Page 41 of So This is Christmas

They all sat at the table and Walter explained everything.

He told them about the driver of the other car, the car that had ploughed into Jennie’s.

He told them that Sophie was the passenger and the driver, a so-called friend, was driving recklessly.

She’d wanted to get to her son, she’d known he shouldn’t be driving that fast, but she was scared.

She almost told him to slow down but by then it was too late.

Jennie felt her sharp intake of breath and Nick’s arm around her.

‘The man convicted showed up at Sophie’s work and confronted her in the car park.

Bea heard everything and when she asked Sophie, Sophie told her the whole story.

That awful woman Amber overheard, and has held it over Sophie ever since.

It wasn’t her fault, but I think Sophie had a fresh start at the lodge and the thought of everyone knowing her business frightened her. ’

He told them how Bea had pieced it all together, shared what she knew with Greta and they’d realised the connection between the two women.

Jennie felt numb. The memories of the day her brother was killed came flooding back – the scraping of metal, the screams, the silence, the emergency services and attention of bystanders – all of it.

‘Sophie wasn’t at fault,’ said Nick, looking tentatively in Jennie’s direction. ‘She wasn’t. She wasn’t driving the car. Just like you weren’t at fault and didn’t have any control over the actions of the other driver.’

Walter took Jennie in his arms. ‘Neither you nor Sophie ever managed to move on properly, we all realised that when Bea made the connection. And you know Greta, she had a huge heart. She wanted to help people, to save them.’

‘She did save me,’ Jennie said into his shoulder. ‘You both did.’

‘And we always wanted to do more.’

When Jennie sat up straight Walter handed her a holly-adorned serviette from the holder on the table. She wiped her eyes. ‘Was that why Greta was always trying to get Sophie to come to Vienna, so we would be forced together?’

‘I’m not sure “forced” is the right word,’ said Walter.

‘But she wanted you two to get to know each other, to see that neither of you was to blame, to be able to finally move forwards. Sophie talked to me about it when she realised who you were. She was so upset, but we both agreed that waiting until after Christmas would be best, especially with this being our first Christmas without Greta.’

Sophie was kind and didn’t deserve any of this either.

‘We wanted to enjoy the time together before we sat down and talked about all of it with you,’ said Walter. ‘Amber took that away from us.’

‘So Bea really did give Sophie the necklace?’ Jennie asked.

‘She did,’ said Walter. ‘Sophie told me. They were very close. The way Sophie talks about her leaves me in no doubt about that, plus the fact she came here to tell Greta the devastating news about Bea’s death, the way she reacted when I said Greta was gone…

All of it says a lot about the sort of person she is.

I know you didn’t trust her at first, Jennie, but she never demanded anything, assumed anything – she actually cares.

I can’t always see through people, but I felt I knew her from the moment she arrived. ’

‘I hate that I found out the way I did,’ said Jennie. ‘I wish that woman had never come here.’

‘You and me both.’ Nick put down his glass. ‘It seems all she wanted was to get something over on Sophie.’

‘Oh, it was more than that.’

‘How so?’ Walter asked.

Jennie explained the confusion over the ownership of the Wynter Hotel. ‘If she thought a fortune was up for grabs it would’ve been a huge motivator.’ She grinned in Nick’s direction. ‘She had her sights on you, Nick, I’m sure of it. She checked if there was a wife or partner in the picture.’

‘That explains why she kept touching me when she was telling me how worried she was about Sophie taking advantage.’ He shuddered. ‘Not my type.’

‘Thank goodness for that.’ Jennie still had her head on Walter’s shoulder. She was surrounded by love and her family.

Who did Sophie have in her corner?

‘Where do you think Sophie has gone?’ she asked.

Nick ran a hand through his hair. ‘I don’t know. Should we go to her apartment again? Maybe she’s back there now. Walter has tried calling,’ he said to Jennie. ‘She didn’t pick up.’

‘Maybe we need to give her some time to calm down,’ Walter suggested. ‘We’ll get up bright and early tomorrow and go get our Sophie.’

Jennie gulped. She only hoped that Sophie was okay.

‘I don’t like the idea of her wandering about the city in the dark, all alone,’ said Nick. ‘What’s her number? I’ll try her again.’

Walter looked at his phone and passed on the number.

Jennie suddenly panicked. ‘You don’t think Amber will go after her, do you?’

Walter shook his head. ‘I think her work here is done now she knows we’re not the owners of the hotel.’

Nick had no luck. ‘She’s still not answering.’

‘I don’t think she wants to speak to any of us,’ said Jennie.

‘In time she will,’ Walter assured her.

Jennie only hoped she would be willing to hear them out after they’d all been so stunned they hadn’t been able to see that Sophie had been the one telling the truth, and Amber was the one out to con whoever she could.