Robbie returned from fixing the aerial and he and Effie righted and tethered the Christmas tree. They tried the television but the reduced number of channels did not impress the guests. Shortly afterwards Dolly was telling Aaron elaborate stories of long-fought battles while Kacey put baubles on the tree, but only as high as she could reach, and Effie swept up the last of the mess that was created when the tree had fallen over.
Effie hoped Liv’s plan was going to work. Effie had sorted out the bath for Shanie. There was little else to do when you were stranded for the day and had no internet connection, although she did seem to be enjoying Liv’s book. Effie wasn’t a reader. She didn’t feel she needed to be. She had enough stories going on in her head. There were all the very many tales that her granny had shared with her plus all of those she’d been told by others in the village. On top of that she also liked to make up stories. She might see someone waiting at the bus stop and that would make her wonder who they were and where they were going and why. Her brain would then fill in the blanks and a little story would play out in her mind. So she was never bored.
Effie went to sit in her favourite spot to admire the Christmas tree. Despite being a little crushed and losing most of its baubles it was still impressive. The smell was amazing and she loved trees so what could be better? Apart from the decorations there was something else missing. She studied the tree. Presents! She had an idea. A few minutes later Effie was settled by the fire with a pile of wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and sticky tape.
Robbie stood and watched Effie for a moment, his brow furrowed. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked.
‘Why do you have all these boxes of cereal, cushions and packs of toilet rolls?’
‘I’m wrapping them up,’ she said trying to reach the tape while she held the Christmas paper in place around one of the sofa cushions.
‘For who?’
‘Christmas,’ she said pulling off far more tape than she needed and watching it curl around her fingers and stick itself together.
Robbie took the tape from her and without asking cut her a good length and held the paper in place while she secured it. ‘When you say Christmas… Do you mean Father Christmas or someone else?’ he asked.
‘Not Father Christmas silly. We leave a mince pie and a whisky out for him. No, these are pretend presents for under the tree. To make it look more Christmassy.’
‘I see.’ Robbie looked relieved. He scanned the tree. ‘Back in a mo,’ he said and he disappeared, leaving Effie to her next parcel.
‘Right,’ said Robbie coming back into the room a couple of minutes later carrying a small stepladder. ‘Shall we finish decorating the tree?’ he asked.
‘Ooh yeah,’ said Effie.
‘These people who aren’t health and safety aware are a danger to themselves,’ he whispered and she nodded her agreement. She liked that Robbie was trusting her to do it properly.
Effie passed him the baubles and directed him to where to put them, and very soon it was transformed from average woodland fir to stunning Christmas tree. Robbie came down the ladder and flicked the switch on the lights.
‘Aww that makes me feel so Christmassy,’ she said.
‘I liked it better when we did it,’ said Kacey looking at her husband. There was no pleasing some folk.
*
Liv was trying to persuade Fraser to do something when they came face to face with Shanie who stopped and appraised them both. ‘This is why you’re not interested.’ She wiggled a finger in front of Liv but she was staring at Fraser. What was Liv missing?
‘Er, no,’ said Fraser. ‘We’re… um just discussing something.’ He sounded cagey.
‘Yeah, right. Likely story,’ said Shanie. ‘I was told there was a surprise for me in the bathroom. I was hoping it was going to be you.’ Fraser looked quite embarrassed. ‘Oh well, can’t blame a girl for dreaming.’ And off she went upstairs.
‘What’s that all about?’ asked Liv.
‘Nothing. Why do you want to look in the tower?’ asked Fraser.
‘Can I just look and then I’ll tell you?’ Liv didn’t want to declare her ideas too soon because if the tower wasn’t what she hoped then her idea wouldn’t work and it would be another opportunity for Fraser to deride her.
‘Maybe later because I—’
‘Sorry can we do it now? Please. It’s to do with turning our guests’ miserable moments into memorable ones.’ She looked hopefully at him.
‘Those people cause their own miserable moments. They like being like that. You won’t get them to suddenly be happy.’
‘But I can try. Only I need to see in the tower so…’
Fraser gave her an indulgent smile. ‘And then you’ll leave me in peace?’
‘I’ll try. Promise.’ Liv offered her hand for him to shake.
‘Fine. Come on.’ He grabbed a rusting set of keys from a hook behind reception and went up the stairs two at a time so Liv had to run to keep up with him. At the end of a long corridor he unlocked a door that was exactly like the panelling around it, so almost hidden. He pushed the door open and it creaked in protest as it revealed a dusty spiral staircase. ‘There you go,’ he said standing back.
‘You not coming up?’ asked Liv leaning forward and peering into the darkness.
‘No.’
