A Winter Affair

by Minna Howard

  Finally, she reached the bottom of the steps and joined the group of skiers putting on their skis. She wondered where Harvey was skiing. She wanted to go up to Tortin and ski down that way, have a good and challenging run, but she feared he’d planned to do the same.

  To her relief, he said, ‘I’m stopping here for a quick lunch. Have you heard from the twins?’

  ‘I talked to them last week, I’ll ring them for Christmas.’ She didn’t look at him, keeping her eyes on the run down to the lake now invisible under a deep covering of snow. It was so strange to be here standing beside him, the man she’d loved but now had lost.

  ‘Are they all right?’

  ‘Yes, don’t you talk to them?’

  ‘I will, I’ve emailed them.’

  She turned to face him then, saw a sliver of guilt in his eyes. Now they were divorced and the children grown and gone, did he pretend he was a free spirit with no ties at all? He’d adored the twins when they were young but found it difficult to cope with them growing up, becoming independent, glowing with youth and good looks while his were fading. But whatever games he played, he was their father and, despite everything, they loved him and they had many happy memories of the good times they’d shared. She’d done her best not to run him down in front of them, but now they were here together her anger rose.

  ‘You may be able to get shot of your wife, but you must never desert your children. They are part of you, and they love you,’ she said, the words and ‘you don’t deserve them’ hanging between them.

  ‘Of course I won’t desert them,’ he protested.

  ‘I’m going,’ she moved away from him to a clear patch in the snow, dropping down her skis ready to put them on and be off. ‘Please don’t come to Jacaranda, it’s a business now and I am working there.’

  ‘OK, enjoy your cooking.’ He spoke, she felt, with relief, and he turned towards the restaurant.

  A man she didn’t know called to him, ‘Harvey, we’re here.’

  From the muddle of people and skis propped in the snow outside the entrance to the restaurant, Eloise saw, with a sinking heart, Aurelia emerge and head towards them. How had she got involved with him, just by chance or had she already been after him with her ‘Tempting Delights’?

  ‘There you are, Harvey,’ she said. ‘Come on or we won’t get a table.’ She had obviously seen them talking and she eyed Eloise curiously before saying, ‘Do you know Harvey?’ Her hand was on his sleeve as if she owned him, a look of condescension on her face as if she couldn’t believe that they’d been talking together.

  Eloise snapped her feet into her skis, her gloves were on, poles in hand ready to depart.

  ‘Yes, I know him very well, he’s my ex-husband, the father of my children,’ she said, feeling a tiny burst of pleasure, which was quickly replaced with anger at Aurelia’s obvious amazement.

  ‘You two were married?’ Aurelia said, unable to curb her surprise, staring open-mouthed at them both.

  Harvey said, ‘Yes, that’s right.’

  Eloise didn’t hear any more but pushed off fast down the slope, the wind catching her tears and turning them to ice.

  Eighteen

  For a moment Lawrence felt that he was the king of the world, standing on the top of Tortin, the largest glacier in the district, his body surging with energy. He’d begun to wonder if he’d ever get the guests out of the chalet, them all being obsessed by keeping in touch with their various businesses and seemingly oblivious to the call of the mountains, though it was true the weather had not been good earlier in the week.

  He’d hate to be like them – he’d seen it before in other rich clients. They never quite trusted other people, never dared to leave their work behind in case it crumbled without their attention.

  But then he supposed he was a little obsessive with Jacaranda. He’d lost money this season with the chef dramas, having to fly more out when Denise had done her runner with that multi-millionaire. He’d managed to find another chef, Paddy, whom he’d had before; only he wasn’t free until the second week of January. So far, Eloise was working out better than he thought she would, though he still felt nervous that there would be some culinary disaster. His father meant well, wanting to help, but he hadn’t been here for so long and he had no idea of the standards needed at the top end of the rental market today.

