Either way, she would be keeping as much distance from him as possible.
Her stomach growled and she picked up a fork, intending to sample the fish pie.
Five minutes later she’d eaten the entire thing and was staring at an empty bowl. Evie was right. It was incredible.
She ate the apple, then put the tray outside her room.
She could hear the muffled sounds of conversation and laughter coming from the pub far beneath her, but there was no sign of Tristan.
The familiar feeling of loneliness crept over her and for a moment she wished she’d accepted Evie’s invitation to join her for something to eat.
But it was too late for regrets, so she did what she always did when she felt alone. She took refuge in her work.
Closing the door to her room, she walked back to the little desk, picked up her phone and braced herself to call her mother.
8
Evie
The room was a mess, thanks to the out-of-control partying of a couple celebrating a milestone birthday. Every surface was covered in half-empty wine glasses, bottles and half-eaten plates of food. Someone had spilled a bottle of red wine on the duvet, there was broken glass on the carpet, and the place was littered with party poppers and burst balloons.
“I don’t believe this.” Evie stared at it, appalled. “Is this the way they behave in their own homes?”
Abby glanced around her. “It must have been quite a party. Does this happen often?”
“Hardly ever. We’ve been lucky that way. Some guests are untidier than others, but we have little actual damage.” Evie grabbed a lone balloon that had wrapped itself around a light fitting.
This was the last thing they needed.
It was part of running a hotel, of course, but it was bad timing.She’d already had one of the housekeeping staff call in sick that morning, so things were stretched.
It was Abby’s first day and she’d offered to help wherever she was needed but it didn’t seem fair to start her with this job.
“The Grangers are due to check in here this afternoon.” Mandy surveyed the scene with weary acceptance as Abby went to check the bathroom. “We’re going to have to move them to another room. There’s no way we’ll be able to turn this room around in time, especially with Tilda off sick. We’re going to need to have the carpet professionally cleaned for a start. This is why I prefer the rooms in the stable wing. They have those beautiful slate floors.”
Evie retrieved a cushion from the floor. She’d forgotten about the Grangers. “They requested this room specifically because it’s their anniversary and they stayed here on their honeymoon.” She sighed. “I’ll call them myself and break the bad news.”
“Wow, they clearly partied in here, too.” Abby’s voice came from the bathroom. “Whatisthat on the mirror? Is it lipstick? Was the woman kissing her own reflection or something? What time are the Grangers arriving?”
“Check-in is from four o’clock. Why?”
“Because I’m sure we can rescue the room by then.” Abby walked back into the bedroom, all business. “I worked in a hotel in San Diego a couple of years ago where two of us managed to turn around a totally trashed room in six hours, and that included having the bathroom door replaced. And this isn’t as bad. There doesn’t seem to be any physical damage, apart from the bedcover and that mark on the carpet. No holes in woodwork or broken drawers.”
She bent to make a closer examination of the stained carpet. “This will come out. If not, we can put a rug over it.” She stood up. “Where do you think we should start, Mandy?”
Mandy stared at her. “Me?”
“You’re the expert so I’ll follow your lead but I’m sure that between us we can turn this around in time for the Grangers to check in and have their special stay, aren’t you?”
Mandy glanced around the room, looking doubtful. “Well—”
“It obviously means such a lot to them. It would be great to make this happen so that they can have the special celebration they’re hoping for, don’t you think? I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. Where shall we start?”
Evie was mute with admiration. Whenever she’d had to ask staff members to go above and beyond she usually found herself prostrating herself.Would you mind awfully?...orI’d be massively grateful if you could...
She virtually begged, and most of the time it didn’t work.
Abby hadn’t given Mandy a choice. And that approach seemed to be working.