Liv shrugged and went through the door, but she had a thought so she reversed back. ‘Is there a reason you’re not coming up?’ He pushed out his bottom lip and shook his head. ‘Spiders? Ghosts? Oh it’s not flaming Janet again is it?’ she asked.
‘No, I just don’t like it up there, that’s all. Are you going up or what? Because I’ve things to be getting on with.’
‘Fine.’ Liv pulled back her shoulders more times than was necessary as she readied herself for whatever was up there. Tentatively she took to the stairs. A few steps up she realised Fraser was watching her closely. ‘You sure it’s not haunted?’
‘No idea.’
‘Great, that’s helpful.’
‘There’s a light switch on the right when you get to the top.’
‘Thank you,’ she said as she followed the stairs round until she came to an archway. She felt around for the switch and flicked it on. The light blinked a couple of times before coming fully on and revealing a small circular room sprinkled with cobwebs and dust. There were a couple of boxes and an old easel but otherwise it was empty. Liv went to the window and rubbed at the grimy pane to reveal a stunning view over the loch. ‘You should come up; it’s really—’ She spun around to find Fraser was standing right behind her. ‘Argh! Shit! Don’t creep up on people like that.’ Her heart was hammering in her chest.
‘I didn’t creep anywhere. I can’t with size-twelve feet.’ They both looked at his boots.
‘You gave me a fright.’
‘Have you seen enough?’ He turned to go.
‘I have. Here, take this.’ She passed him one of the boxes. ‘I’ve a job for you while I get this place spick and span.’
Fraser took the box and mumbled as he went back downstairs. ‘Because what I need is more stuff to do,’ he muttered to himself. But Liv didn’t care; her idea was coming together.
An hour later Liv was fit to burst with excitement. With some help from Effie they had cleaned the little tower room until it sparkled and smelled of cleaning products. The windows were once again transparent and the wooden floor dust-free. There was now a small table with two chairs in the tiny space and a candle flickered. ‘It needs something else,’ said Liv. ‘I know, music!’ She dashed downstairs and without thinking ran out into the yard. The bite of the wind took her breath away but she wasn’t going back. She crossed her arms to hug her body and she dashed across the yard to Ginger’s stable where the cow was having a snooze. ‘Don’t mind me,’ she said fumbling with the lock. Ginger gave her a wide-eyed look as she came into the stable. ‘I’m just borrowing this,’ said Liv grabbing the radio and exiting. ‘Thanks!’ she called as she locked the stable door. She got back inside the hotel as quickly as she could.
‘How’s that?’ asked Fraser as she went through the kitchen. Liv turned to see a three-tier cake stand filled with delicate finger sandwiches, scones and cakes.
‘Blimey, that’s amazing,’ she said. She’d asked him if he could rustle something up for an afternoon tea but she’d not been expecting the full works. ‘It’s absolutely perfect. Thank you.’
Fraser went a bit coy. ‘It’s nothing. And it was your good idea. Any fool can make a sandwich.’
‘True,’ she said and his head shot up. She pointed at him. ‘Gotcha. You’re very good at what you do. A real talent.’ Credit where it was due and all that, she thought.
‘Thanks. It’s what I love to do so that makes it easy.’
‘I love chocolate but there aren’t many jobs in that. I know because I’ve looked,’ said Liv.
‘I did a course in chocolate making once. It’s quite tricky but if you’re interested I could maybe—’
‘Quick!’ yelled Effie. ‘They’re coming!’
Liv darted off to the tower room and put the radio out of the way as it wasn’t the prettiest object, but the lilting classical music was just right to finish the scene. She stood back when Aaron and Kacey arrived at the top of the winding staircase, looking a little bewildered.
‘Aww this is adorable,’ said Kacey taking in the space.
‘Wow, look at that view,’ said Aaron.
‘Take a seat,’ said Liv. ‘Tea will be served shortly.’
Fraser and Effie arrived with the cake stand and teapot and the three of them had to do an uncoordinated manoeuvre to let Liv out and get themselves in without overcrowding the couple. ‘Enjoy,’ said Effie and they all left.
‘It’s a nice thing to do but I’m not sure I see the point,’ muttered Fraser. But he was interrupted by giggles from above them.
‘Aww,’ said Effie. ‘Now they’re having a lovely honeymoon.’
Liv smiled at him. ‘See, happy customers.’
‘I guess I’ll have to concede that one.’ He continued downstairs and Liv felt like she’d received the best praise ever. Was Fraser Douglas starting to mellow?
Robbie met them at the bottom of the stairs. ‘What’s happening?’
‘We’ve created a magic moment for the honeymoon couple,’ said Effie. ‘They’re having afternoon tea like a princess in the tower.’
‘Aren’t princesses usually imprisoned in towers?’ asked Robbie.
‘Not this one,’ said Liv.
