be off.’ And with a quick smile, he sauntered away as if he had all the time in the world.
‘You forgot your tea-towels,’ she called with a triumphant crow, but he’d already left the room. She scowled after him, so much for her taking charge.
The following morning, Lucy heard the unwelcome words, ‘Hi, I’m Clive Tenterden with See The World Productions.’
She bustled out of the office to join Brynja at the front desk.
‘We have a booking for five.’ He winked. ‘Cribs for my crew.’ He hoicked his thumb over his shoulder. ‘Camera man, sound man, production assistant and grip.’
‘Good morning, I’m Lucy Smart, General Manager. Welcome to The Northern Lights Lodge. I understand you’re filming in the area and will be staying with us.’
‘Hey Lucy. Nice to meet you. This is the crew, I’ll introduce you all later. You’re going to get to know us real well over the next few weeks.’
Behind, a group of men and one woman had gathered around a mountain of black boxes and were talking quietly to one another. Alex was helping one of the men with a few cases, doubling up as he was prone to do and helping out taking luggage to rooms.
Lucy nodded smiling even though her cheeks were hurting with the effort. Few weeks? Where was the memo on that one? Was their stay complimentary? At least there was plenty of room. Bookings were still down despite the hideously expensive ads she’d signed off this week in a couple of international travel magazines.
‘I hope you’re going to have an enjoyable stay here. I’ve allocated you some lovely rooms and The Northern Lights Lodge is a great base for exploring the local area. If you’d all like to check in and get settled. Dinner, this evening, is between seven and nine in the dining room. Would you like me to book you a table?’
‘That would be great. Perhaps you could join us for dinner and we can talk about what sort of thing we need from you and the sort of access we’re going to want.’
Lucy stared at the man’s smiley isn’t-this-going-to-be-so-much fun face and tried to adjust hers into professional indifference, although inside she was starting to have the mild signs of a panic attack. Access. What did that mean?
‘You look a bit uncertain, Lucy. Don’t you worry about a thing, once you get used to the cameras, you really won’t know we’re here. You never know it might make you a star.’
Lucy froze. That was the absolute last thing on the planet she ever wanted to be.
‘Cameras?’
‘Well, just the one really but it’ll be right there, in your face.’
‘I’m sorry. I don’t understand.’
Clive looked at her, a slightly worried frown on his face. ‘You do know we’re filming a fly on the wall travel documentary. Warts and all in an Iceland lodge chasing the magical aurora borealis. In between visiting the top tourist must-see sights, we’ll be filming how a local lodge is run.’
No, she did not know that. The hotel wasn’t anywhere near ready for that kind of spotlight. There was still so much to do. And … it hit her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. It all came rushing back. Everyone looking at her. Sniggering behind her back. The lewd remarks. Suggestive stares. Talking about her. It would all start up again. For a minute she thought her legs might collapse beneath her. Her lungs felt tight in her chest and … and she couldn’t…
‘E-excuse me,’ she stammered, waving her hand at Brynja. ‘I n-need to check the … the … C-can you…’
To her relief Brynja stepped forward and smoothly took over, sliding the registration forms towards the man.
She backed away. She needed to get to the office. Needed to breathe. Look normal. She caught sight of one face. One of the crew. Was she imagining it or was he staring at her with one of those don’t-I-know-you expressions on his face? She ducked her head, backed up another step and mercifully felt the door behind her.
Safe in the office, she closed the door with a firm thunk behind her and put her hand on the door leaning over. The room went black and her chest constricted as she desperately tried to suck in air. It wouldn’t come. She tried again. And again. Her head was about to explode.
‘Lucy?’ A voice sounded as if it were coming from a very long way away. ‘Lucy. Are you OK?’
She forced herself to focus on Alex’s voice. Forcing herself inch by inch up the black tunnel. Tight bands held her chest. She gasped, trying to take in another breath that did nothing and another and another.
Hands grabbed hers and led her to a chair, pushing gently, until she sat down.
‘It’s OK, Lucy. You’re safe. You’re fine. Listen to me. You’re OK.’
She felt his hand come to rest on her stomach.
‘Next time you try to breath push out your stomach against my hand as you inhale and try to breathe in through your nose.’
He repeated the words and she tried to make sense of them. Breathe out. No inhale. Nose. She closed her eyes and listened to his voice.
‘Inhale through your nose. Push against my hand. And again. Inhale, push. That’s it. Inhale, push.’
His voice took on a gentle rhythmic monotony which was both soothing and reassuring.
‘That’s it. You’re doing fine, Lucy. You’re doing fine. You’re going to be OK.’
Gradually she felt the panic subside and although her pulse thudded furiously, she felt herself start to settle. Alex’s hand was still lying on her stomach, just above her diaphragm, and his other hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. She blinked up at him, trying to assimilate everything, grateful for his quiet presence. Through the door she could hear the busy reception, Brynja talking, people laughing and the sound of luggage being wheeled over the polished lava floor tiles.
‘You OK?’
Feeling dazed, she nodded, tears pricking at her eyes as shock and embarrassment set in. Her mouth crumpled as she muttered, ‘I’m sorry,’ with a little hitch to her voice. She couldn’t believe she’d made such a fool of herself. And in front of Alex of all people. The man who saw so much, there were times when she thought he should be running this place. He always seemed so together with that natural easy authority of his.
She sniffed and tried to turn away.
‘Hey,’ his voice resonated with something that made her heart ping in her chest. ‘Don’t cry.’ With gentle hands he pulled her into hug and, although she was not normally one for the damsel in distress routine, for once it was rather nice to bury her head against his chest. And when his arms closed around her, she sank into his warm hold and let the rest of the world and all its problems recede away. There was something rather wonderful about being held. No words, just another body, cocooning her and keeping her safe. Beneath her cheek, she could feel Alex’s chest lift and fall in a steady, reassuring rhythm through the thin
