Page 29 of The Chalet Girl

Teresa the maid bustled around behind the Kivvis and Viktor’s Finnish assistant Benjamin came in and said it was time to go. Lumi pulled a loose thread off Viktor’s shoulder.

‘Will you stop fussing!’ he snapped, and walked off to consult Benjamin. Lumi, always calm and patient, let his temper waft over her like a gentle breeze.

‘Cat, when I’m back from the recital, why don’t we start going through the Christingle menu?’

Thank god.

Cat could legitimately spend the afternoon trying out recipes and ideas, alone in the Kivvi kitchen.

‘Whenever you’re ready, ma’am.’

The annual Kivvi Christingle in December was always a chance to showcase her chef talents to the town, and she loved it. The thought of a focus perked her up.

Chapter Nineteen

Vivian Steinherr strode through the dining room of Avocet, Anna Maria’s restaurant named after their mother’s favourite bird, and was tugged on the arm by an American diner with ruddy cheeks.

‘Miss,’ he said in an entitled tone. Vivian stopped on her heel and turned. The man was dining with his wife and another couple, and they looked to be in their sixties. Vivian couldn’t remember seeing them before, so assumed they weren’t hotel guests. While Vivian didn’t appreciate people tugging her on the arm, she still stopped with a smile.

‘Yes?’

‘May I speak to someone who knows about wine?’ the man asked, rather patronisingly, assuming Vivian wouldn’t know much about anything. She was just a waitress, there to take orders and look pretty.

Vivian widened her eyes with enthusiasm and took a deep breath.

‘Well, I’m the hotel owner and manager,’ she said, getting her barb in, ‘so I can tell you a little, but I’ll just find Michael our sommelier, he’s on shift this evening, and he’sfantastic.’ All four of the diners looked up and smiled at Vivian. Her game face was charming.

‘Oh, thank you kindly…’ the man said, a little flustered,as Vivian cut a striking path through the restaurant. Michael was probably advising diners at another table. Vivian scoured the sleek dining room but couldn’t see him. She had popped out for an hour and come straight back into a meeting with a tech company who were going to improve the online booking system and make it more user friendly. This was the first time she’d been on the floor during that evening’s service. Vivian did usually like to meet guests and diners every few hours, to take a walk, get away from her desk, and chat to the clientele and staff. She couldn’t see Michael, but Henrik the restaurant manager was talking to head waitress Mia-Mary near the cutlery storage drawers. Vivian slid into their conversation deftly and authoritatively, despite them looking like they were speaking in hushed tones.

‘Is Michael around? I have a guest asking for some wine advice…’

Henrik and Mia-Mary glanced at each other. Mia-Mary looked nervous.

‘What is it?’

Vivian looked between the two of them before Henrik spoke in quiet fury.

‘He’s gone home.’

‘Is everything OK?’

Mia-Mary shook her head.

‘Anastasia – Mrs Diamandis …’

‘It’s OK, Henrik, you can cut the Mrs Diamandis with me,’ Vivian laughed.

‘Anastasia… she fired him.’

Vivian’s face turned from genial smile to confused fury.

‘She what?!’

‘She fired him. She fired Michael.’

Mia-Mary nodded, her eyes sad.

‘What? When?’