“Mandy, why don’t you take a seat and—”
“You look exhausted, Evie. You’re the one who should be taking a seat, you poor lamb. I still can’t believe you’re all grown up and in charge.”
How was she supposed to exert authority when the staff treated her like a favourite pet?
“I’m fine, really. But, Mandy, I need to speak to you about Mrs Dodds.”
“Don’t you worry your head about that. No one likes to be yelled at and I was upset by the things she said, that’s true, but I’m over it. I’m not one to hold grudges. I’m sure she didn’t mean to shout at me the way she did. She obviously woke up in a bad mood.”
Evie opened her mouth to say that Mrs Dodds had woken up surrounded by feathers which might have explained her less than sunny disposition, but Mandy was still talking.
“When did you last eat something, Evie? You’re always working, that’s your problem. Morning, noon and night you’re in this office slogging away. And you’re so serious. You used to laugh all the time. You’ve always been a smiler. I remember your dad pushing you through the village when you weretwo years old and you were waving your chubby little legs and beaming at everyone. Every trip took him twice as long because we all wanted to cuddle you.”
“I’m just trying to do my job, and—”
“You need to be easier on yourself,” Mandy said, “or you’ll go the same way as Gerald, God bless him.”
Evie was fond of Gerald, who was kind and avuncular and had ultimately carried the responsibility for the success or failure of the hotel. But he’d let things slide and it wasn’t until he’d collapsed on that horrible day a couple of months ago that she’d realised how bad things were.
In a way this whole situation was his fault, she thought, although she would never dare to voice that opinion out loud.
She’d panicked and sent an email to head office, directed to the guy in charge of UK operations. When she’d had no reply, she’d sent another one, assuming her first email must have gone into spam.
When there had been no reply to that either, she’d left a voicemail and then given up.
Perhaps they didn’t want to help. Perhaps they’d already sold the hotel and hadn’t got round to telling the staff.
She sat up straighter. There was no evidence for any of the grim thoughts she was having. She was overthinking things.
“I hope I’m in better health than Gerald,” she said, “and I’m younger. You don’t need to worry.”
“But it’s a slippery slope. We all think you’ve been working too hard. So hard you’ve forgotten what day it is.”
Evie stared at her. “What day is it?”
But Mandy already had her head out of the door and was gesturing to whoever was outside.
A moment later her office was full of people. At a rough count it seemed like the entire staff, including Edward, her dad,who had been working as concierge for three decades. He was the longest-serving member of staff and definitely the most knowledgeable.
Emotion filled her and she felt her throat thicken.
If the hotel was sold, her dad would lose his job and that would be terrible. This place was like a home to him, and the team a family.
None of them seemed to have any idea how bad things were. They’d trusted Gerald completely.
And now they were all smiling as they produced a large cake with eight candles blazing.
“Today is the eighth anniversary of the day you started working at the hotel,” Mandy said, “I mean full-time—I’m not counting all the hours you put in here as a teenager. You’re so busy holding the fort you’ve forgotten. And look at you! Sitting in the boss’s chair. We can’t believe our little Evie is all grown up.”
“Well, I—thanks.” The fact that she was sitting in the boss’s chair didn’t seem to have any impact on the way they saw her.
“We made your favourite cake, Evie. Chocolate sponge with chocolate icing, topped with chocolate buttons. I remember making something similar for your fifth birthday. Most of it ended up on your face. I have a photo somewhere. I should try and find it.”
“Please don’t.” Evie stood up and blew out the candles before they could set off the smoke alarm. “How thoughtful of you all. Thank you. Er—who is on reception while you’re all in here?”
“No one, but if someone comes, they can wait for five minutes.”
“It’s important to greet guests immediately when they arrive, and—”
