Escape for Christmas

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

‘No. Please – no more. I’m absolutely done for!’ Agatha collapsed into the armchair, very red in the face. ‘And no more sangria for me. I feel quite discombobulated.’

‘Discombobulated?’ Nico echoed. ‘That sounds like fun.’

Everyone was having fun, Sophie thought, even Amber and Suzanne, although they were pointedly seated at opposite sides of the guest lounge.

Hugo and Una were both glowing, their secret salsa experience really saving the day and making it such a fun first night. Hugo had already been upstairs to exchange his checked shirt for something ‘more appropriate’, which turned out to be a racy pale-blue one. Neither of them seemed the slightest bit fatigued, despite Suzanne mopping her brow and Sophie feeling like she’d climbed to the top of Helvellyn. Who knew that wiggling your hips and twirling around could be so knackering?

Amber had been persuaded to try out a few steps with Nico, in between mixing more cocktails behind the safety of the bar. ‘Shall I fetch some cold drinks. Soft ones?’ she suggested.

‘And if we’ve finished dancing, I could bring in the pavlova …’ Sophie offered, keen to have a break.

‘What a jolly good idea!’ Agatha declared.

By the time Sophie returned with the pavlova, Agatha was snoring, despite the music still being on.

Una joined Sophie in dishing up the pavlova. ‘You know, we were both so worried about spending Christmas away from home. Even though it felt right when we booked it, we’ve both had misgivings ever since, but you’ve gone to such an effort and made us feel so welcome.’

‘I’m thrilled to hear it,’ said Sophie, boosted by the compliment. By making people’s stay special, she hoped to build up repeat visitors, who were the mainstay of a guest house’s business.

Una beamed. Her hair had come loose from its bun and her skin was glowing. ‘And in fact, although I wouldn’t dare tell the children, it’s been one of the best Christmas Eves we’ve ever spent.’

‘I’m delighted about that.’

Agatha let out a loud snore. Nico, Hugo and Una all burst out laughing.

‘I suspect Agatha would concur,’ Hugo said, in a passable imitation of her voice.

Una giggled. ‘You are naughty, Hugo.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Am I? I do hope so.’

Nico simply smiled as he accepted a generous bowl of pavlova from Sophie.

Agatha woke up and Sophie served everyone else, wondering what had happened to Amber and Suzanne. She got her answer a moment later when she heard raised voices from upstairs. When she opened the door, she immediately heard the two women having a heated debate on the landing.

‘Oh dear,’ Sophie exclaimed. ‘I’d better go up and referee.’

‘Chill out! It won’t get that bad,’ Nico said with a smile. ‘Probably.’

‘It’s OK for you to joke, but I need to think of the other guests. The Nowak family are trying to get some rest.’

‘If they slept through the salsa party, I’m sure they won’t be bothered by a couple of people rowing upstairs.’

‘I’m concerned about someone getting hurt. I have to try.’

‘You’re an angel,’ Nico said. ‘And a great cook. This pavlova is more-ish. Shall I dish out second helpings while you try to act as peace envoy? Tricky family situations aren’t my forte.’

‘Yes, please,’ she said.

A loud thud came from upstairs. Possibly a door slamming. Hopefully not an object being thrown …

Sophie went up to the landing, where Amber was standing outside Suzanne’s room, with her hands on her hips. ‘Look, this is silly. I only said it would be grown-up if we actually talked to each other about the situation. I didn’t know you’d be here, but we should just make the best of it.’

‘There’s nothing more to be said. I’m going to bed.’ Suzanne’s muffled voice came through the door.

Amber turned away and walked down the landing towards Sophie. ‘You see if you can do anything. I have tried, but it’s no use.’

‘It’s late and you’ve both had very tiring journeys. Maybe it’s better to leave it for tonight?’ Sophie offered.

‘Probably a good idea,’ Amber agreed with a resigned sigh. ‘The sad thing is that we’re arguing over something that’s not our fault at all. It’s our families that are in dispute or, more accurately, my mum and Suzanne’s mother and our respective siblings. They’re even more upset than we are, and I can’t help feeling that our father has left us a legacy of bitterness and hurt.’

‘That sounds very tough to deal with,’ Sophie replied. ‘Especially at this time of year. Could I ask one thing? Did you both simply end up here from opposite ends of the country? Is it a coincidence?’

‘Not really. My dad – our dad – used to stay here years ago, way before you took over. He passed away earlier this year, but I remember him sending postcards from this guest house when he was away working, and I guess he must have sent both of us cards from here.’ She sighed. ‘Dad was a maintenance engineer and he worked on wind turbines as well as oil rigs. We only realised, when we found out about each other, that he’d been staying here on his way between Scotland and the South-West.’

‘Oh, I see. And that’s why you decided to come here at Christmas?’

