by Gill Paul
Ebook Edition © February 2015 ISBN: 9780008136093
Version: 2015–01–23
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
A Brief Encounter
Keep Reading
About the Author
A Brief Encounter
‘Valentine’s Day, should … be … banned,’ Rachel Sanders puffed as she leaned her bum against the swinging doors of the restaurant of the hotel she worked in, to bring another Oyster Delight with complimentary champers (aka mussels posing as oysters and a free Prosecco) to table five. She hoped there wouldn’t be a repeat of last year when Chef had bought some dodgy crab for his Crab Hearts in a bed of lettuce salad. How the restaurant hadn’t been closed after that incident she had no idea.
It was manic as usual. People liked coming to the Three Keys for their Valentine’s evening out. Plus there was the usual steady business trade of salesmen who stopped over in the week. Some of them were glumly ordering Oyster Delight on their own, but most were in the upstairs bar, where she was actually meant to be, if the dodgy weather hadn’t kept half the staff off. She’d been on an early shift and meant to go home at 6 p.m. for her own Valentine’s evening with Jamie. But then it had started snowing and people began to ring in saying they were stuck on the ring road or unable to get out of their drives. Rachel was still hoping that she could get away before eight to salvage something of the evening. Particularly after the surprise news she’d found out that morning. Jamie was going to be thrilled. She just knew it. It was true they’d not been together that long – eight months last week – but when you knew, you knew, right?
Jamie had been cool about her being late home, ‘It’s only a day, Rache,’ he said, ‘we can celebrate any old time.’ Which was true of course, but it was their first Valentine’s Day together and Rachel’s first Valentine’s Day with an actual partner. She had so wanted it to be special. In truth, she was a little bit miffed he hadn’t been a bit more bothered. But he was a bloke, and maybe it wasn’t such a big deal for him.
Rachel served table five as the band struck up ‘Let’s Face the Music’. She hoped she and Jamie would be dancing later. Table five were looking at each other moodily in the way that only Valentine’s couples can. Oh dear. Another marriage on the rocks? It had been known to happen. The Three Keys was witness to many a relationship that foundered on Valentine’s Day. The staff who’d been there for years still talked in awe of the couple who walked in hand in hand, and left in separate taxis having drenched each other in red wine, as well as chucking crockery.
Rachel smiled to try and cheer the grumpy couple up, but they weren’t having it. She glanced at her watch. Nearly 8 p.m. With any luck if the kitchen calmed down a bit she’d be out of here in half an hour. Then she could go home, put on the dinner she’d prepared earlier, open the Prosecco (a tiny sip wouldn’t hurt would it?) and have the romantic evening with Jamie she’d been planning all day …
*
Daniel sat in the traffic jam drumming his fingers on the wheel. The sudden snow flurry had really buggered things up. And it was getting worse. When he turned onto this road only half an hour ago it had been relatively light, but now the windscreen wipers were going at it hammer and tongs and he was barely clearing the screen. Cars were beginning to slide all over the place and he’d travelled less than a mile. He texted Claire again:
Stuck in traffic. Snow horrendous. How is it with you?
Ouch bad here too. Dad worried you might not get down the lane.
Dad? Daniel frowned. Surely Claire couldn’t have invited her dad round on Valentine’s night, when he’d made it clear he was planning something special for them? He loved Claire dearly, but sometimes he found the presence of her family who lived nearby a little overwhelming. Claire could never see the problem, ‘It’s just because you’re not close to your family,’ she’d say, which was true. But Daniel worried it was more than that. He was a successful lawyer now, but he couldn’t help feeling that for Claire’s parents a black man who came from a London housing estate, wasn’t quite what they had in mind for their beloved daughter.
He shook his head. Never mind them. This was about him and Claire and their perfect evening. A perfect evening that looked now as if it might not happen. He felt in his jacket pocket for the ring. Reassuringly still there. After five years this was it. Claire was everything to him, and he to her. Tonight was the night he was going to prove it to her – after all the missed evenings and times when he’d let her down because of work, tonight was going to be their night. At least he hoped it still was. If this snow didn’t clear he’d never get there.
