‘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.
