Page 22 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

I sat up straighter in bed. ‘Really? You are sure?’

‘Of course, I am, otherwise I wouldn’t have suggested it.’ Her voice took on a more assertive edge. ‘We know how the shop works. You just give us a list of what needs doing and when – retail accounts to be closed, the electricity company to be notified, that sort of thing – and we can get on to it.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Totally. It will give me something else to focus on for a bit and you know the personal issues Orla has had to deal with of late. I’m sure she will feel the same.’

Orla had got divorced a couple of months ago and, like Mum, was relieved to have Christmas Crackers to focus on to break up the monotony.

Optimism bloomed inside me. ‘But what about Eternal Flame? I mean, that would be great but you really should speak to Susie first, Mum.’

‘Ah. I’m well ahead of you there. I rang her last night. I had a feeling this situation might come up. You looked so bewitched by those lodges when you got back in the car, I thought you would want to take the job with the Styleses.’

Mum then went on to explain that Susie had been fine about it. ‘She said as long as I can do the odd shift mentoring the two new girls, then there’s no problem.’

I turned over everything in my head. ‘Blimey, Mum. You don’t hang around, do you?’

‘Well, it’s best to just get on with things.’

Thoughts raced through my head, as though I were strapped to a roundabout and couldn’t jump off.

‘Will you please stop trying to take on responsibility for everything, Lottie? I know how capable and hard-working you are, but you aren’t alone with this. There are people who are only too willing to help.’ Her voice softened. ‘Christmas is lovely but it can also be a very lonely time of the year when you’ve lost someone or you end up by yourself. I’ll be happy to keep busy.’

‘I know, Mum.’ I tried to let everything settle in my head. It still seemed like such a monumental task and the Styleses livelihood was riding on the lodges being a success. ‘Please pass on my grateful thanks to Susie for being so understanding, but…’

Mum interrupted me. ‘I know you want this job with the Styleses, Lottie. But you’re worried you won’t do it justice. You have to believe in yourself more.’ She sighed into my ear. ‘I know how Christmas Crackers works. I’ve been behind that counter more than a few times with you, you know.’ I could hear her smile down the line.

‘You know I trust you, Mum.’ My voice cracked. ‘I’m just worried that I’ll find this role is too big for me and I’ll let the Styleses down. Managing a shop like Christmas Crackers is a completely different prospect to project managing four luxury cabins.’ I let out a sigh. ‘I just wish Dad were here.’ All the emotion, the dream about my father, the fate of the shop… it was all pushing down on me.

‘I wish he was still here too, sweetheart. But you know what? I think he still is. Your dream proved that.’

I bit back a sob.

‘In your dream,’ said Mum, ‘what did Dad advise you to do?’

I waggled my feet under the bed covers and tried to compose myself. ‘He told me to go for it. If I didn’t, I would regret it.’

Now it was the turn of Mum’s voice to splinter. ‘He was always such a positive, optimistic man.’

More images of those sweet log cabins popped back into my head.

‘So,’ announced Mum down the phone. ‘What’s it to be then? What is your heart telling you do to?’

A surge of adrenalin took me by surprise. I clutched my phone tighter to my ear. Dad’s words reverberated in my mind. ‘Don’t regret the things you have done. Regret the things you haven’t done.’

I imagined myself stationed behind the reception desk at the local hotel, handing out maps and tour guides to holiday-makers, receiving complaints from guests that their morning newspaper didn’t arrive or that there was no soap in the shower. I could do that. Or I could accept the generous job offer from Stephanie and Max and turn my love of Christmas and my interior design degree into something that could be profitable, not only for them, but for Craig Brae.

They trusted me. They admired what I had achieved with Christmas Crackers. They were giving me free rein to start from scratch with the cabins and relaunch their business. And they had offered me double my salary. I shouldn’t forget that.

A whirlwind of rising excitement blew through me, almost taking my breath away. I wasn’t going to punish myself or procrastinate any longer by debating all of this. I had to believe in myself more. If I didn’t take their job offer, I could end up regretting it. I banished any shred of lingering doubt. ‘I’m going to ring Stephanie and Max now,’ I announced to Mum, setting my shoulders. ‘And tell them I accept.’

Chapter Seven

‘That’s wonderful news! I’m delighted,’ enthused Max down the phone. ‘Stephanie will be thrilled too. She’s on the phone to Andrew and Dominic, who are our two construction supremos at the moment. They focus on structural changes and tasks like painting and making minor repairs.’ I could hear his delight at me accepting the job. ‘But I can assure you that you will be completely in charge of and overseeing the interior design and decoration of the cabins.’

I couldn’t help but smile at his infectious enthusiasm. My stomach rippled with a combination of nerves and excitement. ‘Well, thank you so much for the job offer. I’m really looking forward to it.’

‘Well, we’re looking forward to working with you.’