AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘It’s our best seller and people come for miles to try it. That and my signature dish, of course,’ Max said.
‘Your raclette?’ I asked tentatively.
‘Mais oui.I switch up the cheeses each week so there is always a different version for the customers to try. Give them a reason to keep coming back, eh?’
‘Genius, my friend.’ Xavier slapped him on the back.
The madeleines gave off a sweet smell as Max tipped them out of the fryer onto a wire cooling tray to recover from the heat. He handed me three of the edible pastry vases for my platter, one red, one white and one sporting the Swiss flag, then decorated his own platter in the same way. The vases were placed in a triangle, as he fastidiously poured the dark, milk and white melted chocolate into them and I followed suit. I was desperate to dip my finger in and have a taste but had to hold myself back.
Xavier looked over and gave me a smile. ‘I couldn’t choose between them,’ he said, very generously, as my madeleines were full of holes.
‘You forgot the sugar sprinkles on your tray,’ Max observed, as he placed his perfectly-finished madeleines onto his platter. Both fondues looked beautiful, but Max’s was clearly the best, no matter how closely I’d tried to copy.
‘Bravo,’ Xavier clapped, as the two of us stood back from our plates as if we were on a TV competition. ‘I can see why the customers keep coming back.’
‘Can we eat them now?’ I asked, ready to drink the white chocolate sauce.
‘Of course,’ Max said. ‘Let’s take them into the restaurant and enjoy them with the view.’
The smell of the cake combined with the fruit and chocolate was divine and I was looking forward to having mine with a nice coffee, overlooking the mountains. Max led the way, his plate held aloft, Xavier carried my plate and I carried myself, which was work enough. I heard it before I saw it; Max gave a low whistle and Xavier stopped in the doorway as I walked into his back. I peeked over his shoulder at the 360-degree view of the mountain, which was now entirely hidden by a snowstorm. The skies were completely white and it was impossible to differentiate between the storm and the mountain. The restaurant was empty and the staff had taken Max at his word and gone home. We’d been engrossed in making our chocolate fondues and lost track of time, with no idea the storm had whipped itself into such a frenzy. Max slammed his fondue down and ran towards the walkway.
‘Let me check the lifts are still running,’ he called over his shoulder. The clock on the wall had just turned 3.55 p.m., so we had half an hour to eat our desserts. I couldn’t wait any longer. I dunked one of my madeleines in the dark chocolate sauce and took a bite. The custard cream in the centre mixed with the bitter chocolate tasted amazing, I dunked it again and offered it to Xavier, who bit into it hungrily, his lips grazing my fingers as he snaffled it into his mouth.
‘Delicious,’ he said, with the same wonderment I felt.
‘I know. What is it? Why is it so different to our chocolate sauce?’
‘The rum.’
‘Oh. Yes, of course, that makes sense.’
‘Booze-fuelled chocolate sauce is always a winner,’ Xavier said, putting a teaspoon into the sauce and tasting a mouthful.
‘This storm doesn’t look good, does it?’ I said, watching the wind blow layer after layer of snow across the piste. ‘I’m not sure I fancy getting the lift down in that.’
‘Uh, judging by his face, that might not be an option,’ Xavier said, nodding at Max as he ran back into the restaurant, wringing his hands.
‘The liftman has gone! He normally tells us if there’s a problem to give us time to get the customers out and down the mountain.’
‘Maybe he did,’ I said looking around the empty restaurant.
‘He didn’t look very far if he didn’t get to the kitchen,’ Max said angrily.
The wind rattled through the windows as the snow fell around us. It had already settled up to three feet and looked like it had no plans to slow down.
‘Shall I message Liv? We won’t be back for 6 p.m., will we?’ I said, ever diligent.
Xavier smiled. ‘I very much doubt it. Unless you want to take your chances on skis?’ I gave him an eyeroll and WhatsApped Liv on the group chat.
Me:Xavier and I are stuck at Le Rouge in the storm– eek!
Liv:Are you OK? Shall I call the mountain police?
Me:We’re with Xavier’s friend, Max, but the lifts are closed till tomorrow morning, so we won’t be back till then.
Liv:Stay safe babes, don’t worry– I’ll cover things here xx let me know if it doesn’t get sorted tomorrow xx
Max picked up his phone and punched in a number, looking like he wanted to punch someone’s lights out.
