by Julie Caplin
‘It’s a very traditional Swiss cake, but no one makes it quite like Amelie, that’s why so many of us come back time and time again. She’s full, you know, and she only started a year ago. I think it’s the café and kuchen hour every day.’
‘What, this?’ Mina waved a hand around the room. Everyone was talking and eating. A symphony of harmony, all cemented together with the glue of cake.
‘Yes, four o’clock. Complimentary cake. The only price is you have to stay and eat it around the fire, and talk to your neighbours.’
‘Sounds very civilised to me.’
‘Some of us have become resigned.’ He gave her a long-suffering grimace. ‘And now I find I can chat with my fellow men a little more easily, as long as I only have to do it once a day.’
Mina laughed. ‘I’m sure it’s good for you.’
‘Hmm,’ he muttered, ‘that’s exactly what Amelie said.’
‘How long have you been coming here?’
‘Since she opened the place last year. I was one of the naysayers. Led protests against it.’
Mina refrained from raising a ‘really’ eyebrow but she didn’t manage to keep her face expressionless.
‘I know. Now I come for cake at four a couple of times a week.’
‘Are you staying here?’
‘No, I live in the village, but we have a deal. I chop all her wood for her, and she feeds me cake once or twice a week. That’s Amelie for you. Turns foes into friends – and then chokes up their arteries to get her revenge.’ His weathered face, made golden by the sun, split into a goblin grin. ‘I’m also a wine merchant, so I put together her wine list. We’re good friends now.’
‘I’m Kurt,’ interrupted another man, leaning over and putting out his hand. ‘I’m here for the weekend with my wife and daughter. I’m posted in Geneva but we come from Canada. We visit once a month for the hiking and to get out of the city. And…’ He paused and held up his slice of cake. ‘For this, like Johannes was saying.’
‘Nice to meet you both.’ Mina was amused and charmed by their easy friendliness. She certainly couldn’t imagine this happening in a hotel in England. ‘I’m Mina.’ Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the door from the boot room open and some instinctive sixth sense made her turn and look at the three men crowding through, talking in loud, we’re-really-pleased-to-see-each-other type voices. ‘I’m here on holiday and I’m Amelie’s—’ The words died in her mouth as one of the men unwound a scarlet-red scarf, releasing a burst of familiar sun-streaked curls.
For a moment she thought she was imagining things, but when he turned around, the sight of him made her wonder if serendipity did exist after all.
Chapter Six
After a hot shower, which dispelled the travel fug, she put some fresh makeup on – hell, yes it was warpaint – and her favourite black trousers that made her legs look slimmer and longer than they really were (even Hannah cautiously agreed that she suffered from chunky thigh syndrome), and did good things to her bottom, which was disproportionately generous compared to other parts of her, but still cellulite-free. She added a soft, cashmere, pale pink jumper to the ensemble, knowing that it draped nicely over her boobs, enhancing her silhouette, and the colour brought out the blue of her eyes. Mina was more than happy with her body image; she was no stick insect, but she went in and out in all the right places, which counted more in her view, and she knew she was lucky with her striking colouring – the ice-white Nordic hair and the dark blue eyes which, with the right eye-shadow, looked almost indigo. She might have been a tiny bit vain about her hair, and spent a good half-hour blow-drying it into perfect shape.
Her pulse still hadn’t settled from the shock of seeing the three new arrivals and the man in the midst of them. Thankfully, they’d all seemed to know what they were doing. They’d taken keys from the young girl at the desk and went straight upstairs.
Shortly after that, she followed in their tracks as Amelie brought her up three flights of stairs to her room. She wondered, as Amelie chattered away, reminiscing about trips to England, what on earth she would say to him if they bumped into him on the way.
Her godmother had always taken her godmotherly duties very seriously, and had visited at least once a year for as long as Mina could remember.
Impulsively Mina hugged her at the top of the stairs. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been to visit since you’ve been here. It looks so beautiful.’
‘I’m glad you’re here now. Now, I hope you like your room, this is one of my favourites.’
