The Christmas Sisters

by Sarah Morgan

  “You’re working this afternoon?”

  Posy exchanged looks with her father. “I’m taking Luke ice climbing.”

  Suzanne felt the blood drain out of her face. The tips of her fingers tingled. “Have you checked the forecast? Leave a note of your route. Let us know what time you’ll be back.”

  “I will leave my intended route with Dad, but you know what it’s like at this time of year—things change as we go along. Please don’t worry. I’m good at what I do. It’s the reason they pay me.”

  “There’s not enough money in the world to make it worth you taking a risk.”

  Posy crossed the room and hugged her. “We’ll be fine. Luke doesn’t know the area, but when it comes to ice climbing, the man has serious skills. Not that I intend to tell him that, because his ego is doing just fine without the boost.” She walked to the door and Suzanne called out to her.

  “Thanks for the logs, sweetheart.”

  “You’re welcome. Now go and put your feet up and have a cup of tea. Ho ho ho, away I a-go.” Posy left the room and they heard her feet clattering on the stairs and her voice calling for Bonnie.

  Suzanne sank onto the edge of the bed. “Did you know she was going ice climbing?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you didn’t mention it to me.”

  “I didn’t want to worry you. Neither did she.”

  “I’m officially worried. How could I not be?”

  She felt like this every time Posy went into the mountains. She couldn’t concentrate until she knew she was safely home.

  Stewart sat down next to her. “Posy is a skilled climber and she’s careful.”

  “She’s too much like her mother.”

  “Be thankful she isn’t like her father.” Stewart stood up. “Then we’d really be in trouble.”

  Suzanne didn’t argue with that. She’d tried hard to like Rob because of Cheryl, but it hadn’t been easy and Stewart had actively disliked the man.

  If Cheryl hadn’t met Rob, would she be alive now?

  It was a ridiculous way to think, because without Rob there would be no Hannah, Beth and Posy.

  “This whole thing with Hannah—” She took his hand. “I’m overcompensating, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, but I understand.”

  She knew he did. She also knew that the loss hadn’t only been hers. Stewart had lost the life they’d planned together, the future they’d mapped out so carefully.

  And then she felt guilty, because no matter how many compromises or changes they’d had to make, they’d lived and they had a beautiful family.

  “Hannah guards herself. Shuts everyone out. And I can’t blame her. No child should have to live through what she lived through.”

  “They all lived through it, Suzy, not just Hannah.”

  “I know, but Posy was so little she barely remembers it. Beth remembers it, but her reaction was what you’d expect it to be. Hannah was older. It was different. More complicated. And some of that was down to her relationship with Rob.” It made her heart ache to think of it. “All I want is for us to be a normal family. But we’re not, are we? We never have been. There is so much damage.” And not just to her family. She took a deep breath. “It would have been twenty-five years this week.”

  It had been a day much like this one, she remembered. Changeable weather. The mountains playing a game of hide-and-seek behind the clouds.

  And then the accident.

  Five people had gone up the mountain and only one had walked away.

  It was one anniversary she wouldn’t be celebrating.

  7

  Posy

  The Glensay Inn was a traditional Highland coaching inn with stone floors, rustic wooden tables and a beamed ceiling. A log fire crackled and danced in the hearth and hurricane lamps hung either side of the bar. In the summer people spilled out into the garden, but on a freezing winter’s night like tonight the place was crowded, the atmosphere thickened with the smell of whiskey and locally brewed beer. A stranger venturing inside out of the cold would find warmth not only by the fire, but also in the welcome.

  Posy and Luke fought their way to an empty table close to the fire.

  It took about five minutes to cross the room because she knew almost everyone there and they all had something to share with her about her dad, her mom, the mountain rescue team and the weather forecast.

  When they finally reached the table, a roar of laughter had them both glancing toward the bar.

  “Someone is having a good time.” Luke unzipped his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair.

  “I hope you weren’t expecting somewhere private.” She unwound her scarf and waved at Geoff, the landlord, who raised his hand in return. Ignoring the throng of people trying to get his attention, he walked across with two bottles of beer.

  “This will get you both started.”

  “Thanks, Geoff. You’re my hero. How is your knee?” Posy kissed him on the cheek and Geoff flushed to the roots of his hair.

  “Playing up, but that’s the cold weather. I shouldn’t complain, but I do it anyway because this place gives me a captive audience. I hear she took you ice climbing, Luke.”

  “She did.” Luke settled himself by the fire. “We climbed three long pitches of continuous ice and my muscles are screaming. And watching the way she smacked her ax into that ice—well, let’s just say I’m going to be careful not to upset her.”

  Geoff put the bottles on the table. “If you want a mountain guide, you can’t do better than our Posy.”

  Our Posy. As if she was somehow the property of the local community, like the books in the library.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Geoff.”

