A Winter Affair

by Minna Howard

  ‘But why would Jerry change his mind?’ Theo wailed. ‘He was fine about it when we talked yesterday.’

  ‘It’s Debra,’ Lawrence said heavily. ‘She’s the one who makes the decisions. She thinks Jerry was led into a place where there was a danger of avalanches.’

  ‘What! But I didn’t know, there were no warning signs, ask the others, ask Eloise.’ Theo’s face was stricken. ‘Dad, Debra’s mad, she doesn’t even ski, how can she know anything?’

  ‘I know, Ken has tried to dissuade her, but she’s determined. I don’t understand how her mind works, but perhaps she takes every opportunity to make money, that’s why she’s so rich,’ Lawrence said, his anger rising in him, thinking of the damage this could do for Theo’s ambition to become a ski guide.

  ‘Ask Jerry; he was the one caught in it; he’ll tell the truth, he must, then the lawyers will see she hasn’t got a case,’ Theo said with feeling. ‘He said it’s like falling into the sea if you’re sailing, it can happen, but you can’t sue unless you were pushed by someone.’ Theo thumped his hand on the desk. ‘She can’t Dad, you’ll have to sue her back for spreading lies, I suppose she’s telling everyone I’m a danger to ski with and then I won’t be able to train to be a ski instructor.’

  There was so much to lose. He knew Theo had not been negligent, Eloise had confirmed that he had taken proper precautions before they started down, though Jerry had not listened and charged off. She had told him that she’d seen the warning flags though she didn’t know if Theo had noticed them or not, but he had seen they were only a three, and, Lawrence reminded himself, he and his very experienced friends were about to go there for the powder snow themselves, before they heard about the avalanche, and would have taken the same risk. Also Theo had asked the advice of a ski guide – they must try and get his name, surely his word would count for something. Lawrence asked now if Theo knew the guide.

  ‘It was hard to see his face as he had his hat pulled down. I’ll go and look at the photos at the ski office but…’ Theo said desperately, ‘but he could have been a private guide from somewhere else.’

  ‘Well, we’ll try.’ Lawrence hoped it wasn’t a private guide. They often did not know the slopes so well. He’d have to call his lawyer if Debra did go ahead with her plan, but first he’d try and find out as much as he could about the circumstances so he could make a hole in Debra’s story.

  ‘I can’t believe Jerry will go ahead with Debra’s mad idea, though,’ Theo said now.

  ‘It seems Debra persuaded him to side with her,’ Lawrence said quietly, wishing there was a way out of all this.

  ‘But he wouldn’t really do it, he finds her quite bossy and wants to break out on his own, he probably said he’d do it to keep her quiet and get away,’ Theo said, getting up to let in Bert who was scratching at the door.

  Lawrence said heavily, ‘I’m afraid he has agreed to go with it, Theo. You know he’s in love with Gaby and Debra disapproves of her, or she did. Now she says she admires her for studying law, working hard wanting to make a success of her life, I don’t know if she really does think that having got to know Gaby better or if she’s trying to get Jerry on side to support her claim. Anyway, she said Gaby would make a perfect wife for him.’

  ‘Wife? She doesn’t want to be a wife yet,’ Theo protested. ‘You’ve got it wrong Dad, Jerry wouldn’t go back on his word.’

  Lawrence suffered for him; it was so hard being let down by someone you thought was a friend. He was not going to go into Jerry and Gaby’s bizarre relationship. ‘You must ask him yourself,’ he said. ‘Families are complicated things, as you know, and they are in business together as well, so it could be difficult for him to go against Debra.’

  ‘So we lose Jacaranda because of her,’ Theo cried out, ‘and I lose my chance at becoming a ski guide.’

  ‘Not necessarily,’ Lawrence said, feeling helpless, ‘but we’ve got to tread carefully, see if we can resolve it another way. I suggested to Travis that they leave the chalet early; I thought they’d want to, but he seemed very surprised. I would insist they go, but then they could make more trouble by complaining to the agency.’ He sighed, these certainly were the most troublesome guests they’d ever had and he longed to be shot of them.

  He’d tried to contact his own lawyer earlier and found he was away until after the New Year. No doubt Debra kept a string of lawyers on standby, like a change of clothes, and would have more than a head start on them.