  He started on a long traverse across the top of the glacier. He’d go on down now, get back to the village before the rest of them, so he could pick them up when they finished for the day. He hoped Theo would not take Gaby and Jerry too far away and would be back in time to help out if necessary.

  Turning, he began to whip his way through the moguls; they were pretty relentless here and became more arduous nearer the bottom. There were quite a few other people on the slope, some not realizing how hard this run was, and having started off, they were now committed and were gingerly picking their way down, others just barging through, almost out of control, to get to the bottom.

  He heard someone call his name and there was Eloise, pulling up her goggles so he could recognize her.

  ‘I’m on my way back,’ she said as if he might be annoyed that she was out here instead of slaving over the stove back at the chalet.

  ‘Me too, in case the guests need picking up, and I’ve an appointment this afternoon,’ he said. He noticed that her nose and eyes were red from the wind, giving the appearance that she’d been crying, but it was surely just the cold making them water, though she was wearing goggles. It made him say, ‘I hope you’re not finding it all too much, Eloise. I’m so relieved they all went out today. I thought we’d be imprisoned with them in Jacaranda for the whole time.’

  She smiled, ‘I thought the same. I wonder if they care if they’re in the mountains or on a beach or wherever, being so glued to their laptops.’

  ‘I know, hardly worth having all that money if you can’t enjoy it.’

  ‘I agree, though I suppose the weather wasn’t very good the first days, and Debra doesn’t ski but she likes shopping.’ She told him about her buying a new jacket. ‘She’s the one with the money. I had imagined it was Ken who was the rich one, but it’s all hers and she earned it herself.’

  ‘She did pay the full amount for the chalet herself, though it could have been a shared account. Good on her. So does she keep Ken?’ He smiled. Eloise had lovely eyes; he hadn’t really noticed before, blue-grey with long lashes.

  ‘I don’t think so. She said he does up flats and sells them on.’

  ‘Property, if only we’d bought up some of those houses in London before various districts were “discovered”, we’d have made our fortunes. Or even bought more chalets out here before the place became so fashionable,’ he said. ‘Well, I must get on. Shall we go together or do you want to take your time? Depending on how far you are with the dinner, you don’t need to be back until five or six, though of course it will be dark before then, but you might like to stay out and have a drink or something. Vera will see to the tea if the guests come back for that.’

  She hesitated and he thought she was wondering whether he wanted to ski home with her or if he preferred to go on alone at his own speed. Skiing was a tricky sport and two people not being compatible on the slopes ruined many a day and even, in some cases, romances. He wondered why that thought had come into his head.

  ‘You start off and if I can’t keep up with you, go on,’ she said, pulling down her goggles. ‘Just go at the pace you want, there’s nothing worse than having to wait for someone who’s struggling.’

  ‘If you’re sure,’ he grinned at her, relieved that she understood. This could be the last time he had a good ski this week, what with the weather and having the guests, and Christmas and all.

  To his surprise she kept up with him and he was struck with the feeling she was driving something from her, getting rid of some inner demons. Perhaps they were her anxieties at being a good enough chef, or perhaps she, like him, was so glad to be here finally, out on the mountains in
the clean, cold air. He remembered how when he’d first seen her at the top she’d wondered if she’d been crying.

  He didn’t know much about her; she was his father’s goddaughter, though he couldn’t remember meeting her before, at least not when she was grown-up, although they’d often had a collection of people staying at Jacaranda over the years. He knew she’d recently got divorced and her children had left home, perhaps she was missing them, remembering the times she’d spent here before, when they were young.

  He hadn’t treated her very well, he thought with shame. He was just so anxious about Jacaranda, it needed urgent repairs, and he had three choices, as far as he could see: to shut it after the skiing season and get the refurbishments done then, or go in with someone else who could offer some finance, or, worst case scenario, sell it. He would not ask Desmond for money, he had given him enough already and he needed a comfortable income to enjoy his old age, but he must do everything to keep Jacaranda, for if he lost it, it would break his father’s heart. But whatever his worries for Jacaranda’s future he should not take them out on Eloise, he owed her a lot for stepping into the breach and she’d done it with good grace.