  “She knows her way round these hills like I know my way round a beer barrel. There were folks who didn’t take her seriously when she first joined the team.” He rested his hands on the back of Posy’s chair, settling in to tell his story. “Back then it was mostly six-foot men, and there was Posy, this wee wisp of a thing with her hair in bunches.”

  “I never wore my hair in bunches.” Posy shrugged out of her coat, showering snow onto the floor. “And the ‘wee wisp’ would love to be able to get to her beer, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Geoff stepped to one side and let her sit down. “She’s the best mountain guide in these parts.”

  “Hey! Can we get some service around here?” A man at the bar bellowed and Geoff’s benevolent expression was replaced by a scowl.

  “You’ll have to excuse Callum. Why did you ever date him, Posy?”

  “Lapse in judgment.” And she wasn’t ever going to be allowed to forget it.

  That, she thought, was the major downside of living in a small community. You could never escape your mistakes, and Callum was most definitely her biggest one.

  As Geoff walked away from them, she saw Luke glance toward the bar, where Callum was holding forth, and then back to her.

  “You dated that guy?”

  “What can I say? I was twenty-two. I didn’t know any better. We broke up after six months.” Thinking about it was embarrassing. Talking about it, more so.

  His brows rose. “It lasted six months?”

  “Half of that was me trying to work out how to break it off without having to move to a different part of the country.”

  “I can imagine relationships can get a little awkward in a community of this size.”

  “You have no idea. Callum was the first and only time I dated anyone from the village.”

  “Who do you date now?”

  “Mostly I seduce the people who rent the barn, and when I’m done with them, I drop their bodies in the loch. Slàinte!” She tapped her bottle against his, unwilling to admit how barren her love life was. “To a great day in the mountains. You’re not a bad climber, Luke Whittaker.”
/>   “Thank you. You’re not bad yourself for a wee wisp of a thing.”

  She paused with the beer bottle halfway to her mouth and narrowed her eyes. “Are you going to give me problems?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Thanks for the warning.” She drank, and the beer was cool and delicious. All in all, she was in a good mood. Climbing did that for her. She’d inherited that love from her parents.

  The focus required was almost like meditation. Out there in the mountains there was no anxiety or stress beyond the danger of the ice. There was only the thwack of her ax, the smack of the spike at the front of her boots, the flexing of muscle. Just her and the challenge. The rock. The mountain.

  And, today, the man sitting in front of her.

  In the center of the table a candle flickered in the jar, sending a glow of soft light across Luke’s features.

  He reached for his beer. “The ice climbing here is incredible. More challenging than I expected.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t fall and die.”

  “Good to know you care, Wisp.” He lifted the bottle and drank.

  “We need you to pay rent on the barn, that’s all it is. And don’t call me Wisp.”

  They ordered food and chatted as they waited for it to arrive. He talked about the climbs he’d done in Yosemite, the Cascades and the Tetons. She listened and then pounded him with questions, thirsty for more information. What routes had he taken? How did the climbing differ from the Alps?

  The conversation left her revved up and excited.

  “You’re a good climber.” Luke finished his beer. “I’m surprised you haven’t been tempted to spread your wings and try some of these climbs yourself.”

  She’d been tempted.

  “No wings. Just my boots and my ice ax.” And a big, heavy anchor holding her in place.

  He put the bottle down. “You’d like to leave, wouldn’t you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I saw your expression when we talked about it the other day. And I’ve been watching you.”

  She felt as if she’d been caught naked. “Are you some sort of stalker?”

  “No.”

  “Then you’re interested in human behavior.”

  He smiled. “I’m interested in you, Posy McBride.” His confession made her heart beat faster.

  Was he flirting? What did it say about her that she didn’t even know?

  “I’m not that interesting.”

  “I disagree. And I’m intrigued as to what makes a woman with your gifts stay in one place her whole life.”

  “You make it sound as if I’ve never left the village. You should know I’ve often ventured beyond the Scottish border.” She fiddled with the bottle in her hand. “I’m happy.”

  “But that doesn’t stop you wondering what it would be like to climb in other places. And live somewhere the local population doesn’t know everything about you.”

  “They don’t know everything. That’s ridiculous.”

  Geoff arrived at that moment and put plates of food in front of them. “I swapped your carrots for peas, Posy, because I know you hate carrots.”

  Great!

  “Thanks.” She waited for Geoff to walk away and shrugged. “So he knows I don’t like carrots. That doesn’t prove anything.”

  Luke leaned across and stole one of her chips. “It’s not wrong to question the life you’re living, Posy. It’s understandable that someone like you would want to explore the world.”

  “I don’t know why you’re eating my chips when you have a bowl of your own.” She picked up her fork but immediately put it down again. “It would devastate Mom if I left. And anyway, I’m going to take over the café one day.”

  She owed Suzanne and Stewart everything.

  They’d sacrificed their own plans for the future, their dreams, to take in three orphaned children.

  Without them, what life would she have had? Not this one, that was for sure.