  His mobile rang and wearily he answered it, it was Paddy the chef he was expecting in a couple of weeks.

  ‘Hi, mate, sorry to drop this on you, but I’ve been offered a job I can’t refuse, working in one of the top restaurants in the world, but don’t worry,’ he added as he heard Lawrence’s intake of breath, ‘I’ve got a friend who’ll do it, she’s a great chef and she’s free until the summer. I’ll email you her details.’

  Lawrence sighed; everything seemed to be conspiring against him and Jacaranda at once. ‘OK, thanks for telling me, I’ll check out her details and let her know… congrats anyway on your rise to fame.’ This was another annoyance, but at least Paddy had offered him someone else and knowing him she would be a good recommendation.

  ‘Thanks, and sorry to let you down but when you know where I’m working you’ll understand,’ Paddy said and rang off.

  Theo, seeing his face, said, ‘What now?’

  Lawrence tried to digest the news; he’d been relying on Paddy, he was a good chef and easy to get on with and had agreed to work here until the summer, but top jobs in the restaurant business were like gold dust and he couldn’t blame him for taking the opportunity when it came his way. He felt crushed by anxiety though. What a year this had been, losing chefs and now Debra making trouble. The only person who could save Jacaranda seemed to be Aurelia. She’d told him she had money to invest and she could take over the catering, and after all if they were in business together he wouldn’t have to pay for her food, or rely on the vagrancies of chefs. He knew her and she was a good businesswoman. He’d hoped to keep things as they were but with all that had happened perhaps his only option to keep Jacaranda in these perilous circumstances was to bite the bullet and team up with Aurelia.

  ‘It was Paddy,’ he said, his voice strained with tension. ‘He’s been offered a wonderful job and can’t come, though he’s sending me the CV of a friend who can.’

  Theo brightened, ‘Eloise can do it. She’s quite the best chef we’ve had, her food is sort of… well, like Maddy’s was really, she makes Jacaranda seem like a home instead of some posh hotel.’ He jumped up, Bert sensing excitement danced around his legs.

  ‘No, Theo, don’t say a word to her, to anyone. I need to think things over, let me read this other chef’s CV, talk to her, decide the best way to go.’

  Theo’s enthusiasm faded, ‘OK, but I’d like Eloise to stay… if she can. Now you promised me a game of snooker and we’ve just time before supper.’

  Lawrence followed him out to the snooker table Theo’s words, ‘she makes Jacaranda feel like a home,’ vibrating in his head.

  Thirty-Six

  Eloise watched Lawrence covetously as she made his breakfast. He seemed bowed down with anxiety, his eyes dull from lack of sleep. She fought down an overwhelming desire to put her arms round him, hold him close. She must be mad. It was being in his arms that moment that had done it; she missed being close to someone, with Harvey and the children gone. It was a good thing that she’d be leaving here soon.

  It helped that Vera was there, scurrying about dealing with the plates and dishes from last night’s supper and dashing into the living room to lay the table for breakfast. Each time she came back into the kitchen she eyed him sharply, her face a study of disapproval until at last she said, ‘It is good these people are leaving the day after tomorrow, they bring bad vibes and make you ill.’

  ‘Nonsense, Vera, there’s just a lot going on.’ Lawrence poured himself another cup of coffee, drinking it black. ‘But at lea
st we have a few days off before the next lot arrive and they’ve been to Jacaranda before and love it.’

  ‘Good thing too.’ Vera scuttled out again with a basket of croissants. They could hear someone coming down the stairs for breakfast. Eloise wondered which one of the party it was. She didn’t think it was Theo, who came down as if he were in a race, full of life and vigour, though perhaps with Debra’s lawsuit hanging over him he had lost his boundless energy.

  Putting the last of the bacon in a silver serving dish she’d found at the back of the cupboard, Eloise took it through to the living room to put on the hot plate to keep warm. She remembered this dish from when she’d last been here when Desmond had more help in the chalet and the silver shone. She’d cleaned it herself, finding it a far easier way to keep the breakfast warm than leaving it in the oven and having to cook the eggs as and when they were needed. Lawrence had not complained, so she’d continued with it. It made Theo laugh and say it was like Downton Abbey.

