Escape for Christmas

Chapter Twenty-Six

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Sophie was busy preparing the Boxing Day breakfasts – though not much prep was required, as the meal consisted of fruit loaf, cake and juice – when the power came back on.

With a little ‘Hurrah’, she immediately put the kettle on to make some tea and coffee. While her guests had been very tolerant about their makeshift breakfast, she knew how much they’d be missing a hot drink. She was desperate for caffeine herself.

She went into the dining room to find Amber and Suzanne sharing a table and chatting quietly, which was definitely one of the silver linings of the past few days. Hiding her surprise, she silently crossed her fingers that peace might have broken out. She served the drinks and apologised again for the lack of a hot breakfast, promising that she’d go out for fresh supplies for supper and the following morning’s breakfast as soon as the supermarket opened in Windermere.

The mood was cheerful, with everyone making plans for the day, now that the snow had thawed enough for people to get out and about in their cars. Straight after breakfast Una, Hugo and Agatha headed to a local National Trust property. Nico had gone out alone, while Suzanne and Amber had left for a walk – together.

Sophie returned to the kitchen to run the dishwasher, tidy up and write a list of supplies needed to replace all the lost food. She had more than enough to do, and yet her thoughts turned far too often to Brody.

She’d felt sorry for him at times on Christmas Day. It was clear he’d found the day as awkward as she had and when they’d opened the door on the attic full of family possessions, she’d thought he seemed weighed down by the memories. On the other hand, Sophie had felt even more sorry for Tegan, who was clearly besotted with Brody and worried sick about her father.

That’s where they’d be today, she thought, stacking the final few plates in the dishwasher. They’d be at Brody’s future in-laws soon, to enjoy the traditional family Christmas that he and Tegan had missed out on.

‘Need a hand?’

Sophie had just pushed the button on the dishwasher when she found Nico hovering at the door of the kitchen, a large camera and lens cradled in his hands.

‘Thanks, but everything’s sorted now. I’ve finished here and I’m going off to the village to get some fresh food.’

‘It’s a shame the power cut ruined your plans for yesterday,’ he said.

‘I’ll have to consider getting a generator, like at Felltop.’ She almost said, ‘like Brody’.

‘Might be a good idea.’

‘How was your walk?’ she asked.

‘Good. I got some decent shots of the fells. Though I could hardly fail, given what’s around me.’

Sophie was glad to see Nico look happy, rather than giving his usual arch smile. He certainly made a decorative addition to the kitchen.

‘It’s stunning, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘When I first moved here, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. I’ve even learned to love it in the rain.’

‘Even so, it was a big step. I read on your website that you only bought the place in the spring.’

‘Yes …’ She paused, unsure why he wanted to bring this up.

‘Can I ask what you did before?’

Sophie decided to tell him the truth. ‘Would you believe I ran a Christmas shop?’

His jaw dropped. ‘No. You’re joking?’

‘Not at all. I ran it with my partner, but it didn’t work out, so I decided to have a complete change.’

‘That’s some change …’ He rested the camera on the table. ‘I’m guessing it was the partner that didn’t work out, rather than the business?’

‘You’d guess right,’ Sophie replied, about to deflect his question, but then she realised that her own guests had shared their stories. Nico hadn’t revealed that much, if she was honest, but perhaps if she said more, he might reciprocate. ‘I split up with my fiancé after he had a fling with my best friend. Actually it was more than a fling. They’re together now and expecting a baby.’

Nico winced. ‘Ouch! That’s really tough. I’m sorry. Your ex must be a total twat, not to mention devoid of a brain.’

Sophie had to smile. ‘That’s one way of describing him. It was horrible, I’ll admit, but if he hadn’t cheated on me, I’d probably never have moved to Sunnyside and made a completely new start.’ And now she needed another fresh start, she thought.

‘You’re very brave,’ he said archly.

‘Am I? Some people thought I was running away, but actually I was doing something I’d always wanted to, and making new memories, so – here I am.’

‘You certainly have made new memories: setting a new tradition with the “Escape for Christmas” break, helping to deliver babies and herding a bunch of frankly very quirky guests.’ His brown eyes glittered with amusement. For the umpteenth time, Sophie acknowledged to herself that Nico was an incredibly handsome man. She loved to look at him and yet there was no knot in the stomach when she did so, no racing of the heart, like Brody caused her.

‘I’ll admit it wasn’t quite the stay I’d imagined giving my guests.’

‘Still, you handled it very well.’ His eyes held hers, daring Sophie to look away. ‘Do you mind if I say something I might regret?’

‘That depends …’

‘More accurately, I’ll regret it if I don’t say it. I wondered if I can see you again – after my stay ends.’

Wow! Sophie hadn’t expected that. She had been propositioned not long after she’d taken over the guest house, by a man who’d turned out to be the owner of an artificial-lawn company. He’d wanted her to replace her garden with plastic grass. She’d politely told him where to shove his grass and was determined she’d be fully booked if he ever tried to stay again.

‘That’s very flattering,’ she said lightly, but firmly. ‘But I don’t date guests.’

‘I won’t be a guest soon,’ he said, with a teasing smile. ‘And it doesn’t have to be a date or any kind of commitment, if that’s what’s bothering you.’

‘Um, that’s very presumptuous of you,’ Sophie murmured.

‘What’s the point in pussyfooting around? We’re two attractive people. We’re both single, and probably never going to meet again. You said yourself you wanted new experiences, so why not?’

Sophie gasped again. ‘I’m flattered, but I’m not interested.’

‘Life’s too short not to seize the moment. Or are you still not over someone else? Someone whose name begins with a B?’

‘What?’ she said, shocked that he knew about Ben.

He frowned. ‘I was thinking of the neighbourhood vet. Brody.’

‘Brody is engaged to Tegan, who you met yesterday.’

‘But that didn’t stop him trying to look at you,’ Nico said teasingly.

She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Come on, how can you be jealous when you’ve only known me two days? And Brody and I are nothing more than neighbours and friends.’

‘I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but if you’re waiting for Brody to have a change of heart, I’m not sure he’d ever break away from Tegan, no matter how much he wants to.’

Sophie wasn’t sure what he meant by that. ‘I need to go to the shops.’ She scooped up her car keys to emphasise her point.

After he’d left, Sophie drove down to the village, concentrating hard on the roads following her encounter with Nico. The sun was out and water was flowing down the lane. The fellsides were criss-crossed with becks, swollen with meltwater gurgling its way down to the lake. Pockets of snow remained where the sun hadn’t yet reached and she had to negotiate the slushy areas carefully. The farm shop was closed until after New Year, so she headed to the small supermarket in Bowness to stock up on food for Boxing Day supper. The guests were looking after themselves for lunch, thankfully.

She gave a thought to Brody at his in-laws’; and to Ben, who was probably celebrating their happy news with his new partner’s family or was cosied up with Naomi. Her stomach knotted. The past couple of days had brought so many emotions to the surface. Seeing a new life born in front of her eyes had reminded Sophie that she’d once hoped to have a family with Ben. And Brody had been so great with the Nowaks’ kids.

He’d been great in so many ways. Capable, strong, kind, gorgeous … yet she must harden her bruised heart again.

She’d put him on a pedestal he didn’t deserve.