Chapter 12 #3
“I’m Noah.” He introduced himself. “I’m a friend of Hattie’s.”
“Erica.” Erica introduced her friends and then turned her attention to the bookshelves. “This room is fabulous.” Her gaze tracked along the books, took in the flickering fire and the sparkle of the Christmas tree. “This is the space you mentioned we could use for our book club meeting?”
“Yes.” Hattie held herself stiffly and Erica seemed equally uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” If she thought of herself as an innkeeper, and not a relative, it would help her create the distance she needed.
“It’s important to me that your Christmas break is perfect.
If the Maple Sugar Inn isn’t the right place for you, then of course you should leave and find somewhere else.
I can make some calls if that would help.
There are a couple of other pretty inns close by.
One of them has a good restaurant. They may be able to accommodate you. ”
Never let it be said that she bore grudges. Or maybe she did. Occasionally, she did curse Brent for leaving her to deal with Stephanie and Chef Tucker. But she hid it well.
Her offer of accommodation was met with silence and she saw the other woman—Claudia with the short, choppy hair—poke Erica sharply in the ribs.
“There’s nothing wrong with the inn,” Erica said. “It’s perfect.”
Which meant that she, Hattie, was the problem. Great.
She stood up straighter. “I was wrong to knock on your door.”
“You weren’t wrong.” Erica glanced at Anna, as if this conversation was something they’d rehearsed.
“You took me by surprise, and I’m not great with surprises.
Also, this whole situation is complicated.
” She cleared her throat. “Emotionally complicated. And I’m not great with that, either.
” That hint of vulnerability softened something inside Hattie.
She forgot about her earlier resolve to say nothing.
“If you’re not leaving tonight, then would you like to sit down and talk for a while? Glass of wine? I’ll ask Chef to produce a plate of his delicious nibbles.” No doubt he’d scowl at her, but she’d weather it.
Erica gave a tentative nod. “I’d like that.”
Hattie felt warmth spread through her. They were going to talk. That was a start.
“Great. I should just check on my daughter, and then—”
The door flew open again, and this time it was Chloe who stood there. She was holding Delphi’s hand and there was panic in her eyes.
“Sorry to burst in, but Hattie, you need to come right now. It’s an emergency.”
Now what? The universe obviously hated her.
Delphi sprinted across to her and Hattie scooped her up. No matter that her daughter was growing taller and heavier by the day. If she wanted to be hugged, then Hattie was going to hug her.
“An emergency?” She held Delphi tightly. “Is it a guest?”
“No. Much worse. Chef Tucker threw a pan at the sous-chef and she walked out. Stephanie got involved, and had a terrible fight with Chef and he has also walked out. Actually, he drove, if we’re being literal.
He took his truck and was last seen vanishing toward town.
Which is a problem on many levels, because the restaurant is full this evening and we have no one in charge of the kitchen.
The rest of the staff are panicking. Fortunately, the guests are so far blissfully unaware, but Stephanie is having one of her rants—”
Right on cue, Stephanie arrived at the door. “That’s it! I hope he has gone for good, but if he hasn’t then you need to fire him and I demand an apology. He may be a creative genius, but I will not be spoken to the way that man spoke to me this evening, and in front of staff, too.”
Delphi pressed her hands over her ears and cringed closer to Hattie. “Too shouty.”
Hattie didn’t disagree. She held Delphi close, rubbing her back with her hand.
“I can see you’re upset, Stephanie, and we’re going to figure this out. But we all need to stay calm.”
“Stay calm? Would you stay calm if a man called you an uptight, frigid b—”
Fortunately, Delphi’s crying drowned out the rest of the sentence. To complicate the situation further, Rufus, hearing the shouting, came shooting into the room barking, checking which of his family needed his protection.
Seeing Delphi safe with Hattie, he stopped barking and growled.
Stephanie took a step backward. “And that dog is a health hazard.”