  Ken had just come down and he smirked at her as she entered the living room, ‘Good morning, Eloise. I trust you slept well?’ His voice implied she’d been up to something far more exciting than tumbling thankfully into bed alone and falling asleep. ‘Let me take that from you,’ he purred, edging closer.

  ‘I’m fine, thanks, Ken,’ she smiled, walking firmly towards the hot plate with the breakfast. He was in one of his frisky moods and she was relieved Vera was in the room. She supposed he had to try and boost his ego somehow after being all but emasculated by his wife, but why did men like him think making lascivious remarks to other women, or worse still, attempting to clutch parts of them, would in the slightest way make them more manly or attractive?

  ‘What delicious dish have you cooked for us now?’ He was right behind her, bending over, and she could feel the heat of his breath in her ear.

  Debra’s voice cut through the room like a scythe, ‘Ken, pour me some coffee.’

  Eloise felt him jump away and for once she was grateful for Debra’s intervention.

  His voice now subdued, he said, ‘I was just asking Eloise what she’s cooked for us this morning.’

  Eloise made her escape. ‘Good morning Debra,’ she said as she passed her.

  ‘I’d like to go shopping this morning, if anyone is free to drive me down.’ Debra eyed her imperiously. ‘I can’t do it this afternoon as I’ve other things to do,’ she emphasized her words, accepting a cup of coffee from Ken with barely a nod.

  ‘I’ll tell Lawrence,’ Eloise muttered before escaping. She’d no idea what he was doing today, or Theo for that matter, but she suspected neither of them would want to drive Debra, be imprisoned with her in the jeep. If not, that left her to do it; she did after all need to go into the village later to shop for the dinner.

  ‘I’m sorry, Eloise,’ Lawrence said when she informed him of Debra’s command. ‘I’ve told Theo he can go skiing this morning. Keep him out of Debra’s way and I’m tied up with various things that have to be done. I hate to impose on you…’ He smiled at her, making her feel warm inside. The lonely, empty feeling that Harvey’s departure had left in her seemed to ease whenever she was near Lawrence. But she must not become one of those tiresome women who imagined every man fancied them and felt they had to possess one like a sort of fashion accessory. Lawrence surely had a girlfriend somewhere; it could even be Aurelia, though she didn’t want to give that possibility any thought.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I’m surprised they are still here if they think we are determined to put them in danger.’

  ‘I know, but I think it has something to do with enjoying having us at their mercy… and not being bothered to find somewhere else or change their flights. I don’t know,’ Lawrence sighed, ‘I’m probably being overdramatic.’

  ‘Perhaps Ken and Travis will go with her and stay down there for lunch.’ She wondered if Debra’s ‘various things’ included consulting her lawyer, but decided not to spook Lawrence by mentioning it.

  ‘I hope so, keep her out of the way,’ Lawrence said. ‘Are you going to see Gaby today?’

  ‘I don’t know, we haven’t made any arrangements.’

  ‘Well if you do, try and see if she’s told Jerry about her plans to study in the US. I don’t want you to try and make her change her mind, I think she is doing the right thing for herself, but it might be helpful to know if she’s told him and how he’s taken it.’ He sighed, ‘My lawyer is away until after the New Year, but I thought I’d talk it over with Quinn, he’s got some good contacts out here.’

  ‘Good idea,’ Eloise said. ‘I might meet up with Saskia later.’ She’d send her a text to see if she were free; she could do with a chat.

  *

  Ken and Travis set out for the day’s skiing, Lawrence driving them down to Medran. An hour later Debra appeared to ask Eloise to take her down to the village. Debra sat in the jeep beside her like a queen, looking straight ahead seemingly oblivious to the snowy mountains glittering like silver in the sun and the dark green trees under the blue sky. The silence between them built up like poisonous gas.

  Eloise pulled up near the square, relieved the short journey was over. ‘Is this all right for you, Debra? I’ve a few things to do, but do you want a lift back, or are you meeting the others or something?’

  ‘I haven’t made up my mind yet, though I’ll probably go back to the chalet. My lawyer is ringing me at three and I don’t want to be stuck on the mountain unable to hear him properly,’ she said, rifling in her bag for her mobile, checking it, then dropping it back in a side pocket so she could find it quickly if she needed to.