  As they neared the end of the run back into the village, he noticed that Eloise became nervous and kept shooting glances at the other skiers. When they reached the muddle of skiers taking off their skis at the bottom of the run, she offered him a lift in the jeep, but even as she asked him she was walking away as if she were in a hurry.

  He followed her. ‘No, thanks Eloise, I’ve got things to do down here and I’ll hang about with the minibus for the others, or Theo can take them in the other jeep. He should be down soon. But are you all right… you seem troubled.’ He put his hand on her arm.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she said, trying to smile. ‘Just a bit tired, I haven’t skied much these last years and that’s quite a run.’

  ‘It is… and your shoulder’s holding up, I hope.’ She was hiding something he was sure of it, some secret sorrow, but he wouldn’t probe, he sensed she wanted to keep it close to herself.

  ‘Yes… Pascal did a wonderful job. Thank you for sending me to him.’

  ‘I’m glad it’s better.’ He wanted to say more but he felt she’d put a barrier up between them, to protect her secrets. ‘I must just check my mobile, see if any of the guests want to be given a life back,’ he said. ‘Would you like a drink before you go? You’ve got time, haven’t you? It’s not yet four.’

  There was something about her stance that touched him. He’d probably been too hard on her, especially now with these particular guests, who expected so much for their money, and whom he, egged on by Aurelia, felt were so important for Jacaranda’s future.

  ‘Thanks, Lawrence, but I think I’ll get back.’ She kept glancing nervously about her, studying the other skiers who were coming down the last few yards, spilling out down to the car park. She gave him a quick smile before making hurriedly for the jeep.

  He wondered what… or possibly who was troubling her, but he soon forgot it as he went to the office of the firm that dealt with some of the chalet lettings to catch up with the bookings that had come in and any queries. Theo texted him to say they were all on the way down and was he still there to take some of them back in the minivan. He texted back that he was and went to have a drink in his favourite bar while he waited for them.

  It was a good meeting place and he enjoyed dropping in there when he could. He saw a few people he knew and joined them for a drink. Aurelia and a couple of men passed by. When she saw Lawrence, she stopped, told the men she’d catch up with them and came to join him.

  ‘You’ll never guess,’ she started, with the air of someone bursting to pass on some gossip.

  ‘But you’re going to tell me,’ he said wearily, wondering what bombshell she was going to drop on him now. It was usually about some law or plan the Swiss were rumoured to be implementing over tax on chalets or land belonging to foreigners, or a new right of way or something that would surely put Jacaranda in jeopardy unless he looked sharp and took precautions to avoid it. Her remarks concerning Jacaranda were beginning to annoy him. It was almost as if she got some pleasure from taunting him with some real or imagined drama that could affect his chalet business.

  She ignored his tone of voice, ‘I saw your little cook on the slopes and, guess what, her ex-husband was there. He used to stay at Jacaranda with her and he was very interested when I told him how you let it out and how if – like I’m always telling you,’ she smiled proudly, ‘you’d enlarge it, fill up the garden with little flats, you’d make a fortune.’

  He’d heard Aurelia’s plans all before and he didn’t like them, but Eloise’s ex-husband. What was he doing here? He didn’t know her ex’s name or what he did for a living. Was he a property developer, and might he hope to worm his way into Jacaranda? He knew he’d stayed there in the past, so he could drop in any time. Did Eloise know he was here and that’s why she kept looking about, wary of seeing him? And what was Aurelia to do with it all?

  ‘She never said he was out here,’ he said weakly, remembering her red-rimmed eyes, her furtive looks at the other skiers and her wish to get quickly back to the chalet this afternoon.

  ‘I don’t think she knew; he certainly didn’t. He was quite shocked to see her, but he’s interested to see Jacaranda again, though she told him not to come, but you know…’ she shrugged as if Eloise’s request did not matter, and anyway this man was a free agent, able to go where he pleased.