Delphi buried her face in Hattie’s neck. “Shouty, shouty—”
Hattie tightened her arms protectively. “Please lower your voice, Stephanie.”
“Who is running this business? You or that child? Or is it the dog? There are days when I wonder. It puts a whole new spin on the phrase going to the dogs, and this place most definitely is.”
Hattie’s head was splitting. Right now her daughter was the priority because until she’d soothed Delphi, she wasn’t going to be able to have a rational conversation, and she couldn’t calm Delphi while Stephanie was shouting.
She was about to suggest that Stephanie wait in her office, when Anna stepped forward. She held a pretty decoration in her hand.
“Delphi? I found this on the floor. It must have fallen off the tree. Do you know where it was hanging?”
Delphi cautiously lifted her damp face from Hattie’s shoulder.
She looked at Anna and seemed to like what she saw because she released her choke hold on Hattie’s neck.
“No.” Her breath came in jerks. “D-don’t know.”
“I love decorating trees.” Anna’s smile was kind. “It’s my favorite thing. I’m sure you love it, too, am I right?”
Delphi sniffed. “Yes.”
“That’s great. Could you help me decide where to hang this?” Anna dangled the twinkling star from her fingers. “Shall I just pick somewhere?”
Delphi paused and then wriggled down from Hattie’s arms. “I’ll show you.”
Rufus was by her side in an instant, and Anna reached down to stroke him. “He’s gorgeous. I’m Anna. And I remember that when my little girl was your age, she knew exactly what she wanted Santa to bring her for Christmas. I bet you’re the same.”
Hattie decided that she loved Anna.
Delphi took the decoration from Anna’s fingers. “I know, but it’s a secret.”
“A secret?” Anna’s smile was compelling. “But you’ve written to him?”
“Aunty Lynda helped me. Mommy can’t know.”
Noah raised his eyebrows so presumably he knew nothing about it, either.
Which gave Hattie a whole new problem. If she didn’t know what Delphi wanted for Christmas, how was she supposed to provide it?
Stephanie made an impatient sound. “I cannot believe we’re talking about Santa when this place is falling apart. You do realize that at the moment all you have in our award-winning kitchen are a bunch of junior staff?”
At the mention of the staff, Hattie transferred her attention from Delphi to Stephanie. “First, is Helen all right?”
Stephanie gaped at her. “I’m telling you that you have a crisis, and you’re asking after the welfare of your sous-chef?”
“Chloe said Chef Tucker threw a pan at her.”
“Oh—yes, he did.” Stephanie frowned. “She was crying, and he lost his temper. I don’t condone hurling heavy objects, but I agree with him that she is much too sensitive to be working in a busy kitchen.”
Hattie tried again, more firmly this time. “Is she hurt?”
“I don’t know, and right now that is not the most important thing.
It’s time for plain speaking. I’ve done my best to support you since Brent died,” she said, focusing her laser-like gaze on Hattie, “but even I have my limits and I’ve reached them.
I’m sad for you, Hattie, that’s the truth.
It’s been hard, I’m sure, but maybe it’s time to admit you’re not cut out for this.
You’ve tried to step into Brent’s shoes, but you don’t come near to filling them. You’ll never be Brent.
And frankly, Brent would turn in his grave if he could see the way you’re running this place.”
Hattie felt the blood drain from her face. Her limbs felt shaky. She felt strange and disconnected.
Her first thought was for her daughter, but fortunately, Anna had Delphi occupied finding a place around the back of the tree for the ornament.
Which left her no excuse to not face Stephanie.
She was tempted to bolt from the room, but then what? There was no one else to handle this. Only her.
And Stephanie was right about one thing.
She wasn’t Brent. And she had been trying to be Brent.
She’d been trying to carry on his dream for the inn.
And that was the problem; she could see that now.
She’d been trying to keep things going the way he’d wanted, and in doing so hadn’t followed any of her own instincts.
