Page 19 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

‘If you were to accept our offer,’ suggested Stephanie, ‘we really would need you to start as soon as possible. Is there anyone you could call on who could take over in the shop until it does close?’

‘We wouldn’t expect you to abandon the shop,’ clarified Max. ‘But of course, time is of the essence for us.’

My brain screeched in every direction. I couldn’t just leave Christmas Crackers in the lurch. But then, I wouldn’t have to. Mum and Orla were both very reliable and Vivian kept insisting she would be around for the time being, if we needed her.

My head snapped round, drinking in the empty log cabins and their obvious potential.

With lots of imagination, they could be transformed from the cheap and loud affairs they were at the moment, into warm and luxurious havens. But it would be such a change from what I was currently doing… ‘It’s a lot to take in,’ I confessed. ‘I don’t know…’

‘You don’t have to give us an answer straight away,’ said Max. ‘Go away and take a day or two to think about it.’

I managed a shaky, excited smile. ‘Thank you. I will.’ I glanced down at my watch. ‘I’m very sorry, but I really should be heading back to the shop now. I said to Orla I would be back before two.’

* * *

We made our way back through the woods, arriving out in front of the lemon glow of Rowan Moore House.

Mum’s Polo was waiting for me. Instead of parking further down the access road, she was stationed not far from the house. She gave Stephanie and Max a smile and an awkward little wave.

After I’d got in the car, we trundled away, back towards Craig Brae.

‘I thought they’d kidnapped you,’ joked Mum, flashing me sidelong looks from the passenger side. ‘I was about to ask inside the house if anyone had seen you.’

I smiled. ‘Do they look like kidnappers, Mum?’

‘No, but you tell me what kidnappers are supposed to look like.’ She kept glancing across at me as she drove. ‘So?’ pushed Mum. ‘Come on. Out with it, lass. What happened? What’s the job?’

I laced and unlaced my gloved fingers in my lap. I still felt rather stunned by it all. ‘It’s not what I expected it to be.’

Mum waited and when I didn’t say anything, she let out an impatient sigh. ‘Och, stop teasing me, young lady, and just tell me!’

And so I did, regaling her about the log cabins in the woods, their potential and the awful, gawdy interiors they had each been given. Then I went on to explain that Stephanie and Max wanted to recruit me in a project manager role, to turn their business into something successful, with a Christmas launch.

‘Well,’ gasped Mum when I’d finished, as she eased the car round the roundabout and back into Craig Brae. ‘Goodness me!’

I glanced out of the passenger side window at the balls of sheep scattered in the fields. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I groaned. ‘They’ve offered me double what I’m earning right now, but I’m not sure I could do it.’

‘Whyever not?’

I fiddled with my gloves, before whipping them off and dumping them in my bag. My confidence was being pushed and pulled. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before and on such a huge scale.’

‘No, you haven’t,’ agreed Mum, taking me by surprise. ‘But what you have done is promote and push a business that has become a nationally recognised brand. And you turned that shop into a gorgeous little haven. Your displays are admired and you know it!’

I pulled a face and laughed, despite my inner turmoil

‘Plus, all those wonderful competitions you ran and the social media promotions you have done.’ Mum’s pink lips pursed. ‘You came up with all those ideas on your own. I bet there are a lot of people out there in retail management who wouldn’t have had the first inkling what to do.’

We eased up outside Christmas Crackers and Mum turned off the ignition. ‘At the end of the day, lovey, it’s your decision.’

I leant over and planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘I will give their job offer serious thought. Thanks Mum.’

‘Ok. You do that. Now, I’m just going to the bank and then I will be in to start my shift. Is that ok, boss?’

As I reached the shop door and waved through the window at Orla, I noticed a few eager locals bombing up the pavement, eager to get in, to stock up on their Christmas decorations.

I had a lot to think about.

Chapter Six