Page 28 of So This is Christmas

JENNIE

Jennie hadn’t made it to dinner at Walter’s last night.

She hadn’t lied about being busy at the hotel, but also she’d needed a distraction from the thought of her mother calling or worse, showing up.

With Nick there to keep an eye on Walter, being at the hotel had felt like the best thing to do for her sanity with her head all over the place and poor Elliot still trying to get her to meet up with him.

She’d ended up suggesting they have a nightcap at the hotel and she’d done her best to pretend she was in as good spirits as he was.

But she wasn’t sure he’d been fooled. After he’d left, she’d gone to her office and caught up on paperwork, answered emails…

anything to stall leaving her sanctuary when she had so much on her mind.

This morning hadn’t been easy either. She’d had no fewer than three calls on her phone from unknown numbers before she’d even arrived at work – one was a delivery company, one a wrong number, and the third a cold caller.

After none of the callers turned out to be her mother she’d begun to wonder whether Gwendoline had decided to go back to England and leave the past alone.

But why bother showing up or getting in touch in the first place if she wasn’t going to follow through?

Jennie had spent years with regrets, a barrel of hurt, fear, loneliness, abandonment.

How dare her mother bring it all to the fore again for no reason.

She tried to focus on the breakfast meeting she had with Nick and met him at a table at the very back of the brasserie. She was happy he’d positioned himself there, out of the way, impossible to spot by anyone who happened to wander in off the street.

‘You still expecting her to turn up?’ he asked quietly.

‘Something like that.’ She couldn’t help going over and over in her head what might happen if her mother walked in and whether she would have to dream up an explanation for her colleagues if Gwendoline caused an almighty scene.

It was Jennie’s worst fear, being yelled at, having accusations hurled at her all over again when she’d tried so hard to put herself and her life back together.

‘Have you told Dad that she’s been in contact?’

‘No, I don’t want him to worry. He’s adjusting enough as it is this year, I don’t want to throw anything else into the mix yet. Not until I know what’s what.’

‘I get it,’ he said.

Over coffee they covered the items on the agenda that she was most concerned with but before she left Nick, who still had to meet with human resources followed by security, he told her Walter had invited Sophie for Christmas.

‘I suspected he might,’ she replied.

‘You’re not annoyed?’

‘Walter makes his own decisions. Honestly, it’s fine. Did you check his bank account?’

‘I did, and as suspected, everything is as it should be.’

‘We should keep an eye on it.’

‘I really don’t think there’s any need, but I will.’

She left him to it and emerged from the brasserie. Having Sophie for Christmas wouldn’t have been her choice, but Walter and Greta had both been born with the biggest hearts, and she wasn’t going to make this any harder for Walter by making a fuss.

Having returned her paperwork to her office, she went back into the foyer and was talking to a guest about the Christmas markets when she spotted Sophie coming into the hotel.

Her arrival coincided with Nick’s exit from the brasserie and Jennie didn’t miss the way he looked at Sophie, like he’d found a hidden treasure.

She supposed it was nice. He hadn’t said much about dinner last night, just that they’d all had a good time and that Sophie and Walter got on really well.

It was all she wanted, deep down. She hoped she was wrong to mistrust their visitor, but past experience meant that she would be wary until Sophie’s sincerity was proven.

She wasn’t quite sure how that would happen – maybe in time, or when Sophie left the country.

‘I was only around the corner when Walter called me,’ Sophie told them both, the guest having gone on his way. ‘His glasses are apparently ready.’

‘That was quick,’ said Nick.

‘I thought I’d come and ask whether you wanted me to take him to get them. I’ve said I’d check with you.’ She looked at Jennie. ‘I didn’t know whether one of you wanted to go.’

Jennie had to be wrong, didn’t she? Sophie seemed so considerate. ‘It would be great if you could go with him,’ she said.

‘Okay, I will.’ She seemed to genuinely have come here for approval, probably more from Jennie than Nick, whose approval she seemed to have in spades already. ‘You were missed at dinner,’ she said to Jennie.

‘I really was busy, it’s that time of year.

Talking of which, I hear you’re joining us for Christmas.

’ She was somewhat satisfied that Sophie looked uncomfortable – not because she wanted to make her squirm, but because it showed that Sophie regarded Jennie as part of the Wynter family and seemed conscious of upsetting her.

Anyone out to take advantage would be more sure of themselves, wouldn’t they?

‘If that’s all right?’ Sophie asked.

‘The more the merrier,’ said Nick.

‘That’s right,’ Jennie added. ‘And thank you again for helping out with Walter.’

‘I’m happy to do it.’

Nick raised a hand to wave at the man who’d just come inside from the cold.

‘Please excuse me, I’ve got a meeting with one of our suppliers.

I’ll catch you later.’ Jennie was pretty sure his remark was directed at Sophie rather than her.

Jennie made a mental note to tease him about his crush later.

He hadn’t shown this much interest in a woman for ages, and it was about time he did.

Maybe not with Sophie, given she lived in another country, but dipping his toe into the dating pool again might not be a bad idea.

After Nick left them to it Jennie noticed the bulging bag Sophie was carrying. ‘You’ve been shopping.’

‘I stumbled upon a smaller market. I can’t remember what it was called but I found a few things. I chose Walter a gift. I wanted to thank him for being so nice to me.’

‘He enjoys being kind. He and Greta always did.’ She gestured again to the bag. ‘Am I allowed to see?’

Sophie pulled out a wrapped item and peeled back the tissue paper.

Jennie peered at it. ‘Forgive me for my ignorance, but what is it?’

‘Okay, I’ll admit it looks odd.’ She turned the wooden bird so that it was at a different angle. ‘The nose part is to perch a pair of glasses on.’

A smile came easier than she might have expected. ‘You’ve known Walter all of a few days and you’ve totally nailed it in the gift department. I’m sure he’ll love it.’

Sophie nattered away as she rewrapped the item, but as she did so Jennie’s gaze was dragged to the next person entering the hotel through the main doors.

She didn’t say a word. She didn’t think about it, she just stepped back, turned and walked at pace along the corridor and out of sight.

She reached her office. But she didn’t go inside. She’d be too easy to find.

She doubled back part of the way but turned again, indecisive as to what her next move should be.

She thought about going up to the first floor, or even the top floor, hanging around there until she felt sure the coast was clear.

But she settled for a linen closet instead and went behind one of the racks and leant her back against the wall.

She slid down it until she was on her bottom and her knees were drawn in against her chest.

Her mother hadn’t given up and gone back to England.

She’d just walked into the Wynter Hotel.