The Book Club Hotel(112)

EPILOGUE


Hattie

“That’s the first time in my life I’ve eaten a Christmas lunch that I haven’t cooked for myself. And what a lunch.” Lynda folded her napkin neatly. “What do you think, Roy? Is it the best meal you’ve eaten?”

“Do you honestly expect me to answer that? Do you think I haven’t learned a thing or two after all these years of marriage? If I say it’s the best meal I’ve eaten then I offend you, and if I say it isn’t the best meal I’ve eaten I offend Hattie and Claudia. So I’ll simply say it was an excellent meal.” Roy smiled at Hattie and glanced around the dining room. “And I’m not the only one to think so. All your guests look happy.”

“Good.” Hattie had been rushing between the kitchen and the dining room, checking everyone had what they needed. She was pretty sure her face was the same shade of red as Santa’s suit. “Sorry to neglect you.”

“You’re not neglecting anyone. You’re doing your job, and you’re doing it well.” Lynda took a sip of her wine. “I’ve been talking to your sister. Impressive woman.”

Hattie glanced across the table to Erica, who was laughing at something Jack had said. It turned out that Jack had an encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs, which had made him an immediate hit with Delphi. He, Noah and Erica had kept Delphi entertained during lunch, leaving Hattie to tend to the guests.

It had only been a short time since Erica and Anna had driven away from the inn after their book club week, but Erica had called Hattie every day.

She knew those daily calls would probably become less frequent once Christmas was over and Erica was traveling for work, but still, she treasured each conversation and was enjoying learning more about her sister. They’d moved past the awkwardness of exchanging facts on their past lives and experiences—to Hattie it resembled the beginning of a TV show where they did a recap of what had happened in previous episodes—and their relationship was gradually becoming more comfortable and natural. Erica had confided in her that her relationship with Jack was getting serious so quickly that it terrified her, and Hattie had in turn confessed her true feelings for Noah. She was nervous, too, but if life had taught her anything it was that if you shut out risk you also shut out happiness, and she was determined not to do that. Protecting yourself emotionally meant missing out on so much. For Hattie, love was a risk worth taking and presumably Erica was starting to feel the same way.

Through the large windows of the dining room she could see Noah bending down to scoop up Delphi from the snow where she’d fallen. He’d given her a new sled for Christmas, but Hattie knew that all Delphi really wanted was Noah in her life and it seemed she had that.

And suddenly, she longed to be out there in the snow, playing with her family. Because Noah was her family, she knew that, as was Erica, and she thought about how life could seem so bleak and you hardly knew how to go on, and then somehow managed to deliver something magical that made you appreciate being alive. She knew that there would be days where she would feel sad and miss Brent, but also days when she would feel as happy as she did today. She’d accept both. That was life, as the Bishop sisters would say.

The two women were seated now at their usual table in the window, watching indulgently as Delphi played in the snow with Rufus and Noah. They’d arrived armed with gifts and had already booked another week in both the spring and the summer.

“This place is our second home, honey,” Ellen had said as Hattie had shown them to their favorite room, carefully decorated by Chloe, who had demonstrated a remarkable ability to deliver exactly what each guest needed.

She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Lynda smiling at her.

“Fetch your coat and go outside. Have some fun. You’ve earned it. We can call you if you’re needed.”

Hattie was about to say she couldn’t possibly do that when Delphi pressed her face against the glass of the dining room and waved at her mother, gesturing for her to join them.

Hattie waved back. They’d woken early and opened presents under the tree, and Noah had cooked breakfast and supplied plenty of strong coffee, which both of them needed after a night where sleep had not been a priority.

“Go.” Lynda gave her a gentle nudge. “Take some time with them. You’ve worked hard all morning, now it’s time to enjoy your own Christmas.”

“I really shouldn’t—”

“You definitely should.” Erica added her voice to Lynda’s. “We can handle this. Go and play in the snow.”

“Go.” Anna added her voice to the others. She was wearing a new sweater, this one apparently knitted by her daughter, who was currently engaged in spirited banter with her brother.

Hattie could see what a close family they were by the way they communicated, and the love between Anna and Pete was clear to see. Anna had brought the kids stockings from home, and Chloe had helped her stuff them with gifts at midnight. It was a way of incorporating the old traditions with the new.

Change was unavoidable, Hattie thought, and it was better to embrace it than fight it. Better to see the future as an opportunity rather than a threat.

“By the way, your new chef is not only a genius in the kitchen but she loves reading,” Lynda said. “I’ve already enrolled her in our book club. Our next meeting will be in January. We’re holding it here, in the library, as that worked so well. I hope that’s all right with you. We’re all hoping you’ll join us.”