The travel reports on the radio were not reassuring. There were miles long tailbacks all the way to Great Denham, the village Claire lived in. Jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars littered the roads. No one had expected the snowstorm to be so severe, Daniel certainly hadn’t. His car wasn’t up to this, and reluctantly, when he saw flashing lights ahead and was flagged down by a copper to say that the road was blocked by two cars that had gone headlong into one another, he had to admit defeat.
‘You’re not going to make it down here for a couple of hours, at least,’ advised the policeman, ‘but there’s a pub back there, you could stop there for a bit and see how it goes.’
Daniel had spotted the pub as he’d crawled past it and vaguely thought of stopping at the time. There was clearly no point continuing, so reluctantly he did a three-point turn, which slid into six points, before setting off back the way he’d come. Disappointment settled in the pit of his stomach. If only he’d set off earlier that afternoon, and not got distracted by last minute phone calls as intended. If only he’d suggested to Claire she come up to London for the night. But a romantic proposal by the fire of her country cottage had seemed like a brilliant idea at the time …
Sighing, Daniel pulled into the driveway of the Three Keys, found a parking space and rang Claire. Frustratingly her phone was off, so he left a message, texted her and asked her to call him back. Then, looking at the snowstorm, which showed no signs of abating, he sighed and grabbed his bag from the back of the car. Somehow he doubted he’d be going anywhere before morning.
The reception area of the hotel looked welcoming at any rate. There was a wooden panelled desk, and wood fire burning in the grate. To the left he could see a dining room, full of couples. Great. A reminder of what he was missing. Music had begun to play – Frank Sinatra he thought or was it Nat King Cole’s version? He certainly wished he could face the music and dance with Claire right now, rather than being holed up here – wherever here was – he didn’t even know what town he was in.
There was no one on reception when he came in, but an old fashioned bell looked desperate to be rung, so Daniel duly obliged. A few minutes later, a rather flustered, pretty, dark-haired young woman with the most mesmerising green eyes, came out.
‘I’m so sorry to keep you waiting,’ she said, ‘we’re a bit understaffed tonight.’
She smiled such a friendly and welcoming smile, Daniel whose hackles had been rising, felt immediately appeased.
‘I imagine that’s a bit inconvenient,’ he said, ‘what with it being a busy night.’
‘It really is,’ said the woman, smiling again. It was a lovely smile, like sunshine on a spring day. ‘I was supposed to get off a couple of hours ago and now the weather’s taken a turn for the worse, I’m not sure I’m ever getting home tonight.’
‘Bummer,’ Daniel wasn’t quite sure why he was drawn to this complete stranger, considering his thoughts had been full of Claire as he walked through the door, but there was something empathetic and friendly about her. After the stress of the last couple of hours it was nice to see a welcoming face.
‘Isn’t it?’ she sighed. ‘I’m meant to be celebrating with my boyfriend as well.’
‘Me too, I mean with my girlfriend,’ said Daniel. ‘Still, maybe it will get better in a couple of hours.’
; ‘I don’t think so,’ the girl shook her head. ‘The weather reports are saying it’s set in for the night, so I hate to say it, you’re probably stuck.’
Daniel sighed again. This looked like it wasn’t going to be his evening. And Claire wouldn’t be happy with him he knew. She tried to be understanding about the way his work could suddenly turn up a crisis late in the day, but he knew it baffled her that he could never let people down. If he were more hard-hearted he’d be able to leave things till the next day, but he could never resist helping people in trouble. He knew he shouldn’t have taken that last phone call, Claire had been pretty cross when he’d rung earlier. God knows what kind of mood she’d be in when he did get there.
‘I was only planning to sit it out here till the worst of the storm passes,’ he said. ‘Do you think I should get a room?’
‘I tell you what,’ said the receptionist. ‘We’ve got a bar upstairs which is a bit quieter. I can get the kitchen to fix you something to eat, and you could wait it out, see if the weather improves. I’ll provisionally book you a room, just in case it doesn’t.’
