The Little Swiss Ski Chalet

by Julie Caplin

  ‘Kristian, why don’t you come sit here,’ said Mina indicating the seat next to Jane. ‘And I’ll get you a fork for that cake.’

  ‘Jane, would you like some cake?’

  ‘Er… um, yes. Not so big.’ She looked at Kristian’s towering slice.

  ‘Would you like some of mine?’ With puppy like enthusiasm, he shoved his plate towards her and almost stuffed the cake up her nose. She reared back looking slightly terrified.

  ‘I’ll get you a slice,’ interrupted Mina, wondering how on earth Amelie made her interventions look so smooth. ‘Just sit, Kristian.’ He looked grateful to be told what to do.

  Now that the room was full, and dessert forks had been handed out, it was easier to guide people into seats and offer more coffee, and soon the room was humming with quiet chatter, and everyone had someone to talk to.

  ‘Well done,’ murmured Luke, coming up behind her. Immediately she was grateful for his presence, even though everything appeared to be running smoothly.

  ‘Thank you. Amelie makes it look so easy, you’re not even aware she’s doing it. She must have eyes in the back of her head.’

  ‘She also knows her guests well.’

  ‘You would know. I see you’ve stayed here ten times.’

  ‘What can I say? I’m a creature of habit.’

  ‘Are you?’ That didn’t quite fit with her image of him at all.

  He shrugged in answer and forked up a large mouthful of cake. She glanced over at Dave and gave him a thumbs up. As she crossed to speak to him, his wife gave her a brilliant, twinkly-eyed smile which was a long way from the fretful, naggy creature of last week.

  ‘I think this cake is a triumph,’ said Mina. ‘Especially the cherry filling. I don’t suppose you could make up another batch? I’ve got an idea for a meringue dish, and this would be perfect.’

  ‘No problem. If you don’t mind, darling.’ He turned to his wife. ‘I can join you in the afternoon.’

  ‘Not at all. It’s quite nice in the morning. I can go at my own pace. I don’t have to try and keep up with you out on the tracks all the time,’ she confessed almost shyly.

  ‘I didn’t know that,’ said Dave, looking horrified.

  She lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. ‘I didn’t like to… and it made me a bit resentful. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Darling, you should have said.’

  ‘You know me.’ She shared a rueful smile with Mina. ‘I like to be in charge, but I don’t like to admit that I can’t do anything, or keep up with you.’

  He nudged her and kissed her on her neck. ‘You daft thing. I just enjoy being out there. I don’t care how far we go, or how fast.’ He put his plate down on the big coffee table and slipped his hand into hers.

  Mina smiled. This might just be one of Amelie’s success stories. Although she wasn’t so sure about Kristian. Jane had a pained expression on her face, and when Mina crossed to speak to them, she could understand why. Kristian was delivering a lengthy lecture about a point of law that was enough to bore a retired judge, let alone a complete layperson.

  ‘Jane,’ said Mina. ‘You’ve been here before. What are your plans for the weekend?’

  ‘We want to ski, downhill, but we’re not sure the best place to go?’

  ‘Kristian, you went downhill skiing last weekend. Where did you go? That sounded as if it had plenty of runs and ski lifts.’

  ‘Ah, yes.’ Kristian’s eyes filled with gratitude as he gave himself a smart self-deprecating slap on the top of the head as if to say, Why didn’t I think of that? Bless him, he really was quite hopeless.

  Satisfied that she’d done her best to oil the social wheels, Mina returned to the kitchen with a pile of plates and empty coffee cups and started loading the dishwasher, already working out her plan of action for the rest of the evening, and mentally trying to work out where she would seat everyone for dinner. Now she understood how important it was to get it right. Perhaps she’d give Jane a respite and seat her next to Frank, who was very easy to talk to. No wonder everyone loved coming here, Amelie looked after every aspect of their stay. All Mina had to do was follow suit.

  Chapter Twenty

  Given the sparsity of Amelie’s apartment, Mina decided to put the bunch of yellow roses on the table in the kitchen, although getting them had been quite a palaver, as she’d had to ask Johannes to pick them up in Brig for her.

