Not Just for Christmas

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

T here was only so long that Lewis could feign interest in the accounts. He’d passed that point about half an hour ago and had been nodding along since then. They’d been over all the important stuff. Now it was a case of Mr Garrett loving the sound of his own voice.

“I really don’t know if this Christmas package you’re offering this year is a good idea,” he grumbled, staring at his laptop on the desk. “Was this really the cheapest minibus hire you could find? It seems excessive.”

“I shopped around,” he said, hating how Mr Garrett always made him feel about twelve.

“I just don’t see why the hotel needs to offer all these frivolities.”

“It’s Christmas and the guests love it. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”

“That and profits,” he said, pushing his glasses further up his nose. “I think you could easily have charged more.”

“It’s too late to change the price now,” Lewis told him. “And I spoke to you about it beforehand. You knew how much we were going to charge. Also, it’s not cheap. ”

“But people will pay way over the odds at Christmas.”

Lewis leaned back in his chair, telling himself to grin and bear it and Mr Garrett would be gone soon. “Do we really want to be known as the hotel who rips people off at Christmas?”

Before Mr Garrett could reply, a knock at the door had Lewis sitting up straighter and looking hopefully across the office as the door opened.

“Sorry,” Anna said. “I just needed to speak to you before I leave.” Her head flicked to the accountant in the chair opposite Lewis. “Hello, Mr Garrett,” she said in that sickly sweet tone that Lewis knew was entirely fake.

“Anna!” Mr Garrett said, a sudden jolliness in his tone. “How are you?”

“Fine, thank you. I was doing a workshop – teaching the guests how to make Christmas wreaths. It’s been lovely. I think they all really enjoyed it.”

“I’m sure they did. It sounds fantastic. If my Judith had known about it, she’d have signed straight up.”

“Maybe I’ll run some more next year,” she said. “I was sceptical about doing it, but it turns out that Lewis was right after all. He always knows exactly what the hotel guests will enjoy.”

“Of course,” Mr Garrett said eagerly, apparently having wiped from his memory the last two hours where he’d been picking holes in everything Lewis said.

“Anyway…” Anna looked meekly at Lewis. “I wondered if you have time for a quick word before I leave? I’ve been ever-so worried about Mum recently and…” She gave a quick shake of the head. “Sorry, you’re in the middle of a meeting. I can wait, but I will need to leave before too long.”

“We’re all finished here,” Mr Garrett said, all but leaping from his chair to offer it to Anna. “Family comes first, especially at this time of year. I was about to leave anyway,” he added, as he collected up his things and shoved them into his briefcase .

“Thank you,” Anna said, slipping into his vacated seat. “I didn’t mean to rush you out.”

Lewis was sure that was exactly her intention, and he absolutely loved her for it.

“Not a problem,” Mr Garrett told her, a warmth to his words which was never present when he spoke to Lewis.

“Why don’t you nip into the dining room before you leave,” Anna suggested. “There are a few of my example wreaths on the back table. Take one for Mrs Garrett.”

“She’ll love that,” he said, his features all affection as he smiled at Anna. “Thank you. Have a wonderful Christmas.” His attention flicked to Lewis. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Surely not next week,” Anna said smoothly. “I don’t think anyone actually needs to hold business meetings between Christmas and New Year. Lewis will be taking a bit of time off, and I’m sure you will be, too. Mrs Garrett will want you at home.”

Lewis watched with interest to see how the stuffy accountant would react to that suggestion. Surely he wouldn’t go along with it. He’d shake his head and tell Anna that business doesn’t stop because of Christmas.

“You’re right,” he said, causing Lewis to put a hand on the desk to ensure he didn’t fall all the way out of his chair. “Of course, you’re right. I’ll see you in the New Year.” He raised his hand to wave and left absolute silence in his wake.

Lewis waited a moment, making sure he was out of earshot before he spoke.

“I love you,” he said flatly. “You are brilliant.”

“The man’s a prat. I heard what he was saying about the Christmas events before I walked in. Why do you let him speak to you like that?”

Lewis shrugged. “Sometimes it’s easier to nod and smile.”

“I don’t like him, and I feel very sorry for Mrs Garrett. Do you remember her from school? She was always so lovely. ”

He nodded. Geography lessons with Mrs Garrett had been his favourite class. “Thank you for saving me. I presume there isn’t a problem with Mum?”

“No, she’s fine.”

Lewis let out a long sigh. “For someone lacking confidence, you’re very good at getting what you want.”

“Mr Garrett is easy to manipulate. But he’s been here for ages, so it must have been time for him to leave, anyway. Was the two-hour meeting necessary?”

“No. I don’t think so. The man just enjoys torturing me.”

“Then I have no qualms about getting rid of him for you.”

“Was it at least true what you said about the workshop today? Did you enjoy it?”

“ Enjoy is probably the wrong word.” She looked thoughtful. “It wasn’t as bad as I imagined.”

“That’s good. I was expecting to be in trouble for leaving you alone.”

“You would have been,” she said. “But your friend Erin started telling me how great I was, and it was a nice little confidence boost.”

“Why did you refer to her as my friend?” He echoed her tone. “She’s a hotel guest.”

“She’s lovely,” Anna said. “And I saw the way you were looking at her. You totally fancy her, don’t you?”

He laughed loudly, but couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

“It’s all right,” Anna said. “She was looking at you in the same way.”

He wouldn’t rise to the bait. He absolutely wouldn’t.

“Really?” he asked, cursing himself for how needy he sounded.

“Absolutely,” Anna said. “She was asking about you, too. When you left.”

“Asking what? ” Panic crept up his spine and his palms felt suddenly sweaty .

“About your role at the hotel.” Anna tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “She doesn’t know about you, does she?”

“I met her yesterday,” he said with a shrug.

“Yes, but lots of people know about you who have never met you.”

“What’s your point?” he said, the conversation becoming increasingly tedious.

“I think she seems great. And you deserve someone great. I worry about you since all that stuff with Gemma.”

“No need to worry about me. I’m over it.”

“Yes, but I think it stops you from getting involved with anyone else. It’d be good if you met someone.”

“I’ve nothing against a relationship if the right person comes along. But Erin is a hotel guest.”

“So? There’s no rule about that, is there?”

“Not a rule, ” he said. “But it seems a bit…”

“A bit what?”

“I don’t know.” He threw his hands up. “I met Erin yesterday. I don’t even know her. And she lives in London and will go back to London in a few days.”

“Yes, but who knows what might happen in that time,” Anna said. “If you have the chance, you should spend more time with her. Even if it’s only a bit of fun over Christmas. You should let yourself have fun now and again.”

“I have fun,” he insisted. “Besides, I’m not sure you’re the right person to give this lecture. Isn’t it a case of the pot calling the kettle black?”

“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” She stood up and gave him an indecipherable look. “Thank you for bullying me into doing the workshop. I actually think I was quite good at it.”

“You were brilliant.” He stood and wrapped her in a hug. “But I never had any doubt about that. ”

She kissed his cheek. “I have to go. Why don’t you think of a reason to go and hang out with Erin?”

“Because I have work to do,” he told her, screwing his nose up. Then he softened his features. “But there’s a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon this afternoon to look around the Christmas markets. Maybe I’ll have time to speak to her then.”

“Ooh! That sounds romantic.”

Lewis rolled his eyes, but deep down, he thought his sister was probably right. He should lighten up a bit.

And he liked the idea of spending more time with Erin, even if it couldn’t realistically come to anything.