“I’m on the road and driving Gaby home to her aunt’s house. She just finished managing our two events at the Riverford.”
“Thank you, Gaby. Harry tells me you’ve been indispensable. We’re all so grateful.”
“I’m glad I was useful,” she said.
“Harry, I’m glad I caught you on the road. Is there any chance you could stop off at Maldon House on your way back into Hamblehurst? There’s a box of stuff in the boot of my car that your mother needs at the Stables, but I just got here and I’m busy taking measurements. If you’re passing and you could pick up what she needs, it will save me having to stop what I’m doing and drive over there.”
Harry turned to Gaby. “It’s a ten-minute diversion out to Maldon House from where we are. Do you mind if we detour?”
“Not at all,” she said.
“Thanks,” Harry said with a smile. “Dad, we’ll be there shortly.”
“Thanks, son, and thanks Gaby. See you both soon.”
At the next junction on the country road, Harry flicked on his indicator and took the turn, speeding past open countryside and rolling fields of pasture.
“So, what’s Maldon House?” Gaby asked.
“It’s my father’s latest stroke of genius and which will either kill him or kill me,” Harry said with a laugh. “Maldon House is an old run-down country pile that my father believes can be turned into a lucrative boutique hotel specialising in weddings. And he might just be right if it doesn’t bankrupt us first. My parents are the visionaries where it’s concerned and I’m the unlucky dupe who has to make the numbers work.”
“That sounds like a fun project.”
“Fun is the word my parents would use. Ulcer-inducing is the one I’d pick. It’s going to cost us a fortune.”
Gaby laughed. “But you think it will be worth it?”
“My parents have been working in this business all their lives and they’ve never been wrong about anything. I think they’re right about this and I happen to think my father has found a real gem in this place. But it’s still a lot of money to invest and it’ll tie up our capital for a while before we see a return. I thought my parents would want to ease into retirement at this point in their lives and hand things over to me and my sisters. Instead, they’re throwing themselves head-first into one of the biggest projects they’ve ever taken on.”
“That sounds like a great attitude to have. As someone who’s always moving on to the next big thing in life, I approve.”
Harry laughed and turned the car down a lane. At the end of it stood Maldon House. When he parked and they got out, Gaby looked around and instantly understood the attraction of the place.
The house was run down, even from the outside that was obvious, but it had a grace and elegance that was just crying outto be restored to full its glory. Sitting amid overgrown gardens and surrounded by ancient woodland, the place was brimming with character and history.
Harry’s father emerged from inside the building with a clipboard and tablet device tucked in his hands. He waved and walked over to greet them both, and after saying hello to Gaby and thanking her again for all her help at their venues, he exchanged a few words with Harry about the boxed items he wanted him to take back to Hamblehurst.
While father and son transferred the box of things from one car to the other, Gaby couldn’t help admiring the beautiful old building they were restoring, with its soft golden stone and tall windows and excellent aspects.
“It’ll be a beauty once we’re finished,” Mr Goodwin said to her, smiling proudly as he too gazed at the house. “It’s a crying shame it’s been left empty for so long, but it’s in good hands now and we’ll turn it into a wonderful asset.”
“Harry said you plan to specialise in weddings here?” Gaby asked.
Mr Goodwin nodded. “Given the layout and size, we think that’s the best way forward to make it work. It will still operate as a small luxury hotel for general visitors, but we’ll target the wedding market to maximise profit with the function rooms we’re designing.”
She followed him as he walked back towards the building, intrigued.
“This space here will cater for weddings up to one hundred and twenty guests,” he said, pointing to the eastern side of the house. “And the room at the other side will cater for smaller celebrations up to sixty guests. The hotel will have twenty bedrooms, including two bridal suites. And out here in the grounds, we’ll landscape it all to make it look pretty for wedding photographs, add in some rose gardens and whatnot. If youpeek around the corner, you’ll see there’s a small orangery still standing which we think could be a big selling point once it’s redeveloped. We could serve reception drinks there and have a place for guests to mingle outside in the garden before they sit down to the wedding speeches and meal.”
“It sounds wonderful,” Gaby said. “It will be beautiful once it’s restored. I’m sure any bride would be thrilled to get married here.”
“We hope so. And of course, we’ll develop our hospitality offers to complement the core aspect of our wedding business. But for now, we’re focusing on the refurbishment and bringing this place back from the brink.”
“Dad has adopted a no-expense-spared policy where the refurb is concerned,” Harry said. “I think he wants to send me to an early grave.”
Gaby laughed as Mr Goodwin grinned and slapped his son on the back.
“If anyone can make magic with the numbers, son, it’s you.” He turned to Gaby, still grinning, and said, “My son is a financial genius. He knows every penny we spend here will be more than worth it. Once this place opens next summer, there’ll be so much money rolling in he won’t know what to do with it.”
