Page 27

A pile of snow had gathered in a drift by the big back door, and Lottie had to kick it out of the way to get the door open. She needed both hands to heave the heavy, sodden oak door ajar. The hallway was in darkness. They always left the lights on through the night, so it was clear the power cut had reached the main building.

Lottie switched on the torch on her phone and carefully made her way to her office, abandoning her coat and hat there. She found a couple of torches in her desk drawer. She stuffed one into her pocket and switched on the other. Her next stop was the kitchen. She knew Anya would be there preparing breakfast, come hell or high water.

“Morning,” said Anya, alone in the food preparation area and surrounded by the battery-powered lanterns that were kept ready for power cuts.

“Morning,” said Lottie. “Glad you managed to get here safely this morning. I’m figuring you left the bike at home.”

“You figured correctly,” chuckled Anya through the dim lighting. “I put it in the garage last night when I saw the forecast. I walked over at about five this morning. It took quite a while, but it was pretty beautiful from what I could see through the gloom.”

“As always in these kinds of situations, I’m grateful for the gas hobs and ovens,” said Lottie as she surveyed the room, thankful for the lamplight on Anya’s behalf. Cooking in the dark was not a practical thing to do.

“You and me both. Anne-Marie tried the generator this morning, but no luck. We’re on our own. Now all I need is some staff.” Anya indicated the empty kitchen. “They’re on their way in. We should be fine for breakfast.”

“I’m sure we will.” Lottie hesitated. “Um, seeing as how there isn’t anyone else here, might you have a minute to talk?” She flashed a smile at her friend.

“And here was I thinking we were already talking.” Anya winked. “Is it about that journalist?”

Lottie let out a soft laugh. “Yes. Yes it is.”

“OK, but on one condition,” said Anya. She passed Lottie a loaf of crusty bread and a large bread knife. “I need this sliced.”

Lottie smiled, grabbed a bread board and made a start. On days like today, Anya needed all the help she could get.

Anya put her head on one side expectantly. “So?”

“Well, she sort of kissed me.” Lottie looked at the floor.

Anya stirred the vat of porridge that was bubbling away on the hob. “Sort of?”

“OK.” Lottie looked up. “She completely kissed me.”

“I’m guessing it wasn’t just a peck on the cheek, either, given it has required a chat and your face is the colour of one of those heritage tomatoes.” Anya grinned. She loved a bit of gossip. “Well, good for her. She could do with loosening up a bit, based on what I’ve seen and what you’ve told me.”

“Yeah. I think we can blame Freya and Zack for that. They befriended her at the pub,” said Lottie.

“Ah, drink was taken,” Anya nodded sagely. “I see. And what do they think about their old aunty kissing a TV personality?”

“God, they don’t know,” gasped Lottie. “It was just the two of us, walking home to the hotel.”

“Oh lovely,” said Anya, as she took a taste of the porridge with a teaspoon. “A Christmas tipple, a dark night, snowflakes falling…”

“More like a howling gale and sleet getting in round the edges.” Lottie fiddled with the ring she always wore on her middle finger. “But it was rather festive,” she admitted.

“And then what happened?” Anya waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Then Anne-Marie appeared,” said Lottie in a low voice, aware that her boss was probably nearby. “She needed help with something.”

“Oh, hang on, I bumped into your woman looking a bit flustered in the porch on my way out yesterday,” said Anya, popping a lid onto the porridge and gathering some apples to chop.

“Mmm,” replied Lottie, avoiding Anya’s gaze as she focused on cutting another slice of bread. She didn’t want to admit that Anya had interrupted them and she’d been behind the door.

“I see. And now you’re left with thoughts of what could have been? How she could have pressed you up against that desk of yours in the office…” Anya trailed off.

“Perhaps not that,” said Lottie. “I’m not sure what would have happened, to be honest. I don’t think she’s been with a woman before, or, at least, if she has, she’s kept it under wraps.”

“Curiouser and curiouser.” Anya placed the sliced apples into a container. A clatter from outside the door heralded the first of the kitchen staff to arrive. “Well,” she continued, quietly, “she won’t be going anywhere any time soon with this weather. You have time to work it out.”

Once everything was ready for breakfast and Anya had more help, Lottie retreated to her office. She looked at her mobile. No signal. Without electricity there was no Wi-Fi, and without Wi-Fi, the phone signal was atrocious. She picked up the landline on her desk and called Danny’s house number, leaving a message on his answerphone. The generator was notoriously temperamental, but she wanted to get it going if she could.