Don't Give Up

By Eva Pardale

'"Wow, just wow”. Sat here at the top of the drive you can’t see much thanks to the boundary lined oak trees and scattered horse chestnut, ash and beech trees.'

The beginning of Jess' story is fantasy-like and even romantic. Her life is simple; no adventure or drama - but that's all set to change when she starts to work for Avon Manor; 'it is like a fairy tale with hints of grunge and history in places'.

A mysterious man comes to the Manor to change everything -'“your skin is so soft and I love your big blue eyes."' - but never in her mind did she think it would result in this.

'Don't give up Jessica, don't give up'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9780244955366

Book preview

Don't Give Up

Don’t Give Up

By Eva Pardale

Copyright © 2017 by Eva Pardale

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 1

Wow, just wow. Sat here at the top of the drive you can’t see much thanks to the boundary lined oak trees and scattered horse chestnut, ash and beech trees. Even with it being the middle of September only a few trees close to the road have the odd green-yellow leaves, it’ll be a while before these leaves drop. The first impression is important, and it’s working. The drive is marked with ‘blue lias’ stone two metres high supporting a luxury plaque either side with Victorian style light topped pillars, flowing in to a smaller half height wall across the entire front.

It’s hard to see everything clearly in my 10-year-old small blue Renault Clio, but my heart is pumping faster the more I see crawling down the ‘giraffe back’ shaped old tarmac drive. A lovely rich green lawn on my left, boarded with roses and to my right, a knee-high ivy trapped blue lias limestone wall bordering a smaller courtyard of a L-shape barn. But it’s what is in front of me. I can’t believe what my eyes are showing me, it is like a fairy tale with hints of grunge and history in places.

At the front of the building there are a couple of parking areas which have been kept neat for this type of property; tarmac with dark burnt red bricks for space dividers and the border. I park my car in the area to the right of the hotel so I can see as much as possible of this stunning property.

I must look foolish standing in the middle of the courtyard in front of the main building, I can’t stop myself from taking this all in. The impressive Cotswold oolite and sandstone built main building is breath taking, not something I see every day yet a quirky building really as the east side is traditional timber frame and mortar, like two buildings have been glued together.

The courtyard L-Shape barn adjacent is a similar style, in three clear different sections, the first uses a red-like brick, the second has been rendered then painted white hiding most the timber and the last part is oolite and sandstone. The barn is fascinating; it has a very old sundial at the peak on the last section directly opposite the main hall. Walking closer you can see that this building has some point been in a bad state and heavily invested to restore it, I love seeing when people have put their hearts in to something as historic and probably once a highly important place. I feel so captivated and curious, I want to know all about this dream like piece of history.

I can’t wait to explore more and find out exactly what happened to this magnificent building.

I’ve always been interested in buildings and old things, so to be standing in the centre of a charming old building, it’s got me fascinated. My thoughts are distracted by a mature, slightly rounded and less than average height gentlemen saying my name. Welcome to The Avon Manor Hotel, I’m Marco Carlevaro, general manager. Come and take a sit in our bar. You can’t miss the genuine smile, his bright white teeth are defined by his tanned skin, I wonder if he has been on holiday?

We start the interview by sitting down and I can see he’s holding a couple of pages with many blank spaces - looks like there’s going to be a lot of questions thrown at me.

So I see you’ve been at college and have finished your A-levels with great results; so, what are your long-term goals?. The slight frown on his face is concerning me.

I don’t have any plans at the moment, I want to gain experience and work rather than waiting to figure it all out. This type of job isn’t something you can study for or hear much about and it sounds like something that keeps you nice and busy, interacting with a lot of people it’s only a small white lie.

Ideally, I’m looking for someone that will stay with us for at least twelve to twenty-four months, preferably the latter. Now I’ll run through your working times; you would do a minimum forty hours a week over five days and your two days off are not set. The day is split between two shifts, 7am to 3pm and 3pm to 11pm, each having certain tasks that need completing but we’ll come to those shortly.

Well this doesn’t sound too bad – yet there’s more to come.

Most of the time, your days off would be in the week, so you’ll be working most weekends as these are our busiest days with weddings and other large functions. Some days you could work a late shift and return the next day on an early shift; would this be a problem for you?

I don’t know, would it? No of course not, the hours and shifts are absolutely fine I feel like a clown, my smile must be reaching ear to ear, trying to persuade him I’m telling the truth. Some people don’t think the ‘younger generation’ are able to hold commitments, but I know I can.

