Page 25 of So This is Christmas

‘Part of my job is to make sure everyone at the lodge has brighter days, no matter how many visitors they have.’ She swiped at a tear that snaked down her cheek. ‘I’m getting emotional, sorry.’

‘No need to apologise.’ But she watched Sophie closely, waiting for her to slip up somehow.

If she’d done that with Ruby or with Richard, they might not have been able to worm their way into the Wynters’ lives.

Nick thought she was crazy to think that way.

He’d told her that he hadn’t seen it either, and that those people were to blame, nobody else.

‘Bea always wished she could’ve returned here to Vienna,’ said Sophie. ‘Greta’s letters and the annual Christmas letters were a wonderful way for them to stay in touch though.’

‘It’s good you had the time to help Bea with hers.’

‘All part of the job.’

‘Well, it sounds like you went above and beyond,’ said Jennie. ‘What happened to the letters Greta sent to Bea?’

‘I have her things at my house. She had no family to pass anything on to. Mostly it’s clothes, knick-knacks.’

That didn’t sound right. An employee taking home a resident’s belongings? It sounded a little bit off to Jennie.

Sophie looked at her device. ‘15 per cent.’

‘Not the fastest in here, but give it time.’ Jennie smiled. The longer she was here and then off exploring, the less time she had with Walter and neither her nor Nick around.

Jennie got up when Hans came over to take an order; it was time for her to get back to work. ‘I have to go, but try the Melange coffee while your phone charges.’ She pushed in her chair.

‘I will do. One of those, please,’ she said to Hans with a smile in Jennie’s direction as she left.

Jennie tried not to think too much more about Sophie and her motivations because she was straight back into the throes of her job and giving a list of tasks to one of her newest recruits.

She was at reception organising the staff roster for the following week when Sophie eventually emerged from the brasserie and held up her phone. ‘88 per cent should get me through a few more hours. And thanks for the map, too.’ She pulled on her hat. ‘I’ll see you at dinner tonight.’

‘Dinner?’ Jennie clicked the top of her pen so the nib retracted inside with a snap.

‘This evening, with Walter.’ Her shoulders slumped. ‘You didn’t know I was invited.’

‘I didn’t, but it’s fine.’ She summoned a smile, but she’d be keeping an eye on this one – she still hadn’t forgotten what she’d said about Bea’s things being at her house.

‘I promise you I’m not playing any sort of game here,’ said Sophie.

‘I’m sure you’re not.’

‘Honestly, I assumed I’d deliver the letter, have a chat with Walter and Greta, and then spend the rest of my time in Vienna on my own. It’s been an unexpected treat to be invited into Walter’s home and I enjoy his company, that’s why I offered to help with the comfort teddies.’

Jennie didn’t suppose there were many con artists who were willing to sit around knitting for hours on end. And really it was better to keep this woman on side. ‘I’ll see you at dinner tonight.’

Sophie smiled and fastened the last of her coat buttons. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Jennie’s phone ringing took her attention. ‘Excuse me…’ She checked the display, relieved to see it was Walter and not her mother on the same unknown number she’d managed to ignore. ‘It’s Walter,’ she told Sophie.

Nick emerged from the lift and came over.

She tried to listen to Walter but at the same time she watched Nick.

He seemed to have no trouble trusting Sophie as he answered her questions about something on the map.

His body language said it all – not only did he trust her, he was quite interested in her.

Jennie moved away from the pair so she could hear Walter properly.

Without a home help they’d run into another difficulty.

He’d broken his glasses and had managed to get a last-minute appointment with the optician, but she really didn’t want him to go alone.

‘One of us will come and take you there. I’ll sort something out, don’t you worry,’ she told him. ‘Leave it with me.’

‘Is Dad all right?’ Nick asked the second Jennie went back over to him and Sophie.

‘He is, but he’s broken his glasses. He’s fixed them temporarily with Sellotape and has an appointment with the optician today, but I don’t think he should go on his own.’

‘He’ll probably be fine,’ said Nick. ‘He knows the way, or he could get a taxi.’

‘I know, but…’

‘Doesn’t he have a spare pair of glasses?’ Sophie asked.

‘Nope,’ said Nick. ‘And he really needs them. Without glasses he won’t be able to tell you or me apart. No exaggeration.’

Given the sparks flying between the pair when Sophie laughed at his comment, Greta would be having a field day if she were here.

Since his divorce six years ago, Nick hadn’t dated anyone for more than a few months and Greta had been forever trying to encourage him to get back in the dating game.

If a woman she didn’t recognise turned up in the apartment building she’d be quick to find out who they were, or if Nick said hello to someone on the street she needed to know who it was.

Even in her hospital bed Greta had been asking nurses their marital status, as if Nick’s love life was a project she wanted to complete before she ran out of time.

Jennie checked her watch. ‘The appointment is in two hours, but I’ve got a meeting.’

‘You worry too much, Dad is quite capable of going on his own.’

But she didn’t want him to. She wanted to protect him however she could. ‘Can you go by any chance?’ she asked Nick.

He shook his head. ‘I’m in the same meeting, remember.’

‘I’ll have to miss the meeting then.’ She locked eyes with Nick. ‘I know my worrying is sometimes out of proportion; it’s just we can’t lose him, Nick.’

Sophie interrupted. ‘How far is the optician’s from his apartment?’

‘About a twenty-five-minute walk,’ said Nick. ‘Or a five-minute taxi ride.’

‘Then I’ll do it,’ Sophie offered. ‘I can walk with him, we’ll both enjoy it.’

Jennie shared a look with Nick. It would be helpful, but a moment ago she’d been satisfied that Sophie was going to be away from the apartment and Walter. ‘Sophie, it’s very kind of you, but?—’

‘I’m used to looking after people in my job, remember.’

‘She’s right,’ said Nick.

‘I’m capable of walking with him and I’ve got my phone, a paper map and Walter’s expertise, so we won’t get lost. Besides, I’m coming for dinner anyway so it’s the least I can do.’

‘What about your plans?’ Jennie asked.

‘It doesn’t matter to me when I go exploring. I can do the trams another day.’

Nick’s eyes were on Sophie. ‘It would really help us out. Just make sure he orders a spare pair of glasses this time.’ Nick delivered a killer-wattage smile to Sophie and Jennie couldn’t deny it, Sophie’s offer was preferable to having Walter go on his own.

It also meant she didn’t have to miss the meeting, something she hated to do because she would be letting other people down then.

Jennie dialled Walter’s number again. ‘I’ll have to run it by him,’ she said to Sophie before the call connected. But Walter wasn’t the least bit put out. In fact, he sounded more than enthusiastic at the change of plan.

‘You still don’t trust her, do you?’ Nick stood beside Jennie after they’d given the address of the optician’s to Sophie and she’d set off to Walter’s apartment.

‘I want to,’ said Jennie. ‘But she’s party to his banking information.’

‘I’ll check it as soon as I can, but I doubt anything is amiss.’

‘I hope you’re right.’ Her phone rang. ‘I’d better take this.’

The call was Elliot trying to sort out when they could next get together. Since his return from Alsace she’d been putting it off. But as he went through some days and times, her head went right back to thinking about Sophie.

It all seemed a bit contrived that she was here, that Walter had welcomed her into their lives without question.

Why had Greta and Bea been so intent on getting her here to Vienna? She wished she’d asked the question but she never had.

Perhaps now it was too late.