Killer Christmas Cozies

by Jenna St James

  Anger flashed in Margot’s brown eyes. “I have no idea whose bottle this is.” She thrust the full glass of champagne at Chloe. “We better share this. We don’t want to go too crazy on the calories our first night here.”

  “Oh, Lord help me,” Ophelia said loudly. “I may be killing someone before the week is out!”

  Bitsie and I giggled. Poor Helen was still scrubbing away on her hands and knees.

  “Omigosh!” Chloe suddenly exclaimed from behind the counter. “Do you remember that hideous girl we went to college with named Helen? She was always stalking us on campus, wanting to be our friend, trying to pledge with us. Really big girl with greasy brown hair.”

  Margot pretended to gag. “Now I do! Why would you even be thinking of her?”

  Chloe shrugged. “I always think of her when I hear the name Helen.”

  Helen got up from where she was scrubbing and went to rinse off the rag. Margot’s eyes following her the whole time. “Well, I can guarantee you this girl isn’t that Helen. This one’s still plump, but she’s not bad looking. And the hair’s all wrong.”

  My mouth dropped in shock. I looked over at Bitsie…she had the same look I did.

  Helen didn’t say a word, just scurried out from the kitchen.

  “I have home-made sugar cookies,” Ophelia announced suddenly as she grabbed a tin from the food items we’d carried in. “Who wants some?”

  Margot and Chloe jumped back as though they’d been slapped. “Keep them away!”

  They took off at a fast pace and made their way down the stairs.

  “Nice,” Bitsie chuckled and gave Ophelia a high-five.

  I smiled. Bitsie and Ophelia were a lot alike. They weren’t going to let Margot and Chloe gang up on Helen.

  “Thank you,” Helen said. “Women like that make me nervous. I never know how to act around them.”

  “Don’t you worry,” Ophelia said. “We won’t let them get away with being ugly.”

  “Well, we better get unpacked,” I said. “Are you guys going to the chateau later for drinks?”

  Bitsie nodded. “Wanna walk down together?”

  “You bet,” Ophelia said.

  “Helen and I will go change real quick,” Bitsie said.

  I waved my hand in the air. “No hurry. We need to change too.”

  “Take the bedroom to the left of the shared bathroom,” Helen said softly. “We’re in the bedroom on the right.”

  Chapter 3

  “That was a little weird, right?” I flung my suitcase on one of the twin beds in the room. “I mean, it started out great. But then it got weird, right?”

  “Stop reading into everything,” Ophelia chided. “Margot and Chloe are a drag, but I like Bitsie and Helen. We can have fun with them this week.”

  I sighed. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  Ten minutes later, Ophelia and I finished unpacking. We then changed into short, knee-length party dresses, fluffed up our hair, and retouched our makeup.

  I found a blinking Christmas bulb necklace with matching earrings in my stash of Christmas jewelry and put them on. “There. Now I’m ready.”

  Ophelia shook her head at me. “Garish! Let’s go see if Bitsie and Helen are ready.”

  Grinning, I grabbed my black clutch and black wool cape and followed Ophelia up the stairs.

  “I love your matching boots!” Bitsie exclaimed as we walked toward the kitchen.

  I had on a pair of silver, ankle-length boots that zipped on the sides with three-inch heels to match my emerald green party dress. Ophelia’s boots were the exact same boots, only black in color. We’d splurged last year during an after-Christmas sale from one of the department stores.

  “They do look amazing,” Helen agreed as she handed Ophelia and me each a flute of champagne after we’d set our coats and purses down. “But I think your jewelry is awesome.”

  I laughed and clutched my blinking necklace. “Thank you, Helen.” I looked pointedly at Ophelia when I said it.

  Helen had changed into a black maxi-skirt with a red and white shapeless sweater. Silver earrings, necklace, and bracelet adorned her slim body. I was having a hard time pegging Helen’s age. She looked our age but dressed like she was twenty years older.

  I took a small sip of my champagne. “This is really good. Thank you for sharing.”

  Helen smiled. “I love champagne. We brought quite a lot of it.”

  “Can I ask how old you are?” I asked.

