‘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.
