Cherry Blossoms by Patricia Keyson

the right thing in sticking to her principles. Besides, to him, it was a good solution even if he didn’t realise all the implications. It had been an adventure to live in the chalet and have a bedroom to himself and play games with Darius. Now it was another adventure to be staying with his mother in Pat’s spare bedroom, doing jigsaws with Maurice and being fed delicious things by Pat. Cherry sighed deeply.
    “ Thank you so much, Pat. I know you offered us a roof over our heads before, but we really are in need now.” She sat forward in her chair, looking around the room. “You’ve got a lovely home. It’s so cosy and inviting. I hope I can find somewhere quickly. We don’t want to be a nuisance.”
    “ You’re welcome to stay as long as you like,” replied Pat. “Just look at Maurice. I haven’t seen him so contented for a long time.” The two women looked over at Maurice who, absorbed as he was in his jigsaw puzzle, had a smile playing at his lips. From time to time he nudged Jay and held out a cardboard piece. Jay would frown and then point excitedly at a space. At this rate, the jigsaw would be done in no time. Cherry resolved to buy some more from the charity shop next time she went to town. Or perhaps she could borrow some from the hotel. She pulled herself up sharply as she remembered that she didn’t work there anymore. She also remembered that she had to sneak back there and get the rest of their belongings. Now that was going to be a very difficult mission.
    * * *
    Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Oliver had marched around the grounds trying to make sense of the last couple of hours. He’d been to the chalet, where he’d hoped to find Cherry, and knocked at the door. There was no reply. He didn’t like to peer through the windows, but she had to be there. As she’d said, she had nowhere else to go. Then it struck him. Of course, Pat would offer her and Jay a room.
    He strode off to his office intent on phoning Pat. As soon as he punched in the numbers, he knew he couldn’t phone Pat. What would he say to her? It would seem as if he were checking up on Cherry and it would intrude on Pat’s privacy. Since taking over the hotel, Oliver had made a decision to draw a line between work and home with his employees. That way they would know that when they were home, they could switch off and enjoy their leisure time. His intention was to make the lives of the staff as easy as he could. That was why he couldn’t understand what he’d done or said to make Cherry storm off like that.
    He looked across at the desk which he’d hoped she’d occupy. It was starkly tidy. He remembered how alive the office had seemed when she’d sat there. As he inhaled deeply, he caught the scent of her perfume and looked around quickly, half expecting to see her smiling at him, assuring him that she’d made a mistake and she wanted to put the clock back to when everything was all right between them. But the room was empty.
    Unable to settle in the oppressive office, Oliver made his way through the hotel reception, pausing only to take an umbrella from the stand just inside the door. The fine rain freshened everything except him. Automatically, he headed around the side of the hotel to the river. It reminded him of Cherry. He often wondered about her life on the narrow boat, imagining her and Jay sitting together in the evenings reading or chatting. It must be wonderful to have such a close relationship. A sudden constriction in his throat made him realise that he missed his mother; he wished she’d been there for him when he was a boy. Increasing his pace, he scolded himself for harbouring grudges from so long ago.
    It was getting dark now and the moon ca st its light across the river. How beautiful everything looked. Oliver was surprised at himself for noticing. Normally he was indifferent to such romantic notions. Grunting to himself, he continued his walk which he knew would take him past Cherry’s chalet once again.