  “Me?” Helen blinked in surprise. “Oh, yes. I’m thirty. I’ll be thirty-one in February.”

  “And I’m thirty-seven,” Bitsie said. She was dressed in a knee-length, tight black skirt with a clingy red sweater that hugged her ample chest. Her black tights had silver studs that sparkled like diamonds in certain light, and her black suede ankle boots were cute and stylish. “And you ladies?”

  “Twenty-eight,” Ophelia and I parroted.

  “Well, now that we’ve got our ages covered,” Bitsie laughed as she downed the last of her champagne, “how about we go see what activities the chateau has planned. Maybe meet some men.” Bitsie looked down at our hands. “I don’t see rings. You both single?”

  Tears welled in my eyes, and I blinked them back before anyone could see. No way was I ruining my mascara over a cheating guy.

  Ophelia slipped her arm around me. More for comfort than anything, I knew. “We’re both single and looking!”

  Bitsie did a little victory jig. “Perfect. So are we. I say we go see what we can scare up.”

  “Where are Margot and Chloe?” I asked. “Are they not going over?”

  Bitsie snorted. “They said perfection can’t be rushed. They’ll be over later.”

  “How about we take a picture?” Ophelia said as she held up her phone. We all smiled into the camera as Ophelia snapped a photo.

  “I’m going to upload it to my social media,” Ophelia said. “Do you guys care?”

  “That’s fine,” Bitsie and Helen both said.

  “I hear the service is spotty,” Bitsie said. “When I checked into the chateau, they said they have computers available for guests because cell service is so bad.”

  “Yeah,” Ophelia agreed. “They told me the same thing.”

  Once the photo was uploaded, we slipped on our coats and headed outside to walk the short distance to the chateau. The air was chilly, but at least it had stopped snowing.

  “I can’t get over how different the air is here,” Ophelia said.

  I chuckled. “I didn’t want to be the first to admit it, but I’m kinda struggling just to walk.”

  “That’s what happens,” Helen said, “when you are this high up in elevation. Your bodies aren’t used to the lower air pressure and decreased oxygen. Give it time.”

  I didn’t have the heart to remind her we’d only be here one week. I doubt our bodies would adjust by then.

  “Good evening, ladies,” a handsome elf said as he opened the front door to the chateau. “I hope you enjoy your evening.”

  Ophelia ran her red fingernail lightly down his face. “If all the elves look like you, we sure will.”

  The elf grinned at her.

  “I like your style,” Bitsie said as she hooked her arm through Ophelia’s. “I think you and I are gonna get along just fine this week.”

  I rolled my eyes at Helen.

  Helen giggled then leaned in close. “I constantly feel like I’m chaperoning Bitsie. You know what I mean?”

  I nodded my head as I watched Bitsie and Ophelia make their way over to the bar. “I do. Although, I envy women like Bitsie and Ophelia. They are so confident.”

  “I say the same thing. Bitsie’s always trying to get me to loosen up. She teases me that the old-maid librarian thing isn’t really true.”

  “C’mon,” I said as I grabbed her hand. “Let’s go see what we’re drinking tonight.”

  The chateau’s expansive foyer was large enough to hold at least two hundred people. There were already eighty o
r more people milling around the foyer laughing and drinking and having a good time. Christmas music was flowing through the speakers, and a beautifully adorned twelve-foot Christmas tree stood in the middle of the room. Floor to ceiling windows along the back wall gave a breathtaking view to the partially lit-up mountain.

  We sidled up behind Bitsie and Ophelia, who were shamelessly flirting with the bartender.

  “I think,” Ophelia said coyly, “I’ll have the Santa’s Little Ho Ho Ho.”

  I snickered at the ridiculous play on words. “Only you.”

  Ophelia grinned. “What?”

  “Good choice,” the bartender smiled. “And for you lovely ladies?”

  “I’ll have the same,” Bitsie winked.

  “Champagne,” I said quickly.

  “Champagne,” Helen echoed.

  “So how did you guys hear about this place?” Bitsie asked as the bartender left to fill our orders.