I don’t want my appearance to put him off, to think that young women are more concerned about their looks over everything else. I’m not the most beautiful woman in the world, neither what I’d class as having a plain face. I have some nice features; big round blue eyes lined with a thin stroke of black eyeliner above and a softer thinner sweep of charcoal liner below and naturally long thick lashes I coat with mascara adding emphasise to them. My nose isn’t pretty, inherited from my mom but it’s not even as bad as I think it is. My lips are naturally full; no need for lip gloss, just a sweep of balm or matte lipstick looks best on me and just to the left is two light brown smallish moles which a lot of people comment as being ‘glamorous’.

My hair is something I love and hate; it’s naturally thick and grows quick but I hate how there’s not a lot you can do with it without it being hard work. I don’t like spending an enormous amount of time on my appearance, I have better things to be doing. What I love the most is the darkish chocolate brown colour, it can make any look work which is perfect when I have the time to deal with my naturally curly, bouncy hair; I don’t own curlers, only a pair of straighteners.

The chatting (or interrogation) doesn’t last much longer and then something I wasn’t expecting. Marco stands up and gestures towards to bar door come on I’ll show you round. I try to hide my grin and over eagerness.

The east side has small corridors, but it’s how I expected on this side. The walls are uneven, painted white with four disfigured lead windows running along the length of the corridor. It’s bright in here and the exposed well-maintained beams are able to showcase their beauty. On this floor I count eight rooms, each with the same dark wooden door and rectangular black number plaques with gold writing. The second floor is similar to the first; seven rooms with the same doors, the exposed beams and white uneven walls. The corridor isn’t just straight like downstairs, it bends and one section is big enough for two taupe coloured fabric highbacked chairs and a decent size side table which are positioned opposite an unused stone fireplace. The windows are smaller up here, probably half the size meaning it’s not as bright but the beauty is still there.

It’s a total apposite on the west stone side which has wider corridors that are half stone and the bottom half decorated with wood panelling. The ceilings are taller by far which is dramatized with huge stone framed windows. Most of the light from the corridors is from the stairs which has tall windows; from top to bottom there are three which I’d say are ten feet high by six feet wide. I wonder if these rooms are the upgraded ones? It seems grander on this half of the building.

As we’re walking around, I notice some rooms have names instead of numbers, and on our trip back downstairs Marco explains the reason behind it; they are all named after people associated with the building throughout its life. We dip in to one of the rooms on the way down, it’s a small function room; again, with huge stone framed windows, half wood panelled walls with the top half painted cream and a luxury patterned carpet.

There’s forty-eight rooms here, not a huge hotel Id say but shows how significant this place has been.

This old place has a lot of secrets which we know some of them but there’s still more to come out I feel. I think at some point when I feel comfortable that I have a full team then I will personally do more in depth research to find out more. I can see the determination in his eyes, the love for not just his job but this grand building.

That will be an amazing experience, finding all the history, the people who have entered this place and as you said, the secrets to go with it. I find a building alone without research can tell you a lot but it all depends on how well preserved it is.

Yes … I think you’re right Jessica. Do you like history?

Errm, not really.

Well it’s not everyone’s cup of tea I suppose What do you like?

What I was meant to say was I don’t like generic history, so I don’t enjoy everything. I like the type of history that you can experience and see now, not just reading about it. I nervously laugh, I’m sorry if that makes no sense, I don’t know how else to explain it. I feel the heat of embarrassment in my cheeks.

No, I do think I understand what you mean. Like for example looking in a room and imagining what it was used for and by whom.

Yes! Very similar to that, well exactly like that in some cases. I think we would get along very nicely if we get the chance to work together.

Excellent, well I have another area to show you. It isn’t like the rest of the hotel, it’s a very modern addition which I hope doesn’t ruin your imagination with the hotel’s history. Follow me this way. He leads us through a glass panel door in to the restaurant and towards a big heavy old oak door.

A lovely subtle white marquee with windows on three sides and luxury drapes has been added on the side of the hotel, providing enough space for generous sized weddings and parties – but it is a little chilly in here, even for early September. I hope they have the heating on; I wouldn’t want to spend thousands of pounds and be cold. The waiters and waitresses are currently setting up for something; the cutlery lined nearly perfectly, little plates, some of the tables decorated with pretty folded white crisp linen napkins and wine glasses.

Even though this is new and the textures are soft, it doesn’t take away the fact you are at a grand establishment with amazing gardens surrounding you. If anything, it is quite classy which does suit the old building as it would too have been a very classy establishment back in its day.

Fifty minutes after my arrival and my interview and wonderful tour is over, but my nerves are strangely increasing, I didn’t feel like this after my other thirteen interviews.