‘I can’t speak for Suzanne,’ Amber said, ‘though I’m guessing she wanted to make some kind of pilgrimage, like me. I’m on my own, since my divorce. My mother is spending Christmas with my brother and his family, but I couldn’t face the recriminations and arguments.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘I haven’t been feeling very festive since I found out that my perfect dad led a double life, so I decided to book in here to see if I could find some closure and forgiveness. I looked up your website and it resonated with me.’

‘I’m sorry for your loss. I can see why you both wanted to get away and were drawn to a place that had special meaning for you.’

‘I also hoped to gain some insight into why Dad led a double life all this time. Now I’m not sure.’

‘I do understand. Honestly,’ Sophie replied, having wondered why Ben and Naomi had also been OK with lying to their nearest and dearest.

Amber looked back at her half-sister’s closed door. ‘I apologise for the trouble we’ve caused. It’s not your problem to sort out. It’s ours, though I doubt if we’re going to make any progress through a locked door. I’m coming back downstairs now. I don’t feel like being alone in my room, even if Suzanne does.’

‘Good idea. You can always make a fresh start tomorrow.’

Amber gave a brief smile. ‘I shall probably go out for a very long walk.’

Sophie nodded, thinking that no one would be moving very far the next morning, judging by the drifts of snow piling up around the guest house. She’d checked the forecast, which had said that a thaw wasn’t likely until late afternoon on Christmas Day. She’d still no idea how the Nowaks would reach their family.

With Suzanne’s door still firmly shut and the tension diffused for now, Sophie went back downstairs to find her other guests tucking into their second helping of pavlova and sharing holiday stories.

Agatha had woken and was regaling everyone with a tale about being stranded in a remote jungle area of Papua New Guinea, where ‘the spiders were the size of dinner plates’.

Sophie shuddered.

Nico offered a bowl of dessert to Sophie. ‘Here you go. We all thought you needed it.’

‘Thank you,’ Sophie replied, realising that she suddenly felt completely knackered. The only spare seat was on the sofa next to Nico, so she perched beside him. It was now after ten and too late to deploy the quiz. Sophie allowed herself to relax and enjoy the pavlova, wondering how late her guests would stay up. Normally most would probably want to see Christmas Day arrive, but on this occasion she rather hoped they’d decide to have an early night.

Refreshed by her power nap, Agatha pointed her spoon in the direction of Sophie and Nico. ‘So,’ she said, encompassing them both in one gaze, ‘how about you two youngsters? Nico, what is a handsome young chap like you doing at a party-poopers’ Christmas break? And, Sophie, what on earth is a lovely young woman like you doing hosting such a mad affair?’

It couldn’t last long, could it? Sophie thought, filling with dread. Sooner or later she’d have been put on the spot. Did she owe it to her guests to explain? Or was it her private business? Her guests had been open and generous in sharing their stories and yet, as hostess, it was her duty to keep her personal problems to herself.

Nico saved her. ‘My answer is simple. I was meant to go home to Italy for Christmas, but a few weeks ago I found out my passport had expired.’

‘Couldn’t you get a new one in time?’ Agatha asked.

‘Yes, I thought there were passport offices where you can go and get ones on shorter notice,’ Una piped up.

‘You’re joking. Not these days.’ Nico shook his head. ‘I did try and was told I’d no chance whatsoever, so I gave it up as a bad job.’

‘Why didn’t you stay at home?’ Agatha said. ‘Or go to a friend’s? I’m sure they were lining up to look after you.’

Sophie thought this was going way beyond polite curiosity. She was about to try to change the subject when Nico said cheerily, ‘Because I’d promised a colleague that his sister and her family could have my place. They’re visiting from Australia, and it was too late to find a hotel or an Airbnb. Not that they could ever afford one. I decided it was easier to move out and find something for one person, not wanting to let them down after they were travelling all the way here.’

Sophie said nothing, yet she was still unconvinced.

‘So you found this gem?’ Hugo said, dropping his spoon in his now-empty bowl.

‘I love the Lakes, and Sunnyside’s “Escape for Christmas” came up when I was searching for short breaks in the UK. To be honest, it sounded a blast. I wouldn’t have to spend the day at a friend’s or with some distant, boring relative – which I’m sure you, Agatha, can completely understand.’

Agatha nodded.

‘I decided I could come up here. Join in with the party if I wanted to or go off walking …’ He grinned. ‘Or skiing. I wish I’d brought my skis.’

Una laughed. Sophie could have guessed that he skied. Of course he did, and probably very well.

‘You know what,’ Nico continued smoothly, ‘I think Sophie could do with a break from hosting duties. I think it’s time she relaxed. Why don’t have you a glass of wine?’ he said. ‘It won’t do any harm, and it is a special evening.’

‘I shouldn’t …’ Sophie shook her head.

‘Go on,’ Una urged. ‘A little one won’t hurt.’

Hugo smiled. ‘You deserve it, after what you’ve had to deal with, my dear.’

