Page 37 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

Chapter Ten

The first week of December saw a flurry of activity as the revamp of the Rowan Moore House cabins was well under way.

Andrew and Dominic were ensuring that the colour schemes were put in place in the correct cabin and in the correct shades, while Kim continued to liaise with me and keep me informed of when the new furniture and fittings had been ordered and their schedule for arrival.

The local school children were busy rehearsing for their Christmas panto, Rapunzel, and Christmas trees were springing up in sitting room windows all across town. There was a general atmosphere of frantic excitement and harassment everywhere.

Front gardens boasted tangles of fairy lights draped in their trees and hedges and there was a sharp, fresh crispness to the air that teased snow might be on the way.

All stock in Christmas Crackers had to be gone by New Year’s Eve and the keys were to be handed over that day too.

I still didn’t like to dwell on it all, but at least customers were availing themselves of the bargains and three-for-two offers we had running.

Sadness about not having Christmas Crackers as my own business still festered, but at least I had the cabins to focus on.

Max and Stephanie had requested that I attend a short meeting with them, Kim, Andrew and Dominic on the Monday morning for an update on how things were progressing.

When I arrived at Rowan Moore House, I was relieved to see that Blake wasn’t there.

‘We’re on schedule with the decorating,’ confirmed Dominic. ‘Our team should be finished all four cabins within the next few days. Then you can access them for the new furniture and fittings going in.’

I grinned at him. ‘That’s great!’

‘Well, time is money,’ Max smiled.

‘And we have received half a dozen emails enquiring about reserving the cabins at Easter,’ added Stephanie, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm at me across the table. ‘Plus, we have had two reservations for the Valentine’s weekend. They all came from the fliers handed out at the Christmas lights switch-on.’ She glanced at Max beside her. ‘Things are looking much more positive than they were a few weeks ago and that’s thanks to all of you for working so hard and pulling together.’

Andrew made a point of staring around the table. ‘Well, not all of us. Where’s that rock climber guy? Blake, is it?’

Stephanie shot a hot look at Max. ‘He couldn’t make it. We did ask him along, as he’s supposed to be part of the team after all but he apologised and said he had a prior engagement.’

Yeah, right. I pursed my lips. No doubt he thought he was above all this sort of thing.

We moved on to discuss the furniture I had selected and suggested for each cabin, which had been approved by Max and Stephanie. We then moved on to scheduling delivery dates, and I provided everyone with a print-out. ‘Kim has said she is more than happy to assist, if we find that there are any issues.’

Kim nodded at my elbow. She was wearing a shirt with pom-poms stitched on it and reminded me of a pretty Christmas elf. ‘Fingers crossed, everything will be ok. I’ve checked and double checked with the furniture companies and all the suggested dates are still fine for delivery.’

Stephanie brushed her hand in the air in a sign of confident dismissal. ‘I’m sure everything will be fine.’

We rounded off our update with a suggestion from me about the idea of launching a couple of competitions, to attract extra publicity and I also spoke about investing in local and regional newspaper and radio advertising. ‘I’m sure the other local businesses would be more than happy to put up posters in their windows and give us a boost.’ I also mentioned the local and regional radio stations, which I was going to approach for advertising quotes.

Minutes later, I was tugging on my coat, keen to go and take a look at the cabins to see for myself how things were progressing, when Max emerged out on the steps of Rowan Moore House behind me. There was a stiff breeze today and the steely sky burgeoned with the promise of rain. ‘Everything going ok back at the shop?’

I raised my brows. ‘I’m beginning to think I wasn’t needed after all. Mum and Orla have been doing a sterling job. Vivian has been popping in and out too.’

Max smiled and nodded his salt and pepper head. ‘It sounds like everything is in order then. You, your mum, Orla and Vivian are all doing a wonderful job under very trying circumstances.’

I blushed. ‘Thank you. Mum and Orla are doing amazingly, selling off as much stock as they can and winding everything down.’ I took a breath. Even now when I heard myself say it, it still didn’t seem real.

Max’s clear eyes swam with sympathy. ‘I know it’s easy for me to say, but you will bounce back from all of this. And you really have hit the ground running with the cabins.’

‘I’m enjoying it. Very much. It has also helped distract me from wanting to rip the head off our landlords.’

Max let out a bark of laughter. ‘Steph and I are really keen on your competition ideas, especially the one you mentioned about asking local children to find Rudolph hidden somewhere around the cabins and the other, asking people who they would love to spend a weekend in a log cabin with and why… Oh excuse me a second.’ His phone pinged, interrupting us.

He fished it out of his trouser pocket and pulled up his inbox. His warm smile slid away.

‘Is everything all right?’