‘Thank you,’ said Daniel. ‘I am anxious to get to my girlfriend’s if I can.’
As the receptionist filled in the necessary details, he turned his attention to his phone once again. Still no reply from Claire, so he tried ringing again. Answerphone. Damn. He left another message outlining his plans. ‘So sorry, Claire,’ he said. ‘I will do my best to get there tonight.’
‘Right, that’s all sorted,’ said the receptionist brightly. ‘Let me take you to the lift, and I’ll show you the way.’
‘That’s very kind,’ said Daniel.
‘Well I’m hoping to get off duty in a little while,’ she said. ‘And I need to go up to the staff room and get my stuff.’
As they went towards the lift, the lights flickered on and off.
‘Power surge?’ said Daniel.
‘Maybe,’ said the receptionist. ‘Possibly the storm causing problems.’
The lift doors closed, and she pressed a button for the third floor. The lift jerked upwards, then stopped. She frowned and pushed the button again. The lift moved for a few shuddering seconds, and stopped dead.
And then the lights went out.
*
‘Now what?’
Rachel was sweating buckets. Why did this have to happen now? All she wanted to do was get off shift and get home to Jamie. The very polite and friendly guest, whom she’d only offered to escort upstairs because she felt sorry for him was clearly already stressed, and a broken down lift wasn’t going to help his mood much.
‘Hang on,’ Rachel tried to prise the doors open, and managed to squeeze them open. ‘Oh.’
She looked up, and pointed. The lift had stopped just below the next floor. There wasn’t a hope in hell of them getting out through the gap.
She pressed the alarm instead, and after a few minutes the disembodied voice of one her colleagues came over the intercom.
‘Are you stuck?’
‘No, we’re just here for fun, Alec,’ said Rachel. ‘Any idea if we can get an engineer out?’
‘I’ll try,’ said Alec doubtfully, ‘but in this weather …’
‘What about the power?’ said Rachel.
‘We’re using the back-up generator,’ said Alec, ‘which …’
‘… doesn’t power the lifts, I know,’ said Rachel. ‘Ok, well, keep me posted.’
‘I’m so sorry about this,’ she said turning to her companion. ‘It looks like we might be here some time …’
*
‘Oh bugger,’ said Daniel, smiling to reassure the receptionist he wasn’t cross with her. It wasn’t her fault the lift had got broken. ‘This evening hasn’t turned out at all as planned.’
He rang Claire again, and amazingly got both a signal and an answer.
‘Where are you?’
The belligerent tone didn’t bode well.
‘Haven’t you got my messages?’ said Daniel.
‘What messages?’
‘I’ve been texting, and left two messages, didn’t you get them?’ he said. ‘I’m holed up in a pub in–?’ he looked blankly at the receptionist—
‘Little Halliday.’ She said helpfully.
‘Little Halliday,’ he said, ‘and now I’m stuck in a lift. The power’s failed, we can’t get an engineer, and I have no idea how long we’ll be.’
‘Great,’ said Claire, ‘just great. And there I’ve been defending you to Dad, and you let me down again.’
‘Claire, that’s not fair–’ protested Daniel, but she’d cut him off.
‘Oh, dear, she’s not happy?’ said the receptionist.
‘You could say that,’ admitted Daniel. ‘How about you? Did you get through?’
He was aware that his companion had been texting while he was on the phone.
‘Sort of,’ she looked puzzled. ‘I texted him and he said not to worry, we’ll celebrate tomorrow.’
‘Well, at least he’s not cross,’ said Daniel. ‘Claire’s furious with me.’
‘Do you mind if I sit down?’ said the receptionist, ‘If we’re going to be here a while it seems silly to stand.’
‘Good idea,’ said Daniel.
They sat in silence for five minutes, till she said, ‘My name’s Rachel, by the way.’
‘Daniel,’ said Daniel, and they rather formally shook hands.
‘I didn’t imagine Valentine’s Day would be like this,’ Rachel said with a sigh.
‘Me neither,’ said Daniel.
