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‘What will we do?’ I whispered to Xavier, staring out the window and starting to understand the seriousness of the situation. The wind howled through the chimney as I perched against a radiator.
‘My flat is upstairs, above the restaurant,’ Max said, overhearing, ‘so there is nothing to worry about; you will be safe here, you can stay with me. It is small, but we will make it work.’
I turned to Xavier. ‘That sounds OK then, doesn’t it?’ I was relieved we had that option at least. ‘As long as we’ve got food and a bed for the night.’
‘Not ideal,’ Xavier said, ‘but better than being stuck on the mountain.’ I dunked my second madeleine; this time into the white chocolate sauce and this time, I wasn’t sharing. It. Was. Divine. It couldn’t just be the rum; there was foodie witchcraft baked into it. I didn’t care if I was stuck up here forever – as long as we could keep making, dunking and eating these chocolate-covered madeleines, I’d live a happy life.
‘Zut alors,’ Max cursed, ‘The lift staff are all on the ground – they saw all the chefs leave and didn’t realise we were still up here. Idiots.’
‘Don’t worry, my friend; we are not trapped in Alcatraz. This is a pretty cool place to be stranded – we will be fine,’ Xavier said.
‘I only have two bedrooms in the flat and not much of a lounge,’ Max said, ‘so I’m afraid the two of you will have to share a bed.’
I glanced awkwardly at Xavier. We didn’t have much choice and I didn’t want to appear ungrateful.
‘That’s so kind of you Max… Thank goodness we are stuck up here with you,’ I said.
The snowstorm blew heavy around us, but we had electricity and heating and enough food to feed a small army. Maxim and Luca worked together to prepare a beef bourguignon in red-wine gravy as I shelled peas and made a pan of buttery mash. Three chefs cooking to pass the time, as the weather got worse before it got better.
Maxim’s phone rang and he had a heated conversation in French before hanging up.
‘They think the storm will pass overnight and first lifts will be back open at 8 a.m.,’ he said, ‘so I will see if I can find you both something to wear in bed.’
We went up to the flat to settle in for the night. Maxim hadn’t been exaggerating: his flat was tiny. The double bed in the guest room filled the bedroom entirely, leaving only a few inches around the edge in which to manoeuvre. Xavier lay down on the left side, fully dressed.
‘Is that your side?’ I asked.
‘I don’t have a side,’ he replied, ‘I’m flexible.’
‘You and your wife don’t have a side? You switch it up every time?’ I asked with raised eyebrows.
‘Well, we tend to…’
Max gave a sharp knock on the door and walked in with two enormous T-shirts and two brand-new toothbrushes. ‘It’s the best I can do, I’m afraid,’ he said.
‘It’s plenty enough,’ Xavier said, taking them from him. ‘Thank you, my friend.’
I went into the bathroom to change, folding my clothes into a neat pile on the toilet seat as I shimmied on Max’s T-shirt. It was wide and long and went well over my knees, but I felt strangely exposed with my legs out. Thank God I’d shaved them this morning. I was nervous about sharing a bed with Xavier; it felt too close, too intimate somehow. How would I ever fall asleep with him lying next to me? I brushed my teeth and carried my clothes into the bedroom, holding them against me to cover myself as I crossed paths with Xavier. I got into bed, while Xavier used the bathroom, shuffling myself to the edge so as not to encroach on his space. I was sooo exhausted; I couldn’t wait to close my eyes. Xavier got into bed next to me and I could feel the warmth of his body only inches away. I tried to keep as close to my side as possible. Because I did have a side. I thought it would feel strange having a different man sleeping on George’s side, but with Xavier there, safe and secure, it was somehow OK.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked, pulling the duvet up to his neck.
I looked over at him and nodded. ‘We’ll be able to leave tomorrow morning, won’t we?’
‘Of course we will, don’t worry. We’ll go down in the lift as soon it’s safe. Try and get some rest. You’ve had quite a week, what with bumping into George and Pippa and now this.’
‘I know. Thank you again for helping me out with that whole situation. You went above and beyond with that kiss.’
‘It was my pleasure to help out. It must have been strange to see him again after all this time?’
‘I thought I was imagining it to start with. George crashing into my new world. But maybe it was the closure I needed – to see him here with another woman like that. I can’t believe I came so close to marrying him.’
‘Hindsight gives a new perspective,’ Xavier nodded, ‘but it was a totally different you that was set to marry him. That Holly doesn’t exist anymore.’
‘I thought it would ruin marriage for me forever, but I still believe in love. I still want to share my life with someone and build a life together. Like you and Christina.’
‘Don’t worry, Holly Roberts, you are a special person. You just need to find someone as special as you are. Someone who recognises and appreciates your talents and treats you like you deserve to be treated. Goodnight Holly,’ he said, giving my arm a little squeeze.
‘Goodnight,’ I said sleepily, feeling warm inside.
