“Age isn’t a reason to cheat on your partner.”
“I regret that deeply. And I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight. I know I’ll have to work hard to earn back your trust.”
“Don’t bother. I really don’t care what you do or who you do it with. Sleep with who you like. We’re not together.”
“Is there someone else? Are you in love with someone?”
It was typical of John to assume that the only reason she wouldn’t want to be with him was because she’d found someone else.
“There’s no one else. I’m not in love.” Or maybe she was, in a way. She thought about the past few days, the fun she’d had with her friends, the excitement of stepping in and working in the kitchen, the buzz she felt discussing ideas with Hattie. The hope she’d felt when she thought about the future. She was in love with the idea of a new life.
“But you wanted to get married—”
“I’m pleased we didn’t. You weren’t the right man for me. I should probably thank you for making me see that. Now I have to go—I have a job to do. Don’t call again.” She ended the call and blocked his number. Then she read the email she’d been waiting for and went in search of Hattie.
She was talking to Chloe, but excused herself as soon as she saw Claudia.
“Are you okay?”
“I really am.” She felt as if she’d taken a massive step forward. “I need to talk to you about that job description.”
Hattie studied her face. “You don’t think it works?”
“It works.” Claudia took a breath and channeled all her newly discovered energy and confidence. “I’d like to apply.”
Hattie stared at her. “You?”
“I realize that you’ll want to see who else is interested,” Claudia said, “go through an interview process, although I do advise that whoever you consider offering the job to, you ask them to cook something for you because the proof of the pudding really is in the eating in this case. But I’d like to be considered.”
“Wait—” Hattie rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “Your home is California.”
“It’s not my home. I have a rented apartment, which is easily dealt with. I’m free to go anywhere I’d like to go—” she paused “—and I’d love that to be here. And I don’t want you to feel pressure. It’s important that this time around you hire exactly the person you think would be right for the job. Someone who can make your vision for this place come alive.”
“Claudia—” Hattie interrupted her. “If you’re telling me you’d like the job—that you want our arrangement to be permanent, then the answer is yes.” She gave a disbelieving laugh. “A big yes.”
“Really? You probably want to think about it.”
“I don’t need to think about it. I’d love you to join the team. How could you doubt it? We think alike. We want the same things. We’re both excited to try new things. I can’t wait to brainstorm more ideas with you.” Hattie’s eyes shone. “You coming here is the best thing that has happened to me in ages.”
Claudia felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn’t been anyone’s best thing in a long time.
“You need to get out more.”
“I intend to.” Hattie gave a smile. “My big date is tomorrow.”
“Right. Hair and makeup time.” Claudia straightened her uniform. She felt energetic and ready to go, as if someone had changed her batteries. “So you’re interested in making this permanent?”
“More than interested. I’ll sort out a contract right away. What about accommodation? After you and your friends check out, we’re fully booked but you’re welcome to stay in the Sugar Shack behind the inn. It’s not fancy, but it’s warm and comfortable. Brent intended to do it up and turn it into a rental to give us another strand of income, but Chef Tucker insisted that we provide him with accommodation as part of his package, so he was living there. You’re welcome to it.”
“I don’t want to deprive you of an income generator.”
“For now it’s sitting empty. I’d love you to use it. I’ll ask Chloe to make sure it is cleaned and stocked.”
“Chloe has enough to do. I’ll do it myself this week. It will be fun. Thank you.” She was already planning what she could do with it to make it feel like home.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.” Hattie sighed. “You’ve saved me.”
Claudia thought about the kitchen, with its gleaming pans and spotless work surfaces. She thought about the first moment she’d seen the inn, cloaked in snow and dressed for the holidays.
In a way, she hadn’t been honest with John. She was in love, but not with a man. She was in love with a place, this special, wonderful place and the people who worked here. She was in love with the promise of a future, a future that excited her.
She took a breath and smiled at Hattie. “I’m completely sure that you’re the one who has saved me.”
TWENTY-THREE
Hattie
Noah picked her up—not in the family truck with Peterson’s Christmas Trees emblazoned on the side, but in his own car, which was sturdy enough to cope with all weathers and all challenges. A bit like Noah himself, Hattie thought as she slid into the passenger seat. She was sure that somewhere behind her Lynda and Delphi had their faces pressed to the window, watching. She didn’t look. This was nerve-racking enough without acknowledging her audience.
“Are you warm enough?” Noah looked at her, gloved hands on the steering wheel as he waited for her to fasten her seat belt. The streetlight sent a wash of light across the interior of the car, highlighting the thick layers of his hair and his broad shoulders. His gaze lingered on hers for a moment and then he smiled. “You look great.”
“Thank you.” She decided not to admit that Erica and Anna, with Delphi acting as chief assistant, had spent an hour on her hair and makeup.
“You also look nervous. It’s just dinner, Hattie. A relaxed evening with a friend. And it’s no one’s business but ours.” He reached across and squeezed her hand and she sat for a moment, feeling the reassuring pressure, and thinking about that night in the barn, remembering the heat, the need, the sheer desperation and the giddy realization that she was still capable of feeling something that wasn’t sad or dark.
And she realized that she wasn’t nervous of what people would think, but of what she might feel.
“A relaxed evening sounds good. Just what I need.” She croaked out the words, feeling a delicious rush of anticipation. Would she even be able to eat? There was so much tension in her stomach she doubted there was room for food. “How is your mother?”
He let go of her hand, started the engine and headed toward the road. “Annoyingly interfering, but don’t worry about that. Hopefully, she won’t follow us to the restaurant and spy on us through the window.”
She laughed at the thought of it. “I love your mother.”
“She loves you back.” He stopped at an intersection. “But that doesn’t mean she isn’t capable of overstepping.”