“What?” Anna’s shriek carried along the length of the corridor. “That’s the most romantic thing I ever heard.”
“This is me we’re talking about, so it probably won’t be,” Erica said. “You know I don’t do romantic.”
“That’s a shame.” Hattie was grinning. “I was planning on filling the room with giant pink heart-shaped balloons and I’ve already asked Claudia to make a cake—Erica loves Jack.”
“Don’t forget to fling rose petals over the bed.” Anna was smiling, too. “This is great news. If you get lucky, you might even be snowed in for Christmas.”
“I wonder if it’s too late to check in somewhere else?” Erica wondered what sin she’d committed to end up surrounded by romantics. “And I don’t want to be snowed in. That would be inconvenient.”
“You’re far too practical.”
“And you’re too much of a dreamer, particularly for a woman of forty.”
“Almost forty.” Anna lifted her chin. “And those forty years have taught me that romance doesn’t have an age limit.”
Erica thought about herself, and about Jack, and thought that Anna might possibly be right.
Not that she was going to admit that.
Instead, she looked at Hattie. “You see what I have to deal with?”
“I’ve given you the Mountain Suite,” Hattie said. “It has an incredible view. I’ll stock a fridge with champagne. You won’t have to leave the bed.”
Erica didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “Are you in league with Anna?”
“Not exactly in league, but like Anna, I’ll take a happy ending wherever I can find one.”
Erica had seen Hattie arriving back from her date with Noah and had a feeling her own happy ending wasn’t too far in the future.
“The champagne is a nice touch but if I see a rose petal anywhere I’m checking out.” She turned to Anna. “We’re going to drive from Manhattan. Apparently, Jack often does that trip to ski in Vermont. We could visit you and Pete on the way if you’re around, providing you promise not to interrogate him.”
“I can’t promise that,” Anna said. “It so happens that we won’t be around. We’re going away.”
“For Christmas? You always stay home for Christmas.”
“Wasn’t it your suggestion that I change some of our traditions? I decided that instead of Christmas at home, we’d come here. The kids are excited, and I’m even more excited now that I know I’m finally going to meet sexy Jack.”
Erica’s idea of a quiet, discreet few days away was vanishing into the ether. Was it a good idea to introduce Jack to her friends at this delicate point in their relationship? Maybe not. But on the other hand, if this really was a relationship, then it was going to have to include her friends. “Are you going to embarrass me?”
“I will try very hard not to, but it would be wrong of me to promise.” A dimple appeared at the corner of Anna’s mouth. “Apologies in advance.”
“Claudia is planning a special Christmas lunch menu,” Hattie said. “I can seat you separately, unless you’d rather share a table?”
Erica gave her friend a look. “If Anna promises to behave, we can share a table. If Jack is going to get to know me properly, he might as well know the truth about me early on. Including my questionable taste in friends.”
“The kids would love that,” Anna said. “Meg will fight to sit next to you, although she will do it discreetly while trying to look outwardly cool.”
“I’d like to sit next to Meg.” Erica glanced at Hattie. “Where will Delphi be sitting?”
“I always make myself available for guests,” Hattie said, “so Delphi usually tags along with me. It’s pretty informal. She and I usually eat in the evening, when everything has calmed down.”
“Why doesn’t she join us at the table? That way you can focus on work without worrying about her. She can sit on the other side of me.” Erica tried to sound casual, but she could see Anna gaping at her. “What? I’m relying on her instruction to know how I’m supposed to behave on Christmas Day.”
“You’re sliding comfortably into the role of Aunt Erica.” Anna winked at her. “I’ll sit next to sexy Jack so that I can get to know him better.”
“In that case, I’m sure our relationship will be over by the evening.” It felt strange talking about Jack as if they were a couple, although if she was honest with herself they’d been a couple for a long time. It was just that she’d refused to acknowledge it.
There isn’t anyone else, Erica.
“So that’s decided, then.” Hattie reached for Erica’s suitcase. “Technically, you are still here as a guest, not as a family member, so I will take your case downstairs for you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Erica took the case back. “If you want to help someone, you could help Anna carry all her new sweaters.”
They headed along the corridor and down the stairs, where Delphi was playing with Rufus.
“Aunt Erica!” She sprinted across to Erica and put her arms around her, squeezing tightly. “I hate it when people leave.”
Erica ruffled her hair and felt a lump in her throat. “I hate leaving.” She crouched down so that she was eye level with Delphi. “But I will be back for Christmas.” Rufus put his paw on her cream coat and she made a mental note to buy herself a more dog-friendly wardrobe.
Delphi held on to her. “Do you promise you’ll be back?”
Erica didn’t hesitate. “I promise.”
“Did you know that veggie eating dinosaurs had eyes on the sides of their head?”
Erica smiled. “I didn’t know that, but I’m going to study hard before I see you next.”
She was already looking forward to it.
TWENTY-SIX
Hattie
“Sorry I took so long. One more story turned into about ten more stories and I need to learn to be firmer. I know it’s Christmas Eve and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy, but I didn’t think she’d ever go to sleep.” Hattie collapsed onto the sofa next to Noah, who was stretched out comfortably. Her heart gave a little thump. She saw him all the time, but not like this. Not sprawled in her living room as if he was part of their lives. “What are you reading?”
“Delphi’s dinosaur book.” He closed the book and put it back on the table. “Did you know that a stegosaurus had a very small head compared to its body?”
“Yes. I know every word of those books by heart.” Hattie leaned her head back against the sofa. “Please don’t bombard me with any more dinosaur facts. Sometimes I dream about dinosaurs.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You dream about dinosaurs?”
“They play a big role in my life. No ballet or dolls for me.”
“Is that right?” He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “Maybe it’s time we gave you something else to dream about.” His mouth hovered close to hers, and the look in his eyes was enough to make her forget the subject of their conversation.