Page 66 of Escape for Christmas
‘Believe me, I never want to do this again,’ Brody declared, before the doctor spoke to Anna and checked the baby.
Pete slapped him on the back and hugged him. ‘But I’m glad you did. Thank you so much – you and Agatha and Sophie. Thank you.’
‘The priority now is to keep mum and baby warm, and once I’ve checked them over, we can get them to hospital,’ Dr Kumar declared.
‘Thank you,’ said Sophie, feeling tears welling up again. ‘I’m going to see how the guests are and make some tea, which we all need.’ She went out to the hallway, where a powerful light had been set up in the hall, and spotted a face she recognised: Kev, Vee’s husband. The adrenaline began to ebb away and she found she was shaking.
‘Hey, you OK?’ Kev asked, putting an arm around her.
‘I think so. Yes, but I’ve never been so terrified in my life.’
‘No wonder. You did amazingly well.’
‘Brody did the hard part, helped by one of the guests who used to be a nurse. We’re so lucky they were both here.’
‘You played a huge role, organising everyone. No wonder you’re in shock at what’s just happened.’
‘I need to make sure everyone’s alright.’
‘You sit down,’ Amber ordered with surprising firmness. ‘We’re going to a look after you, for a change. All of us.’
‘Good idea,’ Suzanne agreed. ‘I’ll help make drinks foreveryone. The Mountain Rescue Team have brought some camping stoves for us to use.’
Una and Hugo appeared from the kitchen. ‘We’ve got tea and coffee here, and I hope it’s OK, but we all put our welcome biscuits and treats together.’
‘And we brought our Christmas presents for each other,’ Hugo said sheepishly.
Una gazed up at him. ‘Know we shouldn’t, but we did. Hugo loves a luxury biscuit, don’t you?’
‘I do, and Una can’t resist dark chocolate. I bought a giant box.’
‘You don’t have to give us your Christmas presents,’ Sophie said, touched by their thoughtfulness.
‘I can’t think of a better use for them.’
A short time later the guests were handing around steaming mugs of tea, snacks and hot chocolate for everyone. Never had Sophie seen the house more crowded, but it felt good to be surrounded by people.
She needed some fresh air to collect herself, so she grabbed her coat and went into the garden. Her hands had stopped shaking and it was bitterly cold, but she needed the jolt of fresh air and silence after the chaos that had unfolded. The snow had stopped and the night sky was clear. Torchlight and voices spilled out, along with laughter.
Sophie allowed her breathing to return to normal. Disaster had been averted, thanks to Brody’s help. And what a woman Anna Nowak was … And her guests had rallied together to help.
‘There you are, you star.’
Nico’s voice startled her. He held out a large mug, steaming madly in the crisp air. ‘I brought tea, with lots of sugar. You look like you need it.’
‘Thank you,’ Sophie said, taking it. She sipped and rested it on the stone wall. ‘I’m not a star. Anna is.’
‘Of course,’ agreed Nico. ‘But you organised us. I must admit, when I booked this, I’d no idea I was going to become part of a real-life nativity with a Christmas baby.’
‘Believe me, neither did I. If I’d known this was going to happen, I’d never have organised this weekend.’
Nico laughed and, once again, Sophie couldn’t help but wonder why he was really here, not buying the story he’d told them all earlier.
‘Can I be honest?’ she said, feeling that what they’d been through together had broken down the usual host–guest barriers.
‘Of course. I always think it’s best.’
‘I’ve been wondering why you booked in here at all? I mean, Agatha, Una and Hugo are lovely people but, like a lot of my guests, they are on the more mature side.’
