Page 28 of All We Want for Christmas
‘I suppose I ought to expect situations like this in somewhere so ancient,’ he said.
‘The lift’s from the 1950s. We’re lucky it isn’t listed.’
‘Hmm.’ Flynn put his radio on the floor, returning his attention to Lara. ‘Ever thought what it would be like to actually own a place like this yourself?’
Lara snorted. ‘No way. It’s bad enough managing it. Owning it would be way too much responsibility. Look at Henry and Fiona. Their kids don’t really want to take it on.’
‘I wondered about them and where they are,’ Flynn said.
‘They have two daughters in their forties. I’ve only ever met one of them once, when she and the family came up for Fiona’s birthday. Hattie’s a sculptor and Tara is a paediatrician in London. They seemed nice enough but neither madeany mention of giving up their career to run this place. But if they don’t, Henry and Fiona might have to give the place to a trust or sell to a leisure corporation and they don’t want to do that.’
‘I’d no idea …’ Flynn said.
‘Don’t worry, I don’t think it will happen any time soon. Or I didn’t until Henry was taken ill. Now we’ll have to hope one of the daughters comes through and wants to run things the same.’
‘And is that likely?’
‘From what Fiona has hinted, Tara, the doctor, isn’t interested at all. Hattie, who’s the sculptor, has agreed to move her family here “if it becomes necessary”.’
‘If?I’d saywhenis more realistic,’ Flynn murmured.
Lara nodded. The uncertainty of the situation around who might take over the castle had been the one drawback to accepting the job at Ravendale. However, every other consideration had outweighed that downside and, if she were honest, she had been desperate to get away from Rob. ‘I wouldn’t want to own a place like this. I know it seems like a dream come true for many people, and the owners are incredibly fortunate, but it also ties you down. It’s not just the fact that you’re tied to it for your whole life, but you have the responsibility to your family and future generations, and all the people who feel they have a stake in an historic property. How can your kids pursue their own lives?’
‘I agree. It’s not something I’d want to deal with,’ Flynn said. ‘There’s no doubting that it’s a very privileged positionto be in, but I still wouldn’t swap. However, I didn’t own my own place until about five years ago, when my gran passed away and left me the deposit I used to buy the Newquay flat. It’s a shame she never got to see the place.’
‘It’s rented out, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, but not formally. I let a couple of friends move in. They do pay some rent, but well below the market rate. I don’t mind. There’s a housing crisis in Cornwall and they could never afford the place at the going rate, and they have a baby on the way …’
‘That was generous of you,’ Lara said. Allowing his friends to move in must also mean he was committed to staying here too. Her heart warmed a little more to him.
‘I was more than happy to help them out. You have to look after your friends, don’t you?’
‘You do and, to be fair, Henry and Fiona are lovely and do try to be kind and accessible and as normal as possible. Or as normal as they know how to be.’
Flynn returned her wry smile.
‘But not everyone is like them. I think you could easily forget what life is like for most people. I’d hate to start thinking I was above anyone.’
His gaze became more serious. ‘You sound like you’re speaking from experience.’
‘To a degree, I am.’ She wasn’t completely sure why she’d started this thread of the conversation. He looked wistful. She wondered how he felt being on his own at – thirty-nine?
Up close, she noticed the tiny scar on his chin, his thickeyelashes, and the tiny threads of grey in his otherwise black hair. He had a kind heart, he was loyal, and he made her laugh, even if he could be annoying. Even when he was annoying, he did it with charm and wit.
They were interrupted by a call on Flynn’s radio, which he stood up to take. ‘Hi Carlos. Yeah. OK, thanks. How long? Wow … well, if that’s what it takes. We’re not going anywhere.’
Lara pushed herself to her feet, stretching to loosen her shoulders while listening to the radio exchange. Flynn stood up too.
The lift juddered and began to inch its way downwards.
‘Oh!’ Lara cried, ‘I hope—’ but then her optimism was dashed when the lift came to an abrupt halt.
With an apologetic grimace, Flynn said, ‘I’m afraid you’re going to be stuck with me a while longer.’
‘How awful,’ Lara murmured, then made a decision. She felt that if she didn’t clear the air now, she never would.
‘Flynn. There’s something I want to say about why I’ve ended up at Ravendale.’