She’d done what was right for him, not what was right for her. And this was where they’d ended up.
And it wasn’t a good place.
Hattie felt Noah’s hand on her back, warm and protective.
She heard him draw breath and knew that if she didn’t speak soon, then he would.
And what sort of example would that set for Delphi?
That she needed other people to speak for her?
To defend her? She didn’t want her daughter growing up thinking her mother couldn’t stand her ground when she needed to or, worse, that she wasn’t able to defend herself when someone spoke to her in such a disrespectful way.
“Stephanie, we need to talk in private. Let’s go to my office.”
“If you want to talk to me, I’ll try and find time for you tomorrow. I’m leaving for the evening.”
“Leaving? Stephanie, we’re in a crisis.”
“A crisis of your making. A crisis that is not my problem. There is nothing in my contract that says I have to donate my personal time to a lost cause.”
“What about your colleagues? The people you work with?” Hattie’s mouth was so dry she could hardly form the words. Anger made her limbs shake. “We’re a team. You’re just going to walk away and leave the team to struggle?”
“I’m leaving them to do their jobs, the way I do mine. I’m going to give myself time to calm down, and then if I feel up to working I’ll come back tomorrow.” She turned toward the door and Hattie felt her heart rate double.
She had to do this right now.
“If you walk through that door now, I don’t want you back here tomorrow.” The words left her mouth in a rush. It was like jumping from a cliff into freezing water.
“Is this a joke?” Stephanie stared at her. “There is no way you’ll be able to keep this place going without me.”
Hattie’s heart was hammering. “We’ll manage.”
“How? You haven’t got a clue. And, she—” Stephanie gestured to Chloe “—won’t be any help at all. Also, can I remind you that as of now you have no chef and possibly no sous-chef? If you lose your housekeeper, too, you might as well shut down.”
The sous-chef. Hattie still needed to check on Helen, but she needed to do this first.
There was a knot of panic in her stomach.
“It’s true that I’ve been trying to run things the way Brent did, but that ends now.”
Stephanie relaxed slightly. “You’re going to sell up. Wise decision.”
“I won’t be selling up, but nor will I be running the place following Brent’s blueprint. From now on I’m making the decisions. And I need a team who share my vision for the place as somewhere cozy and welcoming. I think we both know that working here isn’t a good fit for you.”
Stephanie’s cheeks flushed dark. “What I know is that you’re not the right person to be running this business. And without me, this place will be closed within months.”
“I’m willing to take that chance.”
Stephanie’s mouth tightened. “So that’s it, then. Well, good luck to you. You’re going to need it.” She turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Hattie felt as if her head was going to explode.
The panic in her stomach grew more intense. Bands of pressure squeezed her chest.
What had she done? She had rooms booked through until January. People had treated themselves to a Christmas stay at the inn. They expected festive sparkle, comfortable rooms and food they’d always remember. And she’d just lost two of her key members of staff.
Stephanie was right. They’d be closed within months.
The panic shifted from her stomach to her throat. She probably should have done more to placate Stephanie because now she’d made her situation worse.
It was Erica who spoke first. She stepped forward and Hattie saw kindness in her eyes.
“I don’t know who that woman is, but she clearly had nothing positive to bring to the situation. Letting her walk through that door is going to turn out to be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.”
“Is it?” Hattie was shaking. Part of her wanted to sprint after Stephanie and apologize, but Erica was standing in her way.
“It’s fine.” Her voice was steady and matter-of-fact. “Everything is fine. We can help.”
“You can’t. No one can help. It’s a good thing you’re checking out.” Hattie made a wild attempt at humor. “I’ve just lost my housekeeper, and it looks as if the restaurant will be closed. Welcome to Christmas at the Maple Sugar Inn. It promises to be memorable, for all the wrong reasons.”
What had she done? Dear God, what had she done?
Delphi emerged from behind the tree. “That’s life,” she said, in a solemn and perfect imitation of the Bishop sisters.