Anna lifted her hand to end the conversation. “We have company. Hello, Delphi, how are you this morning?”
“I’m very well, thank you.” Delightfully polite, Delphi slid onto the vacant chair next to Erica and handed her a large sheet of paper. “I made you a painting, Aunt Erica.”
Aunt Erica?
Startled, Claudia glanced at Erica’s face and then at Anna, who was watching intently.
Erica said nothing for a moment and then took the painting and studied it. “This is for me?”
“Yes. It’s a Christmas painting.” Delphi knelt on the chair and pointed. “That’s our home, and that’s my mommy, and that’s Rufus, and that’s you standing by the Christmas tree. That’s Noah, although he won’t be here on Christmas Day because he lives somewhere else and he has to help his dad on the farm. Did you know that sharks don’t have bones?”
“I’ve never thought about it. That’s very interesting.” Erica gave the painting her full attention. “What am I holding? A present?”
“Yes. It’s a present for me. I didn’t know how big to make it. If the real present you’ve bought me is smaller than the one in the painting you don’t need to worry. It’s the thought that counts.” Delphi patted her hand reassuringly and Claudia turned laughter into a cough.
She had a feeling that if anyone was going to penetrate that protective wall Erica had built around herself, it would be Delphi.
“This is very special. That’s really me? It’s an extraordinary likeness. And I’m wearing my best boots.” Erica peered closer. “There’s someone on the roof.”
“That’s Santa. He’s coming down the chimney. We’re supposed to be asleep when he comes but drawing people in their beds is hard. It’s just a drawing so I don’t think it will stop the real Santa coming. But you need to write your letter soon because he needs time to get whatever it is you want. Do you know what you want? Because if you do then you could write the letter now. I can help you.”
Claudia decided she would give a lot to see Erica write a letter to Santa. “You haven’t already done it, Erica? Shame on you.”
Erica shot her a look. “I’ve been busy. Have you done yours?”
“I did mine in November. I’m a people pleaser, and if there’s one person it’s important to please then it’s Santa.” Claudia stole the last piece of pancake from Erica’s plate and gave a smug smile. “I like to give Santa plenty of time. I don’t believe in creating unnecessarily tight deadlines.” She had a feeling Erica might kill her later but she’d live with that.
“Santa is busy,” Delphi agreed, “and just in case what you want is difficult to get it would be only fair to tell him soon.”
Erica looked baffled. “Right. I’ll bear that in mind.”
“Do you like snow?”
“I—on occasions, yes.”
Claudia suspected those occasions were usually when she was looking out the window at it, and not going anywhere.
“I love snow,” Delphi said. “Rufus loves snow, too. I have a sled. Do you have a sled?”
“No. And I’ve never been on a sled.”
Delphi’s eyes flew wide. “Never? Not even when you were little?”
“I lived in a city.”
Delphi patted her hand pityingly. “I can teach you. I’d like us to do that together. I have to go and walk Rufus now, but we can write that letter when I come back.” She slid off the chair just as Hattie hurried into the room.
“Delphi, you’re not supposed to be in the restaurant.” She took Delphi’s hand.
“But I did Aunt Erica a painting.”
“I know, but Aunt Erica is a guest and you know we don’t disturb guests.”
Delphi frowned. “Aunt Erica is family.”
“Yes, that’s true—” Hattie floundered and sent them a look of apology. “We’ll leave you to finish your breakfast.”
Delphi was in no hurry to leave. “But later can Aunt Erica see my toys?”
“Aunt Erica is far too busy to see your toys, and—”
“I’d love to see your toys,” Erica said, “if that’s all right. Is that Rufus standing by the door? Not that I know much about dogs, but it looks as if he has his legs crossed out there so maybe you’d better take him for his walk and I’ll see you later.”
Delphi ran across to the dog, and the two of them disappeared.
“Later?” Hattie retrieved Delphi’s hair ribbon from the floor. “You’re not checking out?”
Claudia held her breath and saw Erica glance in her direction. There was a pause as their eyes met, and Claudia wondered if Erica could see how desperately she wanted to stay. Was it visible on her face?
Maybe it was because Erica gave a brief smile. “We have reservations for the whole week,” she said, turning to look at Hattie. “We have a book to discuss, and wine to drink, and conversations to have. And Claudia seems to be having fun in your kitchen, so no, we won’t be checking out.”
“That’s great.” Hattie looked as if she was fighting emotion. “I’m pleased.”
Claudia felt similarly emotional. She’d seen that look. She suspected Erica’s reasons for changing her mind about leaving were more complicated than just a consideration of her friend’s feelings, but still, she was grateful.
And she intended to make the most of the opportunity. “I am having fun in the kitchen. I don’t suppose you’re looking for a chef to cover this week, are you? Because I might know someone who can help.”
“Are you sure?” The tension seemed to seep out of Hattie. “This is your book club week. Your vacation with your friends.”
“There will be plenty of time to talk about books, and anyway, my friends are boring.”
“Thank you,” Anna said mildly. “We love you, too.”
“Do we?” Erica raised an eyebrow. “Personally, I only love her food.”
“I thought we agreed never to tell her that?”
“Well, it’s out there now. She’ll have to live with it. Cupboard love.”
“Refrigerator love,” Anna said. “Range cooker love.”
Erica waved a hand in Claudia’s direction. “I’m already hungry. Go to the kitchen right now and get to work.”
Claudia felt a rush of love for her friends. “I’m going to do that. I have menus to plan with Hattie and a team to motivate. Let’s meet up for a quick lunch later. If I start work now, I’ll have time for that. What are you two going to do?”
“I’m going to take a trip into town to try and finish my Christmas shopping.” Anna reached for her bag and stood up. “While you’re sweating over a hot stove, I will be sipping cinnamon hot chocolate. I might treat myself to that sparkly sweater I spotted in the window.”
Erica shook her head. “Because Anna never saw a sweater she didn’t want to buy.”
Anna shrugged. “It’s Christmas. It would be cruel to leave it there all alone, feeling as if no one cared about it. Unloved. I’m offering it a good home. And after I’ve made the sweater feel at home among all my other sweaters, I will be checking that Chloe doesn’t need housekeeping assistance, and then I will be calling my Pete.” She frowned. “Or trying to call him. He has been unusually elusive this week.”