Page 44 of The Next Chapter

We come to a stop just a little way from the cottages.

It’s too late.

Lola doesn’t want us to write her memoirs.

The business will fail.

I’ll never hear her story.

‘Listen, Lily, I wanted to ask you something,’ Lola says while I spiral. It takes a second for my brain to catch up to the fact that she’s addressing me directly. With her accent, she misses the ‘g’ so it sounds like ‘somethin’.’

‘Okay,’ I reply. The beginnings of panic flutter deep in my chest. Has Lola figured me out? I flip back quickly through the conversation we’ve just had, thinking about what might have given me away. There’s no time for the sort of deep analysis my brain normally excels at, because Lola is still talking.

‘You know what you said earlier, about writing personal memoirs and ghost-writing and the like? Well, I wondered… I was thinking, see…’ She takes a deep breath. ‘… that maybe y’all would want to write mine.’

Noah and I just stand there. He’s probably letting Lola speak, but I’ve definitely moved into gawping territory. I… just… I didn’t think my pitch had worked. And I know that this is exactly why we’re here, but I thought our chances of success were low. Like Hades low.

I wonder now if maybe I was using the memoirs thing as an excuse this whole time.

Nope. No. Not helpful.

She’s still going. ‘It’s something of a coincidence, but I was looking for a service like the ones y’all offer. Been thinking about it for a while, if I’m honest. The money, see – I can’t lose the hotel. Not ever.’

She’s hardly talking in full sentences and she’s out of breath, but she’s still doing better than me. I’m not talking at all. ‘It’ll require um… delicate handling, the things I’ve got to say. But if you wanted to stay, I could move some bookings around to free up the cottage for the summer. No charge, of course, while we work on this, but I’d be more than happy for y’all to stay there. Seb too. Noah’s here for the six weeks. I think it could be beneficial, financially, I mean, for us all.’

Six weeks.

Lola wants me to stay for six more weeks. Six. Seb too. And Noah will be here.

Oh. My. God.

‘That’s… very generous, Lola. We’d… I’d have to check with Seb. And I wouldn’t want you to be out of pocket.’ It very much sounds like the hotel finances are in the same state as the rest of the place, so Lola’s in no position to be offering a freebie.

Lola waves a hand at me. ‘Nonsense.’

‘Lola hasn’t been so good at remembering to make money from this place,’ Noah adds, making them both laugh. I join in, though my laugh sounds forced and loud. So loud.

‘I need one of those business plan things y’all keep talking about.’

My brain is short-circuiting, leaving me capable of only one-syllable words.

‘Seb, I need to ask Seb,’ I say.

I think there’s a plan. Maybe a bit of a plan.

‘Course, whatever y’all need. I’d need some assurances, before we begin. But we can talk about the finer details later, once y’all have decided.’

I gaze at her some more.

At this stage, the prospect of interviewing Lola seems almost ridiculous. Half the time, I’m rendered mute in her presence.

‘Seb,’ I force out.

Lola, too, looks like she wants to say more, but I can see something shifting in her, almost like a shadow passing over her face. She’s returned to quiet Lola already, the bubbly, chatty version going back into hiding. She nods. ‘Y’all know where to find me.’

She turns and leaves, walking back through the gardens to the hotel. It’s just me and Noah then.

‘Do you think you’ll stay?’ Noah asks.