Page 3 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

Chapter Two

I couldn’t process what she was saying.

No. This was a mistake. She wasn’t making any sense.

Christmas Crackers was going to be mine next year. Everything had been agreed. It was only a matter of time. Vivian was going to retire and disappear into the Californian sunset with Ridley, and I was buying the business.

I shot forward in the office chair. ‘Sorry. I don’t follow. What about the lease?’

Vivian was struggling to speak. She repeated herself. ‘The landlord has refused to renew it for Christmas Crackers.’

My mouth opened and closed several times. ‘Why? But… but I was going to buy the business and take it over for five years, remember?’ My brain felt addled – scrambled.

‘I’m sorry, Lottie. They received a substantial offer for the lease from Roberto’s, that chain of expensive Italian restaurants, and they have accepted it.’

I gripped the arms of the chair tighter. My knuckles throbbed. This couldn’t be happening. ‘So, they’ve sold the lease to them?’

Vivian was struggling to look at me. ‘Our lease expires on 31st December.’ She looked like her heels were agony. ‘I’m so sorry. I only just heard about it myself this morning, when the landlord rang me. I feel dreadful. We don’t deserve this. You certainly don’t.’

I jumped up from my office chair and prowled backwards and forwards in front of Mrs Sangster, like a traumatised zoo animal behind bars. This wasn’t happening. I was hallucinating or something. Everything was planned out. It had all been agreed.

I wrapped my arms around myself. My fingertips were digging into my skin. Vivian watched me with a look of agony.

This was a bad dream.

Any moment, I was going to wake up in a panicked then relieved sweat.

I waited.

Nope. I wasn’t asleep. This was real.

Vivian repeatedly smoothed down the woollen dress she was wearing, for something to do. She looked like she wished she was anywhere else, rather than telling me all this as she occupied her swivel chair on the other side of her desk.

I waited for her to burst out into tinkles of laughter and tell me this was all a wind-up. ‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’

Mrs Sangster squirmed. ‘Oh, how I wish I was, Lottie. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. There’s nothing we can do.’

I stared around our office with its heavy, rosewood desk, claret carpet and framed pictures of festive snow scenes. As of 31st December, Christmas Crackers would be no more. All my business plans and ideas, they were going up in smoke right in front of my eyes.

My chest was pumping with confusion. Where did this leave me? What did it mean? What about Mum and Orla? They both loved working here too. Mum enjoyed it as it got her out of the house after losing Dad.

‘But I’m going to buy Christmas Crackers,’ I struggled. I didn’t care that I was repeating myself, like an annoying toy. That was the situation. That was what we had agreed. ‘We talked about it so many times. You were retiring and I would buy the business.’ I stared down at her, as though I didn’t recognise her. ‘This is all wrong. It’s ridiculous.’

Vivian crossed and uncrossed her hands in her lap and struggled to make eye contact with me. ‘I have been dreading telling you ever since they rang me earlier.’ She let out an agonised sigh. ‘I’ve been pacing up and down Craig Brae, trying to think of how on earth I was going to break this news to you. There’s nothing we can do. Archibald and Strang have sold the lease to Ronaldo’s. As of 6th January, they take over this place.’

I sounded like an incandescent Minnie Mouse now. ‘They must know how much this shop means to us. We have worked so, so hard to make Christmas Crackers the success it is.’

‘And I appreciate all your sterling work. You, your mum and Orla have been amazing.’

Burning anger shot through me.

Ronaldo’s were a chain of expensive, successful Italian restaurants who had swept through the big cities and were now targeting tourist areas, in their quest for world domination. They were all glass roofs, rustic charm and quilted booths.

I slumped down into the chair opposite her.

Dear God. What was I supposed to do now? All my plans, ideas and energy had been pumped into this shop.

It only seemed like yesterday, but was in fact three years ago now, since Mum had tipped me off that Vivian Sangster, the Craig Brae force of nature and well-known local businesswoman, was starting a new venture.