Page 43 of Escape for Christmas
‘Of course at first I was deeply hurt and betrayed. More than I’d ever expected to be. The relief came afterwards and sooner than I’d thought, which is telling in itself. It was just about bearable pretending to be engaged while Tegan was going to be in New York for Christmas, but then she turned up here last night. She said her boss had let her come home. Playing the caring new boyfriend, making sure she was able to spend time with her sick father.’
‘What a generous guy!’ Carl scoffed.
‘Yeah. Isn’t he?’ Brody said, recalling how sick to his stomach he’d felt when Tegan had confessed to him about Wes. ‘It’s a whole different thing, now she’s actuallyhereand—’ He paused. ‘This is where it gets really complicated.’
Carl sat up straight in his seat. ‘Oh dear. I think I need another drink before I hear the rest of this.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Mrs Agatha Freeman was at the Sunnyside reception on the dot of three, and Sophie would not have expected less.
‘Hello. Did you have a nice walk and lunch?’ she asked. ‘Did you avoid the revellers?’
‘Yes, to the first two. Not wholly to the third. Never mind, I found a quiet corner of a café where I could read my book in peace. Now I can leave all that tinsel and tat behind and properly relax.’
Sophie wondered what her reasons were for avoiding Christmas, but had no intention of prying. She had a feeling Agatha wasn’t one for baring her soul.
Aware that her other guests might arrive at any moment, Sophie gave her a whistle-stop tour of the dining room, guest lounge and veranda. The sun had come out and there was snow on the distant fells, with the lake shining in the valley. The view was at its tip-top best. However, Agatha didn’t comment, simply nodding and hmm-ing.
‘That’s the hot tub,’ Sophie said, pointing out the area on the terrace with the view over the fells.
‘Oh, I won’t be using the hot tub.’ She shuddered. ‘I’ve stayed at holiday cottages where they have one. Never got in, though! They don’t change the water between guests,just lob in a load of chemicals. Might as well bathe in the toilet!’
Sophie stayed in polite-hostess mode. ‘That’s obviously your choice, Mrs Freeman, though I can assure you that the hot tub is completely sanitary.’
‘My dear, I know a few things about germs.’ Agatha finally managed a smile. ‘Please call me “Agatha”. Let’s not stand on ceremony, as we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next few days. Now I’m looking forward to a rest and a cuppa in my room. I presume there are tea- and coffee-making facilities?’
‘Of course,’ said Sophie, hoping Agatha wouldn’t think home-made shortbread was unsanitary.
‘I’m very pleased to hear it. Can’t bear those horrid things in plastic packets.’
Sophie wondered what Agatha would make of theturrónnougat that she’d left as a gift too. Would she consider it too exotic? What about the paella?
She put on a sunny smile, even though she was now second-guessing all of her carefully made plans. ‘There’s an information pack in your room, including the format for the evening. Supper is tapas and the flamenco display. Tomorrow,’ she almost said ‘Christmas Day’, but checked herself, ‘is a paella, and you can join in the quiz, although some of the guests might decide to use the hot tub.’
Agatha shuddered. ‘The quiz sounds infinitely preferable.’
‘I hope it will be fun.’ Sophie smiled warmly.
Agatha rubbed her hands together. ‘I was on an episodeofThe Chase, you know? And I won three rounds ofFifteen to One, but I expect you don’t remember that one?’
‘Er, I’m afraid not.’
‘Just as long as this quiz of yours has proper questions about capital cities and history. None of that rap music and celebrities that no one’s ever heard of.’
‘Like I say, it should be fun …’ Sophie inwardly shuddered at the Pop and Celeb rounds she’d spent ages devising. ‘Erm, there are cocktails from seven, followed by the tapas and the flamenco. I’ve got in plenty of soft drinks. If you don’t like cocktails.’
‘Soft drinks?’ Agatha snorted. ‘On Christmas Eve. Sorry,notChristmas Eve. Good grief, whatever gave you that idea? My dear, I shall be the first to sample the Pornstar Martinis.’
Agatha was one of those guests who was totally unpredictable. Miss Marple one minute, and party animal the next. Sophie sensed trouble …
She hadn’t even reached the foot of the stairs when the door opened and a young woman with a large rucksack walked in. She was barely five feet and petite, like a long-distance runner, with black hair caught up in a ponytail. She reminded Sophie of one of her best customers at the Christmas shop: a lawyer from Hong Kong who owned a huge house in Stratford that she decorated with a different theme every year.
‘Hello!’ Sophie called, hurrying to greet her new guest. By default, this must be Suzanne. ‘Welcome to Sunnyside. I’m Sophie, the owner.’
The woman shrugged the rucksack off her shoulders. ‘Hello. Thank goodness I’m here. The traffic’s been terrible.’
‘Have you come all the way from Cornwall in one day?’
