Chapter Twenty-One
Monday, 13 th November
Stacy rolled out of bed and went to peek through the curtains. It had snowed in the night in Grimsbach too and everything was white, but she could see ground through the footprints and tyre tracks left by the builders when they arrived that morning, so it couldn’t be too deep. Traffic on the road was moving more or less normally, too. She turned back to see the alarm. Seven-fifteen. She’d had a lie-in by Swiss standards, but heck, she deserved it after yesterday.
The silence in the flat was oppressive as she sat in the kitchen eating a solitary breakfast. If only Emily was still here, but she’d be safe in bed in Elton Abbey. Was Rico awake yet? He’d be in pain if he was; broken ribs were excruciating because your chest either moved or stabilised with every movement you made, including breathing. Ralph had called at seven last night to say that the medical staff were pleased with Rico – he’d be in ICU overnight, but all being well he’d be moved to a ward in a day or two. He’d been lucky – it didn’t bear thinking about what would have happened to him if that car had exploded when he was bending over the engine. She scrolled through the messages on her phone while she was eating, but nothing new had come in from Ralph.
And now it was time to get the day’s work started, and she’d be doing Rico’s job as well as Karen’s for the foreseeable. She’d emailed all the English-speaking staff last night, to tell them about the accident and assure them that the project would continue. Andi would be here shortly for the Monday build meeting, so hopefully he’d be able to help with some of Rico’s work.
Stacy cupped her hands around the warmth of her mug, listening to the silence. Everything was different now. The past night had been her spookiest ever, all alone in the hotel. But compared to what Rico was going through, it was nothing. At eight on the dot, she grabbed the iPad, checked her hair in the hall mirror, and set off downstairs to reception.
To her surprise, Karen was waiting by the desk with Andi. She stepped forward as soon as Stacy appeared.
‘Any more news?’
‘No. Ralph’s still at the hospital. He’s calling me at lunchtime. He said last night he’d stay in Chur for a day or two until they see how Rico progresses,’ said Stacy. ‘I didn’t expect you here, Karen – is your daughter any better?’
Karen’s shoulders sagged. ‘She’s stable, but she’s very depressed about the uncertainty of it all. I’m going up to St Gallen later, but I thought I’d come here first and see what’s happening.’
‘That was kind, thank you. I think we’ll be fine with the build – Flavia is on call to help if we need her. I’m sure you being there will help your daughter.’
‘Good that Rico’s out of danger,’ said Andi. ‘Let us know how he gets on, will you, Stacy? You’d better be contact person. There’s no sense us all calling Ralph, and you’re a nurse so you know what to ask.’
Karen’s mouth drooped at this, but she gave a stiff nod.
Stacy led the way across reception. ‘I will. Shall we go into the restaurant?’ What an odd feeling this was. Even Karen had accepted that she was in charge of contact with Ralph. Hopefully that was a good omen for the rest of the week.
They took their places at the usual table, and Andi swiped around on his iPad.
‘The build is on track, in spite of last week’s weather. This week, the sauna’s being installed in the cellar, and weather permitting, we’ll get the exit steps up into the garden laid too, so that people can leave the sauna and go straight outside to relax in summer. And–’
‘Sorry, Andi.’ Stacy craned her neck to see the plans, thinking as she spoke. ‘Will there be a ramp, or steps only? If we have handicapped sauna visitors, they might not manage steps outside.’
Andi tapped the plan with his pencil. ‘Good thinking. We’ve planned for steps only, but we can easily have a ramp. Do you want one?’
‘Yes, I think so. We can’t put ourselves out there as having convalescent facilities if we’re not wheelchair-friendly.’ Stacy made a note on her list for Rico and Ralph.
‘Won’t that be expensive?’ said Karen. ‘And the cellar can’t be reached by lift, so the sauna isn’t wheelchair-friendly anyway.’
Stacy’s heart sank. It was true; the lift stopped at the ground floor. Had they made a mistake, locating the sauna downstairs?
Andi was looking from her to Karen, a perplexed expression on his face. ‘I don’t see a problem. A ramp wouldn’t be much more expensive, and wheelchairs can use it to get into the cellar as well as out. Or am I missing something here?’
Stacy giggled. How amazing, she could laugh. ‘You’re absolutely right. Okay, a ramp.’ She glanced at Karen, glad to see a smile flickering on the other woman’s face. ‘And we could have a stairlift fitted later.’
‘That would be more expensive,’ said Andi. ‘But we don’t need to decide about it today.’
He went on to discuss further plans for that week, and Stacy listened, her confidence growing. She could do this. Andi was accepting her as Rico’s deputy, and thanks to him, Karen was too. For the moment. They closed the meeting, and Andi went off.
Karen followed Stacy back to reception. ‘It looks like we’ll be opening in January as planned. If you like, I’ll set up some emails to send to ex-guests, in both English and German, of course. I can do that while I’m at the hospital with Melanie.’ She made to move away.
Stacy thought quickly. Rico had asked her to do the English ones. ‘Wait. We should do the English version together.’ Karen jerked indignantly, and Stacy gathered her diplomacy as well as her courage and went on. ‘I know your English is perfect, but I may be able to add a little phrase, or even a current joke of some kind, to make people sit up and notice. It’s about standing out from the crowd, isn’t it? That’s why Rico hired me.’