  He felt a slow burn of anger grow in him but he banked it down. ‘How do you know him, Aurelia?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t, not really. He’s staying near the old church in one of the chalets Frankie – you know Frankie Butler – owns. We all met up for lunch and I saw Eloise talking to him, I must say I was quite surprised he was her ex-husband.’ She had a mocking smile on her face that annoyed him further. He’d got too involved with her and he was tired of Aurelia always belittling people she felt were somehow inferior to her. ‘They’ve been married for ages and they’ve got twins who are on their gap year, so she’s now home alone.’ She said the last two words with derision.

  He knew about Eloise’s situation but now he felt ashamed, he’d been so focused on getting a chef to keep his house party happy he hadn’t asked Eloise anything more about herself, though also he did not want to pry, perhaps open wounds that were halfway healed. But Christmas was coming the day after tomorrow and she must be missing her children and perhaps she’d want to see this ex-husband to be able to talk to him about them, remember happier days. But maybe she didn’t, maybe it was all too painful for her. Either way, though, he should have made an effort to think of her feelings and try and help her through what would be, in more ways than one, a difficult day for her.

  To his relief his mobile rang, announcing that the chalet guests were down.

  ‘I must go.’ He got up, glad to be taking his leave of Aurelia, but she stopped him.

  ‘I thought I’d give a little party, Steven said I could have one in his bar and I’ll invite you all. I’m sure you’d be very interested to meet Harvey, he’s worked in the travel businesses – upmarket holidays – for some time and he’s got some wonderful ideas to put Jacaranda on the map.’

  Lawrence didn’t answer her as he hurried off to find his guests. He did not want to meet Harvey and hear any ideas he might have concerning Jacaranda. He also had a feeling that going to such a party, especially to meet him, was somehow betraying Eloise.

  Nineteen

  ‘What’s happened, Eloise, you look upset?’ Saskia called, as Eloise was about to get into the jeep. She was carrying her skis, having just come down from the slopes herself; she quickened her pace to catch up with Eloise.

  Eloise looked round, ‘Oh… Saskia, nothing, just tired after skiing down Tortin.’ She wanted to get in the jeep and scurry away from the increasing crowd of skiers, fearful that Harvey, and worse still, Aurelia would appear.

  ‘Well come back with me to our
chalet, have a drink. Quinn has gone to Geneva for the opening of a new restaurant, and I’m home alone.’ Coming closer and picking up on Eloise’s reluctance, she added, ‘It’s not far, just across the road and down, takes seven minutes at a brisk walk. Please, or do you have to go back to cook a banquet?’ she teased.

  ‘No… but…’ Eloise longed to escape back to Jacaranda, and yet it was tempting to go with Saskia and confide in her. She felt so alone with her distress at having seen Harvey, spoken to him – he shouldn’t be here, especially as she had just been getting used to the idea of spending her first Christmas alone as a single woman. Just knowing he was here made her feel lonelier and more bereft without her family as it once was. Almost worse was him knowing Aurelia. She supposed she knew everyone out here, but her scorn at not believing that Harvey had married her dug deepest, bringing back her feelings of inadequacy which she’d struggled with over Harvey’s infidelities and then their divorce.

  Saskia came close to her and took her arm. ‘Come on then or, if you’d rather, we can drive there.’ Without waiting for her answer, Saskia dumped her skis into the back of the jeep and clambered in.

  Eloise started it up and backed out, forcing herself to concentrate on not hitting anything instead of keeping an eye out for Harvey and Aurelia in case they were threading their way through the car park.

  ‘Quinn and I had lunch up at the top then he came down early to go to Geneva and I stayed on to ski. We’ve got his son and his girlfriend coming tomorrow for Christmas. I think I’ve got most of the stuff in. What about your guests… are they as demanding as Lawrence feared they’d be?’ Saskia asked, eagerly watching her reaction.