The Book Club Hotel(61)

“What about your colleagues? The people you work with?” Hattie’s mouth was so dry she could hardly form the words. Anger made her limbs shake. “We’re a team. You’re just going to walk away and leave the team to struggle?”

“I’m leaving them to do their jobs, the way I do mine. I’m going to give myself time to calm down, and then if I feel up to working I’ll come back tomorrow.” She turned toward the door and Hattie felt her heart rate double.

She had to do this right now.

“If you walk through that door now, I don’t want you back here tomorrow.” The words left her mouth in a rush. It was like jumping from a cliff into freezing water.

“Is this a joke?” Stephanie stared at her. “There is no way you’ll be able to keep this place going without me.”

Hattie’s heart was hammering. “We’ll manage.”

“How? You haven’t got a clue. And, she—” Stephanie gestured to Chloe “—won’t be any help at all. Also, can I remind you that as of now you have no chef and possibly no sous-chef? If you lose your housekeeper, too, you might as well shut down.”

The sous-chef. Hattie still needed to check on Helen, but she needed to do this first.

There was a knot of panic in her stomach.

“It’s true that I’ve been trying to run things the way Brent did, but that ends now.”

Stephanie relaxed slightly. “You’re going to sell up. Wise decision.”

“I won’t be selling up, but nor will I be running the place following Brent’s blueprint. From now on I’m making the decisions. And I need a team who share my vision for the place as somewhere cozy and welcoming. I think we both know that working here isn’t a good fit for you.”

Stephanie’s cheeks flushed dark. “What I know is that you’re not the right person to be running this business. And without me, this place will be closed within months.”

“I’m willing to take that chance.”

Stephanie’s mouth tightened. “So that’s it, then. Well, good luck to you. You’re going to need it.” She turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Hattie felt as if her head was going to explode.

The panic in her stomach grew more intense. Bands of pressure squeezed her chest.

What had she done? She had rooms booked through until January. People had treated themselves to a Christmas stay at the inn. They expected festive sparkle, comfortable rooms and food they’d always remember. And she’d just lost two of her key members of staff.

Stephanie was right. They’d be closed within months.

The panic shifted from her stomach to her throat. She probably should have done more to placate Stephanie because now she’d made her situation worse.

It was Erica who spoke first. She stepped forward and Hattie saw kindness in her eyes.

“I don’t know who that woman is, but she clearly had nothing positive to bring to the situation. Letting her walk through that door is going to turn out to be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.”

“Is it?” Hattie was shaking. Part of her wanted to sprint after Stephanie and apologize, but Erica was standing in her way.

“It’s fine.” Her voice was steady and matter-of-fact. “Everything is fine. We can help.”

“You can’t. No one can help. It’s a good thing you’re checking out.” Hattie made a wild attempt at humor. “I’ve just lost my housekeeper, and it looks as if the restaurant will be closed. Welcome to Christmas at the Maple Sugar Inn. It promises to be memorable, for all the wrong reasons.”

What had she done? Dear God, what had she done?

Delphi emerged from behind the tree. “That’s life,” she said, in a solemn and perfect imitation of the Bishop sisters.



THIRTEEN


Erica

Faced with a crisis, Erica felt more in control than she had for weeks.

The subject of her father, making contact with her sister, the confusing emotions—that all tied her up in knots. But this—this, she could handle. This was a crisis that required clear thinking and action, and that was her strength. She had the ability to cut through emotions and drama and see what needed to be done. She knew she could help Hattie.

And maybe she could calm her conscience at the same time because she felt awful about the way she’d reacted when Hattie had knocked on her door. It hadn’t crossed her mind that Hattie might know of her existence, but clearly she’d been told about Madeleine.

She heard her mother’s voice in her head.

We each chose a name. He chose Madeleine, I chose Erica. Madeleine Erica. You became Erica the moment he walked out that door.

She owed Hattie an apology, but that would have to wait because right now she didn’t like what she was seeing.

Hattie had held it together well during that unpleasant exchange with Stephanie, but now she looked as if she might crumble on the spot. Stephanie’s vicious attack had made so many holes in her self-esteem you could almost see the confidence draining away. Her eyes had a glassy look and her breathing was fast and shallow.

Erica reckoned she was a few short breaths away from a full-blown panic attack.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Noah got there first.

“You handled that well, Hattie. I almost cheered. I bet everyone else did, too.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. Everything is fine.”