Karen sniffed. ‘Fine. I’ll write the email and send you the translation, and you can add what you like. I’ll say we’ll be sending a brochure in two weeks.’ She made a note on the list in her hand. ‘Has anyone applied for the beautician’s job yet?’
Stacy shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I’ll check that today, and send the ads out again if necessary. I’m kind of hoping that Kim Burri might take it, but it could be a bit soon for her, with the children.’
‘I imagine it will be. I’ll be in touch.’ Karen stomped off, and vanished into the staff cloakroom.
Stacy pursed her lips. Had that gone well, or not?
She was halfway through a solitary lunchtime sandwich upstairs when her phone buzzed as a call came in. Oh – it was Martin, and he was on FaceTime. She brushed a few stray crumbs from her mouth and took the call.
Martin’s face loomed up. ‘I’ve just heard about Rico – that’s terrible. How is he?’
Stacy filled him in, and he looked shocked. ‘Poor old Rico. Can you add me to the people you send updates to? That leaves you pretty solitary in the hotel, doesn’t it? Will you be okay?’
‘It takes more than an empty hotel to spook me, don’t worry.’ That wasn’t quite true, but no need to come across all needy, was there?
‘That’s – good. Um…’ He scratched his head. ‘I have a few evening meetings this week, unfortunately – but how about dinner on Thursday night? I can pick you up at seven?’
Stacy’s brain whirred. But – why not?
‘Sounds good. I should go, Martin, Ralph’ll be calling in a minute. I’ll let you know about Rico.’
She ended the call and sat back. Her phone buzzed again almost immediately, and it was clear by Ralph’s voice that the news was good.
‘Rico’s doing okay, though he’s stiff and sore and cross as ten bears. They’re sending him to a high dependency ward this afternoon and if all goes according to plan, they’ll remove the chest drains there, and shift him to a normal ward in a day or two.’
‘How long will he be in hospital?’ Stacy gripped the phone. By the sound of things, she might be able to visit Rico soon – but would he be coming back to Lakeside when he was discharged?
‘Probably until the end of the week, but they’ll decide later. Will you be visiting him? I could ask if there’s anything he’d like from Lakeside. Speaking’s painful for him at the moment, so he’s not making phone calls.’
‘Of course. Shall I come on Wednesday? He should be on a ward by then.’
She rang off shortly afterwards, feeling happier. Rico was on the mend – should she text him? No, replying to her might use up energy he needed for something else. The best thing she could do for him was keep Project Lakeside on its feet until he was back. Surely in a few weeks, Rico would be home again and the two of them back to their somewhat scratchy friends-only relationship.
Meantime, she had a date with Martin. And that was a very interesting proposition indeed.
***
Kim ended her call and tossed her phone down on the sofa. The deed was done – she’d put Ben’s name down for playgroup in January. It was two half days a week, so that would give her some scope to get her business growing again, though she wouldn’t be able to book anything definite until she knew if Ben was in the Monday-Wednesday group, or Tuesday-Thursday. Her baby steps were going well, so far. And now she would take Ben up to kindergarten to meet Eli, and on the way she’d point out the church hall where the playgroup was held. She had plenty of time to get Ben used to the idea.
A little group of three other mothers was heading for kindergarten too, and Kim chivvied Ben along to join them. As far as she remembered, one of them had a younger child at playgroup. She could ask about the routine, to talk to Ben about later.
The women were talking in hushed voices as she caught them up.
‘Hi, Kim – did you hear about Rico Weber?’
‘No. What’s happened?’
‘A bad accident coming down the San Bernardino. My neighbour’s friendly with Karen Bachman at Lakeside, and she told her. Rico’s in hospital in Chur, and it’ll be a while before he’s back, according to Karen.’
Kim barely listened as they went on to talk generally about accidents in snow. Poor Rico – and poor Stacy, too, alone in that empty hotel. She would swing past Lakeside with the boys on the way home, and see if Stacy needed moral support.
They arrived at the hotel in time to see Stacy wheeling a trolley laden with dirty coffee cups across the hallway.
Kim ushered the boys inside. ‘Don’t touch anything, you two. Stacy, I’ve just heard – how is Rico? Were you and your friend hurt too?’
She listened as Stacy filled her in about the accident, and goodness, Rico had been lucky.
‘Tell him hello from Tobias and me when you see him. Will you be okay here? We have a spare room at home if you need one.’
Stacy smiled. ‘That’s lovely of you, but I’ll be fine here. Everyone’s rallying round, and I’m going to visit Rico on Wednesday. Have you had any more thoughts about the beautician job here? We’re about to readvertise it.’
Kim shook her head. ‘Ask me in another two years. I’m sure the hours you’d want your beautician to work would be impossible for me. My good news is, though, I’m starting up at home again after Christmas. I’ll tell you more about that later.’ She gestured at the boys, who were busy hopping over the cables zigzagging across the floor.
Stacy grinned. ‘You can be our first reserve. I’m so glad for you, Kim. But do give the job some serious thought – it won’t be anything like full time at first.’
‘I will. Okay, let’s make a date for dinner at ours. When would suit you? Tomorrow? Friday?’
‘Friday would be great. You’re a star.’
Kim grabbed Ben as he tripped over a cable. ‘I’ll leave you to it, huh? Take care.’
She walked home with the boys, her mind whirring. First reserve at Lakeside… maybe they could expand on that, somehow. It was something to think about.