Mina bit her lip as she followed Amelie down to the end of the corridor. ‘Are you sure? I thought I’d be staying with you in the staff quarters or something.’
Amelie’s eyes lit up with the naughty twinkle that Mina knew so well and was one of the many reasons why she adored her. ‘You might have been, but this way I was able to truthfully tell Frau Müller that we were fully booked. And why shouldn’t I give my goddaughter one of the best rooms in the house? If you were staying longer, then I might have given you the apartment next door to mine.’
‘Apartment?’
‘Yes, behind this building is another building, where there are two apartments. I spend most of my time here in the kitchen, but in the summer it is lovely. I have a big balcony and a large living room with the most wonderful views. I keep meaning to offer the apartment for Airbnb, but it’s just another thing to think about and administer, and to be honest, there is enough with the chalet.’
Amelie pushed open the door and Mina stepped inside. Outside the brilliant white of the snow highlighted the lines and shadows of the darkening valley. Lights twinkled in the distance and the mountains towered over the small village. The room, nestled into the apex of the roof, was warm and cosy. Soft light spilled from two bedside lamps on either side of the double bed cocooned in a pale blue, woollen blanket with a midnight-blue velvet throw across the end of the bed. Heavy curtains hung at either side of French windows that led out onto the balcony, and outside snow had drifted on one side of the balcony.
Mina, excited to see where she’d be staying for the next few weeks, strode across the room and straight over to the window looking out at the twilit sky and then back at the room. ‘This is so cosy. I can imagine being tucked up in here while there’s a snowstorm raging outside.’
Amelie laughed. ‘Well, you won’t have to imagine too hard. We get plenty of snow, although the forecast for this week is very good. Lots of sunshine. Now why don’t you get settled and then come down? We serve wine from 6 p.m. in the lounge and then dinner is served in the dining room at seven.’
‘But can’t I do anything to help? I came to stay with you. Can’t I help with dinner? Stay with you in the kitchen?’ Mina wasn’t keen to see Luke until she was good and ready.
‘There’ll be plenty of time for that later,’ said Amelie. ‘You’re my guest and this is my treat. And I’m also being a little bit selfish. I won’t be able to give you my undivided attention before dinner and this stops me from feeling guilty that I’m not looking after your properly.’
‘Don’t be silly. I don’t need to be looked after. I’m a big girl.’
‘Yes, but I’m a stubborn, not-old-yet woman who is set in her ways. Come down at six, everyone is very friendly.’ She gave Mina another of her mischievous grins. ‘Unfriendly people aren’t allowed to come back.’
Mina laughed, not quite sure whether Amelie was being serious. She wouldn’t have put it past her godmother to have a list of names with black marks beside them.
Once Amelie had left her to unpack, she sank down in the downy embrace of the thick duvet on the bed and rubbed her eyes, still not quite able to believe that Luke was here in the same place. What were the chances – and more importantly, what on earth did you say to a man that you thought you were never going to see again, whose kiss had not so much blown your socks off as almost made them burst into flame? Her response still shocked her. She was impulsive – everyone knew that – but even she didn’t go around
kissing perfect strangers. And it wouldn’t have been so bad if that kiss hadn’t been so utterly, impossibly, damn perfect.
Now, an hour later, feeling a fizz of nerves at what she might meet downstairs, she stepped out of her room and into the corridor at the exact same moment as the guest in the room next door. As she lifted her head to say a friendly hello, all her senses tingled in sudden awareness. Her eyes met Luke’s and it felt as if her heart had stopped. It was a huge consolation that he looked as shocked as she felt.
For a long electric moment, they simply stared at each other. She could almost feel the air around them crackle with static.
‘Mina,’ his voice came out as a croak.
‘Hello,’ she said but it came out as a whisper.
Then his face creased into a broad, delighted smile. ‘How lovely to see you again. Serendipity?’
‘It would certainly seem so.’
They both studied each other for a moment far longer than was polite, as if each of them knew that there was so much to say, but the enormity of it all had stolen their ability to speak.