  “Holly and I decided to get away for a while,” Ophelia said diplomatically, not wanting to call attention to my recent breakup. “So I went online and looked at getaway vacations. This place was beautiful, affordable, and I liked the idea of the shared condo.”

  Bitsie threw up a hand. “Me, too. I showed Helen the website and we booked later that day.”

  “So you really haven’t been here before?” I asked Helen. “I know you said you were born and raised in Colorado Springs, but this place is only an hour from there. You never traveled this way?”

  “No.”

  Her abrupt answer caught me off guard.

  “And I’m actually from Cheyenne, Wyoming,” Bitsie said. “I moved to Colorado Springs in October of last year when I took the job with the library.”

  “Here you go,” the bartender said as he set our glasses down in front of us. “If you need a bite to eat, the refreshment table is over there by the stone fireplace and grand piano. Enjoy your night.”

  Ophelia slipped him a tip—complete with her phone number—and the four of us walked over to the refreshment area.

  A commotion by the front door caught our attention and we watched as Margot and Chloe breezed into the foyer, laughing and calling out to people. Margot was dressed in a shimmery silver sleeveless mini-dress with matching six-inch strappy shoes, while Chloe was identically dressed, except her dress and shoes were shimmery gold. I hoped like heck neither girl would have to bend over the whole night…otherwise, we were gonna be in for a sight.

  “They must be freezing,” Helen laughed softly. “How do you suppose they walk in the snow in those shoes?”

  I was secretly impressed with their balance and core strength. I hadn’t peg them for it.

  “Mmmm,” Bitsie moaned as she bit the head off a gingerbread. “This is delicious.”

  I turned my attention from Margot and Chloe and grabbed a Christmas tree sugar cookie off the tray. “These are delicious.” I had to refrain from shoving the whole cookie in my mouth. “I mean, not as good as yours, Ophelia.”

  Ophelia grinned. “That’s more like it.”

  “Yep,” Helen agreed. “Nowhere near as good as yours.”

  “Look,” Ophelia said, pointing to a poster above the table. “They’re having a Christmas Eve talent show tomorrow night.”

  “You lovely ladies should sign up.”

  My mouth dropped when I turned to see who’d spoken. He was a cross between a golden Adonis and heavenly angel. His short, sandy hair had a slight window’s peak that only enhanced his attractiveness. His vivid green eyes shined mischievously, and when he flashed us a smile, his perfectly straight, white teeth seemed to sparkle off the lights in the room.

  “Holy cow,” Ophelia whispered behind me.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Bitsie added.

  He chuckled and stuck out his hand. “Allow me introduce myself. My name is—”

  “Andrew!”

  Margot and Chloe ran up alongside the man and threw their arms around him. He smiled and gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.

  “I was about to introduce myself,” he chided them softly then winked at us. “My name is Andrew Bishop, and I’m one of the ski instructors here at Winterdale Chateau and Ski Resort.”

  “Andrew used to ski professionally,” Chloe gushed. “We’ve known him for years. Back when he skied for Winterdale University, before he turned pro. When he left the pro circuit, he decided to come back here and work as an instructor.”

  Helen took a step backward and stepped on my toe.

  “Sorry,” she whispered as she ducked her head and took another step backward.

  “Are you all right?” I asked.

  Helen nodded. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.” She turned and fled toward the front of the foyer.

  “My name is Ophelia Lavolier, and this is my friend, Holly Anderson. And these are our new friends, Bitsie Carpenter, and—”

  Ophelia trailed off when she realized Helen wasn’t standing there anymore.

  “Helen went to the restroom,” I said lamely.

  Margot rested a hand on Andrew’s chest. “Oh, Andrew, do you remember that hideous Helen girl who used to follow you around everywhere on campus like a love-sick puppy, writing you love notes?”

  Andrew’s cheeks and ears turned pink. “How could I forget? Gave me nightmares for years.”

  I frowned. There was nothing more unattractive than a person being ugly to someone else. I may not know these people very well, but as far as I was concerned, it was unforgiveable to poke fun at another person. It was the first rule I taught in my classroom.

  “Don’t worry,” Margot said quickly, “the Helen that’s here isn’t the same Helen.”

