As that treacherous thought struck her, she returned to the gate and started to walk along the main path before veering off left and walking back into the centre of the site along another path.
Along this path, several individual wooden chalets were spaced a good distance from each other in a higgledy-piggledy manner. Each had its own terrace for al fresco eating and hardstanding for a car.
Belinda, though, was surprised to see one was tidier and better maintained than the others. Even the flower bed in front was weed-free and spring bulbs were flowering. A bicycle with a basket fixed to its handlebars was leant up against the side of the chalet. If she didn’t know better, she’d say someone was staying there, maybe even living there permanently.
Belinda climbed the shallow steps onto the decking area in front of the cabin and knocked on the door. Silence. No sign of life. Thoughtfully, Belinda walked back to the path and took a photograph.
This part of the site felt a little bit spooky, with too many trees and overgrown bushes making it dark. Glimpsing two buildings further over, she discovered they were the shower block and toilets. The outsides of both were in need of a good power wash and a fresh coat of paint. The insides were also in definite need of a good clean. Belinda took several photographs before she continued to make her way back to the main reception area.
To her surprise, as she walked, ideas about updating and improving the site began to filter into her mind, and she spoke into her phone recorder, making notes. As she neared what she recognised as the back of the office chalet, she saw another building hidden amongst the trees. Walking over to it, she realised it was a house. A faded notice on the door said ‘Private. Interdit. Staff’.
When Belinda tried the door, she wasn’t surprised to find it was locked. To one side of the house was a large hangar with maintenance vehicles and other machinery in it, including a golf buggy, tractor, quad bike and chainsaws. Most of the equipment looked in need of a good clean and overhaul but hopefully would be usable.
Overcome by a sudden shiver of cold, Belinda realised the sky was clouding over and she was getting cold. Time to get in the car and put the heater on to warm up while she tried to put her notes in order and waited for Alain Salvin to return.
A quarter of an hour later, a noisy car exhaust alerted her to the fact that someone was coming. Alain Salvin. His 2CV might be a classic, but if he didn’t give it some loving care and attention soon, it would end up in the scrapyard. Belinda watched him get out of the car and waited for him to acknowledge her. Instead, he ignored her and began walking towards the office steps. What was his problem?
Furious, she wound her window down.
‘A moment, Mr Salvin.’
She registered the shrug of his shoulders and the deep sigh he made before he turned and stared at her. She returned his stare before speaking.
‘Breakfast meeting here tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Make sure you have the keys to everything. Do not be late. Have a good evening.’ She threw a false smile at him before revving the engine and driving away.
7
An hour or so later, after a reviving shower and half an hour working on her laptop back at the auberge, Belinda decided there was time before dinner to make a couple of Skype calls, one to Chloe and one to Nigel.
She rang Chloe first because of the twins’ bedtime. Closing the connection afterwards, Belinda sighed. Although relieved to hear they were all well, she was missing them already and she’d only just arrived.
Afterwards, she rang Nigel. As soon as they’d exchanged the normal pleasantries, she dived straight in. ‘Did you actually walk around the site before you bought it?’
‘Most of it,’ Nigel said.
‘I’m sending you a file of photographs and a provisional incomplete list of what needs to be done, as well as a list of the equipment we need to buy. Bringing this place up to our usual Milton Hotels standard in the timescale you’ve given me will be difficult.’
‘Getting the place up to scratch will be a challenge, I grant you, but we always thought you liked a challenge.’
‘This campsite is more than just a challenge, although it does have potential. There’s a couple of run-down