Finally, and she saw the careful swallow before he spoke, Luke said, ‘Would you care to accompany me downstairs for a glass of wine?’ He bent his elbow in easy invitation and following his cue that they should pick up from where they’d left off, Mina slipped a hand into the crook of his arm. It seemed easier than unpicking the reality of them both ending up at the same place, and she didn’t want to spoil the magic.
‘That would be lovely.’
As her fingers closed around the textured cotton of his casual shirt, she could feel the warmth of his skin through the fabric. Her highly sensitive fingertips were aware of muscle, sinew, and bone beneath her light grasp, and with that awareness came a lightning strike of lust flashing through at the thought of his body. Hormones had a lot to answer for, she told herself sternly. They had no reason to get so carried away, even though she couldn’t deny that he’d scooped the lottery when they were handing out the good-looking genes.
He escorted her down the corridor towards the stairs, and even their steps seemed to fall in line with each other’s in perfect sync.
‘Beautiful place, isn’t it?’ His free hand stroked the smooth polished wood of the bannister as they took the stairs side-by-side.
‘Yes, it’s lovely.’ Amelie had clearly expended a lot of love on the place, it glowed with homeliness and welcome.
‘Have you stayed before?’
‘No, it’s my first time. My—’ she was about to explain that Amelie was her godmother, but he interrupted with a quick grin.
‘It won’t be your last. We’re all like homing pigeons here. Keep coming back. It’s like a home from home. How long are you here for? The weekend?’
‘No, two weeks.’
His smile turned thoughtful. ‘I usually just come for the weekend but this time I’m… I’m staying longer.’ The slight pause made her think, again, like on the train, that there was something more to his words.
‘Ah, Mina. You’ve met Luke, that’s lovely.’ Amelie greeted them at the bottom of the stairs, where she was carrying a tray of wine glasses into the lovely lounge area. There were a few other people there including the two men that had arrived with Luke.
‘Hi guys. This is Mina.’ He introduced her to the two men. ‘Bernhardt and Kristian. They’re here for the weekend.’
‘How do you know each other?’ she asked.
‘Meeting here,’ said Kristian, peering at her over his glasses with the solemnity of a shortsighted owl, which was at odds with his dapper appearance in a black rollneck jumper and black trousers, and highly polished black shoes. ‘I’m from Lausanne. I work for the European Court of Justice.’ The way that he lifted his chin ever so slightly made Mina think that she was supposed to be impressed with this.
‘That sounds very interesting. You must do important work.’ From the corner of her eye, she caught Bernhardt and Luke exchange quick glances.
Kristian eye’s lit up with the holy glint of the fanatic. ‘It is. We are at the heart of the legislative process. I am in a department where we draft policy for all the countries in the European Union.’ Mina quickly realised her error as he droned on for another five minutes. At the end of it she still had no idea what he did apart from ‘it was very important work’, which he’d emphasised in every other sentence. Maybe it was the language difference. Luckily Amelie came by.
‘Enough, Kristian. What have I told you about talking to young women? Mina, come meet Frank and Claudia.’ Despite his blush, Kristian looked pathetically grateful for Amelie’s words.
‘Sorry, I did it again. It’s nerves when I meet—’ he gave Mina an apologetic smile ‘—an attractive woman. My mind goes blank and I just talk. Was I very boring?’
‘No, no.’ She laughed at his clumsy but charming apology. No one should ever complain at being described as an attractive woman. ‘I’m afraid I’m a bit tired. I’ve been travelling all day.’ She gave him a gentle smile.
‘Amelie has been trying to instruct me. I don’t think I’m very good at talking to people. I expect most people think I’m quite dull.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Mina, whose heart cracked just a little at his defeated expression as she allowed herself to be herded across the room – Amelie would have made an excellent sheepdog – towards a middle-aged coupled who were standing looking out of the window. She’d never had a problem speaking to anyone in her life and couldn’t imagine what it was like to find it difficult. Wherever she went she made new friends and found it easy, like chatting to Uta and Luke on the train earlier today. She resolved she would try and help Kristian while she was here. It wasn’t as if she had any hard-and-fast plans. Now she was here, she was wondering what she was going to do for the whole two weeks on her own. It had sounded such a good idea when she was in England – going off on holiday for two weeks – but two weeks was a long time.
