Page 73 of The Haunted Hotel

But I give him a small smile, one tear spilling over and escaping down my cheek. I brush it away quickly.

“You have to go.” I nod. “You should go and pack.”

I bite my lip to keep myself from crying. It’s not fair that I’m losing my home, my family, and now him too, even if I knew deep down he was never really mine to begin with. I swallow hard and raise my chin, then turn to Rosie, who looks just as heartbroken as I feel. “We should call a staff meeting. The otherswill be worried and they deserve to know the truth. And if this place is going to close, we need to make sure Dilys is taken care of.”

“Ellis,” Morgan says again. I can hear the sadness and regret in his voice, but I can’t deal with it now. It’s time to deal with the practicalities. I can cry later in private, where no one can see me. Right now, I need to be strong for the others.

“It’s okay, Morgan,” I tell him. “Really.”

“Maybe I could get a lawyer or something. They might be able to stop the audit and arrange for a new hearing.”

I shake my head slowly. “There’s no point. Like you said, without investment, we can’t save this place, and no one is going to want to take on a failed business and a Grade II listed building in desperate need of repairs and drowning in debt.”

“I wish—” he begins, but I don’t let him finish.

My heart can’t take it.

“I know,” I say, reaching for Rosie’s hand as she wipes her eyes with a tissue from her pocket. “I do, too.”

Then I pull Rosie from the office and go in search of the others so we can tell them we’re going to lose our home.

23

By the time I drag my suitcase into the lobby, it feels like it’s lined with lead.

Or maybe that’s just me. I’m the one that’s lined with lead. There’s a heavy, sinking feeling in my chest I can’t shake.

John the Maid, Aggie, and Dilys are all seated on the worn sofa opposite the desk. Aggie has her arm around Rosie, who’s blowing her nose quietly. A plate of Aggie’s cookies sits untouched on the low coffee table, as do the cups of tea surrounding it. Dilys looks sad and John the Maid seems kind of shell-shocked.

Ellis waits for me by the reception desk, his beautiful blue eyes no longer bright. I prop my case beside the desk and move closer, feeling my stomach clench painfully when he gives me a smile that’s a pale shadow of the ones I’ve come to treasure.

“Ellis,” I whisper, feeling helpless.

“It’s okay,” he says with so much understanding that my eyes sting. “Once he’s calmed down, I’ll speak to your grandfather. Just promise me you’ll still call him. I’m know that talking to him is sometimes like trying to handle a live grenade, but I don’t want you to miss out on a relationship with him, not when I know the man beneath the grumpiness.” His small smile takeson a touch of humour. “And that’s true of both of you. You clash because you’re so similar, but if you leave things unsaid, I think you’ll both be missing out on something special.”

I nod. “I will. Of course I’ll call him.”

“Good.” Ellis swallows hard. “That’s good because we’ll have to—” He breaks off and draws in a steadying breath, then continues. “When the time comes, he’ll need somewhere to live. I’ll being going back to my mum’s, but I can take him with me. He can have my room, and I’ll sleep on the sofa until we can find something else.”

I frown at the thought. “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of, no matter what he needs. I promise.”

Ellis nods, staring down at the floor. I slip my fingers under his chin and lift so his eyes meet mine.

“I’m so grateful for the time we had together,” he whispers before I can say anything. “I don’t have any regrets, and I hope you don’t either.”

“I wish we had more time,” I confess.

“So do I.” He reaches up and smooths down my jacket. “But life isn’t like that, is it? You have a life in New York to get back to. But I’ll always treasure what we shared.”

Unable to look into those sad blue eyes any longer, I turn my gaze to the others. I’m not sure what to say to them either.

“Take care of yourself, Morgan,” Aggie says. “Despite the way things have turned out, I’m glad I got the chance to see you again. Give my best wishes to your mum.”

“I will.” I swallow tightly and nod to the others, who don’t seem any more inclined to speak than I am. Grasping the handle of my case, I force a smile at Ellis and walk toward the front door.

I’ve barely made it two steps when I stop abruptly and turn around. The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Come with me.”

Those beautiful baby blues widen. “What?”