‘I had it all planned out.’ Rachel was looking quite dreamy. She really was exceptionally pretty. The thought popped into Daniel’s mind and then he suppressed it. Think about Claire. Think about Claire.
‘We were going to have prawns to start, followed by beef bourguignon, and ending with profiteroles. I’d got some Prosecco in the fridge, which I planned to open when he got in.’
‘Sounds lovely,’ said Daniel.
‘It was going to be perfect,’ said Rachel she looked wistful. ‘But Jamie’s just texted to say not to worry, he’s going out with the boys and he’ll see me tomorrow.’
‘At least he’s not cross with you,’ said Daniel.
‘That is such a blokey reaction!’ said Rachel. ‘I want him to be as cross and upset about it as me. It’s our first Valentine’s together. It’s like he doesn’t care.’
‘He probably does care,’ said Daniel, ‘but he’s just being pragmatic.’
‘Maybe,’ said Rachel. ‘Is your girlfriend very cross?’
‘Yup,’ said Daniel. ‘This will count in the long list of my perceived failings in the boyfriend department. Usually caused by my working too late and standing her up.’
‘Do you do that often?’
‘Not deliberately,’ said Daniel. ‘It’s just I’m a lawyer, and I work with a lot of families in difficulties. It’s not the sort of job you can walk away from.’
‘I don’t suppose it is,’ said Rachel. ‘What does Claire do?’
‘Oh some stupid PR job her dad got her in the city. It seems to involve a lot of lunch. And tweeting. She’s always on social media when we’re together. It’s infuriating.’
Rachel looked him up and down.
‘If you don’t mind my saying,’ she said, ‘you’re not painting an absolutely glowing picture of her.’
‘Ouch,’ said Daniel. ‘It’s fine, I’m just grouchy because the evening is ruined, and it’s my fault. And because Claire’s dad has just been round bending her ear about what a lousy boyfriend I am and how she should probably ditch me.’
‘No!’ said Rachel. ‘Why?’
‘Why do you think?’ Daniel shrugged, indicating his skin.
Rachel looked at him – ‘What really? In this day and age?’
‘Yup, in this day and age,’ said Daniel. ‘I come from an inner city estate, Claire from a wealthy one. Claire’s dad is a cigar smoking, UKIP voting stereotype. Bigotry’s his middle name.’
‘Well
, I am sorry,’ said Rachel, ‘but if Claire really loves you she’ll stand up for you, won’t she?’
‘Of course she will,’ said Daniel, but he didn’t look very convinced.
They sat in silence for a little while longer. Rachel was thinking how sweet Daniel was. He seemed funny and kind, and she wondered why on earth Claire would let her dad’s bigotry sway her in any way, shape or form.
She was also wishing that Jamie had showed just a smidgeon of annoyance that their evening had been ruined. He seemed positively carefree about it. She tried to text him again, but there was no signal.
‘Great minds think alike,’ said Daniel with a grin. ‘But I can’t seem to get a signal either.’
‘Damn, damn and double damn,’ said Rachel. ‘No offence, Daniel, but this wasn’t how I planned to spend Valentine’s.’
‘None taken,’ said Daniel. ‘It wasn’t part of my game plan either.’
‘How long have you known Claire?’ said Rachel, curiously.
‘Five years, now,’ said Daniel.
‘Isn’t it about time you made an honest woman of her?’ teased Rachel.
‘As it happens, I was going to, tonight,’ said Daniel. He felt in his pocket, and produced a diamond engagement ring.
‘That is beautiful,’ said Rachel. ‘She’s going to love it.’
‘It’s not too ostentatious is it?’ Daniel said anxiously.
‘It’s fine,’ said Rachel, putting her hand on his arm to reassure him. ‘Any girl would be thrilled with it.’
‘I hope I haven’t blown it,’ Daniel looked gloomy. ‘She was so cross with me at Christmas because I couldn’t make her family’s annual Boxing Day bash.’
‘Work again?’ said Rachel.
‘Actually, no,’ Daniel looked a bit sheepish. ‘I blamed work, but I couldn’t face it. Claire’s gorgeous, but her family are a nightmare.’