‘Frank, Claudia. Let me introduce you to my goddaughter, Mina, who’s here from England. You mentioned you were thinking about taking a trip to the Lake District.’
The couple were there from Basel for a week’s hiking. They were keen walkers and after a few minutes chatting, Mina had to concede with a bright laugh, ‘You know more about the Lake District than I do.’ Despite that they fell into easy conversation and Mina enjoyed Claudia’s dry sense of humour, but all the while she was conscious of Luke somewhere behind her. She was grateful she had her back to the rest of the room, the temptation to keep peeking at him would have been too much. It was weird how aware she was of him.
‘You’re going to have a lovely couple of weeks, although,’ Claudia’s cheeks dimpled, ‘Amelie will keep you busy. She doesn’t like to see anyone by themselves. Which is why we love to come here. It’s very sociable, which is nice when you’ve had a day out with nature. Tomorrow we are skiing to Oberwald, it’s about eleven kilometres.’
‘And then we will take the train back,’ said Frank with feeling. ‘Do you ski?’
‘I’ve done downhill,’ she said, omitting to mention that it was only on an indoor ski slope, ‘but I’ve never tried cross-country skiing. It looks a lot easier.’
Claudia snorted into her wine.
‘Or maybe not?’ Mina’s eyes twinkled. ‘That’s what Luke said. Have I got it wrong?’
‘I prefer it,’ said Claudia, ‘the boots are much more comfortable. But it’s like running. You need to be fit.’
Mina liked to consider herself quite fit. She’d run a 10K in the autumn with little training, but admittedly that had been a spur of the moment thing. A friend had signed up and invited Mina to join her and before she knew it, it was October and she hadn’t got around to doing any training apart from the odd 5K on the treadmill at the gym.
‘It’s less frenetic than downhill skiing,’ said Frank. ‘The slopes are always so crowded and you take your life in your hands with all the youngsters whizzing about like small, deadly missiles.’
‘What he means is, it
’s a bit safer for us oldies,’ said Claudia.
‘You’re not old,’ exclaimed Mina, although they were probably the same age as Miriam and Derek, who seemed to have been middle-aged since they were in their teens.
‘Well, we’re planning to retire very soon,’ said Frank, putting his arm around Claudia’s shoulder. ‘Which is why we come here so often. Our plan is to set up a cross-country ski-guide business and offer guided trips throughout Goms in the winter, and walking tours in the summer.’
‘I can’t wait,’ said Claudia, her eyes shining and touching Frank’s hand on her shoulder. ‘We’ve been thinking and planning it for the last two years, and in a few months we’ll be here. We’re buying a place in the next village down the valley, Gluringen, which is just darling. The house, I mean.’
‘Our daughter is going to do all the digital marketing for us,’ explained Frank. ‘And Amelie is going to let us use the chalet as a base.’
Claudia chipped in, ‘So we can meet clients here, or bring them for coffee and cake at the end of the day as part of the package.’
The two of them were almost vibrating with enthusiasm and passion. Mina was swept up in their excitement and felt a touch of envy. How amazing must it be to know exactly what you wanted to do, and how you were going to do it? To be so sure. They definitely weren’t ‘lost in the forest’ or ‘halfway across a bridge’.
‘It sounds as if you’ve got it all worked out.’
Claudia laughed. ‘Frank has the most detailed business plan known to man. I think he bored the poor bank manager into submission. We needed to take out a loan to buy the house here, and next month we’ll put ours on the market in Geneva. I can’t wait.’
Despite that pernicious nudge of envy, Mina could have talked to them all night. Their excitement was infectious – but Amelie had other ideas. A dinner bell was rung at six-thirty by one of the pretty young waitresses and Amelie began directing people to the table. While she didn’t lay down exactly where everyone should sit, she did steer people with decided intent. Definitely a sheepdog in another life, thought Mina, watching as she steered Kristian to sit with an older man and his daughter while Luke was teamed up with Claudia and Frank, and she found herself sitting next to Bernhardt.