  Mina had become obsessed with the thought of opening her chocolate shop. What she’d stock. The cakes she’d make. How she’d merchandise things. Not that she’d discussed her plans with anyone, they just seemed to keep growing in her head.

  At last, in the early afternoon, Johannes ushered Amelie into the kitchen. ‘I’ll just check the fire,’ he said to no one in particular, and to Mina’s delight pecked Amelie quickly on the cheek like a sparrow at a breadcrumb before hurrying away. Mina raised her eyebrows and Amelie blushed like a schoolgirl on prom night. Rather than say anything, although she was dying to tease her, Mina enfolded her godmother into a gentle hug. ‘It’s so good to have you back,’ she said.

  ‘It’s so good to be back.’ Amelie squeezed her tight. ‘I’ve missed you.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t get to the hospital. There was, well, you know.’ Mina waved a feeble hand around the kitchen. ‘But you look so well,’ she said, amazed by the rosy glow on her godmother’s cheeks.

  ‘I feel wonderful. All that extra blood pumping to my heart. No wonder I felt tired all the time.’ Amelie’s mouth in her pixie face was pursed. ‘I’m supposed to rest, but I do feel so well.’

  Mina gave her a reproving look and Amelie held her hands up in quick surrender. ‘Don’t worry, I will do as I’m told…’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘As much as I can.’

  ‘I’m not above tying you to a chair,’ warned Mina. ‘You gave us a terrible scare.’ Now was not the time to sit her godmother down and tell her just how scary it had been, and how she really did need to slow down and organise things to make her life easier. Mina suddenly felt the weight of responsibility and that the tables at been well and truly turned. Amelie had been her mentor, supporter, and fairy godmother for so long. Now Mina felt that she was the one that should be looking out for Amelie.

  ‘Would you like a coffee?’

  ‘I would love one. The stuff in the hospital was awful. I kept sneaking out to the machine in the canteen, although it was still dreadful.’

  ‘Here you go’ she said, handing a cup to Amelie, who sipped at it with an appreciative sigh.

  Amelie picked up her phone. ‘The grapevine has been busy. I think I must have had a message from everyone in the village. It’s going to take me all day to respond. It’s so good to be home.

  ‘So how have things been? How are Dave and Sarah?’

  Mina began to laugh. ‘So you’re not worried whether your guests have been fed and watered properly, you just want to know whether your marriage guidance tactics have been working.’

  ‘Well, of course. Then you can tell me everything else.’

  ‘You’ll be pleased to hear that I think Sarah has turned a corner and is suddenly a lot more appreciative of her husband’s talents… and not just in the kitchen.’

  ‘Really?’ Amelie’s eyes widened in delighted surprise. ‘You have done well.’

  ‘And I think Kristian and Jane are getting on like the proverbial house on fire, although perhaps we’re talking a small barbeque in the garden at the moment rather than full conflagration.’

  ‘Excellent.’ Amelie gave a regal nod.

  ‘You’re going to have to explain your secret code notes.’

  Amelie’s cheeks dimpled. ‘You mean you haven’t worked them out.’

  ‘I know that you count how many times they’ve stayed before, and that you have some sort of traffic light system for guests. Dave and Sarah were on their last chance? What does BH mean or BVH.’

  ‘Braucht Hilfe. Needs help. Bracht viel Hilfe. Needs a lot of help.’

  Mina laughed. ‘Poor old K
ristian, although I do think he’s getting better.’

  ‘Good. With every guest you have to look behind the façade. People put them up to hide their own anxieties. You only have to look at Luke. On the surface, he’s ready for anything and everything, adventurous, happy go lucky. Inside he’s weighing things up. He’s not nearly as impulsive as he first seems.’

  ‘No, I’ve realised that,’ agreed Mina not wanting to give too much away. He’d been noticeably absent today even before he disappeared mid-afternoon telling her he was taking the Suitcase Train to be shipped. She felt a little hurt that he hadn’t sought her out, especially when they’d spent the previous night together again – although now she thought about it, he had been a little preoccupied. But then she’d been so tired, she’d flaked out as soon as she lay down, and he’d been gone when she’d woken this morning. If she were honest, that piqued her a little, but common sense asserted itself: there was probably a good reason. After all, she herself had to hit the ground running.

