Cressida McLaughlin - The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse - The perfect feelgood romance

But she had to push thoughts of Tim aside. In twenty-four hours’ time her first guests would be arriving at the new and improved Campion Bay Guesthouse, landlady Ms Robin Brennan, ably supported on breakfasts and changeovers by Paige Westwood, with Eclipse the kitten adding the cute factor. Suddenly worried that the kitten had strayed somewhere he shouldn’t have, Robin left Molly and Paige quietly bickering upstairs and went to seek out the newest member of the Brennan household.

‘Mr and Mrs Barker.’ Robin smiled up at the couple as she stood in front of the computer and clicked through to their reservation. ‘So lovely to see you.’ Her palms were sweaty, as they had been all day, and she felt like she’d had a whole pot of coffee to herself, despite having stuck to a single cup when she’d woken at six o’clock after a restless night. This was it, her guests were checking in; there was no time to turn back.

‘Sea’s looking pretty choppy today,’ Mrs Barker said in response. ‘Bracing.’

‘It is,’ Robin agreed. ‘The wind’s up a bit.’ She clicked that her guests had arrived, and a confirmation sheet printed out on the sleek black printer behind her. ‘Are you planning on swimming?’ She placed the paper in front of them. ‘If you could check the details and give me a signature, I can show you to your room.’

‘Love to swim in the sea,’ Mrs Barker confirmed, while her husband leaned his wide frame over the paper, squinting slightly. ‘It’s always biting where we live in Wales, so the south coast should be a welcome change.’

‘You have lovely beaches in Wales, though.’

‘Oh yes,’ Mrs Barker said. ‘Some of the best.’

Robin filed the completed confirmation sheet, and took the keys to Andalusia out of the drawer of the wooden desk. The hall had never been wide enough to house a proper reception area, so she’d continued her parents’ tradition of having a desk and computer station in the living room – now Sea Shanty – where the keys and paperwork were kept. Mr and Mrs Barker stepped back, allowing her to lead the way.

‘We have got a tiny lift,’ she said, ‘or we can take the stairs up to the second floor.’

‘Stairs are fine,’ Mr Barker confirmed, hefting his Barbour bag on to his shoulder.

‘Can I take anything?’ Robin asked.

‘Oh no, we’re fine, aren’t we, love?’

‘That we are.’

They both had tanned, weatherworn faces, and their clothes were smart but practical, their jackets and boots indicating that they worked outside, riding or gardening or managing country estates. Robin wondered if they owned a huge, secluded mansion in North Wales, with meticulous rose gardens, acres of grassland and a river running through a woody copse. ‘Good-oh,’ she said quickly, snapping herself back to reality. ‘If you’d like to follow me, then.’

When she opened the bedroom door, allowing Mr and Mrs Barker to go in first, she couldn’t help but grin. Mr Barker’s reaction was subtle, his eyebrows shooting skywards, but his wife clapped her hands together in glee.

‘It’s even better than the photo,’ she said, turning in a slow circle.

‘I’m so glad you approve,’ Robin rushed, her heartbeat beginning to return to normal.

Andalusia was the boldest of her bedrooms, with its rustic styling, red and burnished orange fabrics and dark wood furniture. The sun was streaming through the window, adding to the impression of being in another country, and Robin thought she couldn’t have picked a more perfect moment to invite her guests in.

‘This is incredible,’ Mrs Barker said, running her hands over the red-and-gold runner at the end of the bed. ‘You’d hardly believe you were in Dorset if it wasn’t for the view outside. Have you spent lots of time in Andalusia?’

‘I’ve never been there,’ Robin admitted, ‘but I’ve heard a lot about it.’ Neve had promised to take her there, to show her the narrow streets and old churches of the Pueblos Blancos, but with Once in a Blue Moon Days getting off the ground, it had never happened. ‘A friend of mine was born in the area, and she made it sound so magical. I know you don’t have the amazing Spanish hills outside the window, but Campion Bay beach is beautiful in its own right, and this way you get a sense of the exotic alongside the English seaside.’

‘I don’t suppose it comes with a Spanish breakfast as well?’ Mr Barker sat in the nook in the window and peered out at the sea. Robin had made sure that the window seats, a feature of every room except Starcross, were as snug as possible, but she thought Mr Barker was perhaps too big to make full use of this one. She couldn’t imagine him leaning back against the cushions, his feet up on the padding, reading glasses perched, owl-like, on the end of his nose.

‘I’ve got tostadas on the menu, with tomato and olive oil,’ Robin said. ‘Or you can have your scrambled eggs with avocados, chorizo and a dash of Tabasco sauce. All the information is in the folder on the chest of drawers: fire procedures, breakfast times – as well as the menu – and ideas for things to do in the area. If you need anything at all, or have any questions, then please ask. I’m usually around, but my mobile number is in the folder if you can’t find me. I hope you enjoy your stay.’

‘Thank you,’ Mrs Barker said. ‘I’m sure we will.’ Mr Barker nodded from the window seat.

Robin stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind her, then did a little dance on the landing. This was the fourth positive reaction she’d had to the rooms, from people who were actually staying in them. A couple who looked almost as young as Paige and Adam had checked into Rockpool, and had been instantly mesmerized by the wall of fish; and the middle-aged couple in Wilderness, Ray and Andrea, had seemed very taciturn, but as Robin had closed the door behind them, she’d heard Ray say: ‘Well, this is pretty bloody nice.’

Dorothy, who had checked into Canvas for the week, had stared at the painting of Campion Bay at Dawn for so long that Robin had simply closed the door behind her, without giving her prepared spiel about breakfast times and mobile numbers. She’d noticed that, along with her suitcase, she had a fold-up easel and an A3 portfolio case.

Now Robin glanced up at the narrower staircase, the one that led to Starcross. It was the most personal room, the one that was most precious to her, and part of her was glad she hadn’t booked it out immediately. She had been nervous enough as it was, but now the hurdle of having happy guests – at least on first impression – was out of the way.

She had many more challenges ahead; cooking successful breakfasts, coming up with new ways to promote the guesthouse and keeping on top of the finances. Actually making a profit would be preferable, and balancing everything with only Paige to help with the breakfasts and changeovers was going to keep them both busy, but she was prepared to expand if it got too much. At least that would mean the bookings were continuing.

She made herself a cup of tea and checked that she’d booked everyone in properly on the GuestSmart software. The sea beyond the window was choppy, though not quite enough to release the white horses, and the sun scattered rays on the water, creating a patchwork of light and shade.