Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The threat of the incoming snowstorm posed a unique challenge. They could do the sensible thing, hunker down, and wait the storm out, or they could venture up to the roof and get a first-hand view of exactly where the weather got in. Rachel’s vote was for the latter. Matthew the risk-taking billionaire quickly agreed.
Matthew the accountant would have stayed with his spreadsheets.
“Okay, I’ll grab some flashlights. Do you have the Aspen weather app on your phone? We can monitor the snow as it comes in and be clear from the roof before the storm hits,” he said.
She didn’t, but as Matthew went to get some equipment, Rachel downloaded the app. Who knew that blue on the local weather map meant snow?
He reappeared carrying a camping lantern which he sat down on the table. Rachel made a mental note to sneak into his room at some point and check it out. Matthew seemed to have a near endless supply of useful things at his disposal.
“I thought we could bring this up with us so we can get a good look at the roof without having to actually walk all over it. There are some safe patches up there, but the last thing either of us need is one or both of us, dropping through a weak spot in the roof.”
Rachel slipped on her warm gloves and zipped up her jacket. She pulled her beanie down, so it covered her ears. “Okay, I am good to go.”
He handed her the lantern. “Just wait until we are near the roof before you turn it on. It pushes out a lot of light, and your eyes will need a minute to adjust. You don’t want to be climbing up the final stairs and be blinded by it.”
Noted. Safety first. Or as safe as they could manage while climbing up old stairs—to walk on a crumbling roof— in the dark— while a snow storm loomed. She could just imagine how scathing the coroner’s report would be if anything happened.
He caught her checking out the backpack he was carrying. “I’ve been to this site a few times and it made sense to have my equipment all in one place rather than have it loose and rattling around in my pockets.”
She’d badly misjudged him. Matthew might well be rich and privileged, but when it came to his work, he was a thorough professional. There was no team of minions to carry his stuff. He was not only treating this project as seriously as she was, but he’d also come better prepared.
I brought clothes, make up which I still haven’t used, and a laptop. He’s provisioned for an assault on Mount Everest.
They made their way up to the top floor via the main internal staircases. As they climbed, Rachel took careful note of the state of the wooden banisters. A coat of varnish and they would be as good as new.
Reaching the fourth floor, they pushed open a metal service door, then climbed the short set of steps which led to the roof. Rachel shamefully admitted. “I’ve never been up this high in the lodge.”
“I don’t make a habit of it, I’m not entirely comfortable with the state of the flooring. The closer to the top, the more likely the water damage.”
The way out onto the roof was through yet another door. But this one was locked with a chain and padlock. Matthew produced a key from his jean’s pocket. “When I visited here late last summer, I noticed some vandals had got in and tagged the walls. I asked the security guy the Brocks had employed, to put a lock on the door to discourage the little brats from coming back.”
“Not much of a security guy if he couldn’t keep them out.”
Matthew shrugged. “He was only a college kid, no one should expect him to go roaming this place on his own. And what if he had met up with some unpleasant intruders? Out here all by himself, who knows what might have happened?”
As Matthew worked to free the chain from around the door handle, Rachel switched on the camping lantern. The enclosed space was filled with bright light, and she turned her head away. Handing the lamp to Matthew, she followed him through the door and out onto the roof.
The strong night wind caught her off-guard and she grabbed for the handrail. The instant she touched it, the rail wobbled. Rachel swayed unsteadily as a wave of nausea washed over her. “Oh. Sorry for not mentioning this until now, but I’m not all that great with heights.”
He took her arm. “Hold on to me. There is an area a little further over where I know it’s safe.”
She might be clever with design programs and high-level concepts, but Matthew had her beat when it came to his real world experience of old buildings. Holding on to Matthew for dear life, Rachel shuffled slowly across the rooftop .
The sun had set a little after five o’clock, and out here in the wilds of the Aspen backcountry there was no overflow light from the town. If it hadn’t been for Matthew’s lantern, they would have been staring out into nothing but pitch-black expanse.