  Once she and Amelie had finished coffee, she rolled up her sleeves. ‘You sit there while I start making dinner.’

  ‘Yes, boss.’ Amelie put her elbows on table and rested her chin in her hands, looking to all the world completely obedient.

  ‘I’ve cancelled my flight home on Monday.’

  Amelie thankfully didn’t object, instead she said, ‘Thank you, liebling.’

  ‘I’ll stay for… well, I’d like to talk to you about that.’

  With a heavy sigh, Amelie pulled a face. ‘I’m going to have to make a few changes around here for the next few weeks.’

  ‘And beyond that. This is all too much for one person.’ Mina sat down again and cupped her hands around her coffee. ‘Or at least, the way you’re running it is.’

  Amelie’s face crumpled. ‘But the personal touch is so important. I wanted it to be different. I want people to feel like it’s a home from home. I don’t want to change things.’ She held up her hand. ‘And before you say anything: I know, I need to. Johannes has already given me a lecture on the way home… a kind lecture, but a lecture all the same. He thinks I need to employ more staff… and I know I will have to, but getting the right person is so important. At least I have the spare apartment, so I can offer free board and lodgings, because I certainly can’t afford to pay very much, and even then…’ She lifted her shoulders. ‘Johannes is talking about helping, and says he has an idea, but I don’t want it to be like that. Whatever happens between us, I don’t want to be beholden to him. I want to be equal. This is my business.’ A faint sheen in her eyes tugged at Mina’s heart.

  Mina took a deep breath, now or never. ‘I have a suggestion.’

  ‘I know you’re going to offer to stay and help, but you have a job.’

  ‘When I came here, I told you I needed some time out, some time to figure out what I wanted to do.’ She paused.

  ‘And?’

  ‘I know what I want to do. I want to set up a chocolate shop, with a café. I’ve already asked Johannes if he would employ me to run a retail outlet for him. We haven’t had a chance to talk details.’

  ‘Go on.’ Amelie leaned back in her chair, her eyes bright with interest.

  ‘The barn, below here. That could be turned into a café and shop…’

  Amelie jumped up and clapped her hands. ‘And you could live in the other apartment. That would be wonderful.’

  Mina laughed. ‘But I haven’t even—’

  ‘I’ve been wanting to do something with the barn. It would be perfect.’ Amelie fidgeted in her seat and looked around the kitchen before leaning back and pulling open a drawer of the dresser to find a notepad and pen.

  ‘I was thinking I could offer lunches and cake.’ Mina didn’t need to worry about being tentative or offending Amelie like Luke had suggested. ‘Maybe make the cakes for you to save you a job.’

  ‘Even better. Oh, this is such a good idea.’ She flicked open the notepad. ‘Now, what do we need to do?’

  ‘But…’ said Mina having expected to have to do some persuading.

  ‘But…’ Amelie teased. ‘What are we waiting for?’

  By the end of the afternoon they had a long list of action points. Mina still had to argue the toss about paying rent on the apartment and helping more in the chalet, but for the most part they had a plan.

  ‘And I will pay for the renovation work to the barn,’ insisted Mina. ‘I’ll be able to rent my flat out in Manchester and pay you rent here.’

  ‘We’ll worry about that later, but paying for the renovations would be a big help, because I don’t have much capital. That’s why I’ve left it for the time being.’

  Mina was pleased that she’d managed to win that concession, although she wasn’t happy about Amelie insisting she had the apartment rent-free. ‘But you’ll be working and making a difference,’ argued Amelie. ‘And if you keep on fighting me on this,’ she clutched her chest, ‘it might cause me more stress.’

  ‘Not fair,’ growled Mina.

  ‘I know, but there have to be some benefits to having a heart attack.’ Amelie shot her an unrepentant grin. ‘It will be lovely to have the company, and you’ll have plenty of entertainment and friends. Bernhardt, Kristian, and Luke are all regular visitors, and Frank and Claudia will be moving here soon. In fact, their tour groups could meet for breakfast or coffee at the café.’