‘Ooh,’ said Robbie. ‘Shall I serenade them with my bagpipes?’
‘No,’ the others all chorused.
Effie and Robbie went off and Liv cornered Fraser at the bottom of the spiral staircase. ‘Could we make some fudge to put on pillows instead of a chocolate,’ she asked. It seemed a good opportunity if she was finally in favour.
‘Fudge? No way,’ he snapped. ‘In Scotland we make Scottish tablet.’ The words making his accent seem even stronger.
‘Tablet – that sounds so much nicer.’ She tilted her head at him.
‘Well it is nicer. I guess the name could be better but that’s not my doing.’
‘So can we make Scotch tablet then?’ asked Liv.
‘Scottish,’ corrected Fraser. ‘I suppose so. I’ll need to check—’ He stopped talking because they were both distracted by the sounds coming from above. Aaron and Kacey were kissing. Fraser pulled a face. Liv shrugged her shoulders and grinned. She was pleased that Aaron and Kacey were doing what they should be on honeymoon. She and Fraser smiled at each other as they listened. Then the noises changed. Fraser frowned. Liv listened. The sound of groans of pleasure had Fraser and Liv almost barging each other out of the way in their haste to get away. They shot through the doorway and Liv quietly shut the door to both their relief. Fraser started to laugh. ‘I think they’re enjoying that too much.’
‘No such thing,’ said Liv as they went off to the kitchen.
Fraser jumped up to sit on the worktop. ‘I thought we weren’t allowed to do that,’ said Liv putting her hands on her hips.
‘You’re not allowed. It’s my kitchen so I can do what I like.’
‘Not fair.’
‘Did you want to learn how to make Scottish tablet or not?’
‘Learn? I was hoping you’d be making it. You’re the chef.’
‘But I know how to make it. And I’ll need to get on with dinner. Your call.’
‘Fine. What do I need?’ Liv grabbed an apron and tried not to look petulant as she put it on.
‘Granulated sugar, whole milk, a tin of condensed milk and butter.’
‘Right.’ Liv turned in a couple of circles while she worked out where to go first.
‘And scales, a bowl, spoon, saucepan and a deep baking tray.’
‘Shall I put the oven on?’
Fraser laughed. ‘No, you don’t bake it.’
‘If you’re going to laugh at me.’ Liv fixed him with a hard stare. It was impossible not to take in his striking features: those eyes, strong jawline and sturdy physique.
He held up his palms as if surrendering. ‘Sorry. No offence meant. Ready?’
‘Obviously not,’ said Liv and she began amassing all the things he’d listed. She soon had everything laid out and she felt a bit like one of those TV chefs who has all the ingredients set out for them, although her pile looked a lot less orderly.
He explained what to do at each step and she melted the butter, sugar and milk together before adding the condensed milk and watched it vigilantly while it boiled. She feared it was going to come over the top of the pan at one stage but Fraser’s calming tones meant she held her nerve.
Before she knew it, it was in a tray cooling and she was helping Fraser with that evening’s far less demanding meal of asparagus and mint risotto, although Fraser was making a big thing about how adding the stock slowly was key to the end result. She was in charge of making a blackberry version of Eton mess, which was thankfully straightforward. And Effie was making a warm winter vegetable salad for the starter under Fraser’s guidance.
They served the starters but Dolly called them back. ‘Look at this,’ she whispered and she pushed the door into the dining room open a fraction. The guests were all chatting and they sounded jolly. The group of listeners all sighed in unison.
While the guests were eating their desserts, Fraser cut the tablet into cubes and Liv wrapped a few in greaseproof paper and tied them with some raffia they’d found in one of the boxes in the tower. The little parcels were rustic but cute. Liv and Effie delivered the packages to pillows while the guests chatted amiably over coffees and whisky in the library, and Liv felt like it was a job well done. The television was working again but there was nothing on worth watching. Instead Dolly and Effie told some tales by the fireside as everyone listened intently and Liv tried hard not to nod off. Kacey did some terribly fake yawns and stretches before announcing she was worn out and virtually dragged Aaron from the room, but it was the cue everyone needed to turn in for the night.
Liv was tired as she flicked on the bedroom light. There on her pillow was another little package of tablet and it made her smile to see it. She assumed Effie had left it there but when she picked it up she could see there was writing on the paper which read – It’s definitely nicer than fudge! It didn’t take a genius to work out who had done that. Liv pulled her curtains closed for the last time. Tomorrow, all being well, she could leave. But not until she’d told Fraser Douglas what she thought of him. The question was after three days in his company what did she think? That was something she would have to sleep on.
She opened the small, wrapped package of Scottish tablet, popped a piece in her mouth and savoured the crumbly sweetness. ‘Not bad, Fraser. Not bad.’