‘I second that,’ said Nico.

‘Maybe a very small white wine then,’ agreed Sophie, touched by her guests’ concern for her own enjoyment.

‘I’m on it.’ Magician-like, Nico produced a bottle from the side of Agatha’s chair, while Hugo grabbed a clean glass from the sideboard.

‘Oh no, please stop. That’s enough, thanks.’ Sophie put her hand over her glass, preventing Nico from filling it to the top. Unlike her guests, she had to be up early to lay out breakfast.

Agatha pushed herself, rather wobbly, to her feet. ‘Let us raise a toast to our hostess: the indefatigable and lovely Sophie. And wish ourselves all a very merry un-Christmas!’

‘To Sophie!’ the guests echoed. ‘And a very merry un-Christmas!’

Sophie took a sip of the wine. She had to admit it was delicious and she felt her tense limbs relax a fraction. A tiny glass surely wouldn’t do any harm …

‘Help!’

Piotr Nowak dashed into the lounge, white as a sheet. ‘Someone help! It’s Anna. Her waters have broken. I think the baby’s coming now!’

A second of stunned silence was followed by Sophie’s heart rate shooting up. She almost dropped her glass.

‘I, er – I’ll call an ambulance now.’ After the initial shock, she sprang into action.

‘I fear you’ll be waiting a long time,’ said Agatha. ‘Have you seen the snow?’

‘You’re right, but we must call them,’ Sophie insisted. ‘They can send an air ambulance.’

‘If it can fly …’ Hugo muttered.

Pete clutched the back of sofa for support. ‘Oh my God, I hadn’t thought of that. This can’t be happening.’

‘How many weeks is your wife?’ Agatha asked.

‘Thirty-eight.’

‘That’s good,’ Agatha muttered, although Sophie failed to see anything remotely positive in a woman going into labour in her bed in a blizzard.

‘I’m sure everything will be fine,’ Una soothed, patting Pete’s arm.

Nico was frozen in his chair. ‘Oh dear …’ he murmured.

Sophie snapped into action. ‘I’ll come with you to check on Anna now. Una, would you mind calling for an ambulance?’

‘Of course. I’ll use your landline.’ She hurried out of the lounge to the office and Sophie followed, shepherding the shell-shocked Pete out of the room.

‘Please try not to worry,’ she soothed, with a confidence she didn’t feel. ‘The mountain rescue and coastguard deal with emergencies all the time.’

‘I hope to God they do. I wish we’d never set out, but we didn’t know the weather was so bad up here, and Anna just wanted to be with her mum.’ Pete stopped outside the door to Sophie’s flat. ‘She’s on her own, you see, and Anna was determined to keep her company.’

‘I understand. It’ll be OK.’

Sophie heard Una giving their details to the emergency operator.

‘What about the children?’ she asked.

‘They’re scared too, as you can imagine, with all the racket Anna’s making – understandably. They’re in your sitting room at the moment. With the cats,’ he added.

‘That’s probably the best place for them,’ Sophie said.

She opened the door to the sitting room. ‘It’s OK,’ she said, seeing the two children curled up on her sofa under a blanket, wide-eyed in shock.

Pete knelt beside the sofa. ‘Mummy will be fine. Everyone’s going to help her and the baby. You’ll have a new little sister soon.’

A loud wail cut through the crack in the bedroom door. ‘Pete! Please do something. I’m not sure baby’s going to wait around!’

‘She had these two pretty quickly,’ Pete murmured to Sophie. ‘We thought that was a good thing, but now …’ His colour seemed to drain from him before her eyes.

Sophie opened the door, to see Anna on all fours on the bed, and felt a bit sick. She clenched her hand tightly by her side to try and stop her fingers from trembling and attempted to take a deep breath.

What if the baby was born in her bed? How would they cope with delivering it? Weren’t there cords to be cut – and stuff to be dealt with? Having wanted a family herself, Sophie still had no knowledge of precisely what went on during or after the birth. She’d parked the messier details for a later date, like leaving your tax return until an hour before the deadline.

Didn’t labour go on for ages anyway? She prayed that the ambulance would arrive before any of them had to deal with it. She might have to multitask in running a guest house, but delivering a baby was one job she’d never planned for.

Pete rushed to Anna’s side and rubbed her back. ‘Help’s on the way, sweetheart,’ he promised. ‘Try not to worry.’

‘I’ll go and see what’s happening with the emergency services,’ Sophie said. ‘And explain the urgency.’ She hurried into the hallway, feeling as scared as the kids had looked. No amount of planning could ever have prepared her for the emergency unfolding in front of her.

Amber was on the stairs. ‘What’s going on?’ she said, looking worried.

Nico appeared in the door to the guest lounge, glass in hand. ‘Apparently someone’s about to give birth.’

Before Sophie could reply, Anna let out another scream and everything went black.