  Eloise warned herself to say nothing, especially about lawyers, and ignored Debra’s remark. Rather grudgingly she told her to text her when she’d finished shopping and she’d give her a lift back. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but for Lawrence’s sake she did not want to antagonize her further. But despite her good intentions a strong feeling of righteousness rose up in her, she could not, would not, sit back and watch Jacaranda be snatched away.

  ‘Please Debra, stop your misguided idea of consulting your lawyer over the avalanche,’ she said firmly. ‘You won’t win. The piste was open; there was only a small danger, as there is almost every day in the mountains, as people who are used to them know well. But your action could destroy Lawrence’s business and Theo’s future.’

  ‘My dear girl, don’t you tell me what to do,’ Debra blustered, turning to face her.

  Eloise ignored a shaft of fear, wondering if she’d gone too far. ‘I am telling you. Ken warned you against it, it will harm Jacaranda, Lawrence and Theo, but it will also harm you. You’ll become a laughing stock among skiers and be put down as a troublemaker amongst the other resorts. When they get to hear of it, the agency could even bar you from taking their chalets – certainly the bigger, more luxurious ones here would not welcome you,’ she said wildly, not knowing whether that was true or not. ‘Verbier is one of the best, most popular resorts in Europe and if people in the business take a dislike to you, other resorts will follow.’ She was aware that there was probably little truth in her threats, Debra could easily book somewhere else through another name and not many people turned away good money, but she wanted to make her think twice.

  Debra slumped beside her like a balloon with an air leak. She stared out of the window at the busy scene outside, skiers in bright colours carrying skis or snowboards on their way to the slopes, mothers with babies in buggies, some little children struggling with tiny skis coming back from ski school.

  ‘I have never forgotten my childhood,’ Debra said at last, her remark taking Eloise by surprise. ‘Even when I’m in my lovely apartment, able to buy what I want, I worry that one day I will lose it all, be back where I started. My father was a drunk; he drove my mother to an early death. We often didn’t have a meal, or new clothes, everything came from charity shops, over-washed, faded garments worn by other people, even our shoes had been worn down by other children. My sis
ter and I were determined to have a better life, make money, and we did.’ She turned to Eloise, her mouth set in a hard line, her eyes piecing through her. ‘I’ve earned every penny I have. Ken wanted children, a houseful of them, but I only had time for one, as did my sister with Jerry. Since she passed, I have promised that I would do everything to take care of Jerry, and he could have been killed or severely injured in that avalanche.’

  ‘But he wasn’t.’ Eloise hoped she sounded firm, but to her surprise she felt sorry for Debra, admired her for working so hard to make a better life for herself. ‘I love Jacaranda,’ she went on, ‘and there’s more to it than it just being a place to make money. If it were sold it would probably be stripped of all its character and warmth, turned into a soulless series of rooms, drearily done up with ugly furniture. More chalets would be squashed into the garden and no doubt a cinema, gym, even a swimming pool put in.’

  ‘But you must move with the times, Eloise, it would make more money with those facilities,’ Debra said, though her voice had lost its belligerence.

  ‘Maybe, but it would lose so much character. There is a good swimming pool and fitness centre down here, in the village, with other people having fun, being part of the place, so much better than being stuck up alone like a recluse, out of it all in some lifeless chalet. Jacaranda is a warm and happy place, do you not feel it?’ Eloise turned to her, ‘No amount of money and interior decorating can make that, turn it into a home, that is priceless.’

  To her horror, Debra’s eyes filled with tears, she let them run down her face a moment, leaving tiny rivulets on her cheeks, before opening her bag and taking out a handkerchief and wiping them away. What could she say, should she apologize for upsetting her, had she made things worse now for Lawrence and Jacaranda?

  ‘That’s not something I really know about,’ Debra said, staring ahead. ‘You’re lucky, Eloise, if you’ve had a happy family life, it’s like a shield around you, I didn’t have that but I have money now – financial security, which I fight to keep. I can see it’s a poor exchange for a happy, loving family, but it’s a life I know, and one I understand.’