Me and Marco shake hands whilst standing here in the reception area with its two-storey high ceiling. He looks bright eyed and cheerful, seems like a good sign. Thank you for coming today at short notice. I will be in touch in a few days, probably Monday but more likely Tuesday. With the wedding on Saturday my focus will be on that but of course I do have a few more interviews today with ladies with more experience. Either way I will call you and let you know, again thank you.

Maybe I’m not as good at reading people as I thought, most of that sounded quite negative. That’s brilliant, thank you again for inviting me to your wonderful hotel, it genuinely has been a pleasure and an honour to be here. Speak with you soon.

I walk out of the creaking front door and in to the fresh air. I love the fresh air, it’s what I love the most about going for a walk with my little dog.

This is the job I want!

The building is pulling me in the more I see, but also the staff I met including Marco are lovely! This might not be what my mom wants me doing but this is the best job I’ve come across by far. I’m hoping that my fourteenth interview is the one, it may only be a receptionist role in a hotel but I may as well enjoy doing something until I can get in to University to study accounting.

I’m not the most intelligent person but I did well at school and college; it wasn’t my grades that stopped me going either or the need for a gap year as some of my peers did. Unfortunately, the course I wanted to do through my local college was full already, my fault as I should have decided sooner which route I wanted to go, this option looked great as I could get a job in a firm whilst learning. Since I had the news four months ago I couldn’t go down either route, I’ve now decided University will probably be the better option, so for now I need a job to keep me occupied, I can’t sit around doing nothing. It stresses me out. Job hunting twelve hours a day is starting to stress me out.

CHAPTER 2

I can’t believe I had to go through all of that,

Steven seems more concerned with the TV, you’ll find something soon, don’t worry. What do you want for dinner? He cares, I know he does, just not on the things I see more important.

I can feel a small amount of frustration creeping over me, for months he’s been saying that ‘something will come up’, which I know it will but when will that be? You’ve never been to the job centre to sign on have you? It’s horrible in there, most the people are ok but there’s some people that are odd. I shivered remembering some of the smells emitting off people like a plug-in air freshener gone wrong. I’m not feeling too hungry yet.

He knows something is up, that got his attention. You’re not hungry, not even for a pack of cookies with a cup of tea? a slight frown is growing on his face, clearly this is important.

I do love certain foods – my favourites are chocolate and cookies – and I never skip meals, I could never do that as my appetite has always been quite big ever since I can remember really. Just right now my stomach can’t face trying to eat, not when I keep remembering the smells. I know Ste is going to be focused on the TV for a while, it’s a good job I’ve got a book with me; this should relax me.

Steven and I have only been together for about 6 months, but we’ve known each other a few months longer than that. I remember the first day I met him, it was late spring, around May; my friend Amy planned to meet me at a park in our hometown, Abbey Cross. What I didn’t know was that she was bringing a friend with her, let alone a guy. She always did prefer making friends with boys, I suppose she feels more comfortable with them and not have to worry about being too feminine. I think this is why we have always been good friends, neither of us care much for others opinions of us or how we always look.

Ste didn’t really talk to me on that first meet, he was quite timid, nothing like most lads of that age. Most of them in Abbey Cross are quite loud or confident; not Steven. At first I didn’t think he liked me, not even as a person; as soon as I got home I text Amy and asked what was up with him or if I’d said something wrong. She replied almost immediately ‘He’s just a bit down at the moment, his girlfriend is taking him for a fool’.

I felt a bit better, I know I can be a little feisty at times but I hate upsetting anyone. I didn’t know how to respond to her at first,

‘Oh right OK, poor kid.’ That was the end of the conversation.

Two nights later I received a message online, it was Ste.

’Hi, sorry if I seemed off the other day, I was having one of them days’.

It seemed at the time that online chatting was becoming more popular than actually seeing or calling someone, but whatever people prefer is their choice I suppose.

That night I sent him my mobile number so we could text if I was out in the countryside whilst walking the dog. After 3 days I learnt a bit more of his situation with his girlfriend - if that’s what it really was – seems like she did her own thing, spent all his money and the sort to laugh at him behind his back whilst with her friends. I didn’t like her immediately, no one should be treated this way; talk about pulling someone’s spirit and self-confidence down.

Over a couple of weeks we met up, again at the park, the town centre and a pub. He was opening up more and more; how could she have treated him this way, I kept thinking ‘he’s so lovely and genuine’. I learnt that he lived with his mom, younger sister and his cat; worked in retail although he wasn’t happy about this and played football every week, mainly in goal.

I can remember being so nervous walking up to his house, I was going to meet his mom for the first time. I had no idea what she was like or how she would react to another girl meeting up with her son, especially as I never knew how much she knew about the ex-girlfriend.

Over these months, as far as I’m