Page 86 of Escape for Christmas
‘Hugo …’ Una said, though Brody guessed she fully agreed with her husband.
‘I’d better go back in and sort out your breakfast,’ Sophie said and slipped back into the kitchen.
‘Come on, Harold!’ Brody urged him glumly, picking up his lead.
The couple followed Sophie through the rear door, and Brody trudged home towards Felltop. He’d be glad to get back to work later, where he could focus on treating his patients and not think about his complicated personal life – even though it was a coward’s way out of what he knew, in his heart, he ought to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Sophie finished the breakfast service with a huge sigh of relief. With Ricky unable to help and then Harold creating mayhem – not to mention Brody – the morning had been a very hectic affair.
Now she stationed herself in reception, ready to see her guests off. Her first attempt at an alternative Christmas had gone anything but to plan, resulting in her guests having no heating, light or hot water, being snowed in, enduring an unexpected power cut and having to stay at a stranger’s house while having a traditional Christmas thrust upon them. Not to mention one of them finding out that the person she seemed to hate was staying in the next room. Sophie could only hope they didn’t leave bad reviews or ask for refunds.
Suzanne was first to leave, coming down the stairs with a suitcase that she dumped on the tiles.
‘Hello!’ Sophie said brightly. ‘Ready to check out?’
‘Yes, actually.’ Suzanne’s mouth turned down.
‘I’m so sorry your stay didn’t go as planned,’ she said, readying herself for a string of complaints.
‘It was …’ Suzanne began. ‘It waslife-changing.’
‘Oh? Um.Really?’ Sophie couldn’t hide her surprise.
‘Yes. Not at first, of course. I was absolutely horrified when I initially realised Amber was here. It felt like some terrible coincidence – a punishment, on top of losing my dad.’
‘Our dad,’ said Amber from halfway down the stairs.
‘Don’t worry,’ Suzanne went on, probably noticing Sophie’s wary expression. ‘We’re not going to come to blows. And Amber is right. He wasourdad. He fathered both of us, and it’s not our fault that he lied. I guess our mothers were so angry with each other because they couldn’t take it out on the one person who deserved it.’
Amber nodded. ‘We’ve realised that blaming each other is pointless. Being forced to spend some time together in close proximity felt like a living nightmare at first but, in a weird way, it was probably the best thing that could have happened.’
‘Was it?’ Sophie said, hardly daring to hope their stay had worked out after all.
The two women exchanged a glance and Amber spoke.
‘Yes, because we had to talk to each other. We both love our families, but we’ve also realised they are the source of our problems – not each other.’ She glanced at Suzanne, as if to give her a cue.
‘Our mothers are, perhaps understandably, at war with each other, and our other siblings are taking sides. Both our mums are feeling so hurt and betrayed, and rightly so, but we’ve realised that even though our families are at odds, we don’t have to be.’
‘It was a question of loyalty, you see,’ Amber explained.‘Over Christmas we’ve understood that we actually have a lot in common and we both hate the conflict between us all.’
‘There’s definitely more that unites us than divides us. I just wish our families would see that too,’ Suzanne said wistfully.
‘Same. So we’re going to go home and speak to our mothers and siblings,’ Amber explained. ‘And tell them that, no matter what Dad did, the two of us won’t be scarred by it or left bitter. We’ve already arranged to meet up as soon as we can. And we’d like to stay here,’ she went on. ‘If you’ll have us, after making a scene on Christmas Eve.’
‘It was unforgivable.’ Suzanne gave a wry smile. ‘I bet you didn’t need any entertainment, with us two around.’
‘I was more concerned about your holiday being ruined,’ Sophie replied, remembering Nico’s popcorn comment.
Amber wrinkled her nose. ‘I hope we didn’t ruin it for the others.’
‘Not at all, and I’d love to have you back, though I don’t reopen until February. I’m having a break.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ Amber said. ‘Now I think I should settle my bar bill. Once we’ve checked out, we’re going for a coffee and a talk before we both head home.’
‘Of course,’ Sophie said, handing them the bills she’d already prepared.
