Hattie decided that she loved Anna.
Delphi took the decoration from Anna’s fingers. “I know, but it’s a secret.”
“A secret?” Anna’s smile was compelling. “But you’ve written to him?”
“Aunty Lynda helped me. Mommy can’t know.”
Noah raised his eyebrows so presumably he knew nothing about it, either.
Which gave Hattie a whole new problem. If she didn’t know what Delphi wanted for Christmas, how was she supposed to provide it?
Stephanie made an impatient sound. “I cannot believe we’re talking about Santa when this place is falling apart. You do realize that at the moment all you have in our award-winning kitchen are a bunch of junior staff?”
At the mention of the staff, Hattie transferred her attention from Delphi to Stephanie. “First, is Helen all right?”
Stephanie gaped at her. “I’m telling you that you have a crisis, and you’re asking after the welfare of your sous-chef?”
“Chloe said Chef Tucker threw a pan at her.”
“Oh—yes, he did.” Stephanie frowned. “She was crying, and he lost his temper. I don’t condone hurling heavy objects, but I agree with him that she is much too sensitive to be working in a busy kitchen.”
Hattie tried again, more firmly this time. “Is she hurt?”
“I don’t know, and right now that is not the most important thing. It’s time for plain speaking. I’ve done my best to support you since Brent died,” she said, focusing her laser-like gaze on Hattie, “but even I have my limits and I’ve reached them. I’m sad for you, Hattie, that’s the truth. It’s been hard, I’m sure, but maybe it’s time to admit you’re not cut out for this. You’ve tried to step into Brent’s shoes, but you don’t come near to filling them. You’ll never be Brent. And frankly, Brent would turn in his grave if he could see the way you’re running this place.”
Hattie felt the blood drain from her face. Her limbs felt shaky. She felt strange and disconnected.
Her first thought was for her daughter, but fortunately, Anna had Delphi occupied finding a place around the back of the tree for the ornament.
Which left her no excuse to not face Stephanie.
She was tempted to bolt from the room, but then what? There was no one else to handle this. Only her.
And Stephanie was right about one thing. She wasn’t Brent. And she had been trying to be Brent. She’d been trying to carry on his dream for the inn. And that was the problem; she could see that now. She’d been trying to keep things going the way he’d wanted, and in doing so hadn’t followed any of her own instincts. She’d done what was right for him, not what was right for her. And this was where they’d ended up.
And it wasn’t a good place.
Hattie felt Noah’s hand on her back, warm and protective.
She heard him draw breath and knew that if she didn’t speak soon, then he would. And what sort of example would that set for Delphi? That she needed other people to speak for her? To defend her? She didn’t want her daughter growing up thinking her mother couldn’t stand her ground when she needed to or, worse, that she wasn’t able to defend herself when someone spoke to her in such a disrespectful way.
“Stephanie, we need to talk in private. Let’s go to my office.”
“If you want to talk to me, I’ll try and find time for you tomorrow. I’m leaving for the evening.”
“Leaving? Stephanie, we’re in a crisis.”
“A crisis of your making. A crisis that is not my problem. There is nothing in my contract that says I have to donate my personal time to a lost cause.”
“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.”