  ‘The benefits just keep piling up,’ said Mina with a happy smile, not quite able to believe that her idea was working out so easily. Surely there had to be some pitfalls, but when Johannes, by far the more astute businessman, joined them later, he was in full agreement and offered to call his cousin, who had done the work on his barn, to come and give a quote the very next day. He even talked about her becoming an apprentice chocolate-maker as well.

  ‘Now I need to get on top of dinner,’ said Mina. ‘And I think you need to rest.’ She thought of Amelie’s bare apartment but Johannes must have had the same idea.

  ‘Why don’t you come to my house?’ asked Johannes. ‘The wood burner is glowing nicely and you can lay on one of the sofas.’

  ‘That would be lovely,’ agreed Amelie. ‘I’m too tired to argue, and I think if I tried the two of you would gang up on me.’

  ‘We just want to look after you,’ said Mina, giving her a quick hug.

  ‘Thank you, I appreciate it, and you looking after my guests.’

  Johannes, hovering like a broody hen, saw Amelie out of the back door and took her arm once they were down the stairs. Mina watched him guide her back to his house, grateful that he would be looking after her. Despite his gruff exterior, inside lurked an extremely kind man. For a moment she felt a brief pang. Only two days ago she felt as if she’d fallen through a rainbow and the pot of gold had landed at her feet. Now she wasn’t sure where she stood. Since she’d talked with so much enthusiasm in the barn, Luke had been withdrawing. Had she frightened him off by announcing she was staying in Switzerland? She refused to believe that, but she did need to speak to him, especially now that her plans were firming up so quickly.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  She hadn’t seen Luke since breakfast. With the two girls working and Amelie ‘overseeing’ things, Dave setting to work on a chocolate fudge cake, and Johannes hovering in the background, the kitchen was a little crowded, so when he’d bobbed his head in and ducked it out again, Mina hadn’t blamed him one bit – but that was an hour ago. The snow was still falling steadily and many of the guests had gravitated to the lounge and the pile of board games that Amelie had put out.

  Leaving everyone in the kitchen, she’d been able to set to on her chambermaiding duties – her least favourite part of her new job She rapped soundly on Luke’s door, as she did at every guest’s door. It still worried her that she might barge in on one of them naked, or see something she really didn’t want to see. She waited for a second but there was no answer, and she was just about to insert the master key in the lock when it opened.

  ‘Hi, housekeeping,’
said Mina with a teasing grin. ‘Here to service your room.’

  ‘Ah, yes. Come in.’ Luke frowned and looked preoccupied.

  ‘Sorry, have I interrupted? Are you working?’ She looked towards the table. It was bare, and all the modelling materials were piled into a new vintage suitcase on the floor. A sense of foreboding closed around her heart, like a cold hand. ‘Shall I come back later?’

  ‘No.’ He sighed. ‘I need to talk to you.’ He took her hand and led her to the end of the bed, and sat, pulling her down next to him. ‘I hear your plans are gathering pace.’

  ‘Yes. I can’t believe it. Everything is falling into place and it’s…’ She lifted her shoulders, still not able to believe everything was coming together so perfectly.

  ‘That’s fantastic, Mina. I’m so pleased for you.’

  She frowned, her pleasure checked by the odd note of formality.

  ‘You sound like a teacher, or my boss, or a colleague. As if it’s a platitude or something.’

  He lifted a hand and rubbed at his forehead. ‘Sorry, I am genuinely pleased. I know what this means to you. In some ways it makes things easier.’ He lifted the same hand to her face. ‘You’re fairly sparkling with it. I thought you crackled with life and energy the first time I saw you, but now… you’re positively incandescent.’ His smile, filled with sadness, tugged at her heart.

  ‘What’s wrong, Luke?’ she asked, putting a hand on his thigh.

  ‘I’ve been offered a new posting.’

  ‘And it’s not in Switzerland?’ She looked up into his eyes, which shone with apology and regret. The sense of foreboding deepened.

  ‘No, it’s not in Switzerland.’

  ‘Ah,’ she said, as inside everything began to unravel.

  ‘Ah, indeed.’

  They held each other’s gaze. She swallowed. It was worse this time. A thousand times worse. It hurt even more when you knew that the other person was going to hurt too. Knowing they cared as much as you.