He halted a few yards in and set the lamp down. Prizing Rachel’s hand from its vice like grip on his arm, he helped her to sit. “If you stay with the light and my backpack, I’ll get things set up to take some readings.”
She felt like the first week intern who’d been sent to work with the twenty-year veteran. He was showing her what it meant to be a real architect. To get her hands dirty.
Matthew fell silent for a moment, then nervously cleared his throat. “Since I didn’t plan to keep this building, I hadn’t see the point in undertaking a full scan of the roof. We could be up here for some time. Or at least until the snow starts to fall.”
From the backpack, he took out a tripod, and put it together. Rachel’s already growing interest hit its peak as Matthew proceeded to pull out a small tube-like object and clicked it onto the top of the tripod.
“Is that … is that a Leica laser scanner?” she stammered.
He turned and gave her a wicked grin. “Isn’t it the sexiest beast you’ve ever seen? This scanner is amazing. A total game changer. The only thing it doesn’t do is make coffee.”
The powerful scanner would create a detailed 3D image of the roof, allowing them to see exactly where the faults in the structure lay. It would pick up everything that was invisible to the naked eye. She’d seen one demonstrated at a conference but had never been able to afford one. Top of the range scanners like this were well out of her price bracket.
“Do you want to come and play with it?” he offered.
Oh, hello, double entendre time. Come and play with it …
Her fear of heights was a problem, but getting to work with a high-tech design tool was too much to resist. “I’ve used a scanner, but nothing like this. Would you show me?”
Matthew shifted the scanner into position. “Grab the iPad out of my backpack and open it. The scanning app is on the home screen. The code is 1234 to open.”
“Over the top security. That’s a solid password.”
Rachel reached into the backpack and as she searched for the iPad, her fingers touched another long cylindrical case. “What else do you have in here?”
“I told you the scanner doesn’t do beverages, so I made us some hot chocolate and poured it into a flask.”
He had to be kidding. He had cocoa?
“Is this a Harry Potter thing you have going on here? You know the Room of Requirement, but instead yours is a backpack. If I ask for a puppy, will one magically appear out of the bag?”
Matthew came and sat beside her. “No puppies, that would be cruel. I guess I’m just a seasoned traveler who knows what to pack. And I like my creature comforts.”
She handed him the thermos, then reached back into the bag for the cups which surely had to be in there.
“We’ll have to share the cup on the top of the thermos. I’d run out of space once I put the scanner in.”
He poured a cup of steaming cocoa, while Rachel worked to get the scanning app on the iPad ready. As she did, she had a sudden vision of what a life with Matthew could be like. Snuggling up on dangerous rooftops in the dark, while playing with expensive design equipment.
To anyone else it probably didn’t seem all that much of a romantic notion, there were no flowers or candlelit suppers up here. But as the snowflakes began to fall and the scanner slowly spun round, she came to a heartfelt realization.
I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world right now.
“Thank you for this, Matthew. ”
“It’s only hot chocolate, but you’re welcome.”
She set the iPad down and gratefully accepted the cup from Matthew’s hands.
“It’s more than that.” This was the first time they’d really connected since their relationship fell apart. “This is nice.”
When Matthew’s gloved hand touched hers, Rachel threaded her fingers through his and he gave a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re right, it is nice. I’m glad we are working on being friends.”
Could they do this? Could they set their differences aside and be friends? A friendship wouldn’t be the worst outcome.
Her heart gently whispered, “Don’t betray me again, Rachel. Don’t settle for second best.”
“Is that what you want us to be Matthew, just friends?”
He shook his head. “No. What I want is for you and me to go back to what we were before that awful council meeting. But when we do, I want us to agree that we never let anything like that ever come between us again. No more secrets or lies.”
Rachel sipped at her cocoa. It should have been sweet, but the bitter taste of guilt somehow ruined it.