  “Yes,” Chloe added. “This one is blonde and somewhat decent looking.”

  “Thank goodness,” Andrew said. “I’m not sure I could handle a stalker right now.”

  I’d had about enough of the bullying. By the pinched lips on Ophelia’s face, I’d say she’d had about enough, too. “It was nice meeting you, but we should get back to the party.”

  “Not before signing up for the Christmas Eve talent show,” Andrew said. “You simply must be in the show this year!”

  Must we?

  “C’mon, Holly,” Ophelia nudged me with her hip. “Let’s sign up.”

  “I’ll do something with you guys,” Bitsie said. “I’m not a very good singer, but maybe we can think of something.”

  “I know,” Andrew said, looking at Chloe and Margot. “Remember when every year at the Christmas party the fraternity would throw we all did the Santa Baby routine, and I pretended to slide down the chimney in my Santa suit?”

  Chloe jumped up and down. “And we wore those tiny little Mrs. Claus outfits. We looked so amazing.”

  Andrew turned to us. “I think we have a bunch of Mrs. Claus outfits in our prop room. Every year someone does that routine. What do you say? Wanna do the Santa Baby routine?” He winked at me. “Have me slide down your chimney?”

  Please don’t open your mouth and talk anymore.

  “Sure,” Ophelia said. “Sounds like fun.”

  Andrew clapped his hands together. “Perfect. I’ll let the manager know. He’s running the talent show and likes to keep the acts a secret.”

  “Clive is a stickler for being in control,” Chloe joked.

  “You know the manager personally?” Bitsie asked, pushing her dark glasses up her nose.

  Chloe lifted her chin to look further down her nose. “I should hope so. He’s my brother.”

  And now we know the true reason why you stay here for free. Your brother is the hotel manager here.

  “I’ll sign us up before someone else decides to do the routine,” Andrew said. “Let’s meet back here in the foyer around nine tomorrow morning. I don’t give my first lesson until eleven. That should give us plenty of time to practice.”

  Chloe and Margot each grabbed one of his arms and they all three made their way toward the front of the foyer. I had to admit, as heads turned their
way, they made a stunning picture.

  “Wonder what’s keeping Helen?” Bitsie said.

  “I’m right here.” Helen replied as she sidled up next to us, a new drink in her hand. “I just needed to use the restroom and get a fresh drink.”

  “Well, while you were away,” Bitsie said, “we decided to sign up for the Christmas Eve talent show tomorrow night.”

  “We’re going to do a Santa Baby routine,” Ophelia said. “Andrew said there were plenty of Mrs. Claus outfits to choose from.”

  “And let me guess,” Helen said quietly, “Andrew is going to be the Santa Claus that slides down the chimney?”

  “Correct!” Ophelia exclaimed.

  I gave Helen a hard look. Something about the way she acted and talked told me she was holding on to a very big secret.

  Chapter 4

  “I think there’s something up with Helen and Margot and Chloe.” I zipped my boots up over my reindeer-print leggings. Grabbing my reindeer-print red sweater off the bed, I smoothed it over my body then went to look in the mirror. “Now this says Christmas fun!”

  Ophelia snorted. “I don’t think that’s what the reindeer are thinking. And what do you mean something is up with Helen and the mean girls?”

  “Ophelia! That’s not a very kind thing to say.”

  Ophelia threw her arms up in the air. “When did I ever claim to be nice?”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “True. Anyway, I’m not exactly sure, but I just get a weird feeling there. Did you notice?”

  “Nope.” Ophelia said. “Of course, I had a couple drinks last night, and with the altitude change, it did some crazy things to me.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Me, too. That’s why I stuck with water after my glass of champagne. This altitude change is rough.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about those girls. You and I both know the type. They peaked years ago and now they have to struggle to hold on. They want everyone to think they still have it…but I noticed the fine lines and wrinkles years of partying has taken around their eyes.”

  I shuttered. “Why would you constantly want to live in the past? I’ve never been happier than I am right now. I mean, I know I’m going through a hard time with rat-fink having broken my heart, but that will pass. I love my job, I love my friendship with you, I love the life we lead. I’m happy right now where I am.”