  Luke tucked into his food. “Maybe you should talk to her about it.”

  Mom, I’ve been thinking of leaving Glensay.

  Mom, I’d like to spend some time climbing in North America.

  Mom, I don’t want to take over the café.

  “I don’t think so.”

  She stared miserably at her plate, feeling trapped.

  Luke reached across and closed his hand over hers. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m not used to talking about it, that’s all. By the way, the fact that you held my hand will be all around the village by morning.” But she left her hand in his. She wasn’t sure why, given that there would be a price to pay in terms of teasing, except that it felt right.

  He turned her hand over. “Your hands are pretty smooth for a climber.” He ran his thumbs over the tips of her fingers.

  “I don’t climb as much as you do. Also, I have a secret weapon.”

  “You avoid washing up and lounging in hot tubs?”

  “That, too, but also I use a honey moisturizer that we sell at the café. It’s good. You?”

  “Grapeseed oil. And I rely on athletic tape.” He let go of her hand and sat back.

  She felt a pang of regret. “You’re worried about gossip?”

  He smiled. “I was thinking about you. You’re the one who has to carry on living here after I’ve left.”

  It was a reminder that he’d be moving on and she’d be staying here, doing the things she always did. Talking to the same people she always talked to. Climbing the same mountains she always climbed. Running the café.

  She reached for her beer and took a mouthful.

  The years stretched ahead of her and she caught a glimpse of her future, which looked the same as her present. No surprises. No adventure. The only change would be the patterns she created on top of her cappuccinos. Her life was depressingly predictable.

  And whose fault was that?

  She put the bottle down. “I feel I ought to warn you that I’m about to kiss you.”

  His expression didn’t change. “Interesting. But if hand-holding will create gossip, what will kissing do?”

  “We’re about to find out. It’s my civic duty to give the community something new to talk about.”

  There was a pause. “And you’re all right with that?”

  “I’m going to learn not to care. This is a good place to start.” She stood up, took his face in her hands and pressed her mouth to his before she could change her mind.

  At first the kiss was slow and gentle. She controlled it, he responded, and although his mouth was warm and undeniably skilled, he was also careful and restrained as if he was holding back. And then something shifted.

  She’d intended the kiss to be fun. A statement perhaps, or possibly an experiment. She hadn’t anticipated that he might play an active part in that experiment.

  He slid his hand behind her head, keeping their mouths fused as the kiss turned hotter and more urgent. She felt the skill of his mouth, the slide of his tongue, and lost all sense of time and place. It was insanely erotic, her response to him shockingly raw and primal. To anybody watching, nothing had changed, but for her everything had changed. Her heart hammered against her chest. Pleasure exploded inside her and her body was saturated with need. She lowered her hands to his shoulders, no longer confident that her limbs could hold her.

  When he eventually withdrew his mouth from hers, she couldn’t work out why he would end something that felt so good.

  His gaze held hers, his eyes sleepy and dark with desire.

  Her heart was pounding. The loud hum of background noise faded to nothing. It was only as she floated back to earth that she heard the catcalls.

  Why, oh why, had she chosen to do something so personal in a public place?

  Having to sto
p almost killed her. She wasn’t sure she would have done it if he hadn’t eased away.

  She stared into his eyes. “You...kissed me.”

  “I did. My memory is a little hazy right now, but I seem to remember you started it.”

  Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “You have hidden talents.”

  He stood up. “Pick up your coat, Posy McBride.”

  “Why? Where are we going?”

  “Home, so that I can demonstrate more of my talents without getting arrested.” He threw a handful of notes down on the table and she blinked.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m paying for our meal.” He clamped his hand over her wrist and propelled her to the door, dealing with the inevitable comments with a sure smile and a few well-chosen words that made it clear he didn’t give a damn about how many suggestive comments were thrown at him.

  Posy stumbled through the door and into the cold. “I think you just overpaid.”

  “Do I look as if I care?”

  “You look as if you’re in a hurry.”

  He tugged her toward him and gave her a quick, scalding kiss on the mouth. “You’re right, I am. Which is the quickest way home?”

  She was breathless and as desperate as he was. “I might know a shortcut.”

  Posy knew her family considered her to be bold and adventurous, and in some ways that was true, but she’d never done anything reckless with relationships.

  That, she thought, was about to change.

  This was one adventure she could have right here at home.

  8

  Hannah

  “I bought gifts for your nieces, Miss McBride.” Angie had been told to call her Hannah but was too intimidated to risk it.

  Seeing her boss on the phone, she put the bags on the floor of the glass corner office and slunk to the door.

  Not that Hannah McBride had ever been rude or aggressive. Far from it. It was more that she was machinelike in her interactions. In a big meeting the day before, Hannah had done a complex calculation in her head while the others in the room were still hunting for calculators and scribbling on notepads. She was so smart she made Angie feel humble. What must it be like to have a brain like that?