Page 3 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
‘Flu bug.’ Effie grimaced. ‘Poor lass has been knocked off her feet for over two weeks, and it’s been impossible to get anyone else to help. It’s the wrong time of year, apparently.’ She wafted a hand. ‘Everyone’s already been hired for the festive season.’ The edges of her eyes crinkled which made her look even more tired.‘I’m on my own at the moment aside from our new hire, Douglas Wilson. He’s wonderful.’ Her expression turned dreamy. ‘But the man’s inclined to lose focus.’ She pointed to the discarded vacuum cleaner, spray bottles and sheets.
‘I was trying to find those earlier. He told me he’d hoover the ground floor but then he started worrying about the heating system. He’s trying to—’ She made air quotes with her fingers. ‘“Optimise” it now.’ Her mouth pinched, although there was a brightness in her eyes. ‘He used to be an engineer. Worked for Rolls Royce. Since he retired, he’s spent a lot of time fixing things.’ The words were delivered with an air of awe that told Mairi the older woman was impressed.
Effie glanced towards the reception desk when the phone started ringing again. ‘I’d better get that. I’ve heard on the village grapevine that a mystery guest is due to visit one of the lodges in the area. I’m hoping they’re not going to come here.’ She shuddered. ‘I know the woman who’s coming has a reputation for being critical. One hotel she reviewed last year lost business after she stayed.’ She headed across the room and was almost there when the phone fell silent.
‘Oh dear!’ Effie exclaimed. ‘If that was her, I can only imagine what she’d write.’ She sounded exhausted and suddenly Mairi wanted to wrap her in a hug. ‘You were going to tell me why you’re here?’ The older woman turned back, her headgear sparkling.
‘I was thinking of booking in,’ Mairi blurted, making a snap decision. She had been intending to arrive and speak to Jed, then she’d been expecting to leave just as swiftly, but…‘If I’m staying, maybe I could help out until Rhona is well again?’ The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. But she could hardly leave Effie floundering.
The older woman’s eyebrows kissed and her face brightened. ‘But what about your writing –aren’t you working on a book,hennie?’ The familiar nickname rolled off the older woman’s tongue again, making Mairi’s insides ache.
How had she managed to stay away from Jed’s wonderful aunt for so many months?
‘I can write anywhere,’ Mairi admitted. She’d have to. She was very behind on her deadline so had no choice. ‘I brought a suitcase with my laptop and some clothes just in case I decided to stop. If you need me to help out, I’m happy to stay for a few days.’
She didn’t add that she hadn’t intended to remain anywhere in the vicinity of the Cairngorm Mountains. Being around Jed was going to hurt too much. She’d only packed a suitcase so she could take a few days out on her own to write somewhere quiet after they’d spoken.
She knew she was going to be upset and would need time to put herself back together before facing the real world again. But it was clear from Jed’s behaviour on the mountain that he didn’t want to see or speak to her at all.
At least this way, she could help Effie with Holly Berry Lodge – and while she was doing that, Jed wouldn’t be able to avoid her for long…
2
JED
Victory View News
Jed Murray — a humiliating end to a lustrous career
Jed Murray stood at the far top edge of Devil’s Run and gazed into oblivion, ignoring the sickly churn in his stomach and the snowflakes as they whooshed past his visor like tiny dementors riding the wind. The gradient of the ski run was over forty-five per cent. Technically it went beyond demanding and was definitely not for the faint-hearted.
He knew the run included a sequence of narrow pathways with icy patches that were unpredictable. There were at least a dozen moguls, some hidden and some that would creep up and rip your breath from your throat. The ungroomed sections delivered an all-round emotional rollercoaster, and in some cases an out-of-body experience too.
Eleven months ago, Jed would have relished the challenge. He’d have picked up speed and jumped into the void, shutting his eyes as he sailed into the full force of the wind cheering, fist pumping and yelling his earthiest battle cry.
But all he could do now was stand motionless, gripping his gloved hands into fists, trying to ignore the shudders that had hijacked his body.
He’d lost his nerve. Two seconds on the wrong slope, on the wrong day, at the wrong speed and he’d taken a tumble. Distracted, he’d let himself lose focus for one foolish moment and suddenly he’d been falling, tumbling, catapulting, twisting and crashing. Trashing his entire life, not to mention his anterior cruciate ligament and collarbone.
In a single moment, Jed’s career as a professional alpine skier had been obliterated. His coach and agent had left him when he hadn’t been able to return – and he’d lost all his sponsorship deals. Everything he’d spent a lifetime building had been gone.
But he was going to get it all back. He was going to rebuild – like RoboCop getting a new arm, or the Tin Man gaining a heart – he was preparing for a glorious professional return and was finally ready to kick ass.
And he was going to do it in less than two weeks – on Boxing Day to be precise – when he’d ski and win the annual Aberlinnie Winter Wonder Ski Championships. Right here. He was. Jed swallowed looking down. He just needed to…
He had to move. He took in a long shaky breath and narrowed his eyes as he gazed into the vortex trying to imagine his future, trying to visualise himself at the bottom, fist pumping the air, enjoying that moment when his whole body trembled with satisfaction.
He moved one ski forward an inch and found himself scooting backwards like a terrified toddler meeting Father Christmas for the first time.
‘Eejit,’ he admonished as the ski caught on something on the ground and his foot unclipped, making him fall.
‘Feck,’ he cursed into the wilderness, laying on the cold, bumpy surface and staring up into the dark swirl of clouds. There was a blizzard coming. He could smell it in the air, a warning of danger, of disruption and change.
His eyes caught on a cloud as it sailed past and for a moment, he thought he saw Mairi’s face in the angle of one of its soft edges. Imagined he could see her tumbling auburn hair and the perfect bow of her top lip. Then his mind drifted to the woman he’d seen at the top edge of the slope earlier – of the tumble she’d taken – and his whole body softened like it always did when he thought about Mairi.
He should have gone to help, but something about her had reminded him of?—
No!He closed his eyes again, willing the cloud to disappear along with his memories. He would not think about her anymore. Mairi was in his past. It was the only way.
