Lydia placed one of her hands on his forearm. The cool touch of her palm soothed him in the warm evening. ‘Gabriel, you never give in to problems,’ she said. ‘You always see them as a challenge. Why are you being so defeatist this time?’
He sighed heavily. ‘I don’t know. Maybe because this time I’m more emotionally involved than I usually am, or because I’m still hurting about losing the baby.’
He realised he was being very negative and forced a smile. ‘Take no notice of me. It’s been a lousy day and I’m being an idiot. I’ll try to think of something, but I’ve tried the legal avenue and there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to hurry up my divorce.’
‘That’s a shame,’ she said.
She stared at him silently and he knew what she was about to say. Gabriel hated sharing anything with his grandmother that could upset her. Although telling her about his legal situation was something she’d insisted upon knowing, he knew she couldn’t do much to help him.
‘Gabriel, what was in that envelope I asked Daisy to take to you at Noirmont? Was it about your research project?’
He nodded. ‘It was, but it’s fine. Nothing to worry about,’ he lied.
‘Rubbish. They’ve pulled the funding, haven’t they?’ she said, giving him a sharp look.
‘They’ve rescinded all funding.’ He frowned. ‘How did you know?’
‘I guessed it might be something like that. I’m so sorry, darling. What are you going to do now?’
He had no idea. Working for his parents at the hotelwent a little way to fund his expeditions, but he always needed sponsorship. ‘I’m not sure yet, but I’ll think of something.’
She smiled. ‘Now that’s the attitude I’m used to. Stop fretting about Daisy. She’ll come round if she loves you. You just haven’t known each other long enough for her to want to ignore these other things. After all, what’s a few years?’
‘We both know that’s a very long time when you love someone, Nan,’ he said. He bent forward and kissed her on her cheek. ‘It’s fine though, I’ll think of something,’ He wished he felt as positive as he sounded.
‘I know, darling. You just have to believe it.’
He hugged his grandmother tightly, wishing he had half the faith in himself that she had in him. ‘You always think the best of me,’ he said, smiling at her.
She stared at him. After a moment’s thought she said, ‘Darling Gabriel, you’ve achieved so much in your young life already with your conservation activities and those projects. I admire how much you care and how you’ve put that caring into saving marine life. You’ve also always been there when your parents or I needed you. I’m sure once Daisy gets to know you better she’ll trust you as I do.’
He wasn’t so certain. Not now he’d seen Daisy’s reaction to her father and realised just how deep her hurt went. He might come second best to his parents’ career, and even maybe to their own feelings for each other, but at least he came first where his grandmother was concerned. He supposed Daisy must have had a similar relationship with her mother, but it had sounded as if Daisy’s mother had needed her far more than his independent grandmother needed him. He wished Daisy hadn’t been so scarred by her past. The haunted look he saw crossing her face sometimes concerned him and hewished she’d open up to him more.
‘She’s been deeply hurt,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m not so sure I’ll be able to make her understand how important she is to me.’
They sat in silence, the only sound entering their space being birdsong and the lapping of the waves onto the beach at the end of the garden.
‘What will you do about the project?’ his grandmother asked. He might have known she wasn’t going to leave it alone.
‘They’re having a meeting tomorrow to discuss the funding,’ he said. ‘I’ll send them a report urging them to rethink their decision and assuring them that we’ve gone too far now to back out of the work.’
She rested her hand on his arm. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
He shook his head. ‘Thanks, but no. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ He hated lying to her, but didn’t need his grandmother worrying about having to bail out his project. It was his problem and he was going to have to find a way to solve it. His parents would be back in Jersey in a few weeks and he’d have time to return to South Africa and find a way to keep things going. Until then, he needed to keep track of what was happening at the hotel, with his divorce, and maybe think up new ways to fund his failing enterprise.
He checked his watch and drank the last mouthful of his coffee. ‘I’d better get back,’ he said. ‘We’re expecting a few late arrivals and they’re return visitors who come several times a year and they’ll expect us to welcome them properly.’
‘Do you need me to come along to the hotel?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘No, you stay here and enjoy the sunshine. I shouldn’t be too late. Maybe we can have adrink out here and a stroll on the beach.’
She beamed at him. ‘I’d love that,’ she said.
He stood up, kissed her on the top of her white hair and walked away. She was always there for him, he thought, as he got into his car and drove off to the hotel. If only Daisy could experience the same sort of love.
He just wished Daisy would trust him enough to let him devote his time to her so that they could enjoy this beautiful place with its peaceful, meticulously designed garden and valley divided by tiny geometric ponds.
He checked with Fi at reception that everything was in order for the Johnsons. They were the hotel’s most honoured ‘RVs’. Gabriel knew from their records that almost seventy-five per cent of the visitors to the hotel were ‘RVs’, or return visitors, and the Johnsons had been coming to stay at least three times each summer since his parents had bought the place. Each time they arrived, his parents always ensured that there was a champagne bucket filled with ice and one of their best bottles of champagne waiting for the couple to drink as they settled in their room. An arrangement of fresh flowers sourced from the well-stocked gardens were always displayed for them on a table and Mrs Johnson’s favourite local chocolates stored in the small fridge in the room. It was the least they could do for such valued guests.
