.

‘It’s a great view,’ conceded Noah.

‘Oh, well, yes, of course, Dragonfly Lake is so pretty, but I meant for stargazing,’ Beth told him. ‘You can join me if you’d like?’

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. It was always the same way with her. She spoke too quickly, always anxious to offload whatever was on her mind and get it out into the open as soon as she could.

She cursed herself before bracing herself for Noah’s inevitable sarcasm. Why on earth would he want to join her stargazing?

She steeled herself and peeped a look at him. But instead of looking derisive, he was merely staring at her with a blank expression.

‘Don’t I need a telescope for stargazing?’ he asked.

She briskly shook her head. ‘Not at all. Especially if you’re a complete beginner which I’m assuming you are?’ She didn’t give him time to answer the question and carried on. ‘I mean, if you immediately looked into a telescope on your first time, it would be like being a learner driver getting into a Formula One car. How would you know where to point it, even if you could set it up properly?’

‘The car or the telescope?’ he asked, the edges of his eyes crinkling up into a small smile.

‘The telescope,’ she muttered. ‘Anyway, if it’s your first time stargazing you should do what I do and KISS.’

His eyebrows shot up at her last word.

‘Not that kind,’ she told him, blushing and cursing herdescription. ‘Keep it simple, stupid. That’s what the KISS acronym means.’

‘I see.’

But now that the word kiss had been put out there, it hovered between them, the